Ontario Soccer Association

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Ontario Soccer Association, The OSA


Formation 1901
Type Sports association
Headquarters Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Website http://www.soccer.on.ca/

The Ontario Soccer Association (The OSA) was founded in 1901 and is one of the oldest and largest sport organizations in Canada dedicated to providing an opportunity for Ontarians to achieve their sporting goals through soccer. The OSA provides leadership, consultation and resources to the members within the framework of achieving the overall mission of The OSA. The OSA currently has more than 500,000 registered participants and provides development opportunities for players, coaches, referees, and administrators.

The OSA has its headquarters at The Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan. The OSA has 21 member District Associations (“Districts”). Each of these Districts has many Clubs as member organizations and there are approximately 900 Clubs province-wide. Leagues are also member organizations and can appear at any level of the organizations hierarchy.

Contents

[edit] Mission Statement

The Ontario Soccer Association provides leadership and support for the advancement of soccer in collaboration and cooperation with our membership, partners and other stakeholders by providing exceptional and sustainable programs and services.

[edit] Purpose

The essential purpose of The Association is to empower soccer and to collectively have a greater influence. In addition to the programs and services offered, notable achievements include:

-Established mini soccer as an integral part of the game’s playing structure.

-Developed and implemented the Pyramid for Play giving players an opportunity to advance through the system.

-Increased female participation as well as increased geographical representation.

-Fostered a strong united voice with all Districts represented at the Board level.

[edit] Profile

Founded: 1901

Affiliation: The Canadian Soccer Association

President: John Knox, Scarborough, Ontario

Chief Executive Officer: Guy Bradbury, Vaughan, Ontario


Board of Directors: 21 Directors

Executive Committee: 7 Members

Members: 21 District Associations, 12 Associate Members

Players: 2006 - 372,000 (outdoor) + 75,000 (indoor)

Coaches: 2006 - 22,000 (outdoor) + 3,700 (indoor)

Referees: 2006 - 9,500

Administrators: 2006 - 7,200

Total Participants: 2006 - 489,400

Corporate Divisions: The Soccer Centre (Ontario), The Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum (Ontario)

Annual Budget: Approximately $9.8 million

Full Time Employees: 37

[edit] Board of Directors - 2008

Name Position
John Knox President
Joyce Stewart Vice President
Dan Tomlinson Secretary
Ugo di Federico Treasurer
Bill Spiers Director at Large
Clive Wilkinson Director at Large
Vince Tersigni Director at Large
Ron Smale District Representative - Durham Region S.A.
Dana Nahrgang District Representative - East Central Ontario S.A.
Steve Troy District Representative - Eastern Ontario District S.A.
William Spence District Representative - Elgin Middlesex S.A.
Mladen Moric District Representative - Essex County S.A.
Al Carrafiello District Representative - Hamilton & District S.A.
Naurice Baldwin District Representative - Huronia & District S.A.
Tom McCready District Representative - Lambton Kent S.A.
Nick Palomba District Representative - Niagara S.A.
Mandy Aparicio District Representative - North York S.A.
Winnie Brown District Representative - Peel Halton S.A.
Vacant District Representative - Sault Amateur S.A.
Laura Cvik District Representative - Scarborough S.A.
Rob Saunders District Representative - Soccer North District Association
John Marrello District Representative - Soccer Northwest Ontario
Mark Ling District Representative - Soccer Northeastern Ontario S.A.
Savas Kekkas District Representative - Southeast Ontario S.A.
Graham Williams District Representative - South-West Regional S.A.
Gail Arbic District Representative - Sudbury Regional S.A.
Antonia Guidotti District Representative - Toronto S.A.
Bill Condy District Representative - York Region S.A.

[edit] Members

District Associations: Durham Region S.A., East Central Ontario S.A., Eastern Ontario District S.A., Elgin Middlesex, S.A., Essex County S.A., Hamilton & District S.A., Huronia District S.A., Lambton Kent S.A., Niagara S.A., North York S.A., Peel Halton S.A., Sault Amateur S.A., Scarborough S.A., Soccer North District S.A., Soccer Northeastern Ontario, Soccer Northwest OntariO, Southeast Ontario S.A., South-West Regional S.A., Sudbury Regional S.A., Toronto S.A., York Region S.A.

Provincial & Regional Leagues: Central Girls S.L., Central S.L., Canadian S.L., East Region S.L., North Region S.L., Ontario Indoor S.L., Ontario S.L., Ontario Women's S.L., Ontario Youth S.L., South Region S.L., Western Ontario Youth S.L.

Associate Members: Ontario Colleges Athletic Association, Ontario Soccer Referees' Association

Life Members: Lois Brewer, Tom Doyle, Lewis Edwards, Jim Ellis, Edward Grenda, William Hoyle, Terence Kelly, George MacDonald, Alan Southard, Jack Strachan, Clive Wilkinson, Les Wilkinson

[edit] Committees

Committees: Discipline & Appeals Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Futsal Committee, Indoor Soccer Rules Review Committee, League Management Committee, Central Region League Management Committee, East Region League Management Committee, North Region League Management Committee, South Region League Management Committee, West Region League Management Committee, Ontario Cup Committee, Referee Development Committee, Staff Evaluation Committee, Technical Development Committee,

Task Forces: Task Force on Facilities Development, Task Force on Governance, Task Force on Harassment & Volunteer Screening,

Advisory Groups: Constitution Advisory Group, Medical Advisory Group

[edit] Ontario Cup

Beginning in 1901, with the exception of 14 years during the war, the Ontario Cup has been Ontario's most prestigious award. The largest competition of its kind in Canada, the Ontario Cup is every Club's shared passion. No other sport boasts greater geographical representation in Ontario at more age levels and in both genders.

The Ontario Cup, the provincial soccer championships, has recently involved over 600 teams. The competition begins in May, and finishes with the Cup Finals in September to determine a championship team in each of the twenty two divisions: Under 12 Boys, Under 16 Boys Tier 2, Under 18 Boys, Under 12 Girls, Under 16 Girls, Under 13 Boys, Under 16 Boys Tier 1, Under 21 Men, Under 13 Girls, Under 17 Girls, Under 14 Boys, Under 17 Boys Tier 2, Men, Under 14 Girls, Under 18 Girls, Under 15 Boys Tier 2, Under 17 Boys Tier 1, Special Olympics, Under 15 Girls, Under 21 Women, Under 15 Boys Tier 1, Women

The Ontario Cup is open to any competitively registered team in Ontario. Enty Forms are available online in early March and the deadline for entering is the end of March.

In the Ontario Cup, youth age divisions, Under 12 to Under 18, play in Tournament Rounds which lead to Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Cup Finals. The Under 21 Men's and Under 21 Women's play a Single-Game Knock-out Format leading to the Semi-Finals and Cup Finals on one weekend in August. The Men's, Women's and Special Olympics' divisions play a Single-Game Knock-out Format leading to the Cup Finals in September.

National Championships take place in four age levels, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Senior Open. The Ontario Cup winners in those age divisions advance to the National Championships which are usually played on Thanksgiving weekend in various provinces across Canada.

[edit] Player Development Program

The selection process for Canada's National Teams relies heavily on the Provincial Player Development Programs. Many National players are first identified representing their Provinces at the annual U14 and U16 National All-Star Championships.

With Ontario representing 45.0% of Canada’s playing population, the Province has always had a very high representation of players on National Teams.

Provincial development in Ontario begins at the U13 age category via the Regional Development Program. Every September the Regional U13 boys and girls teams compete at the Provincial Identification Camp. The best players from this tournament are selected to progress to the U14 Provincial Development Program. The intent of this program is to fulfill the soccer aspirations of those young players who have ability and desire to play at a higher level.

It is important that parents and coaches are aware and understand the Ontario Soccer Development Structure. At U12 the District players are identified and brought into train with the Regional Staff as they prepare to compete each September / October at the District I.D. Tournament within their Region where they are scouted by the Regional Coaches.

At U13, Regional Coaches scout through the District I.D. process and through Club Head Coach recommendations, select and prepare Regional Squads to compete in the U13 Regional I.D. Camp held every September at the Soccer Centre. Provincial Coaches and Scouts select, based on technical and tactical skill, the best prospects for inclusion in the U14 Provincial Development Program. Development Squads of approximately fifty girls and boys are selected for further screening with this number being reduced to thirty in each group by November. The final group of players report to the Soccer Centre on a regular basis for training with the U14 Program training four times weekly from October through to May at which time the U14's return to their Club Programs. The U15 and U16 Programs also commence in October and like the U14's train four times weekly through to the end of April, after which they also return to their Club Programs.

The U14 and U16 Programs conduct a week long training camp one week prior to the National All-Star Championships held at the end of July. It is at the All-Star Championships that the Canadian National Coaches scout for players.

[edit] The Soccer Centre

The Soccer Centre is Canada's leading competition, training, education, and exposition soccer facility. The site is like no other in Canada. It features a 130,000 square foot field house that can accommodate three indoor soccer fields or one full size 11-a-side game. It has two international size outdoor grass fields, one international size outdoor artificial turf field, a sports therapy clinic, a restaurant and lounge, and is located on a 25 acre parcel of land that is easily accessible from Ontario's major highways. Tenants include The Ontario Soccer Association, The Canadian Soccer Association, The Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum, and all of Ontario's Provincial Leagues.

FieldTurf Fields:

In the fall of 2003, The Soccer Centre opened up its new artificial turf outdoor field. The project not only involved the installation of FieldTurf, which is an artificial surface that feels and plays like natural grass, but also the installallation of lights and two new change rooms. This new field will dramatically expand the outdoor playing season and eliminate the need to cancel games because of poor weather conditions. The project was the result of a collaboration between The Ontario Soccer Association, The Canadian Soccer Association, The Soccer Centre, and The City of Vaughan, and the beneficiaries of this collaboration will range from the elite national player to the individual that simply wants to play in a recreational game.

The playing surface is 105 metres long by 68 metres wide. There is a spectator area that currently can accommodate 200 individuals, however, this number will be increased for the 2004 outdoor season.

[edit] External links

All of the above mentioned information has been copied directly from the OSA website.

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