Canada's problem also is the cost of playing the game.
There are kids in my local park and in house league soccer that are far superior to the so called competitive kids here in Ottawa.
As a result, places on so called competitive teams are measured by financial contribution to the program.
A less talented kid that plays with the organisation all year round here will always make the competitive team ahead of a more gifted player that plays hockey half the year and just wants to play soccer in the summer. Starting goalie? Lesser kid will get in ahead of the more talented kid if he has done the "goalie clinic".
From my observations here you could pick a starting 11 from the house league and they would be as good as the so called competitive kids.
And as mentioned. The vast size of Canada makes it hard to centralise things.
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