(NC) -- Dr. Jean Côté, a preeminent expert on youth sports and coaching, worked with BMO Financial Group to develop a report – The Power of Youth – that got to the heart of the crucial influence of those that are often on the side of the soccer pitch, cheering, encouraging, and strategizing. In this report, he applies his knowledge and expertise specifically to youth soccer

Dr. Côté underscores four positive outcomes of youth soccer, the “4 Cs”: Competence, Confidence, Connection, and Character/Caring.

Competence: Refers to the ability to execute sport specific skills, train, compete, and perform. In soccer, competence is achieved through the execution and repetition of creative and fun learning activities.

Confidence: Refers to the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. In soccer, confidence is developed in an environment which values and underscores personal progress, effort, and improvement.

Connection: Refers to the ability to build positive bonds between people (e.g. coaches, teammates, opponents) and within institutions (e.g. clubs, schools, communities). In soccer, connection is developed through the promotion of relationships that are built on trust, respect, and compassion.

Character/Caring: Refers to the respect of appropriate behaviours in sport, including rules, integrity, and empathy for teammates and opponents. Young soccer players who show character display a consistent sense of fairness in their actions on and off the field.

In the spirit of fostering community soccer, major national bank, BMO, is on the hunt for the most spirited cheers across Canada. A new national program kicks off this summer, encouraging youth soccer teams across the country to submit their most enthusiastic team cheer for the chance to win a trip to attend a Major League Soccer (MLS) game.

Coaches and parents are invited to submit their team's cheer video to BMOSoccer.com until September 26, 2014. Amateur videographers are welcomed. In fact, submissions can be shot from smart phones or home video cameras and the focus is on team spirit, rather than elaborate production. Youth soccer players, aged 7-12, from any team at any level can enter.