In mid-March, 2017, seven Ottawa clubs started an exclusive U9-U12 league (Ottawa Player Development Program - OPDP) for its best teams. Smaller clubs, including all rural clubs, were excluded even though some had teams that had been playing at the highest level, including teams with low-income players and from immigrant communities.
The league contravened Ontario Soccer rules and to avoid being disciplined, the clubs officially closed the league April 27, as announced by the local district soccer association (EODSA):
It was immediately clear, however, that the league would continue unofficially. In response to concerns, the EODSA released a May 3 letter reaffirming that the "OPDP situation has come to a conclusion" and "the OPDP would not operate" but that the participating clubs would look at "alternate competition options within the rules". The letter requested that evidence that the OPDP is operating be sent to the EODSA to "review and manage".
Ontario Soccer affirmed how the EODSA had dealt with the OPDP in a May 4 email:
However, evidence that the OPDP continues is overwhelming. There is a schedule for the entire summer (until October 1) for all 68 teams from eight clubs:
- Capital United OPDP schedule
- Cumberland Cobras OPDP schedule
- Gloucester Hornets OPDP schedule
- Nepean Hotspurs OPDP schedule
- Ottawa Internationals OPDP schedule
- Ottawa City OPDP schedule
- Ottawa South United (OSU) OPDP schedule
- West Ottawa Soccer (WOS) OPDP schedule
Clubs are advertising the league on their websites and in emails, for example:
- Gloucester Hornets OPDP description
- Ottawa Internationals OPDP description
- Ottawa City OPDP description
- Ottawa South United (OSU) OPDP description
- West Ottawa Soccer (WOS) OPDP description
Clubs cannot replace a league with a schedule of exhibition games as Ontario Soccer rules on Competitions do not allow exhibition games to follow a "set schedule of a game" (see Procedure 17 and 18).
Despite the May 3 letter from the EODSA, it is not clear that the EODSA is in a position to fairly respond to this unsanctioned competition as the majority (six) of the ten-member EODSA board are from the eight clubs participating in the OPDP:
Despite the May 3 letter from the EODSA, it is not clear that the EODSA is in a position to fairly respond to this unsanctioned competition as the majority (six) of the ten-member EODSA board are from the eight clubs participating in the OPDP:
- President Brian Mason is also the President of West Ottawa Soccer (WOS)
- Vice-President Peter Menyasz is also the Boys' Staff Coach of Ottawa Internationals
- Director of Administration Bill Michalopulos is also the President of Ottawa South United (OSU)
- Director of Development Craig Stead is also the Ottawa South United (OSU) Programs Manager
- Director at Large Bob Monaghan is the President of Ottawa Internationals
- Director at Large Piero Pavone is the Vice-President of Ottawa City
Significantly, three of the six were recently added to the Board by the existing Board to fill vacancies: Brian Mason (April 19), Bill Michalopulos (May 18), and Piero Pavone (April 19). One of the vacancies was the result of the former President being forced out after an April 19 board meeting. Did the clubs want their representatives on the Board to shield them from possible penalties? The staff of the EODSA are in an impossible situation, tasked with following Ontario Soccer rules that could negatively affect clubs with a majority on a board that determines their employment. Even the EODSA-sanctioned referee website lists the OPDP as a league.
It is imperative that Ontario Soccer intervene as there is too much conflict of interest within the EODSA to address such a serious issue. The participating clubs clearly believe that they are above the rules, first openly starting an unsanctioned competition, including a website, and then lying about ceasing the competition, and doing all this so close to the start of the summer season. Parents (of about 1,000 players) are being deceived into thinking that their children are playing in a legitimate competition. Significant penalties must be applied to all the participating clubs for such a brazen flaunting of the rules.
The Ottawa soccer community and leaders of the Ottawa community must speak out against the attempt to restrict equitable access to competitive sports. If the OPDP is successful, it will likely be followed by further attempts at exclusion in Ottawa soccer.
Please share this post and contact soccer officials and political and city leaders to share your concerns. Soccer authorities who are in a position to address this issue are listed below.
Possible email to Ontario Soccer officials (Cc'ing officials of the EODSA and Canada Soccer):
Please share this post and contact soccer officials and political and city leaders to share your concerns. Soccer authorities who are in a position to address this issue are listed below.
Possible email to Ontario Soccer officials (Cc'ing officials of the EODSA and Canada Soccer):
- Dear Ontario Soccer,
There is overwhelming evidence at fairnessinottawasoccer.org of an unsanctioned league operating in Ottawa. What is Ontario Soccer doing to enforce it rules? Is it seeking to apply its published penalties of a minimum six-month suspension for an official involved and a fine to the club of as much as $1,000 per game?
The smaller clubs in Ottawa are depending on Ontario Soccer to ensure that there is fair access to competitive soccer. I look forward to your response.
- Brian Mason, President, president@eodsa.ca
- Dinis Oliveira, Director of Discipline, directordiscipline@eodsa.ca
- Joe Scheier, Acting Executive Director, admin@eodsa.ca
Ontario Soccer officials:
- Ron Smale, President, rsmale@ontariosoccer.net
- Johnny Misley, Executive Director, jmisley@ontariosoccer.net
- Billy Wilson, Manager - Player Development, bwilson@ontariosoccer.net
- Dave Kelly, Regional Manager - Player Development, dkelly@ontariosoccer.net
- Charonne Thomasos, Manager - Administration, cthomasos@ontariosoccer.net
Canada Soccer officials:
- Jason deVos, Director of Development, jdevos@canadasoccer.com
- Ray Clark, Director of Coaching and Player Development, rclark@canadasoccer.com
...and here I thought Canada was inclusive. : (
ReplyDeleteI would ask that concerned citizens also to write all sponsors (Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, etc.) about lending their name to unsporting, irresponsible, anti-community and anti youth behaviour.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is bigger than this. Pricey academy that poach player from clubs and do not operate grassroot program and poorly set up leagues where scores of 10-0 are frequent are big problems against proper talent development. Not good for anyone. The LTPD has value, but teams need to be better assessed for inclusion in top tiers leagues to ensure proper development for all involved. Furthermore, there should be rules supporting clubs who run grassroot program in early ages and prevent poaching from money makers who have no true commitment to development under Ontario's LTPD regime. The solution lies somewhere in the middle.
ReplyDeleteThe only poaching is from OSU and WOS when they go to other teams parents while they play for other clubs. Parents go to the academies because of better coaching. And as for the 10-0 scores, I recall one of these so called not good enough teams beating a "highly" ranked OPDP team a few weeks back by a large margin.
DeleteI agree 100%; poaching and any money-making-machine-only-organizations without a care for the kids and the communities they work in is wrong. However, two wrongs don't make a right and what is happening here is simply exclusion for small/rural entrepreneurial clubs. What is needed here is for these clubs to bring back their best and play fair and square in the field. And on the round table to discuss how to make it truly developmental [for ALL the kids and the communities].
DeleteJim L, is that you?
DeleteRe clubs and grass root development: my son participated for several years in an excellent year-round academy-run grass root development program open to all with cost only slightly above the club program he was in the summer before. The difference in quality of training, ie what he learned, was head and shoulders above what is going on in the clubs. He joined the academy program because he enjoyed the sport a lot and needed a higher level of challenge to further his enjoyment in the sport. He still loves it.
DeleteHe now plays for one of the academy's competitive development teams and has been impacted by the nonsense this summer. The academy is all about LTPD, relies heavily on development from an early age, and players that join later in the development process (eg from other clubs) are usually significantly behind and need to catch up technically and tactically to fit in.
The fact that some people (mostly politicians in clubs) think the academy "poaches" players is nonsense - if anything it is the opposite, as academy players are actively recruited by OSU (for it's own pricey academy!! the irony is not lost!!). Most players who move club to academy, academy to club, or club to club are dissatisfied with their current situation in some way and are looking for change. It is a real pain in the neck to change programs and players don't tend to leave when they are happy with the current situation. Unfortunately the OPDP clubs have made an effort to create an artificially unhappy situation for players at non-OPDP clubs this season (could it be to poach players?).
The OPDP clubs are doing their T1 teams a disservice by excluding competition with other quality programs. Parents from opposing teams regularly tell us how much they love it when their kids play our kids because of the beautiful style of play. It helps them learn! The parents don't want their kids to change programs, but they do want those games! I've heard from a number of friends with kids in other clubs this summer disgusted with their club and the current situation.
This behaviour from a small number of self-serving "adult" politicians in the clubs is unacceptable, and it is disappointing that Ontario Soccer is tolerating it. Ontario Recognized Academies are reviewed by Ontario Soccer as having proper LTPD programs and should be allowed to play along side Ontario recognized clubs (and all clubs should be included, not just the big ones with the most money). If an academy is not recognized by Ontario Soccer, that is another matter, but that distinction is not being recognized by the small group of people disdaining academies!
The current situation this summer is a mess. We need to fix the problems in soccer now before more kids drop out of the sport.
My daughter's team (u10) who play ERSL T1 this year, was asked to play as a fill-in for the OPDP. When our coach looked into it, they would be playing 12 Sundays till end of August (hardly a fill-in). This would include our ERSL games on Tuesday. Our coach was also told by the club that it was ok to play more than 2 games per week even though they only practice 2 times. According to LPTD U10 girls should only play 1 game for every 2 to 3 training sessions. Something is really wrong here....
ReplyDeleteEODSA and Ontario Soccer both talk, write good Rules and Development paths , but the sad truth is neither can do anything when it comes money making clubs with 5000+ members. WOS or OSU will not do anything they do not want, to be Honest they are EODSA decision makers. Here is the sad part: little CAP U and Ottawa International being followers instead of staying true to their founding principles of community base and inclusiveness.
ReplyDeleteTrue in a sad state of affairs. Quebec Soccer Federation better watch those two clubs poach all of western Quebec teams and players. Ontario soccer better do a radical move and listen to this and all other complaints. Capital United and Ottawa International shame on you :P
ReplyDeleteCapital United, Ottawa Internationals, Nepean Hotspurs - I hope that after OSU and WOS have had their way on this matter, they stab you in the back as we all know they are planning. Good riddance to you.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is OSU and WOS first turn on Hotspurs, then Ottawa City. It's no secret that they would like to eliminate those two clubs because of their geographic proximity.
DeleteDoes that mean that all the fees being paid by parents to these clubs are staying completely with the club and no funds are going upstream to the district or OSA to help support development of resources, coaching, referees, scouting, scholarship programs etc.? Will players of these clubs be denied access to provincial programs and resources?
ReplyDeleteDoes Ontario Soccer need more proof? Do they need witnesses? Do we all as a group need to come out and cheer one specific S-C-H-E-D-U-L-E-D game and record it? And while there, ask where the funds go?
ReplyDeleteI would love it if I'm wrong, but I really don't think Ontario Soccer is going to do anything about it. A number of the people driving this mess either work for or provide consulting services to OSU and WOS - the fact that they would be willing to risk that means they must have been given the green light from someone above (Ontario Soccer - I'm looking at you).
DeleteSadly you might be right. The optics here do not look good for any organized soccer in Ontario. Just recently an ex-president of a well known popular spanish club was arrested on FIFA corruption charges. Because of nepotism, and lack of any expedited action at all, I am now starting to see why "Facebook" leagues are popping up everywhere...
DeleteCanada 150 - Ottawa 2017 - "Learn about Canada's culture, identity, history and sports..." NOT! This week in Soccer history 8 clubs decide they are better than the rest of us...
ReplyDeleteI think it's clear that they don't feel they are better - the whole reason for their actions are just the opposite. They can't compete, so they may as well be comfortable (like Costanza, with his sweatpants).
DeleteYep, like a recently unfiltered person said: "...L-O-S-E-R-S" ...they can't stand the heat.
DeleteI am impressed with your site’s blog. Thank you all Famous Astrologer in Toronto
ReplyDelete