|
Post by luisluis on Oct 25, 2017 15:02:44 GMT
So there is some buzz on the on twittersphere this morning about a new league being started up. I am not referring to the still in stealth mode Canadian Premier League. No, there is talk about something being called cdiff, a CSA sanctioned youth soccer league. Now if you are like me and have been around the canadian youth soccer landscape the past 5 or more years, you probably have YAL fatigue...you know Yet Another League. It seems that new leagues are popping up faster than academies can fold and rename themselves (amirite?) If the scuttlebutt is to be believed, I suspect that it might have its origins in Octavio Zambrano's plans. A few weeks back Zambrano was quoted with the following. Maybe this new league is something he is getting traction with. "Put in charge of the men's side of Canada soccer in March, Zambrano essentially inherited someone else's plan and budget. He has presented his own blueprint and should learn in November what road map he will be given for 2018. He looks forward to a year which he calls a "clean slate." "I can't wait to see if all these initiatives that I have put forth, [that] they are given the OK for us to proceed. And then I can tell you Canada will just take a quantum leap if that happens." www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/octavio-zambrano-1.4343605
|
|
|
Post by jonjohnson on Oct 25, 2017 17:41:20 GMT
Another League is the last thing we need, but we have 6 or 7 leagues in Ontario above our districts leagues already so whats one more !!! I think we need to strengthen the leagues and offering at the bottom of the pyrmaid not try and keep offering more diluted elite level stuff at the top
|
|
|
Post by luisluis on Oct 31, 2017 5:16:41 GMT
More details are emerging on what appears to be a new initiative at the CSA. Earlier today, Colin Elmes, owner of the greater Vancouver-based TSS Academy and the TSS Rovers FC in the USL PDL, posted a tweet about a new initiative with a link to the BC soccer website. The link amounts to a press release by BC Soccer outlining the reasons for not releasing previously scheduled program standards for clubs. What is interesting is that the reasons for not releasing the standard have to do with aligning with a yet to be announced "National Club License Program" from the CSA. It is further implied that BC clubs who have met BC's "Club Charter Standard 1" will be recognized under the new program when it is announced. What can be extrapolated from this announcement is that other provincial bodies may likely follow suit in announcing similar grandfathering for nationally recognized standardized clubs. In Ontario, this would refer to mostly likely clubs with provincially recognized standards such as those in League 1, OPDL, and the ORA recognized academies. Whether this also includes SAAC or CAF academies remains to be seen. So the Ontario clubs that meet the current standards will be recognized at a national level. The acknowledgement of a national club license does seem to suggest the dawn of a new era at CSA, and quite possibly lead to national level youth leagues. It can be further speculated that the yet to be announced national level program standards are coordinated with the introduction of the Canadian Premier League. Such a development would not be unlike the USSDA league in the U.S that is a mixture of MLS academies and "elite" clubs organized in leagues regionally. Interesting development for sure. Strangely enough, this "new" information is coming from the British Columbia soccer governing body and not the CSA itself. As of this posting, neither the CSA or in Ontario, the OSA has made any recent relevant announcements so there is lots to speculate on in terms of details, logistics, and timing. If you know of any information from the other provinces, please post.
|
|
|
Post by agooner on Oct 31, 2017 12:46:17 GMT
Does 'grandfathering' mean no one will get to see the CSA standard(s) or the measurement by which those standards will be applied, reviewed and brought to bear for any yth development practitioner?
A national standard by name is pretty hollow in my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by jonjohnson on Nov 1, 2017 21:07:01 GMT
Anything that starts to include all types of soccer organization is a good thing, we need to stop segregating based on profit or not for profit. One thing i still don't agree with is grouping clubs based on their "So Called Standards" the only real standard that matters is how well a team plays on the pitch, until we get the best teams competing against the other best teams regardless of whether they are a District league team, OASL, Regional League or OPDL we will not move the needle in my opinion. Just having teams whose clubs have met certain standards will not create the most competitive environment
|
|
|
Post by luisluis on Nov 2, 2017 16:29:06 GMT
I spoke to one of the principals at our academy recently about a supposed MOU. I say supposed not because I doubt its existence but because I have not seen it myself. My understanding is that it addressed the standardization of clubs and academies at the national level. This much is already known from the BC Soccer press release. Something called the National Club License Program. What this looks like is anybody's guess at this point given that there hasn't been any details released. I do understand that Anthony Totera covered the national youth league on one of his internet broadcasts. I have not had the time to listen to it yet. But if you have please post. In talking to people on this subject, one of the themes that emerges is that in Ontario at least, League 1 Ontario appears to be a part of the plan going forward. I don't think there is any surprise there. But from a youth development perspective, some of the talk I heard is that academies that are part of the League 1 clubs may be ahead of the curve in terms of standardization in the view of the CSA/OSA. I have no way of knowing if that is true or not obviously but it makes sense. Many of the these academies or clubs already play in either SAAC (SIGMA, Prostars, Toronto Skills), OASL (Blue Devils), OPDL (TFC, Vaughan, North Miss) , or the district leagues (Vaughan, Woodbridge, others). Does that mean they get grandfathered in to a national league setup? I doubt it. I am sure there will be some hurdles to jump. But it intuitively makes sense that these academies will provide a baseline. More curiously though, what would be the implications for academies or clubs that are currently not part of League 1. What process or avenues would be available to them to be part of the national licensing setup? Then of course there will be the Canadian Premier League academies. For certain these will be part of the national licensing program. But will these academies be setup from scratch? Or would it make sense for Canadian Premier Clubs to acquire/consolidate existing academies. This model has been executed very successfully in the MLS by Atlanta UnitedLastly, I recently (today) heard chatter that in Ontario, the academy structure will be consolidated. CSA/OSA have held discussions with the academies to this effect. That is, there is motivation to combine SAAC, CAF, and OASL academies into a single league. In theory, this absolutely makes tremendous sense. How that will be pulled off is another matter altogether. I have only heard this from one source, so if anyone else has heard anything or can confirm the information it would be much appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by cdnwanderer on Nov 2, 2017 19:34:41 GMT
I am a club coach (currently) and think that this is both good news and bad... I'd like to see all of the organizations play in the same leagues. I see no reason to separate club 'rep' teams from the various academies. There are very good and very bad in both. Currently our summer season (Peel Halton) is virtually a waste of time. There are only 3-4 decent teams, and lots of poor - average in the 'target' division.
As Jon said above, for me the key is finding a way to stop segregating the various options, and bring them all together. Many parents don't even know the choices they have, as it is so confusing trying to navigate all of the options. 'Standards' is a great buzzword, but if all it means is higher fees and coaches with meaningless certificates, then we are heading back in the same direction that is currently failing.
I have a fantastic group of players, most of whom can barely afford club fees, let alone academy or OPDL fees. Bringing in a National Club Licensing Program reads to me like raising fees yet again... what about just giving the kids places to play and competition to test themselves against. Too many hurdles and road blocks, and not enough people out there creating real pathways for success.
|
|
|
Post by agooner on Nov 3, 2017 14:54:11 GMT
I am a club coach (currently) and think that this is both good news and bad... I'd like to see all of the organizations play in the same leagues. I see no reason to separate club 'rep' teams from the various academies. There are very good and very bad in both. Currently our summer season (Peel Halton) is virtually a waste of time. There are only 3-4 decent teams, and lots of poor - average in the 'target' division. As Jon said above, for me the key is finding a way to stop segregating the various options, and bring them all together. Many parents don't even know the choices they have, as it is so confusing trying to navigate all of the options. 'Standards' is a great buzzword, but if all it means is higher fees and coaches with meaningless certificates, then we are heading back in the same direction that is currently failing. I have a fantastic group of players, most of whom can barely afford club fees, let alone academy or OPDL fees. Bringing in a National Club Licensing Program reads to me like raising fees yet again... what about just giving the kids places to play and competition to test themselves against. Too many hurdles and road blocks, and not enough people out there creating real pathways for success. Very true. Standards should be backed up with measurable and transparent evaluations. Otherwise they can become arbitrary and open to abuse to perpetuate the exclusion of competitors vs established incumbents.
|
|