The Fan590 Soccer Show - Sept 20 edition

[VPjr]

Hi Everyone

If you have time, tune into tonight's edition of the Soccer Show on the Fan590 in Toronto. They offer a live stream on their website (www.fan590.com)

I was interviewed by Nigel and Bob in regards to the Black Wednesday protest and what we are trying to do to create change.

I will tell you upfront that I am not totally happy with how it went simply because I did not get the chance to cover all of my 5 main points, namely:

1) Canadian Soccer deserves better.

2) The growth of the game at the elite level has been stunted for as long as most of us can remember due to the lack of leadership at the National and Provincial levels. They have been far too focused on promoting the recreational side of the sport and ignored the need for coordinated elite player development and creating a viable national league structure.

3) The CSA and most Provincial Associations have no clear direction for developing the best players in Canada. How can you reach a goal if you don't have a plan on how to get there?

4) The CSA and most Provincial Associations are totally unnaccountable and operate essentially in secret despite the fact that they receive taxpayer dollars as well as registration disbursements from clubs to fund their programs.

5) A grassroots uprising is needed. There is no other logical alternative because I can't conceive of any way that the CSA Board of Directors would ever relinquish its grip on power. We badly need a Crawford-esque independant inquiry but will this group ever allow for it to happen without applying pressure on their ability to get the funds needed to even exist? I think not.


These were the topics I hoped to have time to discuss but it was a short segment (maybe 8 minutes) and Nigel seemed incredibly intent on debating about why only 9000 fans showed up for the Costa Rica v Canada game. I was a bit disappointed that this was his main focus but I understand that its his show and he sets the agenda. I did my best to make my arguments and I think i slid in a couple of interesting facts that have been dug up recently.

I hope I did a good job of representing the average Canadian Soccer Supporter. If I misspoke, please let me know. I don't think I can make everyone happy all the time but I will do my best to continue to beat the drum for change in a way that is as inclusive as possible.

[An Old Fullback]

What's your solution? Lots of complaints, not a real solution yet. Get rid of board, ok, what's left. Get rid of provincial organizations, ok, what's left. Might as well call it a federal election, you want every club to in the country to vote. Who will even pay for the election..profits from selling black t-shirts?
As it stands now, at least what happens in the club I am in, I understand every player in Canada pays about $7 to the CSA, and depending on the province, a fee to the province as well. Will the new "football association" get money towards the national teams by telling every club to double the fees, and we will elect a guy on a bulletin board that has an anonymous name to run it. Try telling a club like Lac St.Louis with 30,000 members they will write a check for $360,000, to a new association, so that national teams can have more friendlies, and we can hire some Brazilians, or Argentinians for $1 million each.

My first guess is they would tell the new association to take a hike, we'll spend the $360,000 to build a few fields. Any good ideas out there besides kicking everyone out?

[ag futbol]

Since when has anyone been saying the plan was to double the fee? you pulled that out of thin air.

It's pretty obvious what has been advocated as a solution, it's called replacing the board of directors with a group of people that represents more than just a set of regional interests. It should represent industry, pro clubs, grass roots soccer, and national teams.

[Daniel]

Hire some PROFESSIONAL people with a BUSINESS background who will be able to go get SPONSORS (and $$$) to make the national teams and programs INDEPENDENT from the provincial associations and local clubs.

Money from the clubs should be used to run coaching, refereeing and development programs, national competitions, as well as (possibly) a portion for youth national teams.

You hit the nail on the head with the coaching example: what's good for the national team is not necessarily good for the paying clubs. As long as these clubs and their representatives (and by extension, provincial reps) decide of the direction the CSA will take for EVERYTHING, then it is very hard to move boldly forward.

Volunteers can help tremendously (we saw it with the U20 WC), but they shouldn't be the ones in charge and calling the shots.

It is also my opinion that player development should stay localised and decentralised, with collaboration with the CSA. The CSA is not a club team.

[The Beaver]

To be clear, An Old Fullback, nobody here is suggesting that the Voyageurs or any of our affiliates take over the running of soccer in this country. Our mandate is clear and always has been: We support Canadian soccer.

What we are asking for is a NEW organizational structure, one that is PROFESSIONALLY run by experienced individuals who are held accountable for their actions etc. Nobody here is suggesting that we should screw over the grassroots associations--not at all.

Keep in mind that success at the international level--our senior men's team in particular--will translate into increased corporate sponsorship (everyone loves a winner) for the CSA--and therefore the regional associations--as well as an increase in overall interest in the game and improved player registration at the regional level, which translates into more money for the associations to build fields.

We need an organizational structure at the CSA that allows for experienced, talented professionals to develop and execute this sort of vision. Looking at what Australia has done is a great example of how we can improve in all areas.

[Duane Rollins]

quote:Originally posted by An Old Fullback

What's your solution? Lots of complaints, not a real solution yet. Get rid of board, ok, what's left. Get rid of provincial organizations, ok, what's left. Might as well call it a federal election, you want every club to in the country to vote. Who will even pay for the election..profits from selling black t-shirts?
As it stands now, at least what happens in the club I am in, I understand every player in Canada pays about $7 to the CSA, and depending on the province, a fee to the province as well. Will the new "football association" get money towards the national teams by telling every club to double the fees, and we will elect a guy on a bulletin board that has an anonymous name to run it. Try telling a club like Lac St.Louis with 30,000 members they will write a check for $360,000, to a new association, so that national teams can have more friendlies, and we can hire some Brazilians, or Argentinians for $1 million each.

My first guess is they would tell the new association to take a hike, we'll spend the $360,000 to build a few fields. Any good ideas out there besides kicking everyone out?

Thanks for stopping by. So, we'll see you at the next CSA meeting, I suspect?

[VPjr]

An Old Fullback....it's too bad to read your post. However, it appears that yours is a pretty typical sentiment among certain people involved in Canadian soccer.

I can easily understand why a local club is suspicious of the National organization we have now. You send the $7.00 per kid and what do you get? No Direction, No Planning, No Accountability, Little to no Success from our National Teams, etc... I could go on and on about what you don't have.

You might want to ask yourself the same thing when it comes to the money you send to your province and your district, which is actually a larger figure than the $7.00 that the CSA gets. Are we getting value for that money. Maybe, but maybe not? Maybe we simply have too many levels of bureaucracy? Maybe some of that money should be reinvested in coaching, facilities, Academy programs, etc... I've got a vivid imagination. I could think of a lot of good uses for the $25.00-$30.00 that goes to the various Associations currently.

Your's is the type of cynicism that has kept people from seeking change before. It's impossible to envision a different future so we accept the mediocre present that we wallow in. Australia proved that a National Body can be blown up and a fresh start can be accomplished without "stealing" more money from the grassroots. There just needs to be the political will at the top and the grassroots pressure from the bottom to make it happen.

And, by the way, there are no profits from selling T-Shirts...Trust me. And Mrs. VPjr ain't happy about it.

[Trillium]

quote:Originally posted by An Old Fullback

What's your solution? Lots of complaints, not a real solution yet. Get rid of board, ok, what's left. Get rid of provincial organizations, ok, what's left. Might as well call it a federal election, you want every club to in the country to vote. Who will even pay for the election..profits from selling black t-shirts?
As it stands now, at least what happens in the club I am in, I understand every player in Canada pays about $7 to the CSA, and depending on the province, a fee to the province as well. Will the new "football association" get money towards the national teams by telling every club to double the fees, and we will elect a guy on a bulletin board that has an anonymous name to run it. Try telling a club like Lac St.Louis with 30,000 members they will write a check for $360,000, to a new association, so that national teams can have more friendlies, and we can hire some Brazilians, or Argentinians for $1 million each.

My first guess is they would tell the new association to take a hike, we'll spend the $360,000 to build a few fields. Any good ideas out there besides kicking everyone out?

I always chuckle when someone comes on ...defending the status quo.... you talk about Lac St. Louis ..maybe your from Montreal ? If so your view of soccer is based on what you see your province and the local Associations do... you may indeed be a former player...or just a parent volunteer..with little real expeirence outside your own club ...if so welcome to the site ... over time if you stick it out and begin understanding the games structure accross the country and basic structural faults as a National Sport Organisation your... isolationist view of the game may well change.

Most of the talk here over the years about the games structure has led to many of the posters begining to realize fundamental structural change is required. Hang in with us, i am sure you will get to it too... for now you might want to ask yourslef why a international city like Montreal ..only fields one ..professional team, why does Lac St. Louis with 35 thousand members not have its own semi pro or pro team ?

If i am not mistaken ten dollars per player would give a budget of 350,000 dollars plenty of seed money to run a CPSL mens team .. why is it not done ? Ask your club president ..why the club that has been so long established lacks the desire to go to the next level.

[An Old Fullback]

Some good comments, thank you. As for the doubling of fees, yes, picked that out of the air. Maybe triple would be better? I only suggest that because of the comments about having many more games and preparation for national teams, just spend the money, but where will it come from. I can't imagine gate proceeds, ie Costa Rica, to warrant taking gambles on that. Yes, sponsorships would be better, all for it. Maybe some oil companies must jump it, and give it a shot. Having BMO on board, one of the largest financial institutions in the country, certainly isn't solving financial issues.

I honestly don't know the answer but what type of fees does the grassroots pay in England, France, Brazil, or the US? What does hockey pay here in Canada? I've asked some hockey people, didn't get an answer yet. However, I can see pro -clubs in countries mentioned, and their much bigger revenues helping out elite programs, but unlike them, and hockey here, we don't have that for soccer in Canada.

And VPjr, I know you aren't making on the tshirts, I've done enough for tournaments to know better. I believe my view about fees is the heavy majority, as I have heard it at every club AGM I've attended. I don't think that changes in clubs across Canada. Club president's don't like writing checks to anyone above, district, province or national.

And Mediaguy, can't see myself going for all that excitement, but if you are buying the drinks, well, rum and coke it is. Will keep it simple.

[Cheeta]

I think it should be mentioned as well that very likely there isn't a country in the western hemisphere where the Mens National Team isn't a cash cow. A money generating machine.

Does anybody really know exactly how much money the England brand is worth to the FA? What USA NT matches are worth to the USSF? Just two examples, never mind what is happening in the rest of Europe, Mexico and the world at large.

I'm sure if given an intelligent effort the MNT (and the WNT) could become a self substaining entity. Through gate revenue, targetted sponsorship and property rights.

There is no reason the senior national teams can't become at least self financing entities costing the card carrying players at the amateur level in Canada not a single cent.

In fact, a self financing senior program would free a million(s) of the taxes collected from card carrying players for other CSA programs.

But the amateur and the senior international bodies have to be seperated at the functioning level entirely.

The provincial bodies can carry on such as they are in whatever fashion which the grass-roots supporters for the amateur and various U20 and other national programs decide upon, but the senior programs would operate independent, generate revenue and seek funding seperately. Run by professionals in the manner deemed best.

It'll take time and some more money to develop. The senior programs are a neglected if not abused property so some real work is ahead of anyone who wants to take on the project but for a start we've got a stadium, a market to focus on, and fixed international dates to promote.

How is that for a start to a solution?