Reply With QuoteWill be watching the OPDL very close. Very exciting stuff if done correctly. Hoping it is the start of a nationwide network similar to SYL or USSDA.
The OPDL was developed partly based on the BCSPL.
New Ontario Player Development League
Recently announced at the OSA coaching conference.
Looks the OSA has finally realized SAAC has been doing it right for the past 6 years.
http://www.ontariosoccer.net/Portals/11/LTPD/OPDL.pdf
The only thing I'm not seeing is an established minimum training/game ratio.
So now B.C and Ontario will have leagues based on solid development footing. How much longer until other provinces follow?
I emailed the Nova Scotia soccer league a few months ago and pointed our how detrimental to player development their leagueis. Does anyone think I ever recieved a response? Of course not.
At a minimum there is no reason why Tier 1 leagues in every other province in Canada can't:
1. Implement a 3:1 training to game ratio
2. Mandatory TD or Head coach certification.
3. Play every Saturday instead of several times thru out the week
4. Extend the length of the season
Last edited by Soccerpro; 05-02-2012 at 05:40 PM.
Will be watching the OPDL very close. Very exciting stuff if done correctly. Hoping it is the start of a nationwide network similar to SYL or USSDA.
The OPDL was developed partly based on the BCSPL.
aka, Bettermirror.
Yes, clearly following the USSDA model.Originally Posted by ThiKu
I'm guessing this would be a solid fourth division similar to the USL-PDL?
Interesting that on page 32 they listed the next steps for players as Ontario League 1 [?] National Division 2 [?] and Major League Soccer. Seems like they're anticipating OL1 taking the place of CSL and a Canadian D2 running alongside NASL. Wouldn't this new leagues U-23 division be in competition with the proposed OL1??
They have until 2019 to sort out how those fit together by the looks of things in their PDF. Definitely well worth noting that they state the adult pyramid from 2013 onwards as being "MLS, ND2? and OL1?". I wouldn't go as far as stating that they anticipate a Canadian D2 running alongside the NASL given the presence of the question mark.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind - Albert Einstein
A very interesting model. I like how they start small and build year on year with the intention by year 6 of having a complete amateur pyaramid from U13 to U23. They also will finally condense in Ontario the top players into about 20 teams from a young age that will give a high quality of competition to these players. This should eventually rival the USSDA for quality if done right. Also, the slow build up over that period should allow clubs to embedd within the community as the top tier of soccer which will hopefully develop some loyalty amongst players, family and supporters that should translate into fan support for the U23 side (and OL1 side). It also looks to me like the bottoms up approach here will dovetail nicely with the OL1's top down approach where their stated aim is to develop a proleague by leveraging existing clubs in their communities.
I think there will be some competition for the 20 or so spots especially in some communities that now support a few top club sides. I like the fact that these clubs will be constantly reviewed as it means that those not actually pulling their weight can be replaced.
At the end of the day, I wonder whether the U23 league and the OL1 will morph into the same thing or some clubs in the OPDL will combined to support only one joint U23/OL1 side. While I can see a 20 team Ontario league for U23 like there is for hockey, I can't see that for pro. For Pro, I am still a believer that having Canadian sides in the NASL and USL 1 is the way to go as even with hockey, we support very few pure pro franchises (7 NHL, 5 AHL).
It seems to me that certain areas will be shut out from this league from a practical standpoint (Ottawa in particular) because of the proposed scheduling. Having one club host all teams from their division in any given week means some clubs will be travelling long distances nearly every weekend. If we assume there could be two teams from the Ottawa area in a division of 12 clubs, the Ottawa clubs might only play locally four times throughout the year. Which means travelling to the GTA (most likely) approximately 20 times during the season - 6 months of which will be during the school year. Having clubs play half their games at home would ease this burden for clubs outside of the GTA, without increasing travel commitments for the GTA clubs (they would have to travel to those out-of-town clubs once a season regardless).
I suppose the alternative is that Ottawa clubs may start looking to playing in the Quebec league (if that is still an option), or parents will start moving their children to clubs based in west Quebec in order to get access to strong competition.
The intent of centralized games makes a lot of sense - but this is defo a downside. Be interesting to see which 10-12 clubs are granted membership in year 1.
aka, Bettermirror.
Does anyone know what the intent of the centralized games is? I've been scratching my head about that one. All I can think of is that the host club only needs physio staff for the couple of weekends they host, as opposed to requiring them for all home games.
But mostly based on SAAC... http://saac.ca/?link=standards
“… the concept is easy. Any idiot can have a good idea. What is hard is to do it.”
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