Sylvain Filion
For over 20 years, the Soulanges Soccer Club has offered children aged four and up the opportunity to play their favorite sport in a friendly and recreational setting.
One standout example is the 2001 girls' team. The group began playing together at a young age, developing strong friendships through soccer and school. They progressed recreationally until age 11, when they joined the competitive "A" level. Quickly, they became a dominant force in the region.
In 2013, the team claimed its first tournament win in Laval (7-a-side format). Later that May, they reached the finals at Ottawa’s Icebreaker Tournament and took home top honors. They finished first in the ARSSO (Southwest Regional Soccer Association) standings and won the postseason championship. This success qualified them for the Coupe Duproprio des Grands A, a tournament featuring the best teams in Quebec in their category. The Griffons won the cup once again.
The 2014 season mirrored the previous year: season champions, back-to-back Icebreaker winners, and champions of the Coupe des Grands A in Trois-Rivières. Nine players from the Griffons were selected to represent the Southwest region at the 49th Quebec Summer Games in Longueuil. They played a significant role in helping the team win its first-ever gold medal in girls’ soccer since the Southwest began participating in the event.
Given their continued success in the A division, it became clear they needed to move up to the more competitive AA level. The players increased their training intensity and frequency. In their first U14 AA season, the Griffons lost only 3 of 22 games, finishing 4th out of 12 teams. Hopes are high for the 2016 season. Now at the U15 level, the team includes players from Vaudreuil, St-Lazare, and Châteauguay who join the core Griffons roster to aim for the top spot. Training began last October under the guidance of kinesiologist Sébastien Fournier, a former AAA player in the Lac St-Louis league. The team now trains at the Centre Multisports, using the Gym Perfo facilities to develop strength and endurance.
Why Is Soccer Good for Me?
As parents, we initially register our daughters in soccer to keep them active, socializing, and developing general athletic skills. Later, they measure themselves against players from other cities and regions—and realize their talent. That realization fuels motivation and drives them to improve. Over time, certain character traits emerge: self-worth, confidence, trust in teammates, perseverance, endurance, and the sense of family a team provides. I believe that any sport can offer these values—as long as participants stay committed.
What People Don’t Know About Soccer
Soccer is a true team sport, and the chemistry among players directly impacts the team's success. That chemistry develops through consistent and intense training. Also, despite its reputation as a finesse sport, soccer is physical, fast-paced, and full of contact. Excelling requires excellent physical conditioning.
My Favorite Coaching Memory
There are few ways to truly measure collective progress in training other than comparing ourselves to teams of similar caliber. Tournaments and championships provide this benchmark. But for me, what brings the greatest pride is watching the confidence and self-assurance that sport gives these young women—watching them grow up healthy and strong.