Quote:
Originally Posted by The Big Chill
Have there been any details released, or even any rumours as to how a Canadian league might work? I'd be interested to know, because I think it will take a lot more then just having a National league available to improve the National program.
What we really need is a dedicated youth program across the country that can provide young players with a path to playing at the highest level. Maybe a Canadian league would also provide that whole setup, but the level of play itself in the new National league would likely not be high enough to have an affect at the national level, IMO.
When you look at how we are producing basketball and baseball players, it is by providing players opportunities in the USA's system in the key years before the professional draft. For basketball, there is a clear path from youth teams, to switching the the US for either High School or College, where they can get everything they need to succeed. Its working really well too, as there are now Canadians playing div 1 ball every year, and have been drafted in the lottery several times now. Our National basketball program looks like it has a very bright future.
Will this new Canadian league provide that same opportunity to young soccer players? We need a better path for players to reach the MLS, or top leagues in Europe.
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The Canadian league teams would have youth academies that develop young players.
There is no current system for most kids to go through to develop properly and have realistic pro aspirations to aspire to.
No only are Central American kids playing unstructured pick up soccer outside every waking minute of their childhoods (which is a huge disadvantage for our kids, as this doesn't happen in our society), these kids are also trained by the numerous pro clubs in their domestic leagues, for free. If they excel they move up to the first team and play pro.
Quite a difference from practicing once or twice a week with a community club in Canada and the dropping the game at 18 because you can't go any further with the game in this country...