April 6, 2017
Recently, seven Ottawa clubs withdrew their U9-U12 T1 teams from the East Region Soccer League (ERSL) to form a new league named the Ottawa Player Development Program (OPDP). The ERSL operates the only outdoor youth competitive league for the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association (EODSA) that is sanctioned by Ontario Soccer (formerly the Ontario Soccer Association – OSA). The new league (with games Sunday evening) is an attempt to get around Ontario Soccer rules that allow all District clubs to enter teams at any tier at U9-U12 and they have purposely excluded St. Anthony from participating, as well as the two other remaining urban clubs and all the rural clubs.
St. Anthony had planned to have six teams play in U9-U12 T1. These teams include both Futuro Academy teams and community teams, which have both demonstrated that they are competitive at T1. One of our Surad teams was, in fact, asked to move from T2 to T1 this winter season. The OPDP has published entry criteria which they are applying selectively to exclude certain clubs as it is a league without neutral oversight.
On Tuesday, March 28, the EODSA came out with a statement, available on their website, that they were “aware of the Ottawa Player Development Program” and that “this program is not a sanctioned competition or league of the EODSA”. Players registered with the EODSA and Ontario Soccer are not permitted to participate in unsanctioned competitions or leagues. Ontario Soccer provides clear sanctions against anyone who “directly or indirectly encouraged or assisted in the establishment or operation of an unsanctioned soccer organization or competition”. Team officials face a 6-12 month suspension and a club faces significant fines. If the OPDP attempts to organize their league as a set of exhibition games, this would still contravene Ontario Soccer rules as exhibition games cannot have a “set schedule of games”.
All St. Anthony teams will continue to play in the ERSL (with games Monday to Thursday) but potentially in different divisions than originally planned to ensure appropriate competition.
We regret that our club membership and the wider soccer community in Ottawa has had to deal with so much uncertainty so close to the start of the summer season and we trust that the EODSA and Ontario Soccer will apply the published rules and ensure that all clubs within the EODSA are treated equally, without preference given to those clubs with larger memberships and greater financial resources.
Soccer should be about the kids, their development and enjoyment of the game. Why is it fair to exclude certain clubs and academies from this new OPDP, which is an exclusive league? The premise is to get stronger competition, but St. Anthony's Futuro Academy offers top competition. What then is the rationale? The only folks hurt are the kids.
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