The CSA is Mickey Mouse

[TOFC/ARSENAL]

If you think you are disappointed now, wait until we fail to reach the next World Cup Finals. If things don't change in a hurry, that is what will happen. As long as the current governors of the CSA are allowed to stay in place, the game will never improve in this country. Stories like Owen Hargreaves' will be repeated over and over again. Young players will be wrongly evaluated or just plain missed and will end up either never reaching their potential or playing elsewhere.

Some have suggested that players have been overlooked because of racisim; that the CSA is an "Anglo" old boys club. I don't think that is the case and Hargreaves' situation disproves the claim. Can't get more English than him, so he says. It is nothing to do with racism. It is pure incompetence and a faulty philosophy that discourages the cultivation of elite players, in favour of the limited goal of, "making sure everybody who wants to, gets to play."

The result is having a system with no means to grow, led by people with no vision for growth. Soccer reached a critical mass in Canada this year with the Under 20's World Cup and the MLS in Toronto that could have caused the game to explode in the future, for years to come. Certainly it will grow due to the exposure it has received but the CSA could have done so much more, had they reached a little bit higher. Instead, we get crap on the field from our own team and thousands of empty seats in Edmonton.

In addition, we probably have the wrong man in charge of the MNT and there is still no Technical Director at the CSA.

We need professional experts who know what they are doing, who can teach the game to us at the professional level. We don't need just one foreign coach. We need dozens, from all over the world who know how to evaluate talent and teach the necessary skills to build a solid base in this country. After all, when other nations want to learn about hockey, what do they do? They come here and hire Canadians.

In the absence of professional teams, we need 25 professionally run academies located across the country where those coaches can do their work. That is where the CSA should be putting its money. If they improve the game at the professional level and give Canadians a place to play, grassroots participation will increase as a matter of course.

They keep going on about the fact that there are over 850,000 registered soccer players in this country. Sounds good, but here is a comparison that will put it in context. By those numbers, the U.S. should have around 8.5 million players, being about 10 larger than us. In fact, there are over 14.5 million registered players in the States. On a per capita basis, that is almost twice as much.

The most frustrating part of the problem is that there seems to be nothing that ordinary fans and supporters can do about it. Those who run the CSA are answerable to no one but themselves. What are we to do?

I have had my rant. What do you think?

[Daniel from Montréal]

We should hire a Brazilian coach!

[TFC07]

Put pressure on CSA by sending them letters and having people signing petitions. Try to get the media our side as well.

[NS Rooney]

I agree with pretty much everything you have stated here but, because the CSA is a bottom up organization there is only one way to effect any change at the CSA and that is to start at the bottom. That means that the necessary changes must begin at the amateur club level and then the provincial level.
Since the clubs and provincial associations are run by self interrested politicians and not people who know and love the game there is a long row to hoe.

[JinJin]

I know everyone likes to blame the CSA, but I don't expect much from them with what I assume to be very small financial resources, I mean have you seen their office....

[CL_2004]

I want to see change here but it's not my job to improve Canadian Soccer. Those lazy farts at the CSA get paid and nobody should be giving them advice that they don't already know.

changes that need to made our common sense

[aerez]

They can start by not hiring Craig Forrest ever.

[NS Rooney]

They can start by not hiring Craig Forrest ever.

Why? Did Craig refuse to sign an autograph for you?

[divingisgay]

I still think that Canada has a very legit shot of making to the next World Cup, to finish 3rd or 4th in the group...heh...
But anyway,I think majority of all the quality players that Canada has...were developed overseas...

[FC_HRV]

TOFC/ARSENAL I finally agree with what you have to say. Although I would like to add you comparisons to the USA and our ratio is not what is important.
There are so many European teams, for example, that have won trophies with less soccer members than ours. What is important is quality of player. From a membership of 500,000 males surely we can find 20-25 that can compete with the world with proper training.

[FC_HRV]

Why? Did Craig refuse to sign an autograph for you?
Because he is part of the problem with the growth of quality players in this country. And he doesn't even know it.

[Taoism]

Because he is part of the problem with the growth of quality players in this country. And he doesn't even know it.
I'm sure I'll regret asking, but I'll bite anyway. Why is Craig Forrest a problem without knowing it?

Cheers!

[redfromcanada]

I used to work in the soccer business and got to see first hand how the clubs, associations and even a couple of provincial associations work. And it is correct when accusations of personal fiefdoms being held by amateur club presidents are made. Payoffs, favours and dirty dealing are more common than many would think. How there is any consensus among those who run soccer in this country is beyond me. I do blame the CSA for being incompetent but it is mainly due to the fractious nature of the grassroots that causes it. Almost like the dictator who gets into power due to the fractious elements of the opposition in various countries around the world.

[FC_HRV]

I'm sure I'll regret asking, but I'll bite anyway. Why is Craig Forrest a problem without knowing it?
His name.

[kai leung]

I used to work in the soccer business and got to see first hand how the clubs, associations and even a couple of provincial associations work. And it is correct when accusations of personal fiefdoms being held by amateur club presidents are made. Payoffs, favours and dirty dealing are more common than many would think. How there is any consensus among those who run soccer in this country is beyond me. I do blame the CSA for being incompetent but it is mainly due to the fractious nature of the grassroots that causes it. Almost like the dictator who gets into power due to the fractious elements of the opposition in various countries around the world.

I agree somewhat.

I've spent 20-25yrs in the politics of soccer in Canada and the common denominator is that the most critical part of soccer (that being the youth development) is in the hands of people who have never played the game.
Senior associations are run by people who actually play the game, the youth associations are generally run by non-playing parents. I've been involved at both levels and the ignorance of the basic game at the youth level is truly appalling. We (the soccer knowledgeable)have no one to blame but ourselves for not being involved at a youth level and leaving it to parents to run. People like to come on this forum and complain about the state of our game but why don't you run for a seat on a youth association where you can actually do something to change things.

Youth associations tend to have a feel good approach to soccer "it's a healthy lifestyle and participation is more important than winning". Time after time I've witnessed technical directors attempts to improve the system overruled by a board of parents who pander to other parents and their spoiled brats. If we are to be competitive the development system must be fixed. We must demand excellence and not just participation, it doesn't matter how many millions we have playing if we can still lose to Guadeloupe.

The CSA is responsible for the state of the game but anyone who is a registered player in Canada is responsible for the CSA. It's a democratic system if you don't like it get off your butt and help change it.

[NS Rooney]

I agree somewhat.

I've spent 20-25yrs in the politics of soccer in Canada and the common denominator is that the most critical part of soccer (that being the youth development) is in the hands of people who have never played the game.
Senior associations are run by people who actually play the game, the youth associations are generally run by non-playing parents. I've been involved at both levels and the ignorance of the basic game at the youth level is truly appalling. We (the soccer knowledgeable)have no one to blame but ourselves for not being involved at a youth level and leaving it to parents to run. People like to come on this forum and complain about the state of our game but why don't you run for a seat on a youth association where you can actually do something to change things.

Youth associations tend to have a feel good approach to soccer "it's a healthy lifestyle and participation is more important than winning". Time after time I've witnessed technical directors attempts to improve the system overruled by a board of parents who pander to other parents and their spoiled brats. If we are to be competitive the development system must be fixed. We must demand excellence and not just participation, it doesn't matter how many millions we have playing if we can still lose to Guadeloupe.

The CSA is responsible for the state of the game but anyone who is a registered player in Canada is responsible for the CSA. It's a democratic system if you don't like it get off your butt and help change it.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying but, it's not that these parent coaches, parent administrators etc. are so concerned with the "feel good" concept. It's just that they come to the table with an agenda that involves their little Johnnie or Janey. I've seen these parents follow their kids from U5 all the way up to (and including) the senior level. Along the way they lobby, suck-up to, intimidate and generally harass coaches, technical directors and even the CSA types. Good coaches soon get the hint and get out. There is a place (and revenue to be had) for young rec. players who just want to have fun and stay fit for their winter sports. What needs doing at the grass roots level is to somehow minimize the politics and allow real soccer people who know and love the game to do their jobs of identifying and training the young talent. But you can't do that untill you deal with the provincial and CSA politics. Once a parent realizes they can score points for their little phenom from CSA scouts - and they can - then the rest is easy for them. If you have a kid with all the physical attributes, talent, desire etc. there is no guarantee...

[kai leung]

I agree with a lot of what you're saying but, it's not that these parent coaches, parent administrators etc. are so concerned with the "feel good" concept. It's just that they come to the table with an agenda that involves their little Johnnie or Janey. I've seen these parents follow their kids from U5 all the way up to (and including) the senior level. Along the way they lobby, suck-up to, intimidate and generally harass coaches, technical directors and even the CSA types. Good coaches soon get the hint and get out. There is a place (and revenue to be had) for young rec. players who just want to have fun and stay fit for their winter sports. What needs doing at the grass roots level is to somehow minimize the politics and allow real soccer people who know and love the game to do their jobs of identifying and training the young talent. But you can't do that untill you deal with the provincial and CSA politics. Once a parent realizes they can score points for their little phenom from CSA scouts - and they can - then the rest is easy for them. If you have a kid with all the physical attributes, talent, desire etc. there is no guarantee...

agreed-the "feel good" concept is what they hide behind.

The way to minimize politics for the soccer knowledgeable types to replace parents within the youth administrations. Technical people are hired and fired by administrators, who more often than not parents with little or no soccer experience. Remove the parents and the Tech people can do their job without the worry of being fired. I've seen it happen a number of times.



The last club I coached at had a soccer mom (the club secretary)who led a campaign against futsal (the TD stayed quiet) and she got her way! That was when I decided after 25yrs I had had enough of coaching, there is just no way to improve when an administrators can have a say in technical issues. The separation of technical and administrative branches of soccer must be complete, their can be no interference from parent administrators in the technical end of the game.