Canadian soccer triumvirate;Gerry Dobson Blog Oct.

[JB_Tito]

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/gerry_dobson/2007/10/05/canadian_soccer_triumvirate/

Canadian soccer triumvirate

I found it interesting that Toronto FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Montreal Impact were meeting to discuss all things soccer.

On the surface it might seem quiet, but behind the scenes there is a flurry of activity. They didn't want to make a big deal of it, but senior management from the three clubs including Impact President Joey Saputo, Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment COO Tom Anselmi met at BMO Field before Toronto's 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls.

Here's what I can tell you: The three teams want to work together on player development and other things including friendly matches. Collectively they carry a ton of clout. Without purposely doing so, they are working themselves into position to shape the game in this country for years to come. Perhaps it's just nature running its course. In Montreal, Saputo has already talked casually with Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool owner George Gillette about finding common ground. This could mean having the legendary England club train in Montreal and play the Impact at their soon to be completed soccer specific stadium (Natural grass by the way. In fact, it's already been installed).

Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot is willing to spend whatever money and resources are required to make his franchise as powerful as it can be. Even though we haven't heard much from them lately, I get the gut feeling there are some things about to break on the west coast.

And in Toronto season ticket renewals are running at over 95 percent. They will increase the number from the current 14,000 to around 15,000 for next year. There is by the way, a waiting list of 5,000. They are also on the verge of formulating and announcing their player development program.

Here's more: Toronto FC will again hold open tryouts this December. Watch for it to be bigger than last year, and with a higher profile. They are determined to find that hidden gem out there, if there is one.

And finally, congratulations to the Red Patch Girls. As part of the Red Patch Boys supporters club, and led by Connie Zimmer, they have produced and are selling a calendar with proceeds going to Toronto FC's official charities: Kidsport Ontario and Right to Play. Good for them. As they've been doing for the last several games, they'll be outside Gate 3 selling the calendars before the final home game October 20. You can also buy the calendar online at redpatchboys.ca.

Do you think this will be the beginning of the end of the CSA as we know it now?

[Cheeta]

Red Patch Girls calender?

[The Beaver]

quote:Originally posted by JB_Tito

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/gerry_dobson/2007/10/05/canadian_soccer_triumvirate/

Canadian soccer triumvirate

Do you think this will be the beginning of the end of the CSA as we know it now?

What I hope it spells is the end of our dependance on the CSA for player development in this country, among other things. Other than the US, I'm not sure if there is another country in the world who is so horribly dependent on its national association for development, and even the US has moved further along with the emergence of MLS.

As for the RPG calendar--is it tame?

[boban1]

quote:Originally posted by The Beaver

As for the RPG calendar--is it tame?

Nothing but tits and ass. hehe

[VPjr]

Interesting stuff. let's see what comes of it. Of course, the Beaver is right...we need to end our dependance on the CSA for player development. However, because our local clubs show so little interest in developing their own elite player development programs, we still need leadership from above. In a perfect world, the CSA's role in player development is centered around establishing models for player development that are based on best practices from around the world. They should have a planning group (led by a national TD) whose major responsibility is the creation of national strategies that can filter down to the Provinces who would then influence/encourage/pressure the districts/clubs to implement these strategies in ways that are suitable for the local situation. For example, the CSA establishes as a priority the creation of regional 'Major Junior" leagues open to players 16-21. Then they work in conjunction with each province or region to establish strategies for implementing the plan. We don't need the CSA to execute these plans but they should be the ones providing the ideas, the leadership and seed funding to get these strategies off the ground.

BTW, The RPB girls calendar is tame. but the money goes to a good cause so I bought 2 of them. The warehouse guys at my work liked them.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

quote:Originally posted by VPjr

BTW, The RPB girls calendar is tame. but the money goes to a good cause so I bought 2 of them. The warehouse guys at my work liked them.

I also think it is a great initiative, and focuses on serious causes. So full marks to the ladies.

[ag futbol]

I posted something similar over on usector noting that the incentives for minor soccer players are about to change drastically. In the past to get development and recognition (by playing in Canada) you had to run though the CSA’s system. Now with the emergence of at least a few pro clubs, young players can make the jump to the professional level by playing well with an amateur side. It’s going to put the focus on which clubs are developing players as opposed to who has the connections to put you into the provincial or national program.

[VPjr]

quote:Originally posted by ag futbol

It’s going to put the focus on which clubs are developing players as opposed to who has the connections to put you into the provincial or national program.

very, very true

[SilverSamurai]

quote:Originally posted by VPjr

Interesting stuff. let's see what comes of it. Of course, the Beaver is right...we need to end our dependance on the CSA for player development. However, because our local clubs show so little interest in developing their own elite player development programs, we still need leadership from above. In a perfect world, the CSA's role in player development is centered around establishing models for player development that are based on best practices from around the world. They should have a planning group (led by a national TD) whose major responsibility is the creation of national strategies that can filter down to the Provinces who would then influence/encourage/pressure the districts/clubs to implement these strategies in ways that are suitable for the local situation. For example, the CSA establishes as a priority the creation of regional 'Major Junior" leagues open to players 16-21. Then they work in conjunction with each province or region to establish strategies for implementing the plan. We don't need the CSA to execute these plans but they should be the ones providing the ideas, the leadership and seed funding to get these strategies off the ground.

BTW, The RPB girls calendar is tame. but the money goes to a good cause so I bought 2 of them. The warehouse guys at my work liked them.

The calendar is well done w/ the money going to a good cause.

I hope this is the end of the CSA. Now we just need Montreal and Vancouver with MLS sides and we'll be golden!

[SilverSamurai]

quote:Originally posted by VPjr

Interesting stuff. let's see what comes of it. Of course, the Beaver is right...we need to end our dependance on the CSA for player development. However, because our local clubs show so little interest in developing their own elite player development programs, we still need leadership from above. In a perfect world, the CSA's role in player development is centered around establishing models for player development that are based on best practices from around the world. They should have a planning group (led by a national TD) whose major responsibility is the creation of national strategies that can filter down to the Provinces who would then influence/encourage/pressure the districts/clubs to implement these strategies in ways that are suitable for the local situation. For example, the CSA establishes as a priority the creation of regional 'Major Junior" leagues open to players 16-21. Then they work in conjunction with each province or region to establish strategies for implementing the plan. We don't need the CSA to execute these plans but they should be the ones providing the ideas, the leadership and seed funding to get these strategies off the ground.

BTW, The RPB girls calendar is tame. but the money goes to a good cause so I bought 2 of them. The warehouse guys at my work liked them.

The calendar is well done w/ the money going to a good cause.

I hope this is the end of the CSA. Now we just need Montreal and Vancouver with MLS sides and we'll be golden!

[Trillium]

Thought this story might be interesting the movement of players at 13 identified by pro clubs in brasil and brought thousands of miles to be developed.. note the ... no tatoos...coloured hair etc...criteria... old school discipline... to give an oppourtunity.

Craques com talento e disciplina

07-Out-2007

Quem passa no período da manhã pela Avenida Carlos Cunha, próximo ao Banco do Brasil, no bairro do Jaracati,

pode observar um campo de futebol de terra vermelha com um grande número de crianças “batendo uma bolinha”.

Sol quente e poeira são alguns dos obstáculos que jovens dos 8 aos 17 anos dos bairros da Camboa, Liberdade

e Jaracati, na capital maranhense, enfrentam há 17 anos com o sonho de estrelato no futebol.

Durante três dias na semana, funciona no “campinho” a escolinha do São Luís Atlético Clube da Camboa (SLACC).

Hoje com aproximadamente 120 garotos, além do um trabalho social, tem também o objetivo de revelar atletas

para clubes de todo o país e serve, também, como uma grande esperança para a maioria dos jovens que vivem na

pobreza.

Por várias vezes os atletas do São Luís Atlético Clube da Camboa participaram de algumas competições fora

do estado e como os olhos dos caçadores de talentos estão sempre abertos alguns garotos maranhenses chamaram a

atenção e já estão em grandes clubes do país.

Um exemplo é o jovem Ricardo Rocha, de 13 anos, morador do bairro da Liberdade que desde o início do ano está

em Belo Horizonte - MG, treinando no Atlético Mineiro. O mesmo caminho deve fazer Talison que vem treinando em

Curitiba na Ethisports, mas que também deve ir para o “galo mineiro”.

Para o presidente do SLACC, Genivaldo Silva alguns atletas revelados pela escolinha não reconhecem o trabalho.

“Nós não fazemos contratos com ninguém, quando mandamos um atleta para fora, o único documento que nos liga a ele

é uma procuração assinada pelos país”, observa.

A velha fórmula de educação e bom comportamento combinam com o esporte. E na SLACC vai muito além. Os jovens que

participam da escolinha devem freqüentar a sala de aula, ter boas notas e deixar de lado algumas vaidades e

adereços como brincos, piercing, tatuagens e a pintura nos cabelos. (J.B.)

Craques with talent and disciplines 07-Out-2007

Who passes in the period of the morning for the Avenue Carlos Wedge, next to the Bank to Brazil,

in the quarter of the Jaracati, can observe a field of red land soccer with a great number of children

"beating a small ball". Hot sun and dust are some of the obstacles that young of the 8 to the 17 years of

the quarters of the Camboa, Liberdade and Jaracati, in the maranhense capital, face have 17 years with the

dream of estrelato in the soccer. During three days in the week, escolinha of the Athletical São Luís functions

in "campinho" Club of Camboa (SLACC). Today with approximately 120 boys, beyond the one social work, it has

also the objective to disclose athlete for clubs of all the country and serves, also, as a great hope for

the majority of the young that lives in the poverty. For some times the athletes of the Athletical São Luís Club

of the Camboa had participated of some competitions are of the state and as the eyes of the hunters of talentos

always are opened some maranhenses boys had called the attention and already they are in great clubs of the country.

An example is the Ricardo young Rock, of 13 years, inhabitant of the quarter of the Freedom that since the

beginning of the year is in Belo Horizonte - MG,

training in the Athletical Miner. The same way must make Talison that comes training in Curitiba in the

Ethisports, but that also it must go for the "mining rooster". For the president of the SLACC, Genivaldo Silva

some athletes disclosed for escolinha do not recognize the work. "We do not make contracts with nobody, when

we order an athlete for it are, the only document that in the league it is a power of attorney signed for the

country", observes. The old formula of education and good behavior combine with the sport. E in the SLACC goes

very beyond. The young that participates of escolinha must frequent the classroom, have good notes and leave of

side some vanities and adereços as earrings, piercing, tattooings and the painting in the hair. (J.B.)

[Soju]

Do we know that these three clubs get along well and share a vision? The article seemed a bit speculative...

[Ivan]

quote:Originally posted by Soju

Do we know that these three clubs get along well and share a vision? The article seemed a bit speculative...

Saputo, Anselmi & Lenarduzzi were all interviewed after their meeting on Soccercentral and all three seemed quite sincere in wanting to help the game to advance in Canada.

[Richard]

Why wouldn't they, it is in their and their clubs' interest for that to happen?

[Soju]

Egos clash? Conditions they disagree on? I was just wondering. I think it sounds great so far.

[jpg75]

Here's an update

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2007/10/12/canadian_soccer_group/

Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Montreal Impact and Toronto FC announced today that they have formed a strategic alliance in order to develop the sport of soccer in Canada and North America.

The agreement came following a meeting of the three teams’ management, hosted by Toronto FC prior to the team’s home game against the New York Red Bulls on October 4th.

"It makes sense that we are working together, as all three clubs share a number of common themes including solid ownership and commitment towards a bright future," said Bob Lenarduzzi, Vancouver Whitecaps FC President. "It is exciting to know that we are going to be competing on the field and working together off the field."

As part of this alliance, all three parties agreed that elite player development is vital to the success of the game in Canada and the three pro clubs need to take a leadership position in establishing world-class player development strategies. To that effect, all three sides will continue to cooperate on developing top quality Canadian soccer talent.

The clubs also acknowledged their desire to play matches against each other throughout the 2008 season and to come up with a format that works best with each other’s league schedules.

Lastly, in the wake of the successful launch of Toronto FC into Major League Soccer and the ongoing successes of both Montreal and Vancouver in the United Soccer Leagues First Division, the teams agreed to meet regularly to discuss the business practices that have led to those successes and how to use that success to grow the sport in Canada.

"While we may be competitors on the field, all three clubs share a common vision, which is the growth and development of soccer in Canada," said Joey Saputo, Montreal Impact President. "We truly feel that this alliance will be beneficial for our sport, in the short and long term."

"The time is right to step up and be the leaders in Canadian soccer that we aspire to be, just as we all have a desire to be the teams that young players aspire to be a part of in this country," said Paul Beirne, Toronto FC Director of Business Operations. "The opportunities to grow the game in Canada have never been more obvious and having a strategic alliance with the other pro clubs makes obvious sense."

Officials from all three teams will meet before the end of the year to discuss in greater detail, each point and to begin the implementation of these elements. Furthermore, the clubs as members of the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) will continue to dialogue with the CSA and its provincial stakeholders for the betterment of the game nationally.