The Okanagan Premier League finishes its first season Wednesday.
In its inaugural year, the league supplied competitive soccer throughout the winter.
League founder Brandon McCallum wanted to provide more than just another soccer league playing in an indoor venue.
害羞草研究所淚 wanted to make a real competitive league,害羞草研究所� said McCallum.
害羞草研究所淚t was hard to get going, but once I did, I had guys saying that this will really help with their off-season fitness and touch.害羞草研究所�
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The season took place at the Rutland indoor dome to avoid the winter害羞草研究所檚 cold; nine teams playing a 14-game season that started in November and concluding right before the start of spring soccer.
With a smaller indoor soccer pitch and an eight-a-side team lineup formation, McCallum wanted the level of play in the league to be as high pace as possible.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e loved soccer all my life, I wanted league play that wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be too congested or have players not keep up with fitness,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a state of the art facility for (this type of competition).害羞草研究所�
Soccer in Kelowna during the winter takes a deep back seat to hockey, but with players coming from Penticton, Peachland and Vernon to join Okanagan Premier League, McCallum feels it害羞草研究所檚 clear that soccer players want year-round competitive play options.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 truly an Okanagan League, which is what I wanted it to be. Players are willing to come to town to play against the best players (and indoor teams) in the area,害羞草研究所� McCallum said.
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McCallum has been fully invested in local soccer programs since moving to the Okanagan in 2012.
He spent four years with the UBC Okanagan Heat soccer team, including a CIS playoff berth in 2015, and is now part of the Okanagan Football Club playing in the Pacific Coast Soccer League starting in May.
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McCallum said that he hopes the indoor league will boost local soccer interests, especially for next winter.
害羞草研究所淒efinitely want more teams to join in next season. The vision is to have two men害羞草研究所檚 divisions and either a women害羞草研究所檚 or a coed division. The idea is to have a smooth transition (available) from indoor (winter) soccer to outdoor (spring) soccer.害羞草研究所�
With outdoor fields now opening throughout the Okanagan, the Okanagan Premier League will look to next season and invite more dedicated soccer players for competitive soccer next winter.
The finals for the Okanagan Premier League害羞草研究所檚 first season is Wednesday night at the Rutland dome at 8:30 p.m.
For more information on the league contact okanaganpremierleague@gmail.com.
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