European FC of Vernon (EFC) epitomized the summer in B.C. with a hot showing on soccer fields around the province.
While most Interior clubs take the summer off, EFC players have been working hard on the training field which has brought a handful of well-deserved medals and an immeasurable amount of soccer intelligence.
The club, which focuses on individual player development through Futsal, had success with the Smith &Son U12 boys placing second in two tournaments, and the Allegria Homes U11 girls, placing third. Both the OK Diesel U10 boys and Sutton Realty U11 boys competed hard in what for some was their very first contest outside of Vernon.
“This success has culminated in the club being included in the inaugural BC Academy Super League being played now through to November against the top academy’s and schools in the province,” said EFC outdoor head coach Ian Murphy. “While participation in the league is a milestone for the club and due primarily to the results the club has attained, it is also due in large part to the close working relationship the club has with the highly regarded European Football School of Vancouver. Training staff travel regularly to Vernon making local players eligible for selection to their international touring teams.”
Murphy puts the success on the field down to the exposure of Futsal and the player-centric approach used by the EFC coaching staff.
“It’s no secret that the great players played Futsal, so we use our Futsal (indoor) programs, which are open to all, as scouting opportunities for our outdoor teams as we find that the skills and ability honed at playing the fast paced indoor game helps player immensely on the outdoor fields.”
There are no tryouts or trials at EFC; every player is invited to join the outdoor program based on the coaches input from the Futsal programs. Each outdoor select player has a ‘scorecard’ with around 50 criteria that they are scored on over the course of a season by their coach and this forms the basis for an annual player report for player and parents’ eyes only.
“We have found this is a great way to not only motivate the player but also provide the parents with a true perspective on how their child is progressing – or not,” said Murphy.
The growth in Year 2 in providing area youth with a high quality but affordable soccer outlet is due in large part to the coaches.
Said coach Cliff Acob: “The tournament games are really the icing on the cake. This is where the soccer smarts are fine tuned and the players get challenged. No amount of training can substitute for the experience of cup game”
The club will host the second annual Vernon Futsal tournament, Nov. 4-5, for teams from all over the Interior. Kalamalka Secondary principal Mike Grace has been a great tournament supporter.
According to Wade Garrod, president of the club: “Players have so much fun playing Futsal that they don’t realize just how much they are learning and developing the skills required to perform at a high level. This has proven to be a huge benefit for development-aged players and also those pre-development players who just can’t get enough of the beautiful game.”
The European FC Futsal program is open to all and runs for 12 weeks from October to December and then again from January to March. The program has proven so popular that the club will be providing a senior boys and men’s program this fall with games on Saturday afternoon.
For more details, visit the club’s web site at www.efcokanagan.com or contact Murphy at 250-550-9888.