United DFC Need to Know: February 19 - February 25, 2025
United DFC Need to Know: February 19 - February 25, 2025
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.
Come Try Soccer 2025 - Sunday March 2
We are excited to welcome our community to try out United DFC Soccer at no charge. Sign up here for the United DFC Soccer Club's Come Try Soccer event on Sunday, March 2 at East Coast Varsity Turf. Times/ Age groups are listed below. Wear a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers/ cleats. Shin pads are highly recommended. Bring a water bottle and a friend! There is no charge for this event.
Please share this event widely with your circle so more kids can try soccer! We are looking for volunteers as well!
Visit udfc.ca to learn more about our club.
Visit the Programs page for more information about the programs we offer
Location: East Coast Varsity Dome - 10 Poseidon Ct, Woodside Sunday March 2
| Age Group | Time | Location |
| U7/8/9 Girls | 2-2:50 pm | Field 1 |
| U7/8/9 Boys | 2-2:50 pm | Field 2 |
| Tiny Tots (U2-U4) | 3-3:45 pm | Field 1 |
| Mini (U5/6) | 3-3:45 pm | Field 1 |
| U10/11/12/13 Girls | 4-4:50 pm | Field 2 |
| U10/11/12/13 Boys | 5-5:50 pm | Field 3 |
An Evening with Laura Hall: Journey of a Top Soccer Referee- Tuesday, March 4th
Join us for an inspiring evening with Laura (Johnstone) Hall, one of Nova Scotia's premier soccer referees and recent appointee to the Canada Soccer Elite Development Women's Program. With 25 years of officiating experience, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge from both sides of the whistle - as a former player with Dartmouth United and at the university level, and now as an accomplished referee at youth, senior, and USPORT nationals.
Recently named Soccer Nova Scotia's 2024 Official of the Year, Laura is one of only 17 female officials across Canada training to referee professional soccer. She'll share insights from her remarkable journey, including her experiences officiating across Canada and the United States, and offer a unique perspective on this crucial but often overlooked role in soccer. Youth who are looking to hear about the incredible opportunities for referees and female referees in particular are encouraged to attend. Parents are also welcome.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
- Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Venue: Woodlawn Public Library Theatre
- Cost: Free admission, no RSVP needed
- Open to: All ages, all clubs welcome
- Capacity: 100 seats
Winter Participant Survey
As with all seasons, we wish to hear about your experience this winter in our programs. This feedback assists us in making adjustments, assignments and allocating resources. Please find the survey here.
Rising Leaders for Youth Coaches and Summer Jobs 2025
Want to make a difference in soccer? United DFC is launching our 2025 Rising Leaders Youth Initiative! We're seeking volunteer coaches and summer staff to help shape our next generation of players. Whether you're interested in volunteer coaching or summer employment, submit your application today. Help us create an unforgettable summer experience.
Please sign up ASAP and share with a friend. https://forms.gle/1vLpk11ahGE6S9sy6
Black and African Heritage Month Events
- BIPOC Black Excellence Celebration - Kick Around for Culture.
Sunday, February 23, 2025, Between 2-6 pm. Sign up ASAP
Players are invited to sign up ASAP for to participate. Visit HERE for more details and kick around times. Sign up HERE to attend for free.
All are welcome - especially those that identify with or are allies of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities.
How do I access my registration receipt for income tax purposes?
To locate your receipt, login to your RAMP account, go to "My Registrations" on the left hand side of your account dashboard and locate the registration you want a receipt for. Under the "Manage" button on the right is a green "Receipt" link. This will open in a webpage without an option to download it. Unfortunately, it is a long receipt with all registration details but this is how you access your registration receipt.
2024/25 NSSL Winter Playoff Information
Winter playoffs for competing U12-Senior teams begin as early as February 8th/9th.
Please navigate to this NSSL page directly for playoff information including dates, brackets, schedules related to your team.
Summer 2025 Information
Looking towards Spring/Summer 2025, the club can share the following tentative details for your plans:
- AAA Rosters will be finalized around March 9th.
- AA/A Assessments for U12-18 will be happening after March Break (estimated March 18-30 inclusive).
- Registration for ASSESSMENTS is open NOW. All players seeking to play AA or A from U12-U18 must sign up for assessments prior to March 17th.
- B players should register for the appropriate B program.
- Players should sign up only for the highest level they seek to assess for. If a player signs up for AA and is not selected, we will automatically include them in the A assessment list thereafter.
Program Summer Registration will open shortly after completion of each program’s assessments. This tentative assessment schedule is subject to change, with all assessment sessions hosted at East Coast Varsity Dome on March, 2025:
| Girls | Boys | |
| 18AA | Tues 18th 8:45-10 Fri 21st 8:45-10 | Wed 19th 6:15-7:30 Sun 23rd 5:45-7 |
| 18A | Tues 25th 8:45-10 Wed 26th 8:45-10 | Tues 25th 5-6:15 Fri 28th 8:45-10 |
| 15AA | Wed 19th 7:30-8:45 Thu 20th 6:15-7:30 | Wed 19th 8:45-10 Fri 21st 7:30-8:45 |
| 15A | Tue 25th 6:15-7:30 Wed 26th 7:30-8:45 | Tues 25th 7:30-8:45 Wed 26th 6:15-7:30 |
| 13AA | Tue 18th 5-6:15 Fri 21st 5-6:15 | Tues 18th 7:30-8:45 Wed 19th 6:15-7:30 |
| 13A | Sun 23rd 5:45-7 Tue 25th 5-6:15 | Sun 23rd 4:30-5:45 Fri 28th 7:30-8:45 |
| 12AA | Tue 18th 5-6:15 Fri 21st 5-6:15 | Tue 18th 6:15-7:30 Wed 19th 5-6:15 |
| 12A | Sun 23rd 5:45-7 Tue 25th 5-6:15 | Wed 26th 5-6:15 Fri 28th 6:15-7:30 |
The club’s Technical Staff are already intentionally evaluating players in U11-U18 for the remainder of the winter season in games and training environments, in preparation for the assessment window in March.
Programs without assessments that are open for registration NOW include:
- UDFC Summer Camps
- All programs for U11 and younger
These programs without assessments will open for registration on March 1st.
- Adult Beginner Soccer
- Quiet Soccer
- Walking Soccer
Referee Certification Announcement - 2025
Are you interested in becoming a referee this year? You can start your certification journey right now by completing the theory component (Block 1) of the Entry-Level Referee Course.
Important Requirements:
- Participants must be at least 14 years old on March 31, 2025 to take part in the course.
How to get started:
- Visit the following link to access all the necessary information and register:
Entry Level Referee Application & Course Information | Soccer Nova Scotia
(Locate the entry level clinic information and select Block 1. You will be directed to a Canada Soccer site to purchase the online course.) - After finishing Block 1, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Please make sure to send this certificate to Wigglesworth <kate@soccerns.ca> to register for the in-person session (Block 2).
Important Details:
- The HRM Entry-Level Course is expected to take place on April 4th and 5th. Final details will be posted on the SNS website in the coming days.
- Reminder: Block 1 (the online portion) must be completed before attending the in-person Block 2 session.
Other Referring Opportunities:
If you will be 13 years old or older by June 1, 2025, please consider attending the free United DFC community referee clinic! This community course will prepare you for a fun and rewarding summer of refereeing.
- Expression of interest will be sent to all players U13-U15 after registration is complete.
- The course includes a quiz, classroom session, and on field practical session.
- Dates and times are TBD, but will be in the month of May.
Clearance Sale now 65% off
Don't miss out on the UnitedDFC merchandise clearance sale, now offering 65% off ! We're clearing out inventory to make room for new arrivals, so grab your favourite gear while it lasts. Please note that this sale excludes game jerseys, training shirts, shorts, and socks. We're selling only the items currently in store, and we are not accepting custom orders at this time. Shop now and save big on quality UnitedDFC merchandise and legacy Items!
The code for 65% off is BLOWOUT
How much do you know about Safe Sport?
United DFC has policies for Safe Sport, Athlete Protection and our Code of Conduct which can be found on our website. We hope to better educate our members in best practices from our Provincial and National Sports Organizations which make the sporting experience safe for all.
This week, we highlight one of the important Safe Sport guidelines in discipline and complaints policy. Read about this guidance from our club which mandates safe interactions for players and coaches.
Safe Space Teen Kick Around
New Winter Hours
Monday 10-6
Tuesday 10-5
Wednesday 10-5
Thursday 10-6
We are closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Interested in Coaching?
If you are interested in coaching at any age group, please contact Fawn at fawnm@udfc.ca for more information.
We have something for all commitment levels, so please feel free to reach out!
Have 3 or more children playing at UDFC?
Check out our payment policy and contact Patricia Morrison at patriciam@udfc.ca to receive a $35 discount on player 3, and a registration value up to $300 for player 4.
GOALKEEPER TRAINING by KEITH PARTRIDGE - FALL/WINTER 24/25
For more information visit our website
PROGRAM SPONSORSHIPS
UDFC's greatest strength is its community. The club is actively looking for Sponsors or Partners to help reduce the cost of delivering - or enhancing - programs. Sponsorships support events like Soccer by the Sea, teams such as our Skill Center teams, and initiatives like Special Olympics and Women in Coaching. For known potential Sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to fawnm@udfc.ca.
Our club has ~3,500 members over the course of the year, with weekly Need-to-Know emails received by more than 4,000 individuals on a weekly basis.
Social Media: Share your United DFC Moments
Please remember to tag us in your United DFC social media posts! Photos can also be sent to katies@udfc.ca to be shared with our community.
Gear Collection
We are currently accepting new or gently used gear at our office that you no longer need. Any gear dropped off will be offered to any members who are in need. We will accept cleats, shin pads, gently used socks, shorts, training shirts, jerseys (GK jerseys too!) , tracksuits, hoodies, etc. as long as it is still in good condition.
Goalkeeper Gloves
Email Coach Keith(Keithp@udfc.ca) for a discount code.
Check out our partner, OK Tire:
Read more about our partnership here.
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
