Happy Holidays from VanU
As we come to the end of 2025, there’s lots to be proud of at our club. From large-scale events to individual player and team success, this has been a fantastic year at VanU!
We couldn’t do it without the support of our volunteer coaches, staff, Board of Directors, parents, players, and everyone else connected to our club.
We hope you all have an amazing holiday season and are looking forward to returning to the pitch in January. The new year will kick off another huge year for VanU, as well as soccer in our city more generally, with the World Cup coming to town.
Thank you to all of our members for making this club what it is. We can’t wait to continuing building as we move forward!
Game, Club, Community
Clash of the Coaches Recap
Our Annual Clash of the Coaches event took place earlier in December at UBC and the Hollywood Theatre!
First up were the games at UBC, with plenty of our coaches braving the conditions to take part. Then, we headed over to the Hollywood Theatre for the post-games social where there was time to mingle and have some food & drinks.
There were also draw prizes to be won thanks to our friends at Sportstown Soccer and Soccer City! From jerseys to hoodies to Whitecaps t-shirts, there were plenty of prizes generously donated for our event. A big thank you goes out to Sportstown Soccer and Soccer City for their support of our club!
Overall, this was a great evening and another successful Clash of the Coaches. Thank you to all of our coaches, team managers, and staff for everything they do to keep our club going strong!
VanU Backpacks Available
VanU backpacks are available to order now thanks to Sportstown Soccer. Orders can be placed directly with Sportstown Soccer by emailing Craig Burnham – craig@sportstownsoccer.com.
Members should let Craig know that they are with VanU. There are options for backpacks with the VanU crest and personalized initials, or just the VanU crest.
Winter Registration Info (First Kicks & Academy)
Registration for both the Winter Academy and Winter First Kicks is now open!
Academy
Our Monday Development Academy will continue in the same format as it did in the Fall. On Fridays however, our Academy session will look a little different. We will now feature a Small Sided Games Academy this Winter in lieu of our Shooting & Finishing Academy (which will return in the spring). Although small sided games have been a staple within our Monday Development Academy Curriculum (and will remain as such), we will be offering a Small Sided Games Academy – “Friday Night Lights”.
For a full list of those available times and locations, please visit our website using the link below.
Winter Academy
First Kicks
During the Winter season we will be offering First Kicks at UBC MacInnes, Chaldecott Park, Hillcrest, and Churchill.
For a full list of those available times and locations, please visit our website using the link below.
First Kicks
Register for either the Winter Academy or Winter First Kicks using the link below:
Donations from Month of Giving
This past week, our club was able to drop off over 600 items to Covenant House for their Hope for the Holidays initiative! These items are used to put together backpacks that are then given to youth in need in our community.
Thank you to everyone who donated!
January Return Dates
The holiday break is now upon us, but the return of all programming isn’t too far away! Please find the return dates for all programs below.
First Kicks Twice a Week
January 13th/14th/15th
Second Kicks
January 13th/14th
Skill Centre
January 17th/18th
Academy
Development Academy – January 12th
Small Sided Games Academy and Games-Based Goalkeeper Academy – January 16th
Divisional
Week of January 5th
Office Hours Limited over Holidays
Please be advised that our Office Hours will change over the winter break. Urgent matters will be dealt with as they come, but others will be handled when we return in the new year.
