“Get your own league.”
It doesn’t take long to come across that sentiment when reading American opinion on Canadian teams playing in USSF sanctioned pro soccer leagues. Most often the anger is focused on MLS teams and dragged down by the natural rivalry that exists between fans regardless of international borders. However, you can see it slip into the conversation about lower levels of pro soccer as well.
Since a ball was first kicked in anger in this country Canada has been tied into the United States when it comes to developing the pro game. Canadian teams have played American teams forever. When MLS was launched in the mid-90s it was actually a bit odd that one of Toronto or Vancouver wasn’t included in the mix. Outside of the protectionists no one would have thought twice if Team Canuck was rolled out in some God awful strips back then. That’s just how it’s always been done (a neat piece of trivia to throw at protectionists Stateside is that the last NASL game ever played was in Canada).
So, the answer to “get your own league” has always been “we have one. It’s called MLS.”
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Yesterday, however, the CSA surprised a few people by telling potential D2 investors that it was time to get our own league. By putting a one year moratorium on the sanctioning of new D2 and PDL teams the organization has sent a clear signal that it feels that it is time to get serious about finding Canadian solutions to developing Canadian players.
They were likely pushed into the decision by two things that happened that were out of their control. First, the USSF codified a long-standing convention of US soccer – that no more than 25 per cent of a US sanctioned league can be made up on non-American teams. For the most part non-American generally means Canadian.
Secondly, MLS eliminated the Canadian quota for its Canadian teams. Although many Canadians continue to hold out hope that Canadian players will be counted as domestic players league wide in MLS that is highly unlikely to ever happen. That leaves us in a situation where there are no guaranteed roster spots for Canadians in our own D1 professional league. Ask England how that works out.
With the only American D2 league – the NASL – struggling to get to even eight teams, the CSA was staring down a situation where it would be handcuffing itself at just two D2 teams. At best the league might expand enough to allow a third team in at that level, or the USL Pro D3 level might be willing to start a Canadian division.
Might. Maybe. If.
That’s what happens when you hang your hat with another federation. And, that’s why the CSA is acting now.
The fallout so far in Canada has been mixed. Some people are happy to see the organization stand up for Canadian solutions. Most, however, are reverting into a typical Canadian can’t-do-it attitude. They suggest that if there are investors in Ottawa and Hamilton that are willing to go D2 then we should let them because we can’t possibly do better on our own (which ignores the fact that only one of those clubs could even get into a USSF D2 league as it currently stands).
There are a couple of things to remember. First you need to look at the date that the moratorium ends – next Sept. 30. Lasting just less than a year this seems more like a signal of intent than a drawing of a hard line. Let’s look at the feasibility of starting our own D2 structure the CSA seems to be saying. If it really can’t work then we go back to where we were in a year. Hamilton and Ottawa weren’t coming into the league in 2011 anyway.
The second thing to remember is that this isn’t 1998 anymore. The game in Canada is on a stronger footing. Although travel issues will always be there (as they would be for a USSF D2 team in Canada trying to fly to Puerto Rico), there seems to be a greater acceptance to the pro game now. Maybe the people of Saskatoon, for instance, would get behind a team now.
The biggest reason the game is doing better now is the emergence of TFC, Vancouver and Montreal as football clubs with national recognition (and you’ll note that the CSA isn’t saying anything about MLS. If a Canadian investor wants to step up and aim for the very top the CSA will be all over it). Along with that is the incredible success of the Nutrilite Canadian Championships. Suddenly Canada has both a “Big Three” and a way for the minnows to dream of knocking them off. It’s not a league per say, but it’s the backbone of one.
Lastly, the changes that have taken place in the D3 CSL over the last year must also give the CSA confidence. Some may ask why the PDL is being included in the moratorium. To give the CSL a year to establish itself as the primary Canadian development league, that’s why.
It turns out that the Get Your Own League crowd is about half right. You can’t ignore the north-south sports rivalry that has existed in both countries since the beginning of pro sports in North America. Having Canadian teams in MLS just makes sense. However, when it comes to the infrastructure below that top level the time has long past for Canada to stand on its own. Getting to that point won’t be easy, but it’s good that someone is finally recognizing the need.