"In late 2005, the CSA with Sport Canada established the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) Work Group to study the system of soccer player development in Canada. During the final months of 2005 through 2006, the Work Group engaged top professional coaches and administrators at the national and provincial levels across Canada as well as outside experts in discussions and research into what types of player development systems would be necessary to develop increased levels of player excellence."
"To qualify for the World Cup, our system of player development must ensure, after 10 years of quality programming, that at least 6 of 40,000 eightyear-olds who play soccer each year will eventually debut for a professional team in one of the top 10 professional leagues in the world. Meanwhile, through the same soccer system, the other 39,994 children in that same eight-year-old group will acquire the skills, confidence and enthusiasm to remain active in soccer for life."
"GLOBAL COMPARISONS (2007) - ...it is also interesting to compare Canada to Australia, another soccer country with similar socioeconomics that has historically struggled to qualify for the World Cup. Both countries have almost identical per capita GDP and similar population densities. However, Australia has only two-thirds the population of Canada and has now managed to qualify for the World Cup twice."
WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE? - Leadership
- Elected board positions have clear criteria.
- Structure and policies are built on player-centred principles.
- Organizations have positive relationships with communities...
- Best practices for organizations exist at all levels
- Organized fan groups are more active and numerous.
- Canadian star players are promoted in media and given a public profile.
- Canadian soccer successes are celebrated and promoted in media.
"A people-centred focus: The needs of all people involved in the game should be respected and honoured within the larger focus of developing better players. This people-centred focus should be based on a fair and ethical approach at all levels of the soccer system: It should include a friendly and cooperative approach from CSA staff, and a willingness on the part of all stakeholders to share ideas, work hard, practice humility and listen."SOURCE: 2009 - Canada Soccer - Wellness to World Cup
Run for the Board then..
ReplyDelete...in Australia, much better luck.
ReplyDelete"...sitting on the sidelines".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/newcomer-soccer-financial-burden-1.4597460
They don't fit into the Learn to Pay/Pay for Life progression
DeleteLooks like the ERSL divisions are being populated, but tough to tell which teams the various clubs are entering at this point.
ReplyDeleteI did notice that Cumberland pulled their teams out of the ERSL U17 and U14 divisions.
At the U9-U12 level, it is fairly evident, based on submissions so far, that the teams going into Tier 1 are mostly teams that would have been labelled Tier 2 prior to OPDP. Ie, the same situation as last year.
DeleteI'm not 100% clear on Hotspurs. On their website they list "summer coaches" and all teams are listed as playing in the ERSL with some as T1 and others as T2, but then the way the league is populated, it looks like The T2 teams are entered as T1 and the T1 team missing... so I suspect this was (like last year) a late decision to join OPDP that is not reflected on the website.
It looks like for one other major OPDP club that had an extremely weak T1 team this winter (should have been T2 for the sake of the kids), that they will be playing their second team as T1 in the league and their very weak "elite" T1 team will participate in the current incarnation of the OPDP (festivals). It is possible that they have many superstar players in the summer that do not participate in the winter, but I feel for the kids if not.
Basically, this OPDP concept has been used to destabilize the league system: it is much harder to determine the correct playing level for children. The greed of a small number of adults is affecting a sport that is supposed to be child-centered.
I think it is worse than making it much harder to determine - for many, there just isn't a correct playing level any more.
DeleteIs Futuro allowed to play in the ERSL?
ReplyDeleteOf course. Futuro has played in the ERSL summer and winter every season consecutively going back years. Futuro players are fully registered St Anthony's players (previously were fully registered Royals players). They are a part of a club just as much as OSU Force Academy players are part of a club or WOS OPDL players or Cobras Academy etc...
DeleteThere is no reason whatsoever that Futuro teams are being excluded from the OPDP level of play other than that certain people in the big clubs do not want Futuro teams to be able to play their teams. Quite frankly, they don't want their players/parents to see just how well Futuro teams play, as it is directly correlated to the quality of coaching received.
So you are saying that Futuro is the best club/academy in the city when it comes to coaching. No other club/academy can match that level of coaching. Is that correct?
DeleteI'm not the one who posted the comment above, but I can say first-hand that yes, the coaching is far superior than elsewhere. People can talk about which teams are better at U10 or whatever, and some clubs/teams will happen to have a kid or two that are more naturally gifted that others, etc., but when it comes down to individual player development, I can honestly say the development at Futuro is much better. If a kid might improve 10% at another program, he/she might improve 25% at Futuro (the percentages don't mean anything, I'm just trying to say that they will get more out of an individual player). If you speak (in private) to anyone who left Futuro for OPDP/OPDL in the past months, they will attest to this (if they trust you aren't gathering information for the club).
DeleteI'm the one who posted above. There are some great coaches in other programs and I think that is fantastic and I enjoy watching those teams play. For players and parents in those situations, or happy in general, they are not likely to move, nor should they. It's a real pain in the neck to change programs. My experience with other clubs is coaching can be hit or miss and can change year to year. Lots of teams play kick and run and rely primarily on physical force to win games. That is a result of coaching. The Ontario Soccer courses are just a baseline level. In a big club it is not easy for a TD to ensure the highest quality of delivery for every child. Sanjeev is on the field with the kids and other coaches every day so he has a very good understanding of each individual's strengths and weakness. It may not be for everyone, but the kids who do want to be there tend to excel. The program is a manageable size (not 6000) and the coaching is high quality. You see the results on the field.
DeleteMy comment above was directed at a few clubs that are actively preventing Futuro teams from playing their teams whenever possible. Some have been actively stalking Futuro parents and players in an effort to poach for their OPDL teams. They seem to think that by stifling the playing level of Futuro teams, that they will be able to more easily lure the best players from Futuro. I have heard coaches from those programs make comments like "how does he get those players" as if it is solely the natural talent of the players that make them great. The truth is it is the training. If you are passionate and immerse yourself in the correct environment, you can accomplish big things. When you leave that environment, you might not continue to develop at the same rate. As a parent, I regularly get compliments from parents on other teams re how beautifully the Futuro teams play (possession, technical skill, etc). Those qualities are universal in the program: all the teams look more or less the same, just at different stages of development.
The clubs avoiding playing Futuro are doing their own kids a disservice, because it is several high quality games missed per year. They have also confused the playing levels in the league, so their lower tier players may no longer be at the correct level. All that is aside from denying other good programs the opportunity to play at a higher level appropriate to their development. It should be disappointing to everyone that we have adults with that philosophy in the system.
Interesting perspective. For any new parents reading this, are there other clubs who usually play pretty possessive soccer over kick and run?
DeleteI think Cumberland is not bad at possessive soccer, they get burn by kick and run from opponents but coach keep telling kids to stick to system. Repeat, repeat and repeat, even if sometimes it looks agonizing for the kids.
DeleteI personally think it varies more by coach than by club. I think many clubs want their teams to play a possessive game of some sort (there are many definitions of this), but I think with many teams and coaches it can be difficult to achieve. In some clubs, you can be with a coach 1 year that has a totally different philosophy than the coach you get the next year. Some clubs are taking steps towards a clearer program-wide philosophy and coaching strategy. The bigger the program, the more challenging that is to implement properly, but it is positive to see.
DeleteI find this to be one thing I really like about Futuro - the TD sets how all teams play and you can see a progression from year to year as they build on it. Kids who are called up to older teams fit in easily because the system is pretty much the same. And you know that Sanjeev will be there, so no worries about things changing year to year.
DeleteWith a bigger club, even if the TD sets an overall system/style (which I don't think happens often), it is difficult to oversee and monitor. And whether people want to accept it or not, a number of these people are always looking for something bigger. So even if a proper system of oversight is in place, if the TD happens to leave for greener pastures, the club is back at square one in that regard.
I have seen the Cumberland teams play, and they definitely play a pretty possession style game over the "just win" tactics that some clubs use. Those high flying bombs to their 10 year old striker who is twice everyone's size. Those kids fade away real quick while the ones who learn how to play properly go far. Futuro plays the possession style well. OSU do it well. The other clubs can be hit and miss depending on the coach.
DeleteFuturo joined T1 for the second half of the season, so they (you, I assume) did not see all the matches. The team you are talking about won their first match as well as another match. There was a bit of tweaking in the 2nd half of the season where one team went down and one team came up (Futuro). The team you are talking about had some rough matches but did ok in some others.
ReplyDeleteIt would seem that we are thinking of different teams in different age levels based on your description. That is fairly telling regarding the inability of clubs (possibly the same one in this case) to field teams of the appropriate level.
DeleteSince it sounds like a number of clubs are boycotting the ERSL at the younger ages and playing "festivals" instead, but have been told by OS that they aren't allowed to exclude other clubs, will information be posted publicly about these "festivals"? Or will these clubs keep this information to themselves until registration is full, so they can continue pulling the wool over parents' eyes about the level of play?
ReplyDeleteI only see the usual festivals, eg ice breaker, snakebite, etc. Are these the festivals where the OPDP teams will play? Looking at who is already registered in some of these, it looks like maybe no. The cost of each festival is around $250-300, but if you do the math based on the incremental cost of playing on an OPDP team in several clubs ($50), it would seem each OPDP team is paying a nominal $100-150 per festival. Maybe less? I have not seen other festivals advertised. Beyond that, the EODSA keeps a list of "approved festivals" here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.eodsa.ca/DisplayPage.aspx?PageID=124
and they are all the same ones that happen every year. So are there additional "unapproved" festivals?
There is already a festival just about every weekend, so it does not seem feasible to add 7-8 more. If so, who will attend the existing festivals?
Those festivals will probably not be applied for and approved until the last possible moment, but will already have been scheduled.
DeleteIf anyone has access to these schedules (or scheduled dates for these additional festivals), could you please post them here? TIA
DeleteI think you are right, as I can see in numerous "annual" festivals, T2 teams for a club are in, but not T1 from the same club... I had initially assumed these would just be groupings in their usual festivals...
DeleteThe OPDP festivals are:
DeleteIceBreaker OISC
Foti Memorial Festival (Hotspurs)
CAPU Mini World Cup
CUSC SnakeBite
OGSC GIST
OSU Nike Challenge Cup
WOSC RepFest
OCSC- Kickin in the Capital
The festivals are open for everyone. There's no secret society, everyone can go in. There won't be any new special OPDP festivals.
Of course some of you will say: "How do I know that I will play against OSU Black, Cumberland Cobras, etc (tough competition)?"
I don't have an answer to that question, lol. I imagine that each individual festival organizer will have their special plans, it's hard to judge. Please speak to the organizers before signing up to the tournament.
But with regards to OPDP, the festivals they are doing are the 8 shown above (100% true). 2 games per festival... that's 16 games per team.
Can other festivals join this arrangement? It would be nice to see the City and other straggler footballers brought under one umbrella.
DeleteWell there you have it. Complete transparency. Futuro can compete in these festivals.
DeleteScruples aside, isn't it liberating to acknowledge it's finally: "transparent" (no ulterior motive)? When compared to... what would you call last year? Gentle summer of exclusion? Does OS and FSQ know the real reason for taking advantage of the festivals loophole? Not that I sympathize with OS (they've shown not all are created equal). About the centralising of leagues agenda? Under our transparent gov. org.? If they don't see it, then maybe I must admit, Darwinian evolution in soccer is indeed needed... Hello footy sevens...
DeleteThe post above indicates that the old festivals that these 7 or 8 clubs organized are the festivals that they are replacing league play with, but when I look at the teams registered for the internationals icebreaker, for example, I don't see how all 7 or 8 clubs will be able to participate - there don't seem to be enough spots left in a number of the divisions. Are not all clubs playing 7 festivals, as internationals indicate on their website? If so, it sounds like these clubs are forgoing league play to play fewer games crammed into 2 or 3 weekends? Or are they actually just playing a whole bunch of "exhibition games" again?
DeleteSome of you sound like that kid who is upset that they weren't invited to the party lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd while it might be completely acceptable to you to actually be an immature juvenile in your responses; public opinion knows who the real adults are in real life; not the ones "sounding like..."
DeleteTo compare the organization of the EODSA run youth soccer league to a frat boy party probably says something about the situation.
DeleteApparently OSU is up in arms about being fined for sending a U12 girls team to England? Not sure why they are making an issue about this. I agree it's a ridiculous rule, but they aren't the first club to be fined for this and OS has made many exceptions for them in the past and allowed them to ignore published rules on numerous occasions. Makes it seem as though they don't have a problem with the rule itself, but only with the fact that the rule is being enforced against them.
ReplyDeleteOSU has every right to be upset about it, just like you guys have every right to be upset about just anything really....
ReplyDeleteSo it was fine when other clubs were fined for trips like this, but now it's not? I don't agree with the rules, but I think the rules (all rules) should be applied equally to all.
DeleteThere have been instances where OSU's U10 teams were given permission to travel to Toronto (which was clearly in contradiction of the rules), while other clubs have had travel permits denied for tournaments in Montreal.
I don't think this is a case of OS making an example of OSU. Remember that they turned a blind eye to the OPDP program when it was very clear what was going on and who was putting together the schedules, etc.
The rules, right or wrong, are clear.
OSU likes those rules when they can be used to ensure that clubs like Fiorentina and LACA are not allowed to run competing youth programs. It is only when the rules are enforced by a board they don't control that it is a problem.
DeleteExactly. Remember when they filed objections to try and prevent players (KIDS) registered with OFC from playing in the ERSL? When they didn't get the result they wanted, they started a website for a futsal league with a very similar domain name to OFC's, just to create confusion. When they threatened various facilities to try to stop them from renting field/dome time to certain clubs/programs (not because they wanted to book that time, but just because they saw a potential threat to their registration $$$), people didn't seem to be so concerned. And offering families free play if they will leave a certain program - you OSU parents should be asking why they don't offer you free play (and I'm not talking about situations where people couldn't afford to pay). These examples don't directly have anything to do with the restriction on travel, but do show how the people running that place will do anything if they think it will help them fill their pockets.
DeleteOSU u10 have travelled to Toronto to play in the Robbie, which is allowed. Please get your facts straight!
DeleteWhat amazes me is how Futuro can do tours of England, post everything on Facebook... and nothing happens. Now that a girls team did it, it's an issue! Soccer in this country is a complete shit show
I'm not talking about the Robbie. It was a couple of years ago and was for one game (nothing to do with the Robbie, or exceptions for charitable festivals).
DeleteAre you 100% sure nothing happened with Futuro? I don't know for certain either, but I think you're just making an assumption. I agree that the rules should apply equally to all clubs (leave academies out of it, because they are allowed to do certain things as a concession for being excluded from so much else). I agree that if Futuro was not fined for the trip and OSU is, then that's not fair. I'm just not sure that's the case.
"Soccer in this country is a complete shit show" - I actually sympathize and agree. Going through the "shit show" of creating a separate exclusion OPDP league definitely doesn't help; and makes the reason for this blog to exists, valid. Instead of reigning in all the not-for-profit and business models under one umbrella, where everyone competes & innovates (and pays their fair share) it only leaves hard working paid and unpaid staff to look for alternative sports. Rubgy anyone (under limited fields)? Again, no one is asking for a free ride or a hand-out or token rep. And yes everyone will apply to as many festivals as the kids/coaches feel they are at the right level. Given how the "transparency, rights, and accountability" the OPDP clubs are so "Anonymously" willing to demand here (of all places); you will forgive me if everyone here will take implied promises to be fair, transparent and accountable when it comes to competing fairly in and outside the field with large amount of salt. Again parents/players are ones keeping all the info/conversation on this site alive and they will post/email anything that smells like rotten fish from ANY club.
DeleteThe rules are clear: No U9/U10 can leave the district (exception is Robbie), no U11-U12 team can travel outside North America... fine! Rules are rules!
DeleteBut how come Futuro can go to England, post everything on social media and nothing happened?
Of course I'm sure that's what happened! Both Futuro trips to England were all over Twitter and FB!!!
Now OSU does it... it's a problem! Can anybody tell me why? I can't stand hypocrites, that's one thing I really can't stand.
You all love to complain about fairness and against exclusion, but apparently when it's done against OSU... no problem...
Yes, it happened. I'm asking whether you know for a fact that Futuro wasn't fined? I'm not sure they got off free as you imply. I agree it should be a problem for all or for no one - I just think you're assuming OSU is the only one being singled out, and I'm not sure that is in fact the case. As for SAAC and other academies, they are allowed to travel at any age, so you shouldn't get hung up on trying to compare this situation to those academies.
DeleteI think the original poster was not saying that they felt it was a problem that OSU U12G went to England - they were merely commenting that it was ironic that OSU is upset about being fined for breaking a rule. The original poster even indicated that they did not agree with the rule...
DeleteIn my opinion there are probably too many rules in youth soccer in Ontario. Many have some grounding either from a developmental perspective, safety perspective, or to prevent clubs from behaving in a coercive manner. But to me it has become so bureaucratic: rules can be manipulated or the intent of the rule can be forgotten. Eg the games with "no scores" (well intentioned, but ridiculous) with adults still shouting at kids from the sidelines and coaches still coaching to win ahead of educate. The rule itself has simply made a mockery of the game, when the spirit of the rule could have been championed without the rule.
Regardless of one's opinion of the rules, they should be applied equally to all.
There is however a difference between a disciplinary rule applied against a specific team, and the sort of coercive activity we have been seeing in this district that restricts kids' options. The "adults" manipulating playing levels might feel they are getting some top players for their OPDL teams and therefore it is worthwhile to them. What they don't see are equally good players quitting soccer for other sports that don't have this nonsense. There are many sports that are not at all like this!!! It is not at all surprising to me why soccer in this country has such a huge drop out rate around the age of 12-15, and why we have such a weak national team. I really think the culture needs to change in some of the large clubs. It should be more about how well you teach than how big your player pool is (to select a better 1% of "natural talent").
Don't forget the parent organizations (EODSA, OS, CSA) role's whom should weigh into and take corrective actions rather than be complicity silent or turn a blind eye:
Deletehttps://www.eodsa.ca/Downloads/2/Letter%20to%20Members%20-%20OPDP-%20May%203rd,%202017.pdf
Any other president would have immediately engaged to make mends and win the trust of all large and small clubs alike. This one is just like: "umm so what, ces't la vie"
Anyone know what the basis for OSU's appeal is on this matter? Are they trying to argue that the rule doesn't apply to them?
DeleteA little surprised they've taken this to the media too. Lots of skeletons in their closest that I would have thought they would want to ensure stay there.
I've been reading some of the comments on twitter about this - they seem to want to be treated the same as academies on this point and be allowed to travel where ever they want. BUT, I assume they don't want to be subject to all the restrictions imposed on academies. Can't suck and blow guys.
ReplyDeleterights, transparency, accountability...? was there none before?
ReplyDelete"Well there you have it. Complete transparency. Futuro can compete in these festivals."
ReplyDeleteSo each OPDP team is paying $250-300 per festival (less $300 and change to not participate in the ERSL)? That's roughly $2000 divided by 12 players U9/10 or 16 players for U11/12, or about $150/player.
Will non-OPDP teams and OPDP teams be charged the same rate at these festivals?
How is it that clubs are only charging players on OPDP teams $50 extra to play at that level rather than ERSL "T1"? Are the second tier players expected to subsidize the tournaments of the first tier teams?
Not whining, just looking for some clarity.
I think those clubs' models have always contemplated the house league and other teams subsidizing the first teams. Fine if you're in the first team, but I never understood why other parents accept it. My guess is that they don't understand the model.
DeleteThen, there's always the possibility that these clubs are paying something less to play in the festivals. I know this sounds cynical, but with all that's been happening (even over this past winter), it's only natural.
Still working on a large spread sheet (to be made public) from clubs public web prices for parents to see under one umbrella and they can make the better choice. Heck maybe they will want to switch clubs that are cheaper? And this whole thing will turn into a double edge sword for the OPDP...
DeleteThe best thing to do would be to contact each club and ask what Futuro will be charged per festival. Let me be clear, we absolutely want Futuro to play in these festivals. It's good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the desire to be anonymous, given the situation locally and even in the province in general. But can you expand on who is "we", without naming names? I only ask because I know for a fact that an executive from one of the clubs flat out said at a meeting that he doesn't care what OS and EODSA say, their teams will not play against Futuro. This obviously carried over into the winter with the polar bear league and some other situations.
DeleteSo fees aside, how could anyone be comfortable registering for something where you expect you won't be treated fairly in the scheduling/match-ups? An example is the post a while back about the Internationals icebreaker festival 2 or 3 years ago - and the situation wasn't nearly as poisoned as it is now.
Teams go on tours and classifies them as training. So you train and then you have a "scrimmage". If you state you are travelling to a game then OSA has restriction with respect to that. I do not know what OSU stated with regards to their away trip. So there is where the distinction may lie.
ReplyDeleteOSU played against Futuro in the winter. That was a step in the right direction. Let's keep moving forward.
ReplyDeleteNot at the older learn-to-train age groups (U11/U12). The top 3 OSU teams in that age range played in the 9v9 Polar Bear League from which Futuro was excluded. It has been a year since OSU black or white played Futuro at those age levels.
DeleteWell let's work together to change that.
ReplyDeleteTFC draws Club America to advance to Champions League final
ReplyDeletehttps://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/tfc-toronto-fc-club-america-concacaf-champions-league-liga-mx-mexico/
A good strategy by TFC during the game. Got a lucky goal early and after that, defended very well. CA was a much better team, but soccer is cruel sometimes.
DeleteTFC is representing Canada, but there's virtually no Canadians in the team. Osorio is OK, will never be great, Ricketts is a perpetual sub, can't see him getting ahead in this team.
For all the TFC-II, TFC-III, TFC u19s,u17s,etc etc they have nothing to show for... not a single kid from the academy will ever make it to the first team. Osorio was an exception, there will be no more in the future.
TFC just relies on recruiting kids from TO, they never look outside the city, they don't scout properly, I think they just don't care at all about youth development, because they'll just get the Giovincos, Altidore's, etc.
Piggy back on it at Twitter, Reddit, FB, email, @CBCOttawa with:
ReplyDeleteRe your article and I empathize with the OSU girls team. However (http://fairnessinottawasoccer.org/2017/06/glengarry-opdp-impact-statement-parent.html)
it is hypocritical of OSU who colluded with EODSA (OSU is VP at https://www.eodsa.ca/DisplayPage.aspx?PageID=41) to exclude other small & rural club's teams in Summer 2017. EODSA turned a blind eye! Where was the indignation then? Where was the media then? Who empathized with those teams then? Excluded teams by virtue of not being with the "right soccer club" (borderline segregation in my opinion) could no longer participate and showcase at being the best! Believe me, I am the 1st one who has been complaining in Ottawa/Ontario Soccer circles about unfair and bloated bureaucracy (check my blogs, google me). But to give credence that these extremely large clubs are saints, have not had a part in creating the monster of soccer locally/provincially for decades, and who complaint about "rules being manipulated" did exactly that in 2017 and are doing exactly that now for this coming season in 2018. Skirting, manipulating, and providing false advertisements to parents is disingenuous. Do your job let the CBC objectively report on that too.
I love the guy from OSU saying 'these rules are killing the passion for the game', when OSU has been using EODSA rules to create a monopoly over kids soccer in as much of the city as they can. They used the same rules to ensure that many clubs have been prevented and/or driven out of offering programs for kids.
ReplyDeleteFrom the CBC article, EODSA levied the minimum fine allowable for this, $400, with the comment (attributed to Bob Monaghan) that "it was a stupid law". The impression I get from this is that there might have been no fine, but OS required it. OSU is now paying $500 to contest the $400 fine. If you disagree with the rule, this might be great if OSU gets it overturned (if nothing else, precedents are being set). The "guy" (Bill Michalopulos) saying "these rules are killing the passion for the game" is the president of OSU, and also VP of the EODSA board of directors. He also went with the team to England (is in the team photo at Chelsea). Clearly this is not a beef between OSU and EODSA, but rather OSU and OS.
ReplyDeleteThe rule itself is very clear and anyone seriously involved in youth soccer knows it exists. There is no way that they did not know that they were violating this rule long prior to being denied a permit (or any bottle drives for that matter). If parents and players were not made aware of that, OSU mislead the families involved.
Personally, I don't have a problem with these trips if everyone involved agrees to participate. I don't see much difference between a trip to England and a trip to Dallas to be honest, though the latter would be allowed.
It is however important that rules are applied fairly. This should apply in all situations, otherwise, why have rules at all?
What is wrong with going to England? What is the need for this rule?
ReplyDeleteI always understood it was because at these younger ages, there is no need to travel great distances for competition (at least there weren't until 7 or 8 clubs started boycotting the local league in Ottawa).
DeleteRegardless of whether you agree with it or not (I personally do not agree with the rule), the fact of the matter is that there is a rule in place, it is very clear (regardless of what BM is trying to spin), and OSU was definitely aware of it. Whether the parents were aware of it or not, only they would know. So either the parents were not told about this rule and are now making baseless complaint through the media, or they did know about this rule and are being rather disingenuous.
An appeal of the rule isn't the way to have it changed - appeals are merely disputes over the interpretation of a rule. The process to change the rule is completely different and these people should understand this.
U11-U12 are allowed a "special" event (per year or season, I forget which), which would be greater travel within Canada or to the USA but not overseas.
DeleteI'm not sure the full reasoning for the rule. I don't see much difference between going to England and going to eg Dallas in terms of any potential negative impact on the kids. If anything, I can see great cultural upside. I can't really say that I agree with the rule, but it does exist.
Reply to Anonymous: $400!?!?!?. OSU is looking for public sympathy. There is strategy down the pipe. The fact is that the rules exist. Should they be changed? Yes/Maybe/No? Whatever the outcome it should for the benefit of the ENTIRE membership! Unfortunately at the EODSA not all members are equal in the eyes of the board. A truly representative board would have fought hard for all clubs to play in the same league/tournament. Instead you now have two classes of members. In an every day public legal environment, you would never ask a perpetrator if they committed a crime, and much less decide on that fact alone. Remember the "Did you send this email?" question regarding the rule about scheduling exhibition games:
ReplyDeletehttps://fairnessinsoccer.blogspot.ca/2017/05/ottawa-south-united-osu-opdp-description.html
You're bang on about this being a marketing initiative by the club. Some of the parents who are going public with this aren't coming across as genuine though.
DeleteAs for whether he sent the e-mail or not, he really didn't remember. He was probably drinking heavily back then.
Newbie question:
ReplyDeleteWhat is OS rationale for keeping for profits (OASL) separate from non profits (OPDL)? Would you not want the best playing the best?
official rationale unknown
DeleteTechnical advisory committee (on OPDL program creation) at the time recommended that academies be included in OPDL.
That recommendation was not followed. Jason Devos quit that committee because of OSA's decision. (See link below)
http://insoccer.ca/2013/12/14/time-to-move-on-to-the-next-battle/
Jason's comments are right on target. (Note Jason Devos now technical director for Canada Soccer)
Yes you would want your kids playing the best.
Futuro did poorly at the Wesley Clover. Several OPDP teams finished ahead of them.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people insist on making these comments? If you look at the tournament website, the girls team (playing up a year) did very well, same for the 2001's and 2005's. If anything it shows that Futuro should be included in play at the highest levels on a regular basis.
DeleteFuturo's U17s did ok. Their U13s and U14s were a step behind the OPDL teams. I wish OSU OPDL would have been there, but they were not.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see the game between the U14's, but the U13 game between Futuro and WOS OPDL was rather misleading. Futuro really dominated possession, but the WOS team was physically much bigger. The goals all seemed to come from a 5'9" player outrunning a 4'7" player (give or take an inch), while at the other end the smaller players couldn't outrun or outmuscle the much bigger backline. Possession in the middle of the field was quite lopsided though.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely two completely different styles of play - Futuro were much more skilled and played a possession game, while WOS were much bigger and more physical and play a very direct style.
I actually saw the first half of that U13 game and was shocked when I saw the final score online. I think WOS crossed half 2 or 3 times in the first half, including a goal where a really big kid outran everyone down half the field. I can only surmise Futuro was chasing a tying goal in the 2nd half and was caught on counters by some of the bigger kids?
DeleteI would agree that the WOS team was huge. At first I thought the Futuro team was playing up a year. Some of the WOS kids could have passed for 2 years older.
Did everyone see this from EODSA:
ReplyDeletehttps://tinyurl.com/y7e29opz
"While the ID Card Mobile Application is now approved form of identification, the physical ID card remains the primary piece of identification but it is important that in the event of a technical, or other issues, players have their physical cards available at the field for the ID card check if necessary".
Doh! What's the point of the app then? Talk about adding an extra layer of pain to Team Managers/Coaches. By "or other issues" you mean an opposing team or a biased Team Official just so happens to contest a single ID app profile?
Actually I will have to disagree. Manager usually holds cards for a team as they usually do card check. Manager for some last minute reason is super late or can't make it (And I have seen this happen). You are "dead in the water" with no cards = no play.
DeleteNow with app coach will have electronic copy of cards, no problem if manager is late with their electronic copy or actual playing cards.
It is layer of risk mitigation.