Program Information and History

Deciding which University you will attend is perhaps the most important choice a student-athlete will ever make. Therefore, I will seek to provide you with some solid information as regards choosing the University of Alberta.

The University of Alberta has built a tradition of excellence since its inception in 1908. This excellence has been maintained through the years and is reflected in the strict entry-level requirements in Canada's second largest University. A 70+ average is required to enter some faculties and even higher averages are required for others, particularly those with quotas. The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, one of the oldest and most revered faculties on campus, shares the University's commitment to excellence.

If you are serious about continuing your education whilst further developing your soccer potential it is to your advantage to seek out early a university/college and make contact with the admissions office and soccer coach. If you are serious about the University of Alberta you need to make application ASAP and know that there are stringent deadlines for application where late applications will not be considered.

For Alberta high school students you must attain a minimum application average of 70% or higher (on a 50% pass scale) on five (5) grade 12 courses, depending on the program you wish to apply to. However, for many programs higher competitive averages are required. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Please note, if you have a strong or high mark in grade 12 Physical Education this mark may only be used in applying to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta.

Similarly, if you are entering with some post-secondary work, you will need to present an average of at least 2.0 on the University of Alberta 4-point grading scale ("C" or above) on university transferable work.

For more information, see the page at: https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs

The University of Alberta Golden Bears Soccer program has been in existence since 1969 and has now achieved five (5) USports/CIS/CIAU National Championships in 2016, 2006, 2003, 1978 and 1972 with a further six national silver medal performances in 15 appearances at CIS/CIAU National Championships. In addition, the Golden Bears are 11-time champions of Canada West (2016, 2011, 2003, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1988, 1981, 1979, 1973 and 1972. In the process, many Golden Bears soccer players have been recognized as Canada West All-Stars and CIS All-Canadians. Further, the University of Alberta routinely leads the country in the number of Academic All-Canadian selections, a great credit to the balance of athletics and academics in our programs.

There are now many more scholarships available to soccer players in our program. The Golden Bears Soccer Alumni Society was founded several years ago and has developed rapidly with a view to providing financial support to the program. The Alumni has made scholarship development for Golden Bears soccer players and the necessary funding its primary goal.

The Sports Wall of Fame and the newly developed Golden Bears Soccer Alumni and Green and Gold Soccer Academy scholarships and awards are available for Golden Bears Soccer players. In addition, 14 Golden Bears soccer players are eligible to receive the provincial Jimmie Condon Athletic Scholarship that is in the amount of $1800, providing they maintain a satisfactory grade point average.

The Universiade'83 is another available scholarship that is available to student-athletes with an 80% high school average or a 3.5 GPA during their years at the university, or as a transfer student, and is in the amount of $1500. A further number of awards are available to continuing Golden Bears soccer players, ranging from $500 to $1000 each and are given in memory of Kevin Murtagh, a former Golden Bears soccer player.

The University of Alberta, Department of Athletics and Golden Bears soccer program is committed to the development of a first class program. This is reflected in the appointment of a full-time coach and the movement toward providing a year-round development program. In terms of facilities, Golden Bears soccer has the benefit of its own home grass field at Foote Field and exceptional training fields at Campus Saint Jean. In addition, the program has the use of the indoor field in the Universiade Pavilion/Butterdome and recently has seen the development of the High Performance Training and Research Centre (HPTRC) on South Campus for strength and conditioning.

During the U Sports season in the fall, all players registered at the University of Alberta will be eligible for selection to the Golden Bears soccer squad. This would include all full-time students including international and exchange students. The goal would be to select the most talented and strongest squad for competition and challenging for Canada West and CIS National Championship honours.

The benefits for playing with the Golden Bears soccer program are numerous but include the opportunity for high level of competition in a professional environment, supported by the university community, Department of Athletics and an active Alumni Association.

The Green and Gold soccer team will play Edmonton and District Soccer Association (EDSA) Major League during indoor season and Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) outdoors. Therefore, the prospect of attending one of Canada's most outstanding academic schools, with the opportunity to be a part of an equally outstanding Golden Bears Soccer and year-round program, whilst receiving scholarship support makes the University of Alberta worthy of your serious consideration.

Please note that further information on the program can also be found on the University of Alberta Athletics and Green and Gold Soccer Academy web sites at www.bears.ualberta.ca and www.greenandgoldsoccer.ca

If you require additional information, please contact Len Vickery at (780) 492-1013 or by e-mail len.vickery@ualberta.ca

5 solid and key reasons for choosing the University of Alberta and Golden Bears Soccer Program.

#1 Quality Education and Degree - The University of Alberta has continued its rapid ascent among the world's top universities by making its way into the top 90 of the post-secondary world's most respected ranking. The 2014-15 QS World University Rankings, released Sept. 15, saw the U of A move up an impressive 12 positions to 84th among the 2,000 universities rated in the survey. The U of A has jumped a dozen spots in each of the last two years, landing at 96th last year before this year's impressive showing. The University is consistently ranked in the top ten among Canadian universities in surveys conducted by MacLean's magazine. The latest results put the university in fifth place among its 26 Canadian counterparts. A University of Alberta degree will most definitely help and support you in all your future career goals.

#2 Canada West and CIS National Championship Contenders - The University of Alberta Golden Bears Soccer program has been in existence since 1969 and has now achieved five USports/CIS/CIAU National Championships in 2016, 2006, 2003, 1978 and 1972 with a further six national silver medal performances in 15 appearances at USports/CIS/CIAU National Championships. In addition, the Golden Bears are 11-time champions of Canada West (2016, 2011, 2003, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1988, 1981, 1979, 1973 and 1972). In the process, many Golden Bears soccer players have been recognized as Canada West All-Stars and USports/CIS All-Canadians. Further, the University of Alberta routinely leads the country in the number of USports/CIS Academic All-Canadian selections, a great credit to the balance of athletics and academics in our programs. Choosing the University of Alberta would increase your chances of being successful as a student-athlete as the Golden Bears will seek to continue its winning ways that have seen the team make the Canada West play-offs in the past 15 successive years.

#3 Scholarship Opportunities - There are now many more scholarships available to soccer players in our program. The Golden Bears Soccer Alumni Society was founded several years ago and has developed rapidly with a view to providing financial support to the program. The Alumni has made scholarship development for Golden Bears soccer players and the necessary funding its primary goal. USports rules governing athletic scholarships allows schools to support players by covering their full tuition and compulsory fees and more and more Golden Bears soccer players are receiving this level of financial support.

#4 Outstanding Facilities - The University of Alberta has its own premier grass field and stadium at Foote Field. In addition, the artificial surface at Foote Field is domed during the winter months (November - April). This will afford Golden Bears soccer players the opportunity for full field practice and 11 versus 11 competitive games during the winter months. A recent development has seen the development of the High Performance Training and Research Centre (HPTRC) at South Campus that is is staffed by full-time strength and conditioning coaches - this facility is designated for high performance athletes only and includes all Golden Bears and Pandas athletes. The programs are in a position to facilitate both individual and team development. Therefore, the 4 cornerstones of development high-level coaching, frequency of training, competition and outstanding facilities is realized.

# 5 Year Round Training and Competitive Opportunities - The University of Alberta, Department of Athletics and Golden Bears soccer program is committed to the development of a first class program. This is reflected in the provision of a full-time coach and the movement toward providing a year-round development program. The benefits for playing with the Golden Bears soccer program are numerous but include the opportunity for high level of competition in a professional environment, supported by the university community, Department of Athletics and an active Alumni Association. The Green and Gold soccer team will play Edmonton and District Soccer Association (EDSA) Major League during indoor season and Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) outdoors.

Therefore, the prospect of attending one of Canada's most outstanding academic schools, with the opportunity to be a part of an equally outstanding Golden Bears Soccer and year-round program, whilst receiving scholarship support makes the University of Alberta worthy of your serious consideration. The Golden Bears soccer program is committed to achieving the ideals of high performance player development in all aspects of technical, tactical, physical and game behavior training. The aims are to provide a truly competitive and demanding training environment for elite players. The programs is in a position to facilitate both individual and team development by having providing the essential ingredients including high-level coaching, frequency of training and competition, outstanding facilities and first class equipment.

Any players interested in being a part of this program are encouraged to contact len.vickery@ualberta.ca

If you require additional information, please contact Martin Andersen at (780) 492-1013 or by e-mail fengeran@ualberta.ca