Need to Know - September 20th - 27th
United DFC Need to Know - September 20th-27th, 2023
Welcome to United DFC’s weekly Need to Know newsletter. Our aim is to keep you informed about everything that is going on inside the club. Watch for your update every Wednesday.
Did you know?
You are able to see the TENTATIVE Fall/Winter Schedule on our website. Click here to view.
Office Open Saturday
The United DFC office will be open this Saturday, September 23rd from 10am-2pm for anyone that would like to come in to register.
Final Goalkeeping Session with Keith
The final Goalkeeping session with Keith will be September 26th at ECV.
6-7pm - 12 and under
7-8pm - 13 and over (A/B)
8-9pm - 13 and over (AAA/AA)
Alderney Landing Fire & Water Cultural Festival September 22-23 from 6:30pm-9:30pm
Come celebrate Nova Scotia’s Cultural Diversity at the Dartmouth Waterfront Festival.
Be ready for a memorable couple of days chock full of celebrations! You will find a fusion of music, dance, art, food and spectacular fire performances that will awaken your senses. This fun-filled for the whole family is a FREE event that celebrates Nova Scotia’s rich cultural diversity.
United DFC 5 Year Anniversary
United DFC is collecting high quality shots from the past 5 years that would highlight some of the special moments of players, teams, coaches and fans over the first 5 years of the club’s existence. Please send these high quality photos (or video clips) to Katie At katies@udfc.ca. We also would love before and after photos (5 years ago and now). Please send by October 1st.
CBC News Story She CAN Coach
Tune into CBC News tonight at 6pm. Click here to read more.
Senior Women’s National Schedule
Come support our Senior Women’s Team as they play in the Senior Women’s Nationals. The schedule for their first four games can be found below.
Wednesday, October 4 @ 4 pm Mainland Commons 1
Thursday, October 5 @ 6:30 pm Mainland Commons 2
Saturday, October 8 @ 2 pm Mainland Commons 2
Sunday, October 8 @ 2 pm Mainland Commons 1
U15 and U18 A/AA Assessments
*Please note that assessment registration is not registration for your player’s program or team. Once players have been evaluated and team placement decided, programs will become available for registration and players will be sent a code which will enable them to register for their program. Players cannot be assigned to a team unless they have registered first.
- Saturday, September 30th 8am - 2pm @ Cole Harbour Turf
- Sunday, October 1st 8am - 2pm @ Cole Harbour Turf
| Saturday 30th, September at Cole Harbour Turf | Sunday 1st, October at Cole Harbour Turf | |
| 8-9:30 am | BU18AA and A | GU18AA and A |
| 9:30-11 am | GU18AA and A | BU18AA and A |
| 11-12:30 am | BU15AA and A | GU15AA and A |
| 12:30-2 pm | GU15AA and A | BU15AA and A |
*Please note that assessment registration is not registration for your player’s program or team. Once players have been evaluated and team placement decided, programs will become available for registration and players will be sent a code which will enable them to register for their program. Players cannot be assigned to a team unless they have registered first.
National Coaches Week
National Coaches Week is September 16-24th. Visit the link here to take part in local activities, planning a recognition event and sharing a personalized message to thank your coach.
As we gear up to celebrate National Coaches Week, it's time to shine a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who dedicate their time, passion, and expertise to nurture the talents of our young athletes. Our coaches and managers are the unsung heroes of United DFC, and their unwavering commitment deserves to be celebrated!
What is National Coaches Week?
National Coaches Week, taking place from September 16th to September 24th, 2023, is a time to recognize the incredible contributions of coaches and managers across Canada. It's an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and appreciation for their relentless efforts in shaping the future of our club.
How can you celebrate our coaches?
Player-Made Thank You Cards
We encourage our young athletes to create thank-you cards or messages for their coaches and managers. These can be dropped off at the club office or handed to your team manager. We'll make sure they reach their intended recipients.
Social Media Shout out
Show them some love! Share your personal stories and messages of thanks to your coaches and managers using #UnitedDFCCoaches and #NationalCoachesWeek to join the celebration.
National Coaches Week is an opportunity for us to come together as a club and express our gratitude for the dedication, passion, and expertise of our coaches and managers.
If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can make this week even more special, please don't hesitate to reach out to: info@udfc.ca.
Thank you for being part of the United DFC family and for supporting our coaches and managers. We look forward to celebrating National Coaches Week together!
Your Voice Matters! Take the Survey by September 22, 2023 by 5pm
We believe that your insights and experiences are invaluable in shaping our club's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. By completing our survey, which should take just a few minutes of your time, you will contribute significantly to this essential dialogue. Your feedback will enable us to develop policies, processes, programs, and outcomes that promote equity and inclusivity for all members of our community. Please fill out the survey by September 22, 2023 by 5pm here.
Strongest Families Webinar October 4th
Join the Strongest Families Institute on October 4th during Mental Health Illness Awareness Week for a game-changing webinar. Their upcoming Back to School webinar is inviting parents and caregivers to join them for a 30-minute free webinar: “Mental Health as an Extra-Curricular Activity”
The challenges of juggling school routines, extracurricular activities, and our children’s well-being can seem like a lot for many families. Through this webinar, we hope you find strategies and support to help. In this webinar, you’ll gain invaluable insights and practical tips on:
Strongest Families Institute and their family centered programs
Making mental health and your well-being a top priority for your family.
Easy-to-follow tips for a seamless back-to-school transition.
If you are interested in this webinar on October 4 th at 12:00PM AST visit the strongest families website now to enroll Webinar Registration.
AAA Assessments 2024
2024 Youth AAA team formations began the week of August 28th. If you are new to the club and would like to be considered for the program, please reach out to Director of Soccer, fawnm@udfc.ca
U13 Boys (2011 born) Fall/Winter Assessments
We will be hosting a series of assessment sessions for the players graduating from U12 and moving to U13 this Fall/Winter. These players are 2011 born.
Confirmed assessment dates are as follows at East Coast Varsity Dome:
| Sunday 10th | 4-5:30pm |
| Sunday 17th | 4-5:30pm |
| Sunday 24th | 4-5:30pm |
We will work with the Summer Coaches to ensure players are recommended to the appropriate level for their current development level this Fall. Players will not be directly penalized for failing to attend all sessions but will have the best exposure to Technical Staff by attending.
At U13, the levels are:
- AA
- A
- B
Please RSVP to the assessment dates here.
September 24th-30th is Concussion Awareness Week
Click here to learn more about Concussion Awareness Week.
As part of Concussion awareness week September 24-30th, here are a few resources to share with our soccer community:
#WeAreHeadsrtong
Coaching Association of Canada
Coaches Kickoff Week: October 10-15th
- Active Start/Fundamentals (Tuesday 10th October at ECV 6-9 pm)
- Soccer for Life/Learn to Train (Wednesday 11th October at ECV 6-9 pm)
- Skill Centre Walkthrough night (Thursday 12th October at ECV 5-6:30 pm) - mock-up program setup, run through, curriculum, etc.
- Coach Social & Share (Sunday 15th October 9am-3pm) - classroom sessions, peer-led sessions, guest sessions, kick about, staff appreciation
Save the Date
We are in the early stages of planning a W-Inspire Event on the weekend of Nov 18/19 in Halifax. A highlight of the event will be an opportunity for everyone to meet former National Team Goalkeeper, Erin McLeod, and see her Olympic medals (two bronze and a gold). Keep checking here and on our social media for details.
All Coaches and Managers must Register
*IMPORTANT * ALL Coaches and Managers will be required to register at the beginning of each season *Registration is OPEN*
Unlike Demosphere, we are unable to transfer coaches over from one season to the next in RAMP. Winter 2023/24 registration is now open for Coaches and Managers (not players). Please register at your earliest convenience HERE.
United DFC and TELUS She CAN Coach
United DFC is thrilled to be included as a participant in the inaugural phase of the TELUS She CAN Coach program that launched this week. TELUS She CAN Coach is a national coach recruitment, development, and training project designed for women to address the challenges they face regarding soccer participation. Already regarded as a leader in the province for female coaching development, United DFC is excited to take this to the next level with the support of Telus, Canada Soccer and Soccer NS.
The program will take place over the next 12 months with opportunities for BRAND NEW and novice female and gender diverse coaches within our club. Participants self-determine if they are "novice" based on their experience level and confidence. Below is a link to an expression of interest form for anyone who would like to be contacted directly when the recruitment phase begins. United DFC has a longstanding commitment to developing more female and gender diverse coaches. We are confident that we will excel in the TELUS She CAN Coach program.
UDFC Expression of Interest Form: https://forms.gle/VKTxFKriA4m3dNr68
Full Press Release from Canada Soccer: https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-soccer-launches-national-telus-she-can-coach-program-with-20-participating-clubs/?fbclid=IwAR1D5RogaQUYzsNxPxUCd8_G6MI6D8URZ4E8HqWjrIpAb2VwzzozWR2HPRU
Important Dates
Sept. 30-Oct 1 - U15 & U17 AAA Play-offs
Sept. 30-Oct 1 - UDFC U15 and U18 A/AA Assessments
Oct. 3-9 - AAA Club Nationals
September 50/50
United DFC is excited to announce a Monthly 50/50 Club-Wide Fundraiser. Raffles will occur monthly, with draws taking place on the 1st of the Month from April 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024.
September 50/50 Link
Office Hours
Social Media Channels
Please follow our social media channels and like/tag/share/comment on any posts that resonate with you. This is a small thing you can do that will help the club a great deal.
Instagram: @UnitedDFC
Facebook: @UnitedDFC
Twitter: @UnitedDFC
TikTok: @UnitedDFC
YouTube: @United DFC
Upcoming Events
May. 01, 2023 to Sep. 27, 2023
U13-U18 B Season
U13-U18 B season begins week of May 1st
