“Today was our first full international and it was a good performance,” said head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. “Regardless of today’s result, the team is confident in meeting our objective to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”

In the first half, the match started with neither side creating much offence, although Mexico fired the first shot and Canada won the first corner kick. Canada did create some runs, but was unable to penetrate for a good chance. It’s best chance came in the 29th minute following a corner kick. Captain Nicole Setterlund got a head on the ball, but the weak header was stopped by the Mexican goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Haisha Cantave had a good run heading towards the Mexican net, but the Canadian pass went to Mexico who quickly countered with a run in the opposite direction. With left back Katherine Caverley injured and down, Mexico ’s Pina was alone to knock in the Mexican cross.

Following the goal, Canada responded well, but could not find an equaliser before the end of the half. As for Caverley, she missed almost four minutes before returning to action.

In the second half, Canada came out strong and was rewarded in the 52nd minute with a goal by Haisha Cantave. Cantave had a first chance three minutes earlier, but was stopped on her breakaway. On her second attempt, she made no mistake and evened the score. It was Nour Ghoneim and Kylie Davis that fed Cantave for the goal.

Canada wasn’t done, or so it hoped. In the 60th minute, Cantave fed Ghoneim who missed a golden opportunity with an open net. Five minutes later, Canada was buzzing again in the box, this time with shots from Diamond Simpson and Davis.

Fifteen minutes later in the 80th minute, Zakiya McIntosh had an even better chance after she broke in and beat the Mexican goalkeeper. McIntosh was close, but after beating the goalkeeper she knocked the ball out of play.

Five minutes later, Canada lost the match on a Mexican penalty kick after it brought a Mexican player down in the penalty area.

This was Canada’s first of three matches at the 2010 Four Nation Tournament in Trinidad & Tobago. Coach Bryan Rosenfeld’s starting XI featured goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, left back Katherine Caverley, centrebacks Allison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund, right back Ally Courtnall, left midfield Chantale Campbell, centre midfield Kylie Davis, right midfield Diamond Simpson, and forwards Nour Ghoneim, Abigail Raymer and Haisha Cantave.

Canada’s three second-half substitutions were Zakiya McIntosh for Raymer in the 59th minute, Charléne Achille for Ghoneim in the 65th minute, and Kinley McNicoll for Campbell in the 81st minute.

Canada will next face Jamaica on March 3 at the 2010 Four Nation Tournament. Canada then wraps up the tournament on March 5 against tournament host Trinidad & Tobago.

Where are we hiding the coaches to develop our players?
Putting soccer stories together is a satisfying way to meet lots of super people doing great things in our sport. Their thoughts and opinion come zinging in from all different directions. What a trigger many have been to dig deeper and find out more about the broader impact of what they have to say.

Whether we as journalists admit it or not, how we think and the way we put the things we write is molded and re-shaped by the people we get to meet. Some of the favorite themes of journalists are just a compilation of what we hear. Honestly, very little is original thinking.

Paul James, the football player turned soccer coach, turned soccer writer told me on more than a couple of occasions of the impossible task he had coaching Canada’s under 20’s to a respectable showing in the 2001 world championship. Sometimes as if it were a weight around his neck and on others as if revealing the secret to future success, James remains bothered by the lack of urgency in our development program moving forward.

A few years back, one magazine story I did in a series about player development led to insightful conversations with soccer academy guys like Gary Miller and Bill Ault and digging into the hard work of Lino Terra, Commissioner of the Soccer Academy Alliance of Canada. That turned out to be a big eye opener on Ontario Soccer Association charades to shut the door on real soccer development in the province and representative of nation-wide obstacles quality soccer thinkers face.

I think of one man I used to play regularly with who truly was a very good footballer and thought himself a great youth coach. He was of the opinion coaching certification was an un-necessary requirement. It was the kind of stuff we usually only discussed up at the local after a match and fear of another broken nose kept me from telling Liam it was too many pints that kept him from being a great footballer and a good coach. I learned a lot from the guy though.

Most recently, writing the weekly tour of Canada’s CONCACAF competition did some of the things I have seen in action on soccer visits with an array of people in various of those countries sync with what we could, maybe should be doing back at home.

In short, many CONCACAF nations – football countries they are – know they must get all their promising talents into the dedicated, professional atmosphere at the earliest opportunity. If not, the national teams program will languish in mediocrity.

Just hanging about the hotel lobby on a World Cup qualifying campaign and talking casual soccer stuff, Bob Lenarduzzi once told me the number one difference between the Canada team he played on in the 1986 World Cup and the one he was now coaching was the number of professional playing opportunities the North American Soccer League offered him each member of the team. Nothing new and earth shattering there, but it helps having witnessed the longing on not only Bobby’s face, but a half dozen other members of that Hall of Fame team.

The point James was making about his under 20 team that failed to score and gave up nine in three matches, is a comparison of the match programs. Starting line-ups that boasted unattached, recreational club and university players pitted against teams representing a who’s who of most famous professional teams in South America and Europe. How do you go up against that?

Things have improved since the Mexico City Lenarduzzi lobby bar chat and some of it comes from Bobby’s own leadership at the Whitecaps, their academy and continuity of a professional soccer presence. Add to the Caps, a new tier two team for next season in Edmonton, continued Impact in Montreal, Toronto FC and their academy development and continuing growth of the Canadian Soccer League, we have improvement. It is still far short of enough pro options for elite player placement.

I found it very interesting to see Chelato Uclés comments last week. It will be interesting to follow how the well regarded Honduran player development coach does structuring Belizes’ new found interest in building a Central American presence. His only choice there is to base it all on developing coaches.

Thanks to new FIFA requirements, nonstop persistence of the Soccer Alliance of Canada and do-the- right-thing diligence of one OSA director-at-large, Bill Spiers, our Association and the Ontario Association will finally have to accept the SAAC as Affiliate Members. What makes that so important?

Well, we are not all that far ahead of Belize. Canada does not have enough of the pro environment Paul James was talking about to come close to even tiny El Salvador.

Let us face this one straight on though ok? Canada can foster the development of real, professional coaches. A couple hundred of them. It is a manageable task. The “league of professional coaches”.

The SAAC has done it. Not the Canadian Soccer Association, Ontario Soccer Association and a good guess is every other provincial association can match SAAC membership’s water-mark for highly trained coaches. Their recommended minimum requirement exceeds the National Training Center requirement!

With all due respect Gov, you cannot keep tipping pints with my old buddy Liam.

A soccer movement 10,000 strong rises up in west
Ottawa’s soccer landscape was dramatically changed Friday when four west end clubs revealed they are joining forces to create West Ottawa Soccer.

Kanata, Goulbourn, West Carleton and Almonte are banding together almost 10,000 players to form by far the largest club in the region.

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Polling was conducted online on The Voyageurs message board throughout the month of December 2009.

Michael “Mike” Klukowski, The Voyageurs International Men’s Player of the Year 2009
The versatile and skilled Klukowski was a consistent performer throughout 2009, garnering considerable attention for his play at both the club and national team level. He started six matches at left fullback for Canada and was an important part of a four man backline that conceded just three goals in four games during this past summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. His strong play earned a well deserved spot on the All-Tournament Team. He also enjoyed an excellent season for Club Brugge, helping his team challenge for the Belgian First Division title.

For Klukowski, this award comes after a decade of commitment to a professional soccer career which saw him leave his hometown of Oshawa, Ontario as an 18yr old, playing three seasons in France before moving to Belgium in 2002. Now in his eighth season in Belgium, he has become a staple in the starting lineup for one of the most storied clubs in Europe.

Klukowski’s accomplishments are an inspiration to all Canadians who aspire to become a professional footballer.

He has endured numerous injuries and setbacks in the pursuit of his dreams but has always rebounded from those difficulties to regain his place in the lineup for his club and the national team.

Klukowski began his career in Canada playing for the Oshawa Kicks and Scarborough Blues before travelling across the Atlantic to link up with Dijon FCO (France) in 1999. He bounced around France for a while, including a spell with Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille Métropole in 2001, before finally settling down at RAA Louviéroise (Belgium) where he made 72 league appearances over the next two-and-a-half seasons. His success at “La Louvière” attracted interest from Club Brugge KV, who signed the well-travelled youngster in a deal thought to be worth €900,000 in January 2005. While he initially had to patiently wait for playing time, Klukowski earned his way into the lineup and hasn’t given it up.

Klukowski received his first Senior cap for the Canadian national team in 2003, at the age of 21, coming on the field as a substitute in a 4:2 win over Libya in Tripoli. He has earned a total of 26 senior caps thus far.

Klukowski received the first place vote on over half of all ballots cast and was a top 3 selection on 96% of ballots.

Honourable Mentions
A pair of Ontario-born 22 year-olds finished Second and Third in this year’s polling.

SIMEON JACKSON was a strong 2nd in polling after enjoying a breakout season with numerous club and country honours. Jackson left his hometown of Mississauga at the age of 15 for Europe. After four seasons developing his abilities at Rushden & Diamonds of England’s Conference National league, Jackson transferred to Gillingham F.C., now competing in England’s League One. 2009 saw him produce a number of memorable moments for the
Gills. Most notable was a goal in FA Cup competition and he also scored all of his team’s goals in their playoff matches including a 90th minute stunner at Wembley Stadium to Gillingham’s promotion from League Two. These exploits at the club level earned him his first start for the Canadian National Men’s Team in May 2009, where he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Cyprus.

WILL JOHNSON finished third Voyageur’s voting. He was a strong performer for 2009 MLS Cup champions Real Salt Lake, which defeated David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS final. Johnson, born in Canada but raised in both England and the United States, has developed into a very solid MLS player after stints at Blackburn Rovers’ youth academy (English Premier League) Chicago Fire (MLS) and S.C. Heerenveen (Dutch Eredivisie).
Johnson returned to the MLS late in the 2008 season and became the second Canadian to win the MLS Goal of the Year award. In 2009 Johnson solidified his MLS status, earning a call up to play with the MLS All-Stars vs. Everton. He also played 45 minutes of the MLS Cup Final before leaving the match due to food poisoning.

Karina LeBlanc, The Voyageurs International Women’s Player of the Year 2009
KARINA LEBLANC, the Women’s Voyageur’s Player of the Year for 2009, had the type of season young Canadian footballers dream about. The 29 year old Maple Ridge, B.C. native posted 13 shutouts in 19 games for the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Los Angeles Sol. Her 0.53 goals-against average played a big part in her team’s inaugural year success, as the Sol rolled to the best regular season record in the top women’s league in the world.

LeBlanc was selected by to be the starting goalkeeper in the WPS All-Star Game.

After a successful college career at the University of Nebraska, LeBlanc was the starting goalkeeper for the Boston Breakers in North America’s first women’s professional league (WUSA) from 2002 to 2003. In 2003, she led her club to the 2003 WUSA league championship and was the starting keeper for the World Team in that league’s All-Star Game. After the demise of WUSA, LeBlanc moved to the W-League, captaining the New Jersey Wildcats to a league title before entering the Canadian women’s national team residency program. When WPS held its first every player Draft, LeBlanc was selected 5th overall by L.A. Sol.

At the conclusion of the WPS season, LeBlanc moved off the field and onto the sidelines as an Assistant Coach with the NCAA Division I Rutgers University women’s program, overseeing the development of a handful of fellow Canadian student/athletes.

LeBlanc is a longtime fixture of our national program, having earned her first cap as an 18 year old and is the most capped Canadian goalkeeper of all time.

Honourable Mentions:
Two of Canada’s most exciting attacking players were the runner’s up in the 2009 vote.

CHRISTINE SINCLAIR finished 2nd in Voyageurs player of the year voting in 2009. Sinclair is a long-time veteran of the women’s national team program and one of the biggest stars in women’s soccer worldwide. The 26 year old Burnaby, BC native has been involved in the national program for over a decade, and with her next start will eclipse Andrea Neil as the most-capped Canadian in national team history. She tallied her 99th career national team goal in March of 2009 in Cyprus and is looking to break the 100 goal barrier in 2010.

After a stellar NCAA career (she has the distinction of being one of only three women ever to win consecutive US College player of the year awards), Sinclair came home to British Columbia to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps of W-League as well as being involved with the national team residency program.

In 2009, she was selected 8th overall in the WPS International Draft by FC Gold Pride of San Francisco for whom she enjoyed a very solid first season, scoring 6
goals and adding 1 assist. She was one of seven at-large selections for the WPS All-Star team and enjoyed a memorable match, scoring two goals in a 4-2 win over the Swedish professional club Umea IK.

After a six-year hiatus, KELLY PARKER returned to the national team in 2009 and brought a level of electricity and pace that had been missing from the team’s attack in recent years, which helped her earn enough votes to finish 3rd in this year’s polling. Parker, a Saskatoon, SK native, had an excellent college career, including leading the NCAA in assists in her senior season and then went on to enjoy six successful years in the W-League (including 5 seasons with Ottawa Fury from 2003-2007). She earned All W-League honours four times.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Parker was drafted 28th overall in the WPS International Draft by NY/NJ Sky Blue FC, one of only three Canadians selected and quickly became a fan favourite for her new club. 2009 marks Parker’s reemergence as a key player for Canada’s senior national team under the direction of new head coach Carolina Morace. She was a regular contributor for the national team, playing 90 minutes in central midfield in all of Canada’s key matches, including the semi-final and final of the Cyrpus Cup as well as in all three summer
friendlies against the United States.

Like LeBlanc, Parker spends her off-season behind the bench as well. For the past three years, she has been an Assistant Coach for NCAA Division I University of Texas at El Paso (her alma-mater) where she also has been working with a handful of young up-and-coming Canadian players.

Ultimately one freestyler grabbed the spotlight and crown, displaying innovative style and astonishing creativity in his body use. Magnet made the ball dance effortlessly with his deft footwork with tricks like “Double facewash into an ear-stall” and “Lying down eye-stall with shoe-stall on the ball” – to beat out 15 other top freestylers from across the country.

“It’s the best day of my life. I didn’t spend one day without my ball. My goal for this year was to make at least the top 16,” said 20 year old Canadian Red Bull Street Style Champion Magnet. “It’s such a good feeling.”

2008 Canadian Champion Jose “Avalos” Avalos from Toronto came in a close second place, with his extraordinary display of fancy footwork and ball control that impressed the panel of celebrity judges, which included soccer commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and former professional soccer player – Jason De Vos, Toronto FC star midfielder – Dwayne De Rosario, and legendary B-Boy Benzo. Alexandre “Alex” Tremblay from St-Nicolas, QC finished in third place. “It’s a big surprise. The guys have a different style than me so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Alex.

“I felt it was fantastic. We really need to improve the ball skills in Canada. It’s all about confidence of trying new skills. It’s a real asset of bringing skill in front of a massive crowd like today. It’s really good for kids to see high hand competition like Red Bull Street Style. The one piece of advice for Magnet is to let go and be yourself. Do what you’re good at,” said control judge Jason De Vos.

Creativity judge and Toronto FC’s 2009 MVP, Dwayne De Rosario was also on hand to witness the crowning of Canada’s champion. “The competitors all kept their composures. Magnet got the fans involved. It’s a great honour to have him represent Canada,” said Dwayne De Rosario.

Red Bull Street Style offers to the world’s best freestyle soccer players the opportunity to compete and display their unique flow of control, style and creativity. Freestylers face off on a special stage, alternating ball possession every 30 seconds while displaying their most wicked ball tricks to beat their rival and move on to the next round. Freestyle players are known to have the unique ability to control the movement of a soccer ball in a way that it transcends into a fluid motion of ball and player.

Over the past few weeks, 14 of Canada’s most talented ballers earned their tickets to the National Final after battling it out head-to-head in each of the qualifying rounds in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. With moves like pancakes, side kicks and rainbows, the competitors gave it all they got and were judged on control, style and creativity. After displaying their electrifying ‘feets’ of freestyle soccer, the top qualifiers were set to scuffle at the National Final, showcasing their skills and agility as they vied for a spot in the upcoming World Final. Joining the 14 competitors were two on-line winners who submitted their videos proving why they should be competing with Canada’s most talented ballers.

“It’s amazing to see the development of freestyle within a year. Kids are getting better as they are using more their imagination. Today, I felt the energy of the crowd,” said pioneer of Freestyle Soccer Steve “Eli Freeze” Elias.

For additional information about the World Final, please visit the Red Bull Street Style website.

De Boer answers questions on Coach and Player Development at the Ontario Soccer Association International Coaching Conference 2009

More OSA International Coaching Conference
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While Canadian soccer remains at a standstill the founding members of the Soccer Academy Alliance Canada (SAAC) have persevered, hoping that their collective methodology will bring domestic player development into the 21st century. 

For Jake Doodmath the opportunity to develop young soccer players is a far more important mission than garnishing trophies or winning titles.  After years of volunteering in all facets for his local community club he succumbed to the frustrations that infiltrates the Canadian club system where at times political infighting, personal agendas and what he describes as  “a stupendous level of soccer ignorance” takes precedent over the actual teaching of soccer skills.
 
It was difficult for Doodmath to leave an organization where he devoted a large part of his adult life but he found it comforting to be able to gravitate to the philosophy adopted by the Soccer Academy Alliance Canada (SAAC).  The Scarborough resident, now one of the Directors of European Experience Soccer and a guest in the SAAC Inter Academy Competition, understands that it will take a great deal of fortitude for his newly formed soccer school to evolve into a full-scale academy. He holds the SAAC model in high regard describing the umbrella organization as being the future for the Canadian game.
 
Collective Vision
Bassam Naim, Gary Miller, Liam Power and Paul Ferguson may be miles apart in personality but they share a common ideology with respect to how talented young Canadian soccer players should develop. The anchor members of SAAC, representing their four respective academies, are much more than soccer entrepreneurs. They have become visionaries trying to introduce a proven system to an underachieving soccer nation. Their ideologies have always been percolating under the surface of Canadian Soccer yet up until recently they have only enjoyed a distant voice. 

“Several groups, including clubs, Toronto FC, the CSA have reviewed the SAAC standards that we have created and agree with the high level that is there,” reported Gary Miller, President of Bryst International, “ We (SAAC members) all have our eye on developing players within the best environment possible,” added the former Director of High Performance for the Ontario Soccer Association.

With the formation of SAAC four years ago the Academy partners, along with their growing number of associate members, now have a strong collective voice that is making ripples across soccer circles. More and more players are migrating to SAAC affiliated academies, with their parents in tow, embracing a mission statement that completely contradicts historical ties to hyper-competitive club soccer. Membership in SAAC affiliated academies has grown from just under 400 players to over 700 registered players scattered across 51 academy and development teams.

The formula that SAAC advertises is simple and without any hint of malice towards the existing Canadian soccer establishment. Their message – ‘players don’t need an over abundance of meaningless games to progress – they need quality training in quality facilities by quality coaches with the end result to participate in meaningful matches’.

For Bassam Naim, Director of ANB Futbol Academy, the cooperative approach is simple. “Once a common vision is in place and that vision is realistic, automatically bureaucracy and personal agendas are reduced to a minimum,” stated Naim whose resume includes first hand experience of how top international academies are run in such places as France, England, Brazil and UAE. “With SAAC there are four futbol professionals/ entrepreneurs with sound coaching, playing and educational backgrounds who share a common vision about accountability, improving the game, player development and coaching education,” he added.

Credentials
The accents may be varied yet the instructions are clearly received by eager recipients. In one corner of the vast training pitch an Englishman directs his pupils on the finer points of ball control while across the field a former Bulgarian professional puts his young keepers through some rigorous drills. The sounds of Belfast echoe from the far side on another field as eight year olds happily dance to coordination exercises.

The coaching experiences and credentials under the SAAC umbrella are as diverse as they are impressive. To look at their coaching resumes is like looking into a microcosm of the global soccer village. There are coaches who originate from Hispanamerica, the Middle East, the UK, the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe as well as some home grown coaching stars.

SAAC boasts that 11 coaches carry their UEFA A/B licenses; three have their Canadian / US ‘A’ licenses; seven have their USSF National Youth Licenses; 13 have their Canadian / Provincial Licenses; and eight have their NSCAA National Diplomas.

Scattered throughout the SAAC coaching ranks are several educators by profession who know a thing or two about teaching.

Perfect Pitch
Outside the stately Crescent School the hustle and bustle of rush hour traffic engulfs the motorways that surrounds this affluent Uptown Toronto neighborhood. Inside the grounds of this prestigious private school there is a calmness that contradicts the hectic ambience from outside its borders. A large sports field covered by perfectly laid synthetic grass dominates the school’s grounds. As endless cars dash home for dinner several vans pull up to the sports fields to unload soccer balls and a wide assortment of soccer apparatus. In less than 30 minutes the sports fields are converted into a professional looking soccer-training site that could mimic anything found in Europe or Latin America. The Power Soccer School of Excellence is up and running with a second Power site also buzzing a few minutes away at the Upper Canada College Campus. “ The school is impressed with our commitment to youth”, offered Liam Power who is confident that his marriage to both Private schools is long term.

Several kilometers north of Toronto in King City the images are repeated with ANB Futbol Academy dominating the landscape at the prestigious Country Day School. Multiple soccer pitches, including an artificial turf field stretch across the school’s vast property. There is a feeling of permanency that soccer belongs at the school. ANB and SAAC are firmly entrenched at the Country Day School as the Academy has secured a very healthy 12- year agreement with considerable expansion on the horizon. Light standards for the main field lie in waiting to be erected while building materials for a domed facility are piled up ready for construction once the finer details of a building permit are secured. On weekends the Private School is home to the SAAC Inter-Academy Competition and to the casual eye it appears that something splendid is unfolding on the edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Gary Miller subscribes to the theory that given Canada’s extreme climate the best training should take place on uniform artificial pitches. Therefore the Bryst Academy has retained Downsview Park and the bubble of Wild Water Kingdom in Brampton as its home bases.

With all SAAC members believing that first- rate facilities are significant to any successful soccer venture both Paul Ferguson and partner Bruno Giannotti have raised the bar. An abandoned school covered in graffiti, sandwiched between endless acres of farmland atop Hamilton Mountain, may not catch every one’s attention but for the founders of Dribble, Pass , Shoot Soccer Academy (DPS Soccer) it has become their potential slice of soccer heaven. The two visionaries were able to link up with the Malayalee Association of Hamilton, owners of the property, and they worked out a healthy partnership that sees the Academy inhabit not only the grounds but also significant classroom and office space inside the building. In four short months Ferguson and Giannotti have converted an abandoned educational institution into a very workable soccer epicenter for the Hamilton /Wentworth region. Fields have been meticulously manicured and classrooms have been converted into study areas for Academy students to not only learn some soccer theory but also to prepare for their scholastic futures. There are even plans to build an adjoining indoor facility as well as expand the outdoor fields. Participants in the Academy travel from as far as Cambridge to be part of the DPS Soccer experience.  

Young Guns
It is the mission of all Academies under SAAC to incorporate younger players into the structure of any player development model.

“We run programs for 4 and 5 year olds at our camp and school. We identify the stronger, more skillful 6-7 year olds, “ offered Liam Power.

Bryst started a grassroots-training program last year called Kix 4 Kidz where 5-10 year olds learn the basics of the game with the hope that some youngsters will eventually graduate to the academy ranks while others will enjoy the sport in a non- threatening environment.

On weekends the north fields of the Country Day School fill with youngsters plying their trade in a competitive yet non-imposing environment of small-sided games. Smiles and encouragement appear to be the priorities over game scores or meaningless standings. Younger players seem to be thriving in such an environment where a pat on the back has replaced the verbal backlash of over competitive parents and coaches. Players appear calm on the ball, able to focus on their developing skill set while coaches seem to take an analytical approach to viewing their young charges.

Economics
Critics of soccer academies suggest that a fee for service delivery is not the best strategy for developing soccer players in Canada. SAAC., however, believes that their work and noticeable results transcends well beyond the bottom line of ledger sheets.

For Liam Power it is a simple equation. “This is a chickens and eggs scenario. One drives the other. To run real quality development programs costs money, good facilities need to be booked, quality equipment should on hand, medical back up is necessary and professional coaches are needed,” explained Power of the fiscal realities in Canada facing good player development.

Gary Miller makes no bones about the business aspect of operating an Academy. “ We must be a business to survive and move forward. If we do not make a profit, we cannot train in top level facilities or have top coaches,” explained Miller who holds Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Souchaux FC, Cruzeiro FC and AC Roma as being top run academies internationally. “In being a business we have created a developmental vehicle for young players to develop, improve their game and move on to a higher level of play.”

Bassam Naim placed the criticism of soccer academies into perspective. “ Academies, professional clubs, soccer schools, summer community clubs are all what you call a business. Without funding, none of the mentioned organizations can exist to that matter,” he explained.

While the four primary academies under SAAC rely on tuition as their primary revenue stream they are also diligently working on strategies to subsidize players.

The ANB Academy has an internal sponsorship program. “All players at ANB cost the academy $5650 per year on an equation of 180 full-time players. The U-8 program is subsidized for 60%, the U-10s are subsidized for 50% and the U-12s and older are subsidized for 40%, stated Naim who believes his biggest daily operational task is to secure monies to cover the balance. ANB has been providing both partial and in some cases full support for a few of its participating families.

Bryst International has two methods available to families to secure funds for their children. Personal sponsors subsidize many of the Bryst players – something facilitated by the Academy but arranged by each player. Bryst and SAAC are in the final stages of establishing a foundation that will be available to families in need of financial support. Supporters and donors to the foundation would be eligible to receive tax benefits.

The Power Soccer Academy has been offering 16 families some form of financial assistance with a few players fully subsidized. Liam Power reported that: “ we never allow finances to be a barrier for a talented player joining the academy.”

It is the dream of all Academy operators to some day have the professional clubs compensate the Academies for developing future stars. A recent visit by English Premiership team Sunderland to Power Soccer has whet Liam Power’s appetite for club to academy compensation. “ The idea for me with compensation is to then be able to put money back into the Academy towards reducing and eventually eliminating player fees,” he explained.

At present there is no working relationship between Toronto FC and SAAC Gary Miller is hopeful that some dialogue will parlay into a logical working relationship once Canada’s only MLS franchise sees the positive residuals in SAAC’s methodology.

Power does not hide behind the fact that soccer in North America is somewhat of a middle class sport but he admitted that academies, like Power Soccer, needs to reach players from all socio-economic levels. “ We could sign 350 players that are not talented enough, families with money but kids without the necessary talent. We do not want this, there is no point,” he stated.

Recognition
The United States Soccer Federation has embraced the significance of the Academy system in the United States by bringing together over 70 organizations under the banner of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Members of SAAC and other academies across Canada are somewhat dumbfounded as to why our national federation is dragging its heals to officially recognize them as part of the Canadian soccer family. 

FIFA, the governing body of soccer internationally, recently issued a directive in the hope of protecting all minors from mistreatment. In Circular 1190 FIFA wants all players attending academies that are not linked to a club registered with their respective national federations.

The Canadian Soccer Association is reviewing the ramifications of Circular 1190 and did not offer a comment to Inside SOCCER before the time of publishing.

Four players represent a cross section of many Academy participants and their proclamation is a common song throughout the SAAC family. Fifteen- year-olds Boris, Jordy, Devon and Sydney firmly believe their affiliation to DPS Soccer has been a blessing. The two girls aspire to some day play collegiate soccer while the boys are looking to play professionally. During a much deserved water break to relieve some intensive fitness testing the four youngsters, all with previous ties to club soccer, proudly announced that: “ we needed more challenges, we needed more soccer and we are getting it at the Academy”.

How can one argue with four teenagers who are thriving from some higher learning?

Play by Play
Over the past few weeks, 14 of Canada’s most talented ballers earned their tickets to the National Final after battling it out head-to-head in each of the qualifying rounds in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. With moves like pancakes, side kicks and rainbows, the competitors gave it all they got and were judged on control, style and creativity. After displaying their electrifying ‘feets’ of freestyle soccer, the top qualifiers are now set to scuffle at the National Final, showcasing their skills and agility as they vie for a spot in the upcoming World Final.

Toronto
Saturday, October 10th marked the first of three regional qualifiers which took place under sunny skies outside BMO Field before the Toronto FC versus San Jose Earthquakes MLS match. Jose Avalos defended his Toronto title and will be out to defend his National title with the country’s best freestyle soccer players. Eight fellow Torontonians will be among the ballers battling for the title.

Vancouver
On Sunday October 11th, the second qualifier took place in Vancouver at The Roundhouse. Pablo Villalta came out on top as he defended his 2008 Vancouver title. Returning to the National Final will also be Calgary’s Edward Yoon. Joining the two West Coast ballers will be Kamloops’s own Craig St. Jean.

Montreal
The last of the regional qualifiers took place on October 25th in Montreal at McGill University, Alex Tremblay was unable to defend his title as the 514 champ, but he did manage to impress the judges in the consolation match to get his ticket to Toronto for the Red Bull Street Style National Final. Joey Pla was crowned champion by judges Darko Kolic, Angelo Destounis and Ruben Ramonda. In the final Joey defeated Georges Chakour, who will also represent Montreal at the National Final on November 15 in Toronto.

Joining the 14 competitors will be two on-line winners who submitted their videos proving why they should be competing with Canada’s most talented ballers. Voting will commence as soon as the finalists are announced and posted on the Red Bull Canada Facebook fan page. Voting will end at exactly 5pm EST on November 6th. The winners will be announced immediately after.

Judgment Day
Red Bull Street Style’s rules are easy as 3-2-1: three minutes, two players, and one ball form the battleground, in which ball control, skill and style are king. The freestylers face off on a special stage, seven metres in diameter, and need to alternate ball possession every 30 seconds while displaying their most wicked ball tricks to the rhythm of music to impress the judges, beat their rival and move on to the next round. It’s all fair game during those three minutes, except using the hands.

The National Final takes place at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in the Barbara Frum Atrium located at 250 Front Street West on November 15th, 2009. Doors open at 5PM ET and free to all spectators.

Stay up-to-date with all the interviews, stories, facts, registration and dates by visiting the Red Bull Street Style website.

SAAC the CSA
I urge everyone to have a listen to the Dino Rossi interview from today’s It’s Called Football Weekly show. You can find it below this post. Although the Jeff Cunningham interview is undoubtedly sexier, the issues that Dino touch upon are vital to the future of the sport in Canada.

In summery, Dino updated us on the ongoing efforts of the Soccer Academies Association of Canada (SAAC) to get its players registered by the CSA. It seems like a fairly innocent request, and it’s actually mandated by FIFA to happen, but yet soccer officials in this country continue to drag their feet.

Dino was somewhat diplomatic in his answer as to why there is a resistance to registering the SAAC players. He can’t afford to piss too many people off in his role on the Board of Directors at SAAC. However, I can state it a little clearer.

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