Over more than 50 years of existence, the Abbotsford Soccer Association has grown into one of the most prominent soccer clubs in the region. The values of integrity, honesty, and transparency form the foundation of ASA’s operations and have guided the club for decades. Let's talk about it.
By Jenny Holly Hansen | WBN News | April 27, 2025
The Abbotsford Soccer Association (ASA) is a non-profit community sports organization with a rich history in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Founded in the late 1960s, the ASA has become a cornerstone of the local soccer community, fostering a love for the sport across generations. The association’s mission centers on the transformative power of soccer – using the game as a platform for players of all ages to develop not only athletic ability but also essential life skills like teamwork, discipline, and resilience. “We strive to maintain the highest level of standards while providing comprehensive programming for all ages, genders, and levels. Fair play, inclusiveness and respect is the cornerstone of our organization”. These values of integrity, honesty, and transparency form the foundation of ASA’s operations and have guided the club for decades.
Over more than 50 years of existence, the Abbotsford Soccer Association has grown into one of the most prominent soccer clubs in the region. What began as a small youth soccer program has expanded into a comprehensive club structure that serves boys, girls, and adults at all skill levels. Today, ASA is recognized at the national level for its quality – it holds the Canada Soccer National Youth Club License, a designation awarded to clubs that meet stringent standards for coaching, development, and safety. This accreditation reflects ASA’s long-standing commitment to excellence and its continual efforts to evolve with the modern game. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a nationally licensed club, ASA’s history is characterized by steady growth, community support, and an unwavering passion for “the beautiful game.”
One of ASA’s greatest strengths is the wide range of programs and leagues it offers to accommodate various age groups and skill levels. The club provides year-round soccer programming – fall, winter, and spring seasons – as well as special summer programs like weekly camps. Here’s an overview of the key programs and leagues under the ASA umbrella:
By offering such a comprehensive suite of programs, Abbotsford Soccer Association truly provides “soccer for everyone” – from a four-year-old kicking a ball for the first time, to a teenager trialing for a premier league team, to parents and adults staying active in the sport. ASA’s philosophy is that each player should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve personal milestones at their own pace, no matter their level. This inclusive, player-centric approach has helped ASA produce not only skilled athletes but also well-rounded individuals who carry forward values of teamwork and fair play.
As a community-driven club, the Abbotsford Soccer Association places a strong emphasis on giving back to the community and supporting youth development both on and off the field. The association’s impact extends far beyond just organizing soccer games – it actively engages in programs that enrich the lives of local youth, including those with diverse needs, and it builds partnerships that strengthen the community fabric of Abbotsford.
One of ASA’s notable community contributions is its partnership with Special Olympics BC (Abbotsford). Each year, the club helps host the Special Olympics Soccer Tournament in Abbotsford, providing athletes with intellectual disabilities a chance to compete and enjoy the sport. In June 2022, for example, after a two-year hiatus, ASA once again teamed up with Special Olympics Abbotsford to put on the annual tournament, which saw 13 teams and about 150 athletes participating. Events like this demonstrate ASA’s belief in soccer as a game for everyone – the club dedicates field time, coaching help, and volunteers to ensure that players of all abilities have opportunities to play. The smiles and cheers at these Special Olympics events are a testament to the inclusive spirit ASA brings to the community.
ASA has also been a leader in introducing programs for children who might not thrive in a traditional soccer environment. In 2023, the association launched an Adaptive Soccer Program tailored for neurodiverse children and youth who face barriers in mainstream sports settings. This adaptive program creates a “barrier-free environment” where kids roughly ages U6–U14 with diverse abilities – including those with mobility impairments, sensory processing differences, communication difficulties, or developmental challenges – can learn and experience soccer at their own pace. The focus is on fun, fundamental movement, and social inclusion rather than competition. Trained staff coaches (along with volunteers) lead the sessions, emphasizing meaningful participation for each child. Parents are encouraged to stay and connect on the sidelines, fostering a supportive mini-community around the program. By offering this program, ASA is filling an important gap in youth sports – ensuring that children who might otherwise be left out get to enjoy the physical, social, and emotional benefits of playing soccer. The local response has been very positive, and ASA’s Adaptive Soccer initiative was highlighted in the news as a model for inclusive youth sports in the region.
In addition to these specialized programs, Abbotsford Soccer Association runs outreach and development initiatives within local schools and neighborhoods. The Community School Program, for instance, is an outreach effort where ASA coaches go into elementary schools to run soccer clinics and after-school sessions. This program introduces soccer skills to kids in a familiar school setting and often reaches youth who aren’t yet enrolled in club sports. By bringing soccer to them, ASA helps spark interest in healthy activity and lowers barriers to entry (such as transportation or cost). Many children who participate in school clinics later join ASA’s community leagues, having developed a love for the game through the school outreach.
ASA’s commitment to community can also be seen in the way it encourages leadership and volunteerism among its members. Older youth players in the club often volunteer as junior coaches or referees for the younger age groups. For example, it’s common to see teenage ASA players helping run drills for First Kicks sessions, or assisting parent coaches with U8 community teams. The club facilitates training courses for these young leaders (such as entry-level coaching clinics and referee certification), effectively developing the next generation of coaches and officials from within. This not only provides valuable experience to the youth volunteers, but also instills in them a sense of responsibility and pride in giving back – reinforcing the club’s family atmosphere.
The new Alumni Association mentioned earlier is another avenue of community building. By reconnecting former players, coaches, and parents, ASA is creating a network of mentors and supporters who can contribute to current programs. Alumni often return as volunteer coaches, team managers, or simply as fans cheering on the sidelines. The alumni group plans events (like an inaugural Alumni Gathering) to celebrate the club’s history and rally support for its future. This initiative underlines ASA’s holistic approach to community: once you’re part of the Abbotsford soccer family, you’re always welcome to stay involved. It’s a cycle of “players today, volunteers tomorrow,” which sustains the club and strengthens community bonds simultaneously.
Finally, ASA works closely with local partners and agencies to improve community sports infrastructure and opportunities. The club acknowledges support from the City of Abbotsford, Tourism Abbotsford, and Sport Abbotsford in events like its Easter Tournament (a fun family-oriented soccer festival every spring). In return, ASA contributes to the city by maintaining active use of city parks (like Bateman Park, ASA’s home base) and by drawing teams and families to local events, which has positive economic and social impacts. The association also collaborates with BC Soccer and the Fraser Valley Youth Soccer Association on community coach education and kid-safe initiatives, ensuring that Abbotsford is always aligned with the best practices in sport. All these efforts illustrate that ASA is far more than a soccer club – it is a community institution dedicated to youth development and inclusive participation, helping young people become not just better players, but better citizens.
In the past few years, the Abbotsford Soccer Association has celebrated several exciting milestones and has actively responded to new developments in the soccer landscape. Here are some of the recent news highlights and achievements that showcase ASA’s progress:
In summary, the past couple of years have been very fruitful for the Abbotsford Soccer Association. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic (which necessitated pauses and adjustments to programming in 2020–2021), ASA emerged strong and adaptive. It has introduced innovative programs (like the Adaptive Soccer sessions), earned national recognition, and continued to host beloved community events. Each piece of news – be it an accreditation, a partnership, or a tournament – adds to ASA’s reputation as a leading soccer club in the region. The club’s ability to balance competitive ambition with community values is clearly on display through these achievements, and it sets the stage for even more progress in the years ahead.
Like all community-based sports organizations, the Abbotsford Soccer Association faces a number of challenges as it looks to the future, but it has clear goals and plans to address them. One ongoing challenge is ensuring that the club’s rapid growth and high standards are sustainable. With hundreds of players from preschool to adult relying on ASA’s programs, there is continuous pressure on resources such as coaching staff, training facilities, and funding. ASA currently utilizes city fields (like those at Bateman Park and local schools) and has access to six main soccer pitches, but as membership grows, field space can become limited – especially during the rainy winters when grass fields are closed and everyone vies for turf time. To tackle this, ASA is actively working with the City of Abbotsford and other stakeholders to improve local soccer infrastructure. There are plans to advocate for more all-weather turf fields and improved lighting so that more training sessions can be held on winter evenings. The club also carefully schedules its programs (e.g. staggered seasons and times) to maximize the use of available facilities. Ensuring adequate, quality pitch availability is a key part of ASA’s future plans, as it directly affects the quality of experience for all teams.
Another challenge is the recruitment and development of coaches and volunteers. A club as large as ASA relies on many volunteer coaches (especially at the younger age groups and community teams). Attracting parents to step forward as coaches – and then equipping them with the right training – requires constant effort. ASA addresses this by providing coaching clinics, mentoring programs, and incentives for volunteers (such as covering the costs for coaching license courses). The club’s Technical Director and staff coaches have a goal of creating a consistent coaching philosophy across all teams, so that even volunteers with modest experience can effectively teach the game in line with ASA’s values. Over the next few years, ASA aims to increase the number of nationally licensed coaches on its rosters, which will improve the player experience. The new Alumni Association is also expected to help on this front, as former players often return as coaches or assistants. By building a bigger base of trained coaches and referees internally, ASA will mitigate the challenge of human resource strain and continue delivering quality programs as demand increases.
Financial stability is a perennial consideration as well. ASA is a non-profit, and while it generates revenue through player registrations, sponsorships, and fundraisers, it must keep soccer affordable for families. The club provides financial aid (subsidies or payment plans) for families in need, so that no child is turned away due to cost – but this means finding funds elsewhere to cover equipment, uniforms, facility rentals, and coach development. The club’s strategy for financial health includes cultivating community sponsors and partnerships. The “Proud Community Partners” section on the ASA website highlights local businesses that support the club. In return, ASA offers these sponsors visibility at events and on jerseys, and the satisfaction of investing in local youth. ASA plans to expand sponsorship opportunities, possibly by hosting larger events (like regional tournaments or gala fundraisers) and engaging alumni donors. Additionally, by maintaining its good standing and achievements, the club becomes eligible for grants (for example, via BC Soccer or government programs) which can offset program costs. Keeping soccer accessible while pursuing excellence is a balancing act that ASA is very mindful of as it budgets for the future.
On the competitive side, one challenge is continuing to produce top-level teams and players from a moderate-sized community. Larger urban clubs have a bigger talent pool, so ASA’s partnership in the Fraser Valley Alliance is a crucial part of its plan to remain competitive. In coming years, ASA will focus on making the FV Alliance thrive – aligning training methods among the member clubs, sharing scouting and resources, and ensuring that the combined teams can hold their own against the best in B.C. Success in this collaboration will be measured by how many Abbotsford players advance to collegiate programs, professional academies, or provincial teams. The club’s leadership also envisions greater integration of technology and sports science in training (e.g. video analysis for youth games, fitness and nutrition education for older teams) to give ASA players an edge in development. By staying on the cutting edge of youth training, ASA plans to meet the challenge of competitive parity despite being outside the big metro area.
Crucially, ASA’s future plans are not just about competition, but also about strengthening its community impact even further. The club intends to continue and expand programs like the Adaptive Soccer Program, potentially increasing the age range or frequency if demand grows. It also plans to maintain its support for Special Olympics and explore new community initiatives – for example, starting a **“Soccer and Homework” club where kids can get tutoring help before practices, or organizing charity matches to raise funds for local causes. These ideas align with ASA’s core mission of developing good people through sport. The club’s vision statement for the future emphasizes “remaining a leading organization enriching the lives of the people we serve” and creating “rich and mutually beneficial relationships” between the club and the community. In the words of the ASA leadership, the goal is to help not just the players, but the city of Abbotsford as a whole to continually succeed through the shared value brought by sport.
Finally, ASA is mindful of upholding the values and culture that have defined it. As it grows, the club’s challenge is to ensure that every new generation of players and parents understands the “ASA way” – valuing fair play, respect, and enjoyment of the game. The club’s plans include regular workshops on sportsmanship and mental health in sports, and an open line of communication for member feedback. By keeping its community tight-knit and its values front-and-center, ASA aims to retain that friendly, inclusive feel even as it expands programs. In essence, the leadership and members of the Abbotsford Soccer Association are building on a strong legacy to create an even brighter future. As their motto suggests, “Our club is ‘your club’” – the vision is for everyone in Abbotsford to feel a sense of ownership and pride in the association’s success. With decades of experience behind it and clear strategic planning ahead, ASA is well-positioned to continue “being a major contributor to the beautiful game” in the community for many years to come.
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Jenny is a business insurance broker with Waypoint Insurance.
She is also a business development consultant with Impresario Partners, helping Canadian Business expand overseas.
She can be reached at 604-317-6755 or jholly-hansen@wbnn.news. Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/. Connect with Jenny at BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennyhollyhansen.bsky.social
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