EMSA Complex Field Status updated by 3pm weekdays/10am weekends: EMSA WEST CHARPENTIER COMPLEX: OPEN —— EMSA IVOR DENT FIELDS: OPEN —— MTRS IVOR DENT Fields: OPEN Other Field Status Lines click here
EMSA Complex Field Status updated by 3pm weekdays/10am weekends: EMSA WEST CHARPENTIER COMPLEX: OPEN —— EMSA IVOR DENT FIELDS: OPEN —— MTRS IVOR DENT Fields: OPEN Other Field Status Lines click here
Common questions about EMSA programs, registration, and season information.
The E.M.S.A. uses 14 Arena Style fields for their Indoor Soccer Program in the City of Edmonton and surrounding areas including Spruce Grove. The Edmonton facilities are owned and operated by the Edmonton Soccer Association. There are 4 fields located in the Edmonton East facility at 12720 Victoria Trail, 4 fields at the Edmonton West Soccer Centre at 17415 – 106 A Avenue, and 4 fields at the Edmonton Soccer Centre South at 6520 Roper Road. With Spruce Grove Soccer Association also being a member of the EMSA, there are 2 additional fields at the Tri Leisure Centre at 221 Campsite Road in Spruce Grove (between Hwy 16 & 16A). Spruce Grove home games are usually held at this Centre. The EMSA Office is located in the Edmonton South Indoor Soccer Centre.
The game is played on an artificial turf surface using hockey arena style boards and built-in goals. The boards can be used for individual give-and-go wall passes. Player changes are done "on the fly" from the player benches located on one side of the field. Indoor running shoes are permitted, however most players over age 8 choose to purchase special indoor soccer shoes. Shin guards and shorts are required. The uniform (jersey) is usually provided by the Community or Club on loan. Teams consist of no more than 18 players (younger teams have less), with six players on the field at any one time — one being the goalkeeper. The game consists of two 25-minute halves with a 3-minute half-time. Penalties: Blue Card (2 minutes), Yellow Card (4-minute major), Red Card (ejection and 5-minute major). Mini soccer is also available for the Under 6 and Under 8 age groups, played on a smaller half-field.
Age groups for indoor arena soccer begin at the Under 6 (ages 5 and 6) age group and continue up to the Under 18 age group. Soccer for 3 and 4 year olds is not offered in these facilities; however, some communities run indoor soccer for these ages in local school and community gyms. Contact your Community Soccer Coordinator for availability in your area.
The season for all age groups begins late October, breaks for 2 weeks over Christmas, and completes in late February or early March — with Provincial Competitions for U12 and up taking place mid-March. Teams play once per week at one of the facilities. Mini Soccer teams are split into 3 groups and assigned a Soccer Centre for the season based on their location (e.g. North teams play at the North Soccer Centre). All other age groups should expect to have games rotate through all Centres.
Very! It is an affordable winter sport for all ages and offers a tremendous level of physical activity in a great atmosphere. Many areas from outside of Edmonton — including Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Morinville, Fort Saskatchewan and Bonnyville — have combined with Edmonton's local teams in regular indoor league play. The EMSA's Polar Cup Indoor Tournament, held December 27–30 each year, has grown from 75 teams in 1994/95 to over 400 teams, attracting clubs from across Western Canada including Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, NWT and the Yukon. It is open to both community and club teams at all levels of play. Registrations open September 1st each year.
Players may contact their local Community, or their District if they reside outside Edmonton. If their local Community does not provide a program, willing participants may contact the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association. EMSA will provide players with contacts to nearby Communities that offer the program. Please refer to the Zone Websites link on our navigation bar.
You may contact the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association at 780-413-3672, or go directly to your Community or Zone representative. Zone and District websites are linked in the navigation bar.
The Edmonton Minor Soccer Office does not handle individual player registrations. Please contact your zone or local community for more information, or check their websites. You can refer to the 'EMSA Zones' under 'Links' on our webpage.
Player Cards are identification cards required by all Tier 1, 2 & 3 players and ALL U16 and U18 players in order to play in the EMSA League. Cards may be obtained at your assigned Zone player carding session (see this website for dates & times) or by calling the EMSA Office. You do not need to know which team you will be playing on — just that you will be playing in Tier 1, 2, or 3 or are a U16 or U18 player. You are required to bring a piece of ID with your full first and last name. Acceptable forms of ID are Birth Certificate, Driver's License, Baptismal Record, or Alberta Health Care Card with the player's full name (no initials). Student IDs are not accepted. Player Cards are valid for 3 years; coach cards are usually valid for 5 years. Expired cards are replaced at no charge. There is a $20 replacement fee for non-expired cards.
EMSA does not keep old player cards in their office. Please contact your Zone office or Registrar — many old player cards can be found there. If your card is not there and you are positive you do not have it, check with your old coaches, who may be able to help. If you still cannot locate your card, a replacement is available from the EMSA office — however, there is a $20.00 replacement fee for non-expired cards. Note: It is important for players to ask their coaches for their player cards at the end of each season. Player cards are the property of the player, not the coach.
The tentative start date is usually the third weekend in October.
The exact playing evenings will be confirmed at the end of October. Schedules are released at the end of October.