NEEDS ANALYSIS
FOR INDOOR SOCCER
IN WHITEHORSE
Phase 1 Final Report
Prepared by:
Luigi Zanasi Economist
Malcolm Taggart – Research Northwest
For:
Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association
March 3, 2001
Major Funding provided by the Community Development Fund, Government of Yukon.
Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
March 3, 2001
Executive Summary

The basic conclusion of this report is that, given that current facilities are fully
utilized, additional facilities for indoor soccer are clearly and unquestionably
required to meet both current and future demand.

Based on the number of participants, soccer (indoor & outdoor) is now the most
popular team sport in the Yukon.

The popularity of indoor soccer is likely to increase even more, both because of
demographic growth in the relevant age-sex groups and as a result of the aging of current
young soccer players.

The phenomenal growth of minor indoor soccer has resulted in taking up almost all
available suitable school gym space. Indoor soccer is also using gym space that is too
small or otherwise unsuitable.

The development of men’s, co-ed, women’s and masters’ leagues has been severely
limited by the unavailability of suitably large gym space. All the larger gyms in
Whitehorse are fully booked.

The growth of indoor soccer has also put serious constraints on the growth of other
sports that require large gymnasiums, such as basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey.

In its current configuration, indoor soccer uses over 100 hours a week of gymnasium
time (almost one-third of the total scheduled use by non-school users in the suitable
gyms). With the advent of adult leagues, this could easily go to 150 hours.

Based only on current demand, even without any consideration for future growth,
additional facilities for indoor soccer are clearly required.

It appears that just with the current demand, a one-court indoor soccer facility would
not be sufficient. (Each court provides 49 hours of prime time per week: 5 hours per day
on weekdays from 5:00pm to 10:00pm and 12 hours per day on weekends.) Two courts
would be sufficient to meet current demand, but would not allow for growth. Growth
could be accommodated either through a third court or using the freed-up gymnasium
time.
The report makes a number of recommendations regarding record keeping and to proceed
with a full-scale feasibility study for an indoor soccer facility. The feasibility study should
examine: growth in demand, options for size of facility, effect of different fees, location options,
capital and operating costs, and management options.
Prepared by
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Research Northwest
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Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
March 3, 2001
Contents
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... i
Contents ......................................................................................................................... ii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................ iii
List of Figures .............................................................................................................. iii
1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1
2.0 Review of Current Demand ................................................................................... 2
2.1. Indoor Leagues & games ................................................................................................................. 2
2.1.1. Whitehorse Minor Soccer .................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2. Co-ed Adult League ............................................................................................................ 3
2.1.3. Women’s Soccer ................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.4. Men’s Soccer ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.5. Other Soccer ....................................................................................................................... 4
2.2. Player Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 4
3.0 Review of Facilities ................................................................................................ 6
3.1. Facility usage ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2. Facility availability ............................................................................................................................ 7
3.3. Safety concerns for each facility ...................................................................................................... 8
3.4. Other facility issues .......................................................................................................................... 9
4.0 Forecast Demand ................................................................................................. 10
4.1. Demographic forecasts .................................................................................................................. 10
4.1.1. Births and Deaths.............................................................................................................. 10
4.1.2. Migration ........................................................................................................................... 10
4.1.3. Implications of demographic projections for indoor soccer demand. ................................ 12
4.2. Indoor Soccer Participation Outside the Yukon ............................................................................. 13
4.2.1. Prince Albert ...................................................................................................................... 14
4.2.2. Medicine Hat, Alberta ........................................................................................................ 14
4.2.3. St Albert, Alberta ............................................................................................................... 15
5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................. 16
5.1. Summary and Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 16
5.2. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 16
6.0 Appendix: List of contacts .................................................................................. 18
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Research Northwest
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Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
March 3, 2001
List of Tables
Table 1 - Number of Registered Participants, Yukon Soccer, 2000 .............................................. 2
Table 2 - Indoor Soccer Participants and Gymnasium Use, by League, Whitehorse, 2000/01 ..... 2
Table 3 - Whitehorse Minor Soccer Divisions, Teams, Start Times and Match Lengths .............. 3
Table 4 - Minor Indoor Soccer Players by Sex, Whitehorse, 1993-2001 ...................................... 4
Table 5 - Percentage Participation Rates in Indoor Minor Soccer, by Age Group and Sex,
Whitehorse, 2000/2001 .................................................................................................... 5
Table 6 - Scheduled School Gymnasium Use in Whitehorse by Sport or Activity, Gyms Suitable
for Indoor Soccer, October 2000 – April 2001 ................................................................ 6
Table 7 - Unallocated Weekly Gymnasium Time Suitable for Indoor Soccer, Weekdays and
Weekends, October 2000-April 2001 .............................................................................. 7
Table 8 - Indoor and Outdoor Soccer Participation, St. Albert, Alberta, 1999-2000 .................. 15
List of Figures
Figure 1 - Use of School Gym Time .............................................................................................. 7
Figure 2 - Population Forecast, Boys 5-19, Whitehorse, 2000-2020 ........................................... 11
Figure 3 - Population Forecast, Men 20-39, Whitehorse, 2000-2020.......................................... 12
Prepared by
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Research Northwest
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Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
March 3, 2001
Needs Analysis for Indoor Soccer in Whitehorse
1.0 Introduction
Soccer is the world’s most popular team sport. There are probably more people who play it in
some form than any other. This has also become true in the Yukon, where more people (youth
and adults) participate in soccer than in any other team sport. In Whitehorse, more than onequarter of all boys under 19 played in organized soccer (indoor and outdoor) in 2000 as did over
12% of all girls. Soccer has unquestionably become the most popular team sport in the Yukon.
In most of the world, soccer is played outdoors year-round, but this is obviously impossible in
northern winters. Indoor soccer, played in gymnasiums or in specialized indoor soccer facilities,
has become increasingly popular in Canada. It should be noted that indoor soccer is not only a
Canadian phenomenon. One version originated in Uruguay in the 1930s, has internationally
recognized rules, and is played in many countries where it is called “futsal” or “5-a-side
football”.
The indoor game is different from the outdoor one. Because of smaller indoor spaces, there are
fewer players on the playing surface. Depending on the size of the space and local custom, there
may be as few as three players per side with no goal-keepers. And, depending on the facility and
local practice, the walls may be “live,” that is, considered part of the playing surface or they may
be out of bounds. Whitehorse youth generally play with four and a goal-keeper, while adults
generally play with four and no goal-keeper. The walls are usually live in Whitehorse practice. A
standard indoor field has a playing area of approximately 180’ by 80’ with live boards similar to
those in a hockey rink. In a full sized space such as this, six-a-side soccer (five plus a goalkeeper) with hockey-like substitutions, is generally played.
This paper is Phase I of a two-part feasibility study for an indoor soccer facility in Whitehorse.
Phase I is a needs analysis of indoor soccer, including forecasts of facilities use and needs. It
analyses the current patterns of use in the school gyms where soccer is played and outlines issues
and problems with that use. It also analyses the current demand for gym space and the
demographics of that demand, and forecasts likely future trends.
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2.0 Review of Current Demand
The growth in the popularity of soccer in the Yukon can be seen from the table below. The
figures shown are the total number of registered participants in the Yukon Soccer Association
across the Yukon. These figures include both youth and adults, and indoor and outdoor leagues.
Table 1 - Number of Registered Participants and growth rates, Yukon
Soccer, 2000
Number of
participants
1,159
1,240
1,291
1,338
1,644
1,848
+689
Year
1995/96
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
1999/2000
2000/01
Total growth 1995-2001
Percentage
growth
7.0
4.1
3.6
22.9
12.4
59.4%
Source: YTG Sport and Recreation Branch
2.1. Indoor Leagues & games
There are a number of different groups and leagues playing indoor soccer. Minor soccer is the
largest group, but there is a co-ed adult league and both men and women play regularly though
not in a league format. There is currently no adult men’s league, but there appears to be
substantial interest in developing one. In addition there are various youth rep and developmental
as well as adult elite teams. The following table shows the number of indoor participants and
scheduled gym hours.
Table 2 - Indoor Soccer Participants and Gymnasium Use, by League,
Whitehorse, 2000/01
League/team
Minor Soccer
Co-ed
Women’s
Men’s & Masters’
Youth Rep/adult elite
Total
Number of
participants 2000/01
444
65
50
45
§
604
Current Hours of
gym use per week
54
14
*
4
37
109
Source: Participant figures provided by Whitehorse Minor Soccer and interviewees. Gym use data
from gym use schedule provided by City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation
Note:
*Women’s soccer shares time with the women’s rep team.
§Most, if not all, rep/elite team players also play in other categories.
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2.1.1. Whitehorse Minor Soccer
The Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association runs a very large indoor league through the winter.
The league is divided by the age of the players into 6 divisions. The divisions are: 18 and under,
15&U, 13&U, 11&U, 9&U, and 7&U. All divisions are co-ed. Just under 500 youth play indoor
soccer in Whitehorse.
Minor soccer uses the gyms at Christ the King, F.H. Collins, Holy Family, Jack Hulland, Selkirk,
Takhini, Vanier large, Vanier small, Elijah Smith, and Yukon College. The schedules are
designed so that each team has either 2 matches or 1 match and 1 practice each week.
Table 3 below lays out some of the details of the minor soccer indoor league.
Table 3 - Whitehorse Minor Soccer Divisions, Teams, Start Times and
Match Lengths
Division
7&U
9&U
11&U
13&U
15&U
18&U
No. of teams
4
8
10
13
9
6
Usual start times
6:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
8:00pm
8:00pm
9:00pm
Match length
20min halves
20min halves
20min halves
25min halves
25min halves
25min halves
Source: Whitehorse Minor Soccer
Minor soccer has a total of 44 hours per week of scheduled school gym time. The College gym is
booked for an additional 10 hours per week, for a total of 54 hours of gym time a week.
2.1.2. Co-ed Adult League
The co-ed adult league is non-competitive and has both an indoor and outdoor season. There are
approximately 65 players registered for the 2000/2001 indoor season who play on 8 teams. The
co-eds play their games in either the Vanier small gym or in Selkirk. Both of these gyms are very
small, especially for adult soccer, but are all that is available. The result is that this league plays a
highly modified form of the game, playing four a side and using no goal-keepers. The nets are
laid down so that the goal mouth becomes very small.
The league has 8 games scheduled each week, four in each gym. Games are scheduled in the
evenings from Sunday to Thursday. Originally, only the 9pm to 11pm time slots were available,
but the league has made arrangements with other scheduled users of the space and so have some
games at 7:30pm and at 8:30pm. Total scheduled gym time adds up to 8 hours per week.
2.1.3. Women’s Soccer
The Whitehorse Women’s Soccer League runs a four team schedule during the outdoor season
but has a more limited indoor presence. The Aurora All Stars, an elite women’s travel team,
practices indoors in the Vanier large gym on the weekend. They are joined by other women and
play pick-up games. Somewhere between 40 and 50 women participate although not all are there
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regularly. The women also use Vanier small gym once a week for practice and pick-up matches.
Total scheduled use is 5 hours per week.
2.1.4. Men’s Soccer
The Whitehorse Men’s Soccer League, like the women’s does not have an indoor league with set
teams and matches. Instead, the men play an informal pick-up game twice a week in the Vanier
small gym on Monday and Wednesday nights from 9pm till 11pm. Approximately 40 to 50 men
play indoor soccer, but the lack of gym space has hampered the development of league play.
Total scheduled use is 4 hours per week.
2.1.5. Other Soccer
This heading takes in a variety of other soccer uses of gym space, including the Canada Summer
Games teams and various youth rep and adult elite teams. Between them these various teams
appear to have 27 hours a week of scheduled gym time per week. The predominant gym used
is Vanier large, but Porter Creek High and Jack Hulland also provide time slots. All of these time
slots are on the weekend with the exception of 2 hours on Friday nights.
2.2. Player Demographics
Given the absence of organized adult leagues and the prevalence of pick-up games, we do not
have data on the age and sex of adult participants in indoor soccer. In 2000, about 120 adult men
and women played indoor soccer on a reasonably regular basis.
Detailed information on youth indoor soccer was obtained from the Whitehorse Minor Soccer
Association. There has been phenomenal growth in this sport in the last few years. The number
of players has almost tripled over the last eight years. Even more surprising is the growth in the
number of girls playing the sport, which went from 42 in 1995 to 131 in 2000. The following
table presents summary data on the number of players and teams. Note that these numbers
exclude referees, coaches and other non-players.
Table 4 - Minor Indoor Soccer Players by Sex, Whitehorse,
1993-2001
1992/93:
1994/95:
1995/96:
1996/97:
1997/98:
1998/99:
1999/00:
2000/01:
Boys
Girls
N/A
N/A
172
177
246
278
321
313
N/A
N/A
42
57
84
108
140
131
Total
Players
175
203
214
234
330
386
461
444
Number of
Teams
25
29
27
27
36
45
52
50
Source: Whitehorse Minor Soccer
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We can also examine participation rates, or the percentage of people in each age group playing
indoor soccer. The evolution of participation rates can also give an indication of the demand that
can be expected in the future, as these people age. There has been a constant increase in
participation rates for all age groups for both boys and girls, with a slight decline in 2000. The
following table shows the approximate percentage of the population in each age-sex group who
play indoor soccer in 2000-2001. These were calculated based on the population in each age
group in Whitehorse in December 2000.
Table 5 - Percentage Participation Rates in Indoor Minor
Soccer, by Age Group and Sex, Whitehorse, 2000/2001
Age group Both Sexes
5-9
6.7%
10-14
15.1%
15-19
2.9%
Total 5-19
8.3%
Girls
2.0%
10.5%
1.3%
5.1%
Boys
11.3%
19.1%
4.4%
11.3%
Source: Calculated from data provided by Whitehorse Minor Soccer and the
Yukon Bureau of Statistics Health Care population for Whitehorse
It is clear from the above table that older pre-teens and young teens (10-14) have the highest
participation rates in indoor soccer. The participation rate of teenagers (15-19) is likely to
increase as those now under 15 get older. However, the growth in participation by this age group
is severely limited by the availability of the large gyms they require.
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3.0 Review of Facilities
3.1.
Facility usage
Soccer is the single largest non-school user of school gym space in Whitehorse. Soccer takes up
21% of the scheduled available time in all school space, compared with 13.5% for basketball, the
next largest user. This percentage includes not only gyms suitable for indoor soccer, but also all
other gyms and also some schools’ multi-purpose rooms, etc. However, not all available spaces
are suitable for indoor soccer. The school gyms that can be used for indoor soccer are: Vanier
large, Vanier small, F.H. Collins, Porter Creek, Takhini, Jack Hulland, Holy Family, Elijah
Smith, Émilie Tremblay, Selkirk, and Christ the King.
When we examine only those school gyms in which it is possible to play soccer (eliminating
such spaces as the Wood St. Annex, the multi-use room at Elijah Smith etc.), the sport takes up
over 30% of scheduled non-school use of suitable space as shown in the table below.
Table 6 - Scheduled School Gymnasium Use in Whitehorse
by Sport or Activity, Gyms Suitable for Indoor Soccer,
October 2000 – April 2001
Activity
Dance
Gymnastics
Climbing
Computer Group
Archery
Exercise
Tennis
Floor Hockey
Other
Community Group
Guides, Scouts & Cubs
Badminton
Church Groups
Martial Arts
Volleyball
Basketball
Soccer
Grand Total
Hours per
week
2.0
2.0
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.0
4.0
6.5
12.0
12.5
16.5
17.5
20.0
22.0
30.0
64.0
99.0
322.5
Percentage of
available time
0.6%
0.6%
0.9%
1.1%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
2.0%
3.7%
3.9%
5.1%
5.4%
6.2%
6.8%
9.3%
19.8%
30.7%
100.0%
Source: Calculated from schedules provided by City of Whitehorse Recreation
Note: Includes the following 11 gyms: Vanier large, Vanier small, F.H. Collins, Porter Creek,
Takhini, Jack Hulland, Holy Family, Elijah Smith, Émilie Tremblay, Selkirk, Christ the King.
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Figure 1 - Use
of School
Gym Time
Use
of School
Gym
Time
Badminton
5%
Guides, Scouts
Church Groups
Martial Arts
& Cubs
6%
7%
Community
5%
Volleyball
Group
9%
4%
Floor Hockey
2%
All others
11%
Basketball
20%
Soccer
31%
3.2. Facility availability
Could soccer expand its use of the school gyms to allow more youth and adult indoor soccer?
The table below shows the total unscheduled hours available in the 11 gyms where it is possible
to play indoor soccer. Unscheduled time was calculated by adding up any blocks between 5pm
and 10pm on weeknights and between 10am and 10pm on weekends.
Table 7 - Unallocated Weekly Gymnasium Time Suitable for Indoor Soccer,
Weekdays and Weekends, October 2000-April 2001
School
Christ the King
Elijah Smith
Émilie Tremblay
FH Collins
Holy Family
Jack Hulland
Porter Creek Secondary
Selkirk
Takhini
Vanier large gym
Vanier small gym
Total
Weekday
hours
0
4
7
2
3
6.5
0
0
0
0
0
22.5
Weekend
hours
16.5
21
18
0
17
7
0
4
16.5
0
15
115
Total Hours
16.5
25
25
2
20
13.5
0
4
16.5
0
15
137.5
Source: Calculated from schedules provided by City of Whitehorse Recreation
Notable in the table above is that there is absolutely no unscheduled time available in either
Vanier large or Porter Creek gyms, and only 2 hours still available in F.H. Collins (Friday
evenings). In effect there is no available time in the three large gyms most suitable for soccer as
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well as sports such as basketball and floor hockey. These larger spaces are absolutely necessary
for the older divisions of minor soccer, for competitive adult play, and for youth rep teams.
It is not simply the raw number of unscheduled hours available that is important in determining
how much or whether soccer can expand its use of the schools, however. Equally important is
how those hours are distributed through day and through the week. As can be seen above, most
of the unscheduled time is available on weekends. Almost half of the currently available
weekday hours available are in the 5:00PM to 6:00PM time slot — an awkward time both for
adults who may work till 5:00PM and for youth who require those same adults to drive them to
games.
In the overall then, if soccer wishes to expand its programmes using existing gym space, it must
do so only in the smaller gyms and largely on weekends. For adult and older teenagers, the small
gyms become the stumbling block, while regular minor soccer games and practices do not
currently occur on weekends at all because of the scheduling problems this posed in the past.
Keeping regular schedules is often difficult. Co-ed soccer has to reschedule quite often because
of other bookings, about 1.5 games per week on average. Weekend times are even more
problematic for regular league play. Gyms are often required for special events and tournaments
on weekends. The Whitehorse Rapids’ Saturday morning slot has had to move from the Vanier
large gym or cancel between a quarter and a third of the time. Whitehorse Minor tried to run its
programs on weekends but has abandoned that practice because of continual changes in
schedules.
The lack of available facilities is also a large impediment to holding tournaments. Tournaments
require large blocks of time, usually in the larger gyms, over an entire weekend.
3.3. Safety concerns for each facility
Safety concerns in the facilities currently in use by soccer include:





Gym equipment (trampolines, gymnastic horses, garbage cans) left stored in corners is a
concern in a number of schools. Such equipment creates both a safety hazard and problems
with play as the ball becomes caught or bounces in unpredictable ways.
A number of schools have projections or other features that are both hazards and obstacles to
smooth play (the walls are part of the playing surface).
 Jack Hulland has a 3-foot stub wall projecting into the gym from each wall at centre court
(part of the divider that can be stretched across the room).
 The water fountain in the Vanier large gym is a safety issue.
 Takhini has an exposed pipe standing clear of the wall and a fire extinguisher, both of
which present hazards.
A number of schools have climbing walls or wall bars that again are a potential hazard and
create wild bounces.
Spectators sit on the stages in a number of gyms. This creates a hazard as balls often hit
spectators.
Christ the King’s gym floor surface appears to be deteriorating rapidly and may need
replacing.
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




Bleachers are both a safety and quality of play issue in all gyms that have them, especially
when they are in a partially pulled out position.
Basketball nets in the down position are also a problem in all gyms as they interfere with
high kicks. While this can be seen as largely a quality of play issue, it can also be a safety
issue as with anything that creates wild and unpredictable bounces.
Almost all gymnasiums have doors along the walls that form part of the playing area for
soccer. These doors inevitably have projections (handles, crash bars, or simply metal jambs)
that are a hazard during play.
The stairs up to the stage create a hazard in some gyms, with F.H. Collins being a prime
example.
The tracking of snow over playing areas by spectators can create a slipping hazard in gyms
such as F.H. Collins and Vanier large where access for spectators is difficult.
3.4. Other facility issues
The small size of many of the gym spaces was a recurring theme in the interviews with soccer
users. Holy Family, Jack Hulland large gym, and Christ the King are considered to be too small
for soccer even for the youngest of the minor soccer divisions. Some coaches believe that Selkirk
is too small for all except the 7&U division, and the Vanier small gym is of adequate size for the
9&U and 7&U divisions.
The gym at Yukon College is considered a reasonably good facility by many, but the expense of
renting it discourages more use. In addition, some feel that because its floor is of a different
material than the wooden floors in most gyms, strains and sprains are more likely for those
playing on it only occasionally. (It should be noted that Yukon College, Holy Family and CKES
all have the same type of floor surface).
The lack of consistent soccer markings on the various gym floors is a quality of play issue raised
frequently. Some gyms lack markings entirely while others have wildly inconsistent crease
marks, for example. This creates particular problems during tournaments as teams may play in
several gyms over the course of a weekend.
Clean up of the gym facilities can become an issue for users. While in some cases the custodians
uncomplainingly take care of any extra clean up of the gym, others resent the work required.
Some schools have mops left out allowing the floor to be cleaned but others do not. Another
related issue is the removal of such things as benches by the first user of a gym in the early
evening and the failure of the final user (who is unaware that they have been moved) to replace
them. This has caused some friction with the Takhini School for example.
Although minor soccer coaches are technically only responsible for the conduct of their players,
they also have to deal with the conduct of any other people (e.g. siblings, friends) that the players
bring along to practices and games. This can also become a security issue, as most gyms are not
locked off from the rest of the school.
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4.0 Forecast Demand
At this point, we are unable to provide precise forecasts of the demand or usage for indoor
soccer. Demand in Whitehorse is currently constrained by the availability of facilities, so we
know that there is still room for growth, especially in adult leagues. It is clear that current
demand is not being met by existing facilities.
4.1. Demographic forecasts
We prepared demographic forecasts for Whitehorse under three different migration scenarios.
The model we developed is a five-year cohort (age group) population projection model. A
demographic projection model requires a number of assumptions about birth rates, death rates
and migration.
4.1.1. Births and Deaths
The birth rate assumption we use is the 1991-1995 Yukon average fertility rate for each 5-year
cohort of women. Birth rates are forecast to decline by 10% over the next 10 years in the low and
medium scenario and to remain constant in the high scenario.1 Death rates are the average 19921995 Yukon death rate for each five-year age group and are assumed to remain constant in all
scenarios. 2
4.1.2. Migration
Three different migration assumptions form the basis for the different scenarios. The low
scenario assumes a net annual out-migration of about 170 individuals per year. Most of the outmigration is in the 15-25 age groups (young people leaving for school) and in the 45-69 age
groups (retirement), with no net migration in other age groups. The total was arrived at by
looking at the percentage of each age group that migrates every year, rounding it to the nearest
percentage, and applying it to the population age distribution.
The medium scenario has zero net migration. It has the same net out-migration as the low
scenario, but that is offset by net in-migration in other age groups (0-14 and 25-44).
The high scenario assumes a net in-migration of 200 people per year, distributed in the same agegroup pattern as was experienced in the Yukon during the high net in-migration years
(1991,1992, 1995, & 1996). The 200 total was selected to match the high-growth Yukon Bureau
of Statistics’ migration assumption of 300. It is assumed that two-thirds of the net migration will
settle in Whitehorse, roughly matching that city's percentage of the Yukon population.)
The following two charts summarize the results of the population projection exercise for boys
between 5 and 19 years of age and for men between the ages of 20 and 39. These form the
1
This is the same assumption used by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics in its low growth population
projections. (YBS, Population Projections to 2009, Information sheet #66.04-99.09)
2 Birth and death rates were obtained from Statistics Canada, Births and Deaths, 1993 and Births and
Deaths, 1995, Catalogue #84-210
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majority of soccer players although the sport is increasingly popular among girls, women and
older men. Demographic growth patterns for women are very similar to those for men.
Figure 2 - Population Forecast, Boys 5-19, Whitehorse, 2000-2020
Whitehorse Boys (5-19) Population Forecast
3,500
3,000
Population
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
20
20
20
15
20
10
20
05
20
00
-
Year
High Males 5 - 19 years
Medium Males 5 - 19 years
Low
Males 5 - 19 years
The number of boys is expected to decline over the next five years under all three scenarios. This
is a result of the aging of the baby boom “echo” (children of the baby boomers born between
1945 and 1965). Under a high growth scenario, the number of boys will start increasing after
2006. In a medium growth scenario, the number of boys is expected to stabilize at about 2,500
after 2005. In the low growth scenario, the continuing net out-migration will result in a continued
slight decline in the number of boys to about 2,200 in 2020.
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Figure 3 - Population Forecast, Men 20-39, Whitehorse, 2000-2020
Whitehorse Men (20-39) Population Forecast
5,000
4,500
4,000
Population
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
20
20
20
15
20
10
20
05
20
00
-
Year
High
Males 20 - 39 years
Medium
Males 20 - 39 years
Low
Males 20 - 39 years
The population of men between the ages of 20 and 39 is expected to increase under both the high
growth and medium zero net-migration scenarios. This is a result of the offspring of the baby
boomers as well as the tendency for in-migration to the Yukon to be composed of younger
adults. In the high growth scenario, the population of younger adult men could reach 4,500 by
2020, while the medium growth would result in an increase of about 600, with the young adult
male population reaching 3,600 by 2020. In the low growth scenario, with continuing net outmigration from Whitehorse, the population of young men would decline very slowly to about
2,600 in 2020.
4.1.3. Implications of demographic projections for indoor soccer demand.
Even assuming that soccer does not continue to increase in popularity, the demand for indoor
soccer facilities is likely to increase. The slight decline in the number of children wanting to play
will be more than compensated by an increase in adult players. It is only if Whitehorse’s
population continues to decline that there will be a reduction of demand.
As the large number of today’s young soccer players reach adult age, the percentage of the adult
population wanting to play soccer is highly likely to increase. This points to an increased demand
for adult indoor soccer, a demand that needs larger spaces. As is pointed out above, the larger
gyms are currently fully booked. If no new facilities become available, an expansion of soccer
can only be done at the expense of other sports.
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4.2. Indoor Soccer Participation Outside the Yukon
Our original intent was to obtain detailed information on participation in indoor soccer in
similarly sized communities in Western Canada (outside coastal British Columbia). We not only
wanted information on current participation, but also on changes that occurred when indoor
soccer centres were built in those communities that have them. The places we identified in an
attempt to contact their soccer organizations are presented in the following table.
Table 8 - Indoor Soccer in Western Canadian Communities
Community
1996 Population
Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo (Alta.)
36,124
Grand Centre/Bonnyville (Alta.)
35,161
Grande Prairie (Alta.)
31,140
Lethbridge (Alta.)
Medicine Hat (Alta.)
63,053
56,570
Red Deer (Alta.)
60,075
St. Albert (Alta.)
Dawson Creek (B.C.)
Fort St. John (B.C.)
Williams Lake (B.C.)
46,890
11,125
15,021
38,552
Prince George (B.C.)
75,150
Yellowknife (N.W.T.)
Estevan (Sask.)
Lloydminster (Sask. / Alta.)
17,275
12,656
18,953
Moose Jaw (Sask.)
34,829
North Battleford (Sask.)
Prince Albert (Sask.)
17,987
41,706
Swift Current (Sask.)
16,437
Carlton Trail/Humboldt/Lanigan (Sask.)
Yorkton (Sask.)
~10,000
17,713
Indoor
Soccer
facility
1 field opened
Jan 2001
Yes
Yes
Yes opened
Jan 2001
Planning
Indoor
Soccer
program
Yes –
limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Under
discussion
Planning
Planning –
fundraising
started
Yes
Under
discussion
Under
discussion
Under
discussion
Adult
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes – no
outdoor
Yes
Source: Population figures from Statistics Canada, 1996 Census. Information on soccer obtained from Provincial and
local soccer associations.
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Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
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Despite our best efforts to date, we have only been able to obtain participation information on
three other communities: Prince Albert in Saskatchewan, and Medicine Hat and St. Albert in
Alberta.
4.2.1. Prince Albert
Prince Albert, a Saskatchewan town of approximately 40,000 people, built a one-field indoor
soccer facility in 1995. The facility is an old warehouse that has been converted. The local soccer
association went into partnership with the local gymnastics club and a community group to buy
and convert the building. The building is divided to give both the gymnasts and the soccer
players a dedicated facility. The soccer field is smaller than the ideal at approximately 140’x 65’
due to the constraints of the existing structure.
Although Prince Albert has a very active outdoor soccer program in the summer with
approximately 2,000 to 2,500 youth and adults registered to play, it had a relatively small indoor
program. Before the indoor facility was built, approximately 200 to 300 youth played indoor
soccer in the school gyms. There was no adult indoor league play. They now have 650 youth and
6 adult teams playing indoors in their facility. This is the maximum possible use of the facility, it
is booked solidly every weekday evening from 5:30 till 11:30pm and all day and evenings on the
weekend for soccer.
Ideally, the soccer association would now like to buy out their gymnastic partners and so be able
to have a two-field facility. They feel they have the demand and could likely use two fields to
their maximum or near-maximum capacity. Of course, the soccer players are only able to play in
the evenings and on weekends and so the association rents out the facility to other users on
weekdays. Other users include a senior’s walking club and the schools.
4.2.2. Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat Alberta has a population of approximately 50,000 people. The local soccer
association has the use of a one-field indoor soccer facility that opened in 1998. Unlike Prince
Albert’s, the Medicine Hat facility was built from scratch but it is a multi-use space attached to a
community multi-plex.
Before the facility was built, there were approximately 200 youth playing indoor soccer in the
school gyms. There was little or no adult indoor soccer being played. Since the facility opened,
the numbers increased to 500 youth and approximately 250 adults engaged in league play. Like
Prince Albert, the facility is completely booked for soccer on evenings and weekends through the
indoor season. Apparently there was a very large hidden demand for adult indoor soccer in
particular that only emerged once a proper facility existed.
The greatest regret in the Medicine Hat soccer community is that they did not find a way to build
a two-field facility. There is likely enough soccer demand to fully utilize the second field locally,
and a single field facility makes it very difficult to hold tournaments.
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4.2.3. St Albert, Alberta
The St. Albert Soccer Association sent the following information to Whitehorse Minor Soccer.
There are currently about 1,500 indoor soccer players in St. Albert: 400 adults and 1,100 youth.
This represents a considerable increase over 1999 when there were 1,200 players. The following
table presents the number of players and participation rates for Indoor and Outdoor Soccer in
Price Albert in the 2000/2001 season.
Table 9 - Indoor and Outdoor Soccer Participation, St. Albert, Alberta,
1999-2000
2000
1999
2000
1999
Youth (6-19)
Adult (20-54)
Number of
Participation
Number of
Participation
players
Rate
players
Rate
Indoor soccer
1,100
8.9%
400
1.6%
800
6.5%
300
1.2%
Outdoor Soccer
2,850
23.1%
720
2.8%
2,600
21.8%
480
1.9%
Given St. Albert’s larger population (46,890 in 1996), it is not surprising that it has more players.
When we divide the number of players by the relevant population, St. Albert has youth indoor
soccer participation rates similar to Whitehorse. However, it has much higher adult participation
rates.
The St. Albert Soccer Association has about 140 hours a week of indoor soccer, of which 40
hours are in local gyms and about 100 hours are in Edmonton area soccer centres. The SASA
still has no firm plan to build an indoor centre, but they are thinking of a 3- or 4-field facility.
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5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1. Summary and Conclusions
The popularity of soccer and indoor soccer in particular has increased phenomenally in the last
decade. Soccer is now the most popular team sport in the Yukon gauged by the number of
participants. That popularity is likely to increase, both because of demographic growth in the
relevant age-sex groups and as a result of the aging of current young soccer players.
The phenomenal growth of minor indoor soccer in the last few years has resulted in taking up
almost all available suitable school gym space. And even that is not enough. The development of
men’s, co-ed, women’s and masters’ leagues has been severely constrained by the unavailability
of suitably large gym space.
The popularity of indoor soccer has also put serious constraints on the growth of other sports that
require large gymnasiums, such as basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey.
In its current configuration, indoor soccer uses over 100 hours a week of gymnasium time. With
the advent of adult leagues, this could easily go to 150 hours. Most of the elementary schools
gyms are too small or otherwise inappropriate for indoor soccer, especially for older children and
adults. All the larger high school gyms in Whitehorse are fully booked and there is no room for
expansion. A number of gyms have safety hazards for soccer players.
Based only on current demand, even without any consideration for future growth, additional
facilities for indoor soccer are clearly required.
It appears that just with the current demand, a single field indoor soccer facility would not be
sufficient. One indoor soccer field would provide about 50 hours of “prime” playing time per
week. This includes 5 hours per day on weekdays (from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM) and 12 hours per
day on weekends (10:00 AM to 10:00 PM). This is based on the assumption that all games are
played full field. The youngest divisions of minor soccer might be expected to play half field
games. It should be noted that an indoor soccer facility might allow larger teams to play, but this
would only slightly reduce the gym time required, given the number of age divisions. Fifty hours
per week is half of the current gym utilization by soccer. Two fields would be sufficient to meet
current use, but would not allow for growth. Growth could be accommodated either through a
third field or possibly using the freed-up gymnasium time.
5.2.
Recommendations
1. Data should be kept on the demographics of adult soccer participants.
2. The various soccer associations should keep data on the size of waiting lists and the number
of applicants.
3. Whitehorse Minor Soccer should proceed with a feasibility study that would examine and
recommend options for an indoor soccer facility.
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4. Forecasts of demand based on the experience of other communities should be developed for
the feasibility study. This would entail obtaining better information on participation rates in
similarly sized communities in western Canada.
5. The feasibility study should consider options for a one-field, a two-field and a three-field
facility, and the impact of each option on gym utilization and on other sports.
6. The feasibility study should examine the effect of costs on the popularity of the sport and
estimate the effect of different fee regimes on participation. This might be done through a
survey of the motives of soccer players and/or their parents as well as the examination of fee
structures in other similar-size communities with indoor soccer facilities.
7. The feasibility study should review and evaluate different location options for a soccer
facility. The options to be considered should include

a stand-alone facility, either new or a renovation of an existing structure;

integrating the soccer facility with the multiplex;

attaching the facility to an existing school;

given that rebuilding F.H.Collins is under review, incorporating an indoor soccer
facility in the new school.
8. The feasibility study should examine operating costs under the different location options as
well as facility management options. The management options to be evaluated could include:
management by the City of Whitehorse, by the Department of Education, or by a soccer
association.
9. The feasibility study should examine what would be required to make the facility selfsufficient, as soccer facilities are self-sufficient in a number of other communities.
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Indoor Soccer Needs Analysis Final Report
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6.0 Appendix: List of contacts
Whitehorse Minor Soccer
Bernice Carveth
Chris Blore
Gerald Haase
Kerry Nolan
Brian McGovern
John McPhail
Ken Sylvestre
Hanne Hoefs
President & coach
Board member & coach
Board member & coach
Board member
Coach
Coach
Coach
Sport Administrator
Whitehorse Adult Soccer
Crystal Birmingham
Danny MacDonald
Brenda Dion
Joe Zuccarini
Daniela Meier
President of Women’s League
Acting president of Men’s League
Aurora All-stars
Coach of CSG Men’s Team
Vice-president, Co-ed Adult Soccer
Yukon Soccer Association
Dave Stockdale
Don Russell
Lynda Ehrlich
Carmen Ingram
Derric Lewis
Sarah Hanson
Andy Bjerke
Grant MacDonald
Pat Westberg
Charly Kelly
Dean Mastrangelo
President
Northern Flames
Northern Flames
Midnight Sun Kickers
Assante Templars
CSG Women’s
Northern Knights (Under-16 Rep)
Under-13 Boys Rep
CSG Boy’s
Aurora All-stars & Midnight Sun Kickers
Sport Administration
Outside Contacts
Anna Smith
David Herbert
Medicine Hat Soccer Association
Prince Albert Minor Soccer Association
Government Contacts
Doug Hnatiuk
Linda Armstrong
Vern Haggard
Peter Milner
Gordon deBruyn
Colin McDowell
City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation
City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation
Yukon Sports and Recreation
Yukon Sports and Recreation
Yukon Department of Education
Yukon Department of Education
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