Canada Soccer’s Active Start Soccer Fests 2019 season has wrapped-up with 141 community soccer clubs hosting fun-filled festivals in nearly every Province and Territory from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Over the past year, Canada’s largest grassroots soccer program connected nearly 100,000 Active Start participants under the age of 12 and over 215,000 total on-site attendees including families, volunteers and coaches across the Canadian soccer community.

As Canada’s leading grassroots soccer program, Active Start Soccer Fests deliver financial, promotional and technical resources which contribute to the hosting of community soccer celebrations in collaboration with community soccer clubs. Canada Soccer would like to recognize and thank the program’s community soccer club partners who contribute significant time and energy to create the best possible experience for young soccer players and their families, encouraging life long participation in the beautiful game.

“The Active Start Soccer Fests program provides a welcoming, fun, and developmentally appropriate environment for young players to experience the game of soccer,” said Jason deVos Canada Soccer’s Director of Development. “Kids who have free play opportunities to experience the joy of the game are those most likely to develop a lifelong love of the sport.”

The 2019 festival season saw Canada Soccer national sponsors Toyota and Allstate contribute to the positive participant experience by activating at more than 45 festivals combined, with highlights including the opportunity to participate in national contests such as the Allstate ‘Win A Trip’ contest and sharp shooting activation, Toyota’s interactive vehicle displays and other contests. Festival participants enjoyed giveaways from Canada Soccer and its partners including Canada Soccer string bags, temporary tattoos and participation certificates.

2020 will mark the 24th season of the program which has reached over four million Canadians with registration set to open in early February. As the festival schedule is expected to fill-up quickly, clubs are encouraged to submit their application early to secure a festival hosting grant on the preferred schedule date.