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South Delta talent off to HPL & Metro levels

Strong group of 2008s and even a couple of 2009s named to Coastal FC and Delta Coastal Select entry teams
Soccer grad class
Eighteen 2008 and 2009 born players from South Delta United are moving up to the B.C. Premier and Metro Selects levels next season following recent player evaluations. They include (back row from left): Danielle Bilodeau, Hayden Countryman, Matt McQuade, Kaden Meyer, Matthew Wigglesworth, Kieran Hartley, Charlie Rogers, Alexi Boufeas, Payton Kilpatrick, Juanita Pavi and Faye Beatty. Front row from left: Kylie Sandulak, Capri Osing, Santana DeMelo, Noah Murray, Elias Hezolou, Jason Saunby and Sam Rogers.

It’s one impressive “graduating” class for South Delta United.

The club is sending 18 players onto the B.C. Premier and Metro Select soccer leagues at the entry U13 (2008-born) age group following an extensive evaluation process.

Sam Rogers, Jason Saunby, Noah Murray and Charlie Rogers are headed to Coastal F.C. BCPSL’s boys team. Kylie Sandulak, Capri Osing and Santana DeMelo have been named to Coastal’s BCPSL girls team.

Both are planning to launch their inaugural seasons later this spring with an exhibition schedule before beginning league play in September.

Sam Rogers and DeMelo both pulled off the feat as underage 2009 born players.

Earning spots in the Metro Select League with the Delta Coastal Selects boys team are: Hayden Countryman, Matt McQuade, Kaden Meyer, Matthew Wigglesworth, Kieran Hartley, Alexi Boufeas and Elias Hezolou. Payton Kilpatrick, Juanita Pavi, Danielle Bilodeau, Faye Beatty are on the girls team.

Although formal evaluations were recently held for both teams, the process was much more extensive.

“This is a good portion of those age groups in relation to the size of our club,” said South Delta United technical director and general manager Mark Rogers, who will also be coaching Coastal’s BCPSL 2008 boys team in addition to a SDU girls side next season. “Yes, there are evaluations for both teams but coaches recommend players and there is feedback from technical directors too.

“We also go watch games, get a list together and continue to refine that list. We try to get the kids together as much as we can and there was an 11v11 game in December for players of distinction within the region here. By the end of January we had a pretty good idea of what the team will be and the second group as well.”

One of the biggest changes in youth soccer in recent years has been player evaluation. 

At the club level, Division One and Two teams were previously determined by end-of-the-year tryout sessions. Now those rosters are being decided by in season play and, more importantly, there can be player movement throughout the campaign. That’s especially significant at the younger age levels where players can improve considerably in a short period of time.

“Part of our development plan is to develop as many kids and give them opportunities yet still house good select teams within the club. We continue to monitor kids to link them into those pathways going forward so it’s not a dead end,” Rogers continued.

“Kids will change and we can move them up into those environments on a weekly basis. It’s not a yearly thing anymore. We will come to September and kids will change. We put our recommendations in and send them to train outside of South Delta.”

It’s why Rogers believes the Metro Selects League remains an important part of the player development pathway. South Delta has also become the main base for those teams while Coastal FC in South Surrey oversees the BCPSL program.

“Going from Division One right to BCPSL is just too big of a gap,” he added. “You would have the top 16 then really big numbers at the next level. This way a Division One player is invited to train with a Metro Selects team and then there is the opportunity to progress from there.”

“We always have a number of players move on from our club each year and some have even made to the Whitecaps (residency program). But there is definitely talent in these two age groups.”