Congratulations to our own Connor Vande Weghe for taking home the Goalkeeper of the Year Award in League1 Ontario. Vande Weghe helped the Sudbury Cyclones earn promotion into Ontario's Premier League for the 2026 season.
Connor also was a finalist for MVP and a first-team all-star.

Good friend of the GNSA and Vande Weghe's coach, Giuseppe Politi took home Coach of the Year honours.

You have represented your club and city very well.

Greater North Soccer Association is excited to recruit for the position of District Referee Coordinator (DRC) The selected individual will play a vital role in supporting the association by overseeing referee development, assignment, and administration throughout the district.

The job description is found below. This is a contractor position with a 12 month, $6,000 honorarium plus travel expenses to be capped at $15,000 in aggregate (expenses plus honorarium). Closing Date for Applications – when a suitable applicant is found.  Any questions should be directed to GNSA Chair, Clive Wilkinson - clivewilkinson1@gmail.com

Resumes are to be emailed to Diana Jurko, GNSA District Administrator admin@gnsa.ca

Joe was born to Slovenian immigrants in Kitchener and raised in Sudbury. He began playing soccer when he was eight years old, after being encouraged to try out for a team, where his friend’s father was the coach. At the age of 16, he joined the Sudbury competitive men’s league, where he played for the Croatia Adria Soccer Club, also serving on its board of directors, as a young adult.

Joe received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, during which time he began coaching youth soccer. Joe became a teacher and having taught all ages/levels, he now finds himself working as a Special Education elementary classroom teacher. After returning to Sudbury, he began coaching with the Greater Sudbury Soccer Club (GSSC Impact), joining its board as Technical Director in 2014, and then being elected President in 2016, where he still holds this position. Joe has continually been involved with the Beautiful Game – he continues to coach and play the sport he loves and he recently became certified as a referee.

Joe will be honoured at a luncheon on Sept 20, 2025 in Mississauga.

Source: Ontariosoccer.net

https://www.ontariosoccer.net/page/show/9227913-2025-centre-circle-awards-winners

Another success story that came out of Sudbury over the summer was the second year club Sudbury Cyclones.

The GNSA would like to acknowledge the promotion of the Sudbury Cyclones to League One Premier.

This is a great accomplishment for this northern club.

A special shout out to Sudbury’s own Connor Vande Weghe, current GNSA treasurer, who backstopped the Cyclones during the season.

This Cyclones provide a pathway for local talent to play at the highest level of pro-amateur soccer in Ontario right here in our backyard.

The team is made up of mostly varsity players from Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Algoma University and Cambrian College, making it a true representation of the best players in Northern Ontario.

The roster is also supplemented by past varsity players from the region such as Brandon Moxam (Sudbury) and Cody Vaillancourt (North Bay).

Special thanks to Dario Zulich whose investment in the soccer community enabled this to happen.

As we say goodbye to another successful summer of soccer in Northern Ontario, the Greater North Soccer Association will be promoting each club's most memorable moments.

We begin in Sudbury with Sudburnia and its All Abilities Soccer program. To see the smiles on everyone's faces put a huge one on ours! Way to go Sudburnia! 

Check out their success story below.

This past summer marked a huge milestone — the launch of All Abilities Soccer in Northern Ontario, and it all started right here in Special Education educators from Sudburnia! 

https://www.sudbury.com/pursuit/pursuit-soccer-program-for-special-needs-kids-a-big-hit-11034738

https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/article/sudbury-club-launches-all-abilities-soccer-for-inclusive-youth-play/

Sudburnia had so much fun that this fall it is running the program with an 8 week block and then it will run again in the new year with another 8 week block. Sudburnia will be expanding the age to 25 so as to include adults who want to train for the Special Olympics soccer in our community.

The 2025 Centre Circle Award winners were announced on Wednesday July 16th and The Greater Sudbury Soccer Club took home two awards.

The Club Recognition Award was given to GSSC, while Joe Snofl took home the Meritorious Award (North).

The Greater North Soccer Association is excited to announce that Mata Boboy is joining the GNSA as our first Technical Director.

In this new role, Mata will oversee all 18 clubs that fall under our membership.

“We have hired an exceptional candidate to lead the

GNSA ’s technical development moving forward” stated President Clive Wilkinson. “Mata will begin work immediately by visiting the youth recreational clubs with outdoor seasons only first, then the youth clubs with access to indoor facilities”.

Mata’s resume and history in the game met all of the mandatory qualifications that GNSA required for the role, including his C license, that he obtained in 2023. Mata is currently working on obtaining his B license.“As a former college and provincial league soccer player, I enjoy sharing my experience with young players. I am excited to get a chance to meet all of our soccer coaches in this vast region and get a chance to share my vision for them” said Boboy.

It is expected that the District Technical Director will travel extensively to the centres of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and North Bay, as well as to the cities of Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Temiskaming Shores and Parry Sound.

This position is aimed to educate and meet the needs of coaches within the GNSA both in the competitive and community streams. Establish a communication strategy and facilitate the promotion of coaching and coach education within the GNSA. 

To assist with player development programming and coaching courses within the GNSA.

The Greater North Soccer Association (GNSA) came into being January 02, 2023, amalgamating 4 districts associations in northeastern Ontario: Soccer North, Soccer Northeast, Sudbury Regional and Sault Amateur Soccer Association.

“I am always motivated to create a healthy environment where youth will enjoy playing soccer, learn new skills, & receive constructive feedback to support their development. I value teamwork, commitment, discipline, perseverance, resilience and empathy” Boboy added.

Join us in welcoming Mr. Mata Boboy to the GNSA family.

Ontario Soccer is proud to unveil its Technical Development Plan 2025–2036, a bold, forward-thinking roadmap that will guide soccer development in the province over the next 12 years. This plan aims to modernize infrastructure, elevate standards across all areas of the game, and ensure inclusive, high-quality experiences for everyone involved in soccer in Ontario.

https://www.ontariosoccer.net/technicaldevelopmentplan

Over the past 15 years, Greater Sudbury Soccer Club (GSSC) has grown from a three-year amalgamation project into a thriving soccer community with over 1,800 active members. GSSC continues to elevate the sport in Northern Ontario through inclusive programming, player development, and community partnerships.

Key initiatives include:

• Year-Round Programming: GSSC offers soccer for male and female players aged 3 to 18, as well as adult co-ed and women’s leagues. With both outdoor and indoor facilities, players can train and compete year-round across grassroots, recreational, and competitive levels.
• Competitive Excellence: GSSC teams compete in HDSL, TOSL, I-Model, and PISL leagues. The club also hosts the annual Great North Winter Classic Indoor Tournament, which has grown to include 40 teams from across Ontario, showcasing the club’s expanding reach and reputation.
• Inclusive Access: Daytime grassroots programming during summer months helps accommodate families with non-traditional work schedules. GSSC also partners with organizations like Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Delta Gaming, and the Sudbury Manitoulin Children’s Foundation to remove financial barriers for new Canadians and underserved communities.
• Youth Empowerment: The club fully subsidizes coaching and referee certification courses, creating paid opportunities for youth and helping diversify the sport. Many participants come from immigrant families, enriching the cultural fabric of the club.
• Community & Global Impact: GSSC gives back by donating equipment and uniforms to communities in Africa and South America, reinforcing its commitment to global soccer development.
• Player Pathways: Through affiliation agreements with the Sudbury Cyclones (League1 Ontario) and Vaughan Soccer Club (OPDL), GSSC provides clear development pathways for aspiring athletes, including opportunities for call-ups and exposure to higher levels of competition.
• Accreditation: In 2021, GSSC earned the Member Association Level 1 designation from Canada Soccer and Ontario Soccer, recognizing its commitment to excellence in club operations and player development.

Greater Sudbury Soccer Club continues to lead with vision and purpose, building a vibrant soccer culture in Northern Ontario and beyond.

Source: Ontariosoccer.net

https://www.ontariosoccer.net/page/show/9227913-2025-centre-circle-awards-winners

Ask and you shall receive.

Greater North Soccer Association is pleased to announce its new social media links.

Give us a like and follow our pages!

Be informed with the most up to date information by joining our socials.

By providing you with this service, Ontario Soccer is reaffirming its commitment to protect its members by providing a safe and positive environment within the programs, business, activities and events of the Organization.

ALIAS Reporting Service aims to help you report wrongdoing and situations that may be deemed inappropriate. This application allows you to make a report anonymously.

https://app.alias-solution.com/contact/en/osa21

As a spectator, it is alright to cheer and support your children but unlike other sports, you do NOT have the right to abuse a referee assigned to the game you are watching. The referee does have the discretion to remove spectators from the field.

As a player, the rules apply to you as well. Consequences include immediate ejection from the field of play and possible future suspensions.

It is NOT ok to:

• Attempt to intimidate the referee
• Name calling
• Dissenting and rude comments
• The use of foul language
• Any attempts to enter the field of play to confront a Match Official
• Other actions deemed inappropriate by the Match Official

Remember #norefnogame #ontariosoccer

Overview: The C Diploma develops the coach’s capacity to meet the demands of coaching grassroots soccer and is the entry-course to the Advanced Coach Education Pathway.

Target Coach: The C Diploma is a requirement for OPDL and League1 Ontario Assistant Coaches but is open to all coaches looking to advance their careers and understanding of the game.

Course Duration: 75 hours

Learning Environment:

• 6 days, in person (classroom & on-field)
• Independent Online Learning (asynchronous)
• Collaborative Online Learning (synchronous)
• Assessment of Competency

Pre-requisite:

• Learn to Train or Soccer for Life (Trained) or Ontario Soccer Grassroots Diploma (Certified)
• NCCP Make Ethical Decision (MED) Workshop + Online Evaluation
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders (Soccer)
• NCCP Making Head Way in Sport (Soccer)
• NCCP Emergency Action Plan
• NCCP Understanding the Rule of Two

Course Fee: $1,650

Licence Validity: Upon successful completion of the C Diploma the coach will receive a coaching licence valid for three (3) years. The licence may be maintained by following the Canada Soccer Maintenance and Renewal Process.

Application and Registration: Application window is open until August 9, 2024. Coaches must provide proof of pre-requisites. Successful candidates will be notified by August 16, 2024 and will need to confirm their placement through payment by August 23, 2024.

Log on to ontariosoccer.com to register

The Greater North Soccer Association, in partnership with Sault Youth Soccer Club are proud to announce that Ontario Soccer has approved Sault Youth Soccer Club’s (SYSC) participation in Michigan soccer leagues for the 2025 season.

“It has been 8 months in the making through open communication with Ontario Soccer and going through the proper channels to Canada Soccer and then to U.S. Soccer that we can make this exciting announcement today” said Clive Wilkinson, chair of GNSA. “After pitching our case that being a border city in northern Ontario, our ability to travel to Traverse City Michigan, to play league games would be equivalent to southern Ontario teams travelling from Toronto to London” continued Wilkinson.

“Soo United teams under the old restrictions, were allowed to play in a few tournaments in the United States,” Steve Mazzuca, chair of Sault Youth Soccer stated. “This unique opportunity allows our players to showcase their talents on both sides of the border. Grassroots players (under the age of 13) did not have a league to play in until this announcement. In our opinion, league play is essential to the growth of players who wish to pursue soccer competitively in the future. Currently there are approximately 210 Soo Junior United players (U8 – U12) in the pre- competitive stream and 125 players (U13 – U18).”

“The expanded competitive player pathway will get a lot of eyes scouting our players for different opportunities on both sides of the border. These opportunities for players to participate in Ontario Collegiate and Varsity showcase tournaments and the provincial qualifying tournaments such as the Ontario Indoor and Outdoor Cup can only be achieved as an Ontario Soccer registered player" said Luis Lima, technical director for SYSC.

SYSC teams will now have the opportunity to join the Mid-Michigan Youth Soccer League, the Director's Academy League, as well as the Michigan Youth Soccer League. This will add exposure to our very talented players in U.S. player recruitment offering more opportunities.

“Stay tuned for more information as we continue to make new partnerships and enhance our current ones. We wish to thank Canada Soccer and Ontario Soccer, as well as all of volunteers at Sault Youth Soccer, as we hope to make 2025 a very special year for soccer in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Wilkinson.