Free to Play Edmonton

A daily after-school program hosted in 26 Edmonton Public and Catholic Schools.

About Free to Play

Free to Play is open to students in Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 who attend one of our Partner Schools. See all schools below.

Schedule

As soon as the bell rings, kids head to their school gym to meet our awesome, certified Leaders and Coaches.

The program runs every school day, Monday to Friday, until 5:00 PM. On Thursday early dismissals, Kids take a field trip to participate in a fun Game Day with other schools.

Children sitting on a gym floor in sports jerseys numbered 4, 5, and 6, participating in a group activity with a ball.

Methodology

It’s more than sports. Every session, we intentionally integrate social, emotional, and mental health skills through play. Kids learn about teamwork, confidence, getting along with others, and more.

Food Education

Every day, children receive a snack to fuel up to play. Once a week, they take part in a food class learning about food groups, healthy eating habits, and how to make meals.

Coaches + Staff

OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS

  • McKee

  • Overlanders

  • Sifton

  • St. Elizabeth Catholic

  • St. Francis of Assisi

  • St. Martin

  • St. Pius

  • Thorncliffe

  • Abbott

  • Balwin

  • Belmont

  • Ben Calf Robe

  • Callingwood

  • Calder

  • Delton

  • Grace Martin

  • Homesteader

  • Ivor Dent

  • John A. McDougall

  • Lauderdale

  • Lee Ridge

  • Lynnwood

  • Malcolm Tweddle

  • Mee-Yah-Noh

Grade 6 Sports and Leadership Program

We are excited to announce that Gr.6 students at the above schools can join and be part of our Jr. Wolves! Gr. 6 students can join a soccer team, basketball team, ball hockey team, or multiple teams. The Jr. Wolves program provides grade 6 students the opportunity to train with a committed team and caring coaches in city-wide leagues. Interested? Visit the Wolves website for more information on how to register to be a Jr. Wolf!

Free to Play Edmonton Program Costs

Free to Play offers a "contribute what you can" membership model, where families can choose to cover anywhere from 0% to 100% of the program costs.

Wondering how much families typically contribute? Below are the exact program expenses for each school to help guide you.

We’re committed to being transparent and encourage families to contribute an amount that works for them while helping support Free Play for Kids. This flexible model allows us to stretch our sponsorship, grant, and donation dollars to reach youth who might not have access to similar opportunities.

If contributing isn’t possible for your family, that’s okay—the program is completely free. Our goal is to ensure that every youth has the chance to experience supportive coaching and mentorship. We also believe that the best teams, programs, and communities are built when people from different backgrounds come together and support one another.

Need help? Email: support@freeplayforkids.com

Free to Play Program Expenses Per School

Registration Policy

Children MUST commit to attending 4 days a week and not miss more than 4 days in the 6-week season. Children and families that miss too many days forfeit their spot and it will be given to another family in need of support. We understand that kids will need to miss due to doctor appointments, etc., so we will require notice.

A child’s spot may be forfeited if the attendance policy is not adhered to.

Note: To be part of the program, your child will need to have permission to walk from school as there will be no staff to wait for your child to be picked up.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. My child(ren)’s school is not listed as one of the schools, can I still register?
    No, sorry. We are only accepting registrations for students in the school list above. If your school is not on the list, check out the Start to Play program.

  2. When I register is my child automatically accepted?
    No, filling out the registration form is Step 1. A Free Play staff member will reach out to the registered parent/guardian to confirm the child’s registration.

  3. When does the program start and end?
    The Program starts in September and ends in June. Please note, that we will not have programming on holidays and teacher professional development days. We use this time to give our staff a chance to catch up and also do professional development.

  4. What time do I pick up my child each day?
    Parents are able to pick-up their children at 5:00pm. Coaches will not wait beyond 5:00 pm.

  5. Can I come to watch my child play?
    Parents/Guardians will be invited to come to watch their children play in our weekly tournaments!

  6. Do you have any summer programming?
    Yes we do! Find more info on our summer camps.

Have more questions? Please contact us!