It took what seemed like a matter of mere days to have the Lasalle Indoor Bubble up and running, at full occupancy, from the time that the Rainbow Board of Education announced that the facility was open to bookings from outside groups.

Few expect anything less when it comes to the James Jerome Sports Complex and their daily diet of soccer action, in particular. A more than solid handful of local groups have already staked out their territory when it comes to regular usage of both the turf and grass fields, a contingent that obviously includes the Greater Sudbury Soccer Club (GSSC).

“Everything is back to the way that we’ve wanted it to be for the past two years,” noted GSSC Executive Director Connor Vande Weghe in conversation earlier this month, noting the bookings that are currently indoors but soon moving to the outdoor venues. “Competitive teams are training, grass roots programs are up and running, and adults are even getting some game time in as well.”

While all of the above are clearly important to the well-being of the GSSC, there is undoubtedly a priority being placed on those teams who will be taking to the field with their counterparts from across the province some time in May.

“We have teams that are a month and half out from competitive play,” said Vande Weghe. “They have to focus on getting ready for that. There’s a lot of technical, a lot of tactical work to be ready for the summer season.”

Change is once again the constant when it comes to the landscape of youth soccer in Ontario in 2022, with a move to help deal with the issues involved when a given team, boys or girls, regardless of age, qualifies for a promotion to a given league or level of play, only to find their roster altered dramatically by the time the team next hits the field the following year.

“Previously, the old model had teams qualifying for the regional levels of play through their district level,” explained Vande Weghe. “They would win the district in one year and advance during the next. The next I-Model (Integrated Model) will see teams qualify for the regional level of play at the beginning of the season, almost like a play-in to the summer season.”

“This will help ensure that the players who earned it (the promotion) are rewarded.”

A number of the familiar faces of the GSSC coaching ranks are back on board with the Impact this summer, including the likes of Nick Walker, Evan Phillips, Matt and Chris Binks, Nigel Croome, Doug Rosener, Dino Moretta and the afore-mentioned Connor Vande Weghe, multiple time all-star during his OUA days with the Laurentian Voyageurs.

Making the jump up to the U13 ranks this year are Steve Gallo, with the girls, and Mario Ceccon and staff with the boys team.