Students who can't get enough soccer now have a high school course dedicated to the sport.
School District 57 approved the proposed course, called Soccer Performance 10, set to be offered at Duchess Park Secondary.
Robert Lewis, the teacher who designed the course and presented at Tuesday night's meeting, said the course is catered to people who already have an interest and some knowledge of the game.
"This isn't about the game of soccer," he said, clarifying the course won't be teaching the rules and rather operates on the expectation that students will have a pre-existing knowledge of the sport.
The course outline identifies the focus as enhancing a player's technical ball mastery, individual playing skills, tactical game awareness and training habits.
"We want to have transferable skills," said Lewis, adding it focuses on the "whole athlete" and would also touch on energy systems, nutrition and injury prevention.
The course is open to all students at Duchess Park Secondary, but Lewis suggested it would only interest soccer fans and said he hoped to see a full class of 30 students. There is no fee for the course.
Lewis noted that when students hit Grade 10, teachers notice they lose interest in some classes and that this class would give them something else they're interested in.
"It's definitely a lifelong sport," said Lewis and referenced a group of men that meet every Sunday to play soccer at UNBC - and have done so for 60 years.
Sharel Warrington praised the approach.
"It's a personalized learning format that I appreciate," said Warrington, who stressed students in general need more physical activity.
She and other trustees agreed Prince George seems to have a special interest in soccer.
"I believe that soccer has been such an active sport in our community," said Warrington. "I can't think of a better approach to provide these skills."
