League 1 Ontario championship trophies.
November 30, 2013--League 1 Ontario Information Session (by Rocket Robin)
Details of the "League 1 Ontario Information Session" held at the Ontario Soccer Centre on Saturday November 30, 2013 at 2:00pm. Each attendant signed in and received an Application Package. Attendance started out at about 25 people in the room and grew to about 30. Executives were Ron Smale the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) president, Lisa Beatty OSA executive director (who was driving a car but her voice could be heard on a speaker phone), Dino Rossi director at large volunteer at OSA, David Gee of DG Sports, Bruce Henderson OSA director of organizational development, Bill Spiers OSA Board of Directors, and Melissa McKinnon administrator for OSA and another woman taking notes. Rossi gave us a walk through with a Power Point presentation. Smale said: -The league was approved but remained dormant at the 'adult' level of action although the youth portion is running already (OPDL). -There have been discussions with officials in Quebec for certain levels of interlocking whether for cup matches or eventually schedules and they are 'interested'. -This league will be a great opportunity for 16-19s and college players to play. Rossi said: -League 1 is launched. It will be a semi-professional soccer league that will allow amateurs. It's a standards based league. It will eliminate the dilution of teams in different league (dilution is having good players never competing against each other because they're in different leagues). It's to provide a direct pathway for players to the elite level in the same way hockey is channeled. It will provide talented coaches and referees with increased opportunities to work at an elite level. It's to prioritize the advancement of CANADIAN athletes. It's to operate with professionalism and integrity. It will hold its clubs to a very high standard on and off the field. It will be worthy of loyal fan support and media attention and develop a stronger soccer culture. In 2014 there will be a cap of 12 teams then they will let other teams join later. The league will play a late April/early May to late September/early October season and then may expand the length of the season in future years. There will be a single table format with each team playing home and away. The league games will be on weekends and a midweek Cup competition. If there are just 8 teams there will still be a minimum of 20 games. There may be interprovincial cup championship games and later even a possible interprovincial schedule. Fees were discussed (notes are in the application) The teams go through a licensing process not a franchise mode. Licenses will be renewed annually. Amateur teams will be required to meet all the operational technical standards with the only exception being they are exempt from the player salary requirements. Teams will have a two year commitment by posting a $25000 bond every year that will be forfeited if they leave by their own choice (different then if the league expels them). The bond protects the OSA like insurance for the commitments they've made. The Application process was discussed: -teams have from now to January 17th, 2014. -teams will be notified if they're successful on February 28th, 2014. -there will be onsite audits of the facilities and coaches will be reviewed for credentials. -"transparency is critical". Individuals or organizations with more than a 10% stake in teams must be identified. -teams must provide a two year business plan. - facility requirements (are detailed in the application but include) 60m x 100m field, lighting, controlled spectator seating, locker rooms, PA system, scoreboard etc. -there will be coaching standard minimums. The goal by 2016 is all clubs will need to run development teams. They must have strong support from their communities. Questions were asked and answered from a FAQ slides and those in attendance. There won't be a restriction of only one team for one city. The teams may have to play on city fields which have football lines (and that's a reality). As an immediate minimum standard (even on the application) the team must have a head coach with a National B licence. When an application is approved there will then only have two months to put together a roster which will be an owner's concern. Don't let the lack of facilities for the pro level restrict your application as the league will help with possible ground sharing. There will be 18 players on a game day roster and that must include 8 U-23 players of which 4 U-23s must be in the starting 11. There will be a maximum of 3 non-Canadian players (the CSA maximum is 9). There will be a maximum of 5 subs per match with all subs being permanent. A Canadian player will be considered one with a Canadian passport or someone with holding permanent residence. David Gee said the rule about rosters is flexible for now (to answer a situation of an injury after all the U-23s are used would the team play short?) As the league matures he wants to keep it accountable. It will not be on the honour system. The game rosters will clearly mark the U-23 players so 4th officials can see who's eligible. Rossi said there is an advantage to having older players for they can tutor the younger players and will help draw fans. The teams might also have U21 and U17 teams as well and will be able to bring them up to play in these League 1 games. In August when some on the roster go back to their University, teams will have to bring up their younger players. The definition of "professional player" from FIFA was shown on a slide. It's someone who is paid more than their expenses to play the game. (so giving players gas money won't make them pros). After many changes over the years here's how University athletes/scholarship work: -for US scholarships, players can't play on pro teams but they can play on amateur teams that play against pro teams. -for Canadian university and college players, they can play on pro teams but can't sign a pro contract. -an athlete can play as an amateur on a pro team BEFORE entering an NCAA program (so the next year they can't come back to that pro team). Teams can enter the Ontario Cup (which only effects amateur teams) but that may create fixture congestion. The OSA will provide oversight and technical help for the league. Question: What about sponsors? promotions? Answer: The league has budgeted for a PR director and will have lots of content to put on-line and release to the media. They are looking for sponsors but must build something and bring them in. "Have something good to sell then sponsors will come in". Players may have CSL contracts and that would be a legal matter between the player and the team. Some team budget items were discussed. The league expects it will take an annual budget of $100,000 to operate. It may be easier to do if you are from an established club. Player contracts will be a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $40,000 for 2014. ($22,000 to $44,000 in 2015; that's a 10% increase). The league fee will be $16,500 for each of the first two years which pays for the league office, referees, web presence etc. That fee may seem high but they are basing that on possible only 8 teams joining. They are partnering with DG Sports to keep costs down. OSA registration fees are $1500 each year based on 25 players. There are no application fee for teams in this first year of the league. I finally asked a question (as there are no teams right now). There will be a press conference (with sandwiches haha) after the teams are announced to set up the league with media etc. Only media personality I recognized was Anthony Totera of Red Card but he didn't have any camera today. I was trying to piece together what club officials were at this session and got some help from Bill Spiers. Woodbridge, Oakville, Pickering, Sigma Academy, Power Academy. From the CSL was St Catharines Roma Wolves. Thomas Rongen the academy director of the TFC Academy. I asked him of what team Toronto FC would put in this league if they joined--answer--their senior Academy team (like they had in the CSL two years ago) and it would be considered amateur. Biggest surprise to me was Dino Rossi said he will NOT be applying for getting his Milltown FC team into the league. They only have a senior team right now but hope to get a U21 team started soon. There was no rush of team officials running to the front with cheques in hand. I'm sure they'll all have to go back to their own executives and decide if they'll join. This was after all an 'Information Session'. I'll certainly wait until a press conference is held before deciding what I'll do. With my coverage of Toronto FC games, Toronto FC Reserves games, Toronto Lynx, Toronto Lady Lynx games and 44 Canadian Soccer League games last year, I'll only be able to cover the CSL OR this League 1--not both. From what I've heard (not mentioned today) the CSL will have a problem getting referees. I can see younger players drifting over to this new league because of scholarship restrictions or just plain opportunities. etc. I took some pictures of the trophies the league has commissioned. Rocket Robin robing@eol.ca
League 1 Ontario championship trophies.
details on trophy.
back to League 1 Ontario 2014 menu
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