BC Soccer Association
Niko Marcina is a seasoned professional in soccer coaching and player development with extensive experience spanning over a decade. Currently serving as the Director of Coaching at New Westminster Soccer Club since 2019, Niko has also held roles with BC Soccer as a Support Staff Coach since 2017 and operates Perform All Out, a training initiative established in 2008. Niko's previous positions include Head Coach and Assistant Coach for women's soccer at the University of the Fraser Valley, as well as various coaching roles in the BC Soccer Premier League across several clubs. Niko has a strong educational background with a Master's degree in Recreation and Sport Sciences from Ohio University and a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from UBC.
BC Soccer Association
BC Soccer is the largest provincial sport organization (PSO) in BC, 3rd largest soccer-specific PSO in Canada and is the governing body responsible for the governance, promotion and development of soccer in BC. It is a not-for-profit society which is membership-based based, has a Board of Directors elected by the membership with 4 standing committees and 5 operational committees. BC Soccer is funded in several ways but primarily through participant and member fees as well as Provincial Government Grants. As the PSO body responsible for the promotion and development of youth and adult soccer in BC, BC Soccer delivers many competitive and recreational programs for our members, the participants and the soccer community. These include the implementation of technical standards, the delivery of the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model for the Canadian Soccer Association via Elite and Grassroots service plans for member clubs, the Provincial player development program, Coach development and soccer science. BC Soccer also facilitates the running of Provincial Cup competitions, provides annual participant insurance, implements a referee development program and offers and delivers all coaching and referee courses. As part of its responsibility in governing the game, BC Soccer implements and upholds rules and regulations, sanctions competitions, oversees disciplinary matters and provides its member groups with good practice and best advice across various areas of the game.