Association wraps up weekend meetings in Montréal

The Canadian Soccer Association concluded its December Board of Directors meeting on Sunday 6 December in Montréal, QC. Highlights from the meeting included the approval of the Association’s 2010 budget, the approval in principal of the new governance framework, and the unanimous approval of Stephen Hart’s hiring as the new national head coach.
Of note, the approved budget promises greater programming for Canada’s national youth and development teams in 2010. That schedule not only includes the men’s and women’s U-20 and U-17 programs that will all take part in qualification matches this year, but also the renewed youth and Olympic development programs. In all, there will be 10 national programs in operation this coming year.
At the full national level, both the men’s and women’s programs have been committed to play two home international games in 2010. This will mark the first time in 11 years that both national programs play multiple home games in the same year. The women are scheduled to play two home games in the spring while the men are scheduled to play two home games in September. Dates and opponents will be announced at a later date.
In 2010, Canada’s men’s national team will be under the stewardship of Stephen Hart, who loses the interim tag and becomes Canada’s full-time head coach. Mr. Hart’s hiring received unanimous approval from the Association’s Board of Directors. Hart’s task will be to lead Canada to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The Brazil 2014 qualification process is expected to begin in 2012; along the way, Mr. Hart’s team will take part in numerous preparatory international friendly matches as well as the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
As for the women’s national team, it will have an important year as it prepares for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. The confederation championship is also the qualification tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Since 1994, Canada has qualified for every FIFA Women’s World Cup (Sweden 1995, USA 1999, USA 2003 and China 2007). Canada’s best result was fourth-place, bronze-medal finish at USA 2003 (both third- and fourth-place teams won bronze that year).
Also this weekend, the Board of Directors approved in principal a new governance framework. This new framework, which was presented by the Constitution Committee, will provide the Canadian Soccer Association with greater efficiency and accountability, not to mention the momentum to achieve the strategic goals of the Membership. The governance framework will again be reviewed at the next Board of Directors meeting in March 2010.
At the professional level, the Professional Soccer Committee reported to the Board of Directors that work was progressing on the new Pro Soccer Standards. Of note, the Committee had met with representatives of the Canadian Soccer League as part of the ongoing discussions towards the CSL membership of the CSA. The Canadian Soccer Association granted the CSL with conditional Membership approval at the Annual General Meeting in 2009 providing that the CSL meets the guidelines in the Pro Soccer Standards.
The Canadian Soccer Association supports 871,893 registered members, the largest sport participation total in Canada. More than 75,000 Canadians have taken a community coaching course in their province or territory with more than 500 having completed the “A” or “B” Licensed national course. There are also more than 17,500 registered referees with 36 officials on the National List operating at the professional level.
To date, Canada’s national teams have won seven confederation championships. At the full national level, Canada has won the 1985 CONCACAF Men’s Championship, the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup (men) and the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s Championship. At the youth level, Canada has won the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship and the 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. Canada was also Olympic champions in 1904.
The Canadian Soccer Association’s mission is to provide leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both nationally and internationally, in cooperation with its members and partners. The Canadian Soccer Association’s vision is leading Canada to victory and Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer.