BMO Financial Group is kicking it with house league soccer players. The company launched a new national youth soccer program called “BMO Ready, Set, Goal!” which invites teams to submit a video of their team’s cheer. The winning team will win a trip for all players and coaches to attend a Major League Soccer game near their community.
“It’s a program that we’re really proud of this year because it’s going to support 20,000 house league soccer players across Canada,” said Justine Fedak, senior vice-president and head of brand, advertising and sponsorships at BMO Financial Group. “That to me is the biggest achievement — creating something that is so available, inclusive and easy to participate in.”
Fedak said BMO has evolved its soccer program this year, as previous programs were more suited to travel teams. “We wanted to build on the feedback we received and include coaches and parents from across every kind of soccer team,” she said. Players aged seven to 12 from any team at any level can enter.”
Teams are invited to submit their cheer videos to BMOSoccer.com before Sept. 26. BMO said submissions can be shot from smart phones or home video cameras, and the focus is on team spirit, rather than elaborate production.
Each entrant will receive a special offer to open a BMO kid’s account. Over the duration of the program, up to 100 teams each week will be randomly selected to receive a $75 gift card that can go towards team equipment or travel expenses.
Parents of players are also invited to nominate their child’s coach for special recognition. They are asked to describe how the coach exhibits the qualities of a good leader and instills a love of soccer with the players. Twenty-six coaches will be selected by a panel of judges and will win $1,000 for their respective teams.
BMO began supporting soccer in 2006. It now sponsors more than 1,000 youth teams nationally, men’s and women’s national teams, as well as professional teams (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact). The company also has the naming rights to the home of Toronto FC, BMO Field.
