EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For a number of years, other countries have been putting additional resources into development of players domestically and into their international programs. Canada has fallen behind in that regard and if we are to avoid further setbacks, it is imperative that we put appropriate programs in place that provide systematic, comprehensive and efficient delivery of our total technical programming.
A major start has been made this past year and the challenge facing the Association is to build from that. In order to continue this progress, we must continue to intensify our player development program. These new programs focus on both identifying and developing new male and female players for our National Teams program with the goal being to prepare players who are ultimately able to represent Canada internationally.
Major new initiatives have been identified by National Team Head Coach/Technical Director Holger Osieck. These are as follows:
THE CSA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROGRAM
Perhaps the most important of all for the future of our National Teams program is the intensification of the new direction we have initiated in 1999/2000. The National Team Development Program consists of Canadian teams ultimately representing every age group from 15-18 years of age, both male and female, supporting the full U-20 male and female National Teams Program. It is quite clear that this is the foundation of our overall long-term strategy regarding our plan to achieve success on the playing field.
This development team program has been identified as being the underpinnings of our entire future national team system. If Canada is to succeed in years to come, then this 'research and development' program must be fully implemented in order to achieve the full potential of our players. Virtually every other proposed program is secondary in importance to the idea of identifying every year up to 200 of the best young male and female players in Canada and then giving them every opportunity to both develop and succeed on the world stage.
THE CSA 'OLYMPIAN' PROGRAM
As opposed to the Olympic Women's team which is our senior side (with no age restrictions), the Men's Olympic side is U-23 years of age. This effectively means that to prepare players for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, we must identify and develop the very best players born in 1981 or later (our current group of U-19 players in the current calendar year). These players, over an extended period of time, must be given special attention and every opportunity to achieve their full potential in the game. These players must be playing professional soccer at least in Canada or the USA or Europe.
Therefore, the best U-21 players, for example, in 2002 would be assembled in springtime for an intensive summer schedule, seeing the team play more than 20 matches vs professional club teams as well as international U-21 National teams in the period from April to September, ideally in some sort of league environment to try and best replicate the benefits that can only be derived from playing in a meaningful schedule where results, week to week, count. The best example of this is the US Pro 40 Selects (a heterogeneous group of players) which currently plays in the A League, using the best young players in the US system. The program is a flexible one and those players who are able to sign professional club contracts worldwide would be encouraged to do so.
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES
The Osieck/Sharpe report which CSA issued last fall dealt specifically with our National Training Centres and how they must be reformed for the future. These reforms will be initiated in our five major Centres in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. The Alberta and Nova Scotia sites will operate as regional "Hubs". Players from the Prairie and the Atlantic regions will travel into their regional hub on a regular basis for specific training with the Centre Coach along with a visiting National Coach.
CSA will financially support training centres operating at National Standards in all the other five provinces as well, so that the entire country is directly linked into a systematic training program, sharing common regimes and goals. CSA will also introduce a more comprehensive scouting program at all National Training Centres and at all National All Star Championships.
REFEREE DEVELOPMENT
The largest aspect of the Referee Development Plan is the incorporation of the goals and objectives of the referee development plans of the provincial and territorial soccer associations into those of the national body. CSA will be providing technical assistance to the provincial and territorial soccer associations in order to meet the domestic goals of the Plan.
The ultimate goal of the Referee Development Plan of the CSA is the training of referees for placement on FIFA's international list of match officials. The Plan is, therefore, designed in part with various FIFA goals and objectives in mind.
COACHING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Given the expansion of the National Development Teams Program and the National Training Centre Program, the development of coaches takes on greater importance. The development of coaches must not be underplayed when planning successful "technical" programs. The purpose of all development programs is to produce "successors" and, in that respect, such programs must be long term and ongoing. In order to carry on producing players for international competition, the program must also produce the next generation of coaches equipped to take players even further in their development.
Special program enhancements are planned for:
Licensing Program
Certification Database Program
Creation of a CSA Coaches Association
National Coach Presentations to Provincial Clinics
Goalkeeper Coach Licensing Program
COMMUNICATION, PROMOTION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ADMINISTRATION
One of the major problems the Canadian Soccer Association encounters is getting "the message" out and we must overcome these obstacles.
The Association is proud to have a viable and active website, www.canadasoccer.com. It is the challenge now to ensure that with this vehicle, we can promote all aspects of the Association's active domestic and international program as well as servicing the needs of the nation's media on a daily basis as well. To achieve all the above, as well as initiating new directions in the area of promotions while fully exploiting the potential of our new and well-received national soccer show, SoccerCentral, seen weekly on Sportsnet as well as launching a similar venture in French, there is a need to retain more human resources.
We also wish to begin more actively utilising our very best resources - our national team players in helping to promote the Association and our programs. They are our best ambassadors for the game and we hope to have them present across the country.
CONCLUSION
The implementation of "The Osieck Vision" as described above is of critical importance to the future of the sport all across Canada.
The cost interpretation of the above developed program, totalling almost $2 million annually when fully implemented, works out as follows in terms of National Player Registration fees, beginning with the current year's fees as derived from our 750,000 players;
2000……….$3.25 in total per player
2001……….$4.25
2002……….$5.00
2003……….$5.00
2004……….$6.00
2005……….$6.00
The above revenues to the CSA will, as well, support all existing programs as currently financed by the Association (including all 8 national club championships as well as 4 national all star championships).
There is also agreement that CSA will not propose any further player fee increase during this time period to its members.
The above program is a comprehensive analysis from both a technical and financial viewpoint in terms of what the Association must do in order to maximise the potential for the game in Canada. CSA now looks forward to receiving feedback and to taking this plan to a Special General Meeting of the Association called for Toronto on Saturday November 18, 2000.
To read our Frequently Asked Questions page, please go to page 10.
We welcome your comments at: info@soccercan.ca
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