Canadian women's university team

[Toje]

They are playing two friendlies in Poland on their way to the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia.

They lost their first friendly against the Polish national team 4-0. They play again on Saturday against Unia Raciborz (national champions) in Raciborz.

[sulfur]

Jackie Tessier, ex-Queen's striker is playing with the team and sending in semi-regular "diary entries". Her first one came in this morning:

http://supportlocalsoccer.blogspot.com/2013/06/fisu-kazan-jackie-tessier-in-poland.html

[soccerfan13]

not a bad result considering they had just arrived the day before after 11 hours of traveling and only had 2 short practices together. tomorrow they play the top club team which has 5 players from the national team on it, another tough match for sure. I believe they have one more exhibition game against japan before the competition starts.

[sulfur]

And a 2-2 draw against one of the top women's teams in Poland yesterday. Right now, the team is in transit from Poland to Kazan via Berlin and Moscow.

Jackie wrote her second diary entry today: http://supportlocalsoccer.blogspot.com/2013/06/fisu-kazan-jackie-tessier-in-poland_30.html

[The Kid]

3-2 loss to Mexico yesterday.

[The Kid]

Loss 1-0 to Ireland this morning. Doesn't look good to get out of group.

[Trillium]

Loss 1-0 to Ireland this morning. Doesn't look good to get out of group.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]938[/ATTACH]

Is the CIS still charging the players to raise the money to play in this tournament ?

[Lord Bob]

The Canadians aren't wearing CSA kits, which implies the CSA didn't organize the event, which implies the CSA didn't cover the bills.

[kj52]

That is correct, the players had to raise the money themselves.

[Trillium]

That is correct, the players had to raise the money themselves.

So its a pay to play team, not selection of best players?

Not a wonder Herd man can't find new quality players, bit of an embarassment do you not agree?

[Guest Future CanWNT]

So its a pay to play team, not selection of best players?

Not a wonder Herd man can't find new quality players, bit of an embarassment do you not agree?

+1

[soccerfan13]

Trillium,

you can trash this team all you want, but it was not a pay to play team. There were over 70 players originally in 2 ID camps one in the east and one in the west. over 30 girls were selected in December and have been following a training schedule. The final ID camp was held in Vancouver in March. Many of these girls are provincial and CIS all stars and are the best in the CIS. Its tough to have a competitive team when they only got together a week before the competition. They have been showing well. They lost to mexico when they were awarded a penalty kick in the last 10 min of the game and a heart breaking 1-0 loss to Ireland in a game they controlled most of the play. They played 4 exhibition games before the games and only lost 1 to the polish national team. Yes the cost is high, but the best players still want to compete and attend this event no matter the cost. It is a great experience and I know one player is using it to gain valuable experience at the international level as she wants to play pro when she is finished. Please give these players the respect they deserve

[kj52]

I think it's a travesty that many of these players couldn't get funding for their trip from senior soccer, university, etc. organizations. As you can imagine, students don't have a lot of extra cash. I also don't think anyone is disrespecting these players at all (Well maybe Trillium was but I think you clarified that effectively)- the selection was based on merit only and I know that many of the players were taking a fairly significant financial risk when they tried out for this team. I also know that some other team sports were fortunate enough to get funding to cover at least part of their costs.

[sulfur]

A big 4-0 win over China this morning. Jackie Tessier scored a minute into the game to set the tone, Lund added two penalty kicks, and China scored an own goal.

That puts Canada into a decent position as one of the top two 3rd place teams after the round robin. There are four more games to play over the next few hours that will determine the final standings.

[Trillium]

Trillium,

you can trash this team all you want, but it was not a pay to play team. There were over 70 players originally in 2 ID camps one in the east and one in the west. over 30 girls were selected in December and have been following a training schedule. The final ID camp was held in Vancouver in March. Many of these girls are provincial and CIS all stars and are the best in the CIS. Its tough to have a competitive team when they only got together a week before the competition. They have been showing well. They lost to mexico when they were awarded a penalty kick in the last 10 min of the game and a heart breaking 1-0 loss to Ireland in a game they controlled most of the play. They played 4 exhibition games before the games and only lost 1 to the polish national team. Yes the cost is high, but the best players still want to compete and attend this event no matter the cost. It is a great experience and I know one player is using it to gain valuable experience at the international level as she wants to play pro when she is finished. Please give these players the respect they deserve

CIS team at Unversiade

BEDEK Rachel Pauline, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Carleton )

BOYD Natalie Crystal, 2nd team all star pick in 2012 ( BC University )

COOK Kelly, 2nd team all star pick in 2012 ( BC University )

CORMIER Meagan Marie, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Regina )

DE CHANTAL-DUMONT Constance, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Montreal )

DIETRICH Jilian Marie, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

EMMOTT Elise Giane, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

FRANCKI Julia Danielle, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Ottawa )

FUNK Kristen Michelle, 1st team CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Trinity Western )

IGNACIO Julia Daniele, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

KADIMA Shalla Ruth, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

KHOURY Pilar, Rookie of year 2012, Not and all star pick in 2012 (Ottawa )

LAFRENIERE Julie, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Manitoba )

LUND Heather Marie, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

MAZZELLA Veronica Nicole, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Carleton )

MILLER Carleigh Joanne, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

SACCOMANI Victoria Caterina, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Alberta )

SAWICKI Jaclyn Katrina, Not a CIS all star pick in 2012 ( Victoria )

TESSIER Jaqueline Elizabeth, 2nd team all star pick in 2012 ( Queens )

TIKKA Kelsey, 2nd team all star pick in 2012 ( Laurier )

So twenty players selected, of whom five were all star picks in CIS 2012 ( only one from first team ), plus the Rookie of year pick.

Players selected from home school of head coach seven ( Alberta )

Players selected from home school of Asst Coach two ( Ottawa )

Players selected from city of Asst Coach school four ( Ottawa and Carleton )

So of 22 first and second team all stars only 23% were selected by CIS coaches to Universiade team.

So of total team members of Unversiade 35% were from Unversity of Alberta the coach who was assigned as Unversiade head coach.

Does something seem out of whack here, its a Pay to Play team selection based on who the coach can convince to sign on a pay the fee, rather then a merit selection.

It matters not how many went to tryouts it matters when you measure the selections, to a ( equitalbe base line ) i.e. The All star selections by all CIS coaches.

As to me trashing the team .... where the hell did I trash the team, I asked is it Pay to Play i.e. the players representing the CIS had to dip into their own pockets to pay for the glory of the CIS, get a freaking grip, I did not trash the players but the CIS who sucks athletes into paying to represent the country in some 1915 morality play of being amateur, cripes its no wonder the level the game does not move forward in this country when folks do not have the understanding of the system and what is wrong with it

Now do you want to make a rational argument that paying to go does not limit the players who can offer themselves up to play ?

[gwsmith63]

A big 4-0 win over China this morning. Jackie Tessier scored a minute into the game to set the tone, Lund added two penalty kicks, and China scored an own goal.

That puts Canada into a decent position as one of the top two 3rd place teams after the round robin. There are four more games to play over the next few hours that will determine the final standings.

Great win for the girls! Hopefully they can pick up one of the two spots and progress to the next round.

Knowing a few of these girls personally and having commentated for most of them at OUA and CIS Championships during the past five years, it is great to see them get the opportunity to represent their country. The experience they will take away on a personal and technical level will be invaluable.

There is a lot of talent in that squad with Tikka, Tessier and Funk some of the best players I've seen at the CIS level over the last three or four years.

Cheers

gws

[Blackdude]

Great win for the girls! Hopefully they can pick up one of the two spots and progress to the next round.

Knowing a few of these girls personally and having commentated for most of them at OUA and CIS Championships during the past five years, it is great to see them get the opportunity to represent their country. The experience they will take away on a personal and technical level will be invaluable.

There is a lot of talent in that squad with Tikka, Tessier and Funk some of the best players I've seen at the CIS level over the last three or four years.

Cheers

gws

They're out, BTW.

[gwsmith63]

They're out, BTW.

Not the best news but thanks BD.

gws

[sulfur]

Three of the last four games ended up being upsets by significantly weaker teams than stronger. These things happen.

Aside: Trillium, two other Queen's players were invited, both OUA first team all-stars, but both had to decline, one due to ongoing concussion issues, the other due to her school program finishing up this coming Friday. I know that a number of other CIS all stars were invited and several of them were unable to attend for similar reasons.

[DJT]

There are still three games remaining for Canada. The 9th-12th place classification round will be played as a round robin along with China (July 11), Estonia (July 13) and Russia (July 15).

[Trillium]

Three of the last four games ended up being upsets by significantly weaker teams than stronger. These things happen.

Aside: Trillium, two other Queen's players were invited, both OUA first team all-stars, but both had to decline, one due to ongoing concussion issues, the other due to her school program finishing up this coming Friday. I know that a number of other CIS all stars were invited and several of them were unable to attend for similar reasons.

Were any US based university players invited ?

The basketball program at the Games is using US and Canadian Unversity based players, why not soccer ?

My above post was comparing the CIS All Stars ... versus who was picked for team, that some players declined for injury reasons is common, but the teams make up is still dominated by localized picks of the selected coach, and players who have the financial resources to pay their way, that is not the way a representative team should be selected, you can bet the CIS adminstrative officials at the Games did not draw a penny from their pockets to go.

[kj52]

Were any US based university players invited ?

The basketball program at the Games is using US and Canadian Unversity based players, why not soccer ?

My above post was comparing the CIS All Stars ... versus who was picked for team, that some players declined for injury reasons is common, but the teams make up is still dominated by localized picks of the selected coach, and players who have the financial resources to pay their way, that is not the way a representative team should be selected, you can bet the CIS adminstrative officials at the Games did not draw a penny from their pockets to go.

Regardless of what we think, the fact is that amateur athletes often have to fund at least a good part of their costs to attend international competitions. It's certainly better than it used to be for Olympic athletes but unless you have a strong potential to win medals, funding from government is not very high. The question can be fairly asked; should football be any different? Any amateur team is going to face financial challenges to attend and I think it's asking a bit much to expect that the staff for this team should have to meet your standards for player selection, etc.

[Trillium]

Regardless of what we think, the fact is that amateur athletes often have to fund at least a good part of their costs to attend international competitions.

With the size of the soccer community in Canada and the dollars at the provincials and national level, this program should be funed at 100%, the CIS should be reaching out to the Provincial and District associations for access to funding support if they truly do not have the money. Funding money is left on the table in Ontario for university bound players in the Ontario Provincial Program because they do not want to risk those who want to play in NCAA schools, but there is a whole cadre of players who could get Provincial funding ... if the powers that be decided to lift up their pens.... its the same at the CIS, lazy adminstrators do not reach out in a timely fashion to get funding.

It's certainly better than it used to be for Olympic athletes but unless you have a strong potential to win medals, funding from government is not very high. The question can be fairly asked; should football be any different? Any amateur team is going to face financial challenges to attend and I think it's asking a bit much to expect that the staff for this team should have to meet your standards for player selection, etc.

I said CIS adminstrators, I have no problem with the coaching staff being paid for ... but I suspect there is a lot adminstrative overhead with the full team for all sports. As to standards for player selection so you do not think merit should be the sole criteria for a representative team ?

[sulfur]

Were any US based university players invited ?

My understanding is that at least two US based players were invited, one had to turn down the request for reasons similar to the other two Queen's players. I'm not sure on the status of the other player (she may have gone to the final training camp and not made the final cut for all I know, I honestly have no idea).

For these teams, I would suspect that the makeup is typically based on localized picks for the simple reason that, with the exception of those teams at the CIS Championships, the coaches do not often see most of the players in the country outside of their conferences/divisions.

[DJT]

9TH-12TH PLACE CLASSIFICATION ROUND

July 11

China 1-2 Canada

40' Canada goal (Heather Marie Lund)

45' China goal

63' Canada goal (Heather Marie Lund)

(Ireland, who beat Canada 1-0, lost 8-0 to Great Britain in the quarterfinals.)