More than 70 teams took part in the 2004 Northwestel Yukon Indoor Soccer Championship this past weekend in Whitehorse.

More than 700 athletes from eight communities Dawson City, Beaver Creek, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Watson Lake, Whitehorse and Atlin, B.C., came to the tournament, competing in six different age categories. The 71 teams marked three more than last year.

The games were held in seven different gyms throughout Whitehorse Christ the King Elementary, Ecole Emilie Tremblay, Porter Creek Secondary School, Selkirk Elementary, Takhini Elementary, Vanier Catholic Secondary and Yukon College.

'It was a success considering how many teams were signed up, a huge success,' said Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association president Gerald Haase in an interview after the finals Sunday. 'I think the YSA (Yukon Soccer Association) did a really good job of organizing it.

'There are always a few glitches at any tournament, but the important thing is to remember fair play.'

Northwestel spoksewoman Anne Kennedy agreed the tournament went well.

'We are delighted to see participation in the tournament growing every year,' she said in a statement. 'This year was especially encouraging because more teams from the outlying communities took part. The tournament is proving to be a wonderful opportunity for soccer players to improve their skills and meet other athletes from all over the territory.'

The championship marked the end of the indoor soccer season, with the start of the outdoor season less than two months away. Haase said he and administrator Hanne Hoefs were running registration for outdoor soccer during the tournament on the weekend.

'This season has been hugely successful, based on numbers, the parity of teams and the fact that on any given night, any given team could beat any other team,' said Haase.

Haase said the number of coaches WMSA had this season was a bonus, given the association is always looking for more coaches in the odd division.

'It's huge to be only looking for a couple of coaches and not spending all your time on the phone, trying to convince parents,' he said.

Haase said the highlights for him in minor soccer this year were the two toonie tournaments at Christmas.

'It was very popular with the kids,' he smiled. 'And it was a nice way to split up the season.'

Haase added it was just a pleasure for him to come out and see the under-18 players have fun playing soccer, trying new things.

'They're playing coed, so it's just a good, cool way to play,' he said. 'Our boys and girls really respect each other. And that's another highlight the level of play of the girls individually on the teams. Some of the girls are the strongest on their teams.'

The past year was also very successful for the Yukon Soccer Association, with three old medals at the Arctic Winter Games in male and female junior soccer, as well as juvenile male soccer. The intermediate females finished with a bronze medal.

And with more tournaments Outside planned for the outdoor season, as well as the Yukon championship at the end of the summer, Haase said there is still plenty to look forward to. The numbers for outdoor soccer are usually double those in indoor.

'We hope our numbers will remain high, and based on early registration, we think there will be continued high interest in minor soccer,' he said. 'And we're really looking forward to implementing the new head coaching program in the under-six, under-seven and under-eight ages.'

In the Head Coach program, which is run by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), a qualified senior coach will mentor all the coaches in a single age division, after receiving training through CSA coaching software WMSA has purchased.

The goal is to more quickly develop fundamental soccer skills in the young players while at the same time supporting and developing the coaching skills of the many local volunteers who lead the various teams.

Focusing on having fun while learning new soccer skills, the program will help coaches with little or even no previous soccer experience teach the fundamentals to their charges, giving them practical and easily implemented activities for their players.

WMSA plans to offer the program in the under-six, under-seven and under-8 age groups in the upcoming outdoor soccer season.

Registration for outdoor soccer is ongoing at the Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association office in the Sport Yukon building.

Here are the results from the 2004 indoor soccer championships:

Seven-and-under

Gold Pacific Northwest Moving

Silver Coldwell Banker

Bronze Atlin Rockets

Fourth Dawson

Nine-and-under

Gold Intersport

Silver Locksmith Services

Bronze Bumper to Bumper Fourth Dawson (shootout)

11-and-under

Gold Audette Construction

Silver Ross Mining

Bronze Pine Plumbing

Fourth Mayo Strikers

13-and-under

Gold Yukon Office Supply

(shootout)

Silver Qualita Cleaners

Bronze YO17 Human Services

Fourth Northland Beverages

15-and-under

Gold Yukon Energy

Silver Hougen's Sportslodge

Bronze Haines Junction

Fourth Dawson

18-and-under

Gold Sorrento Systems

Silver Dawson

Bronze Pearson Dental

Fourth Whitehorse Esso