Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council – April 15, 2016 – The Regional Committees of the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council are seeking volunteer soccer coaches and team managers for the Regional Soccer Teams that will compete in the U15 and U17 (male and female) age divisions of the 2016 BC Aboriginal Provincial Soccer Championships, August 26-28, 2016 to be hosted in Prince George, BC.
 
Regional Teams in the U15 and U17 divisions (male and female) of the BC Aboriginal Provincial Soccer Championships will be vying for the Championship title to ultimately earn the right to represent Team BC at the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games. 
 
The volunteer coaches and team managers participate in the Regional Teams athlete selection process and leading the Regional team’s preparation and participation in the Provincial Championships.  
 
This second call for applications is to fill vacant positions remaining for certain divisions in various regions.  These vacancies are outlined in the form.  Applications will be accepted until 5PM PST, SUNDAY, MAY 1st, 2016. 

For more information and/or to apply online please visit:  https://aboriginalsportbc.wufoo.eu/forms/regional-soccer-teams-coachmanager-application/
 
BC Aboriginal Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps 
The series of BC Aboriginal Provincial Championships and Camps are an important component of the Partners Council’s Provincial Strategy as they support the effort to develop a consistent and coordinated Aboriginal Team BC program to better prepare athletes and coaches for upcoming North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) and other elite competitions.  The events provide a unique opportunity for Aboriginal athletes and coaches from First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities and Friendship Centres throughout the province to gather and participate or compete in events that promote sport excellence while celebrating cultural unity and pride.  The 2016/17 series of Championships and Camps will be a primary component of the Team BC Talent Identification and/or Selection Processes for athletes to represent Team BC at the Toronto 2017 NAIG.
 
The 2016 BC Aboriginal Provincial SOCCER Championships will serve as the Team BC Selection Event for soccer whereby the winning teams of the U15 and U17 divisions will earn the right to represent BC at the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games.  Accordingly, only eligible teams (“Regional Teams”) formed by the Regional Committees are permitted entry into the U15 and U17 divisions of the Provincial Championships (which qualify as U16 and U18, respectively, in the year 2017 at NAIG). 
 
AGE CATEGORY DEFINITIONS – 2016 SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS (in accordance with 2017 NAIG eligibility)
U17 – born in 1999 or 2000
U15 – born in 2001, 2002 or 2003
 
Following a host bid application process, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, in partnership with Northern Sport Centre, was successfully awarded the bid to host the 2016 BC Aboriginal Provincial Soccer Championships – August 26 to 28, 2016.
 
Contact Information:
Please direct inquiries to your Regional Coordinator:
 
FRASER REGION – Dianne Garner – dgarner@bcaafc.com
INTERIOR REGION – Bernard Manuel – bmanuel@bcaafc.com
NORTHEAST REGION – Leon Erickson – lerickson@bcaafc.com
NORTHWEST REGION – Adam Prytula – aprytula@bcaafc.com
VANCOUVER COASTAL – Cody Kenny – ckenny@bcaafc.com
VANCOUVER ISLAND – Kim Leming – kleming@bcaafc.com
 
2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)
The 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) will take place in the City of Toronto, July 16-23, 2017.  A multi-sport event for Aboriginal youth ages 13 to 19 from across North America held every three years, the NAIG celebrates sport excellence, youth, volunteerism, and Indigenous culture through a showcase of youth excellence in sport, language, tradition, art, song and ceremony.  Teams come from the 13 Canadian provinces and territories and 13 regions from the United States to compete in 15 different sports.  More info at www.naigcouncil.comand www.naig2017.to.