Banff soccer scene expands with start of town’s first competitive youth club

Banff Soccer's U13 team poses for a photo at Sundance Park in Banff on Thursday (May 15). LEAH PELLETIER RMO PHOTO

BANFF — Banff’s first competitive youth soccer club has kicked off their spring season and their sights are set on a debut at the Clash of the Titans Invitational Tournament this weekend (May 24-25).

Noticing a lack of competitive soccer opportunities for Banff players, longtime coach Tim Stafford, stepped up to create two tournament teams for U11 and U13 players.

While the season is set to wrap up after the Invermere tournament, Stafford hopes this could be the start of a new, year-round program based in Banff.

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“If we get good exposure and we have a fun time, even if we’re not successful, I think word will start to spread and we can develop this program,” he said.

With experience running competitive teams and soccer camps out of Canmore for over six years, Stafford felt there should be more opportunities for Banff players to get involved in the game on a competitive level.

“We never had more than maybe two players from Banff on the team. It was certainly dominated by the Canmore players,” he said, referencing his time as a coach with Canmore soccer teams.

Receiving overwhelming positive feedback from parents after a successful spring break camp at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre, Stafford reached out to gauge interest in a Banff-based tournament team.

“Within 24 hours I had enough players for a team,” he said.

As practices started up May 1, the teams have had four weeks to develop their skills leading up to the weekend tournament.

“I think one of the beauties of this particular team is that it’s a hometown team,” said Jessica LaBonte, team manager and parent volunteer.

The formation of the team has opened doors for Banff families, eliminating the need for a weekly commute and making competitive opportunities more accessible to the community, according to LaBonte.

“We have children who’ve gone to Canmore and Calgary to join competitive teams that do have travel and competition opportunity; however, this is the first team that we are aware of that is made up of Banff kids practicing in Banff and heading to endeavor in some competitive play,” she said.

LaBonte also praised Banff Minor Soccer for the programming they’ve provided in the past, expanding recreation opportunities in the town.

“This is just another wonderful opportunity [for] building out that soccer repertoire for kids in Banff to extend their skills and experiences [into] competitive soccer, even if it’s just for one tournament so far.”

For some of the players, Invermere will be their first tournament experience.

“Some of them can’t wait … they’re really pumped for it,” said Stafford.

Banff Soccer will face off with teams from areas such as Golden, Fernie, Revelstoke, Canmore and Invermere during the weekend tournament.

By Leah Pelletier, Rocky Mountain Outlook