Category 1 and 2 - change to youth landscape

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
Hey all,

Am hearing about a change to the youth landscape.

But, I wonder what others have heard?

My understanding is all clubs and academies will be placed into Category 1 and Category 2 (don't know if there will be Cat 3, 4 etc). This includes BCSPL, academies, rec clubs etc. I don't know if there will be tiers within each category.

Letting academies into the system can only help the kids IMO. I can see it creating the Wild West of soccer in the Abbotsford-Vancouver corridor though! :)

This is apparently nationwide, not just BC. I googled "canada soccer category 1" and "canada soccer youth club designation." No results returned. I saw nothing on the CSA site (cursory glance) and nothing on BCSA (cursory glance). My guess is they aren't ready to announce.

If the CSA is directing a change nationwide my only response is "finally!" Our leaders being leaders. Will it be the right plan? Tough to say. But those countries that have a unified approach to their youth development programs are thriving these days - Belgium, Germany, Iceland to name 3.
 

LauraH

Member
Aug 28, 2015
77
I've heard this as well, that BCPL in its current format will not be around any longer, that academies will be permitted into leagues, that Metro won't be a separate league. It will all be run together, just different levels.
I agree, "finally!". Especially about the academies. It will give families much more choice than just their local club, which can be monopolies in some smaller districts.



Hey all,

Am hearing about a change to the youth landscape.

But, I wonder what others have heard?

My understanding is all clubs and academies will be placed into Category 1 and Category 2 (don't know if there will be Cat 3, 4 etc). This includes BCSPL, academies, rec clubs etc. I don't know if there will be tiers within each category.

Letting academies into the system can only help the kids IMO. I can see it creating the Wild West of soccer in the Abbotsford-Vancouver corridor though! :)

This is apparently nationwide, not just BC. I googled "canada soccer category 1" and "canada soccer youth club designation." No results returned. I saw nothing on the CSA site (cursory glance) and nothing on BCSA (cursory glance). My guess is they aren't ready to announce.

If the CSA is directing a change nationwide my only response is "finally!" Our leaders being leaders. Will it be the right plan? Tough to say. But those countries that have a unified approach to their youth development programs are thriving these days - Belgium, Germany, Iceland to name 3.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
I've heard this as well, that BCPL in its current format will not be around any longer, that academies will be permitted into leagues, that Metro won't be a separate league. It will all be run together, just different levels.
I agree, "finally!". Especially about the academies. It will give families much more choice than just their local club, which can be monopolies in some smaller districts.

Letting academies in is a great step, but the next has to be to eliminate district boundary rule re: registrations.

Good luck to the city officials that allocate field time to many more user groups ;) Same number of practices (registrations not likely to increase) but more people to communicate with.
 

Nate

Member
Jun 7, 2017
11
So a silly question but at what age group would this organization shift affect? U12 and older? Grassroots?
 

LosBlancos

Member
Aug 15, 2017
21
If all this was to happen, I would think that it was a positive change and would be perhaps from the workings of DeVos in his new position.

Why do I feel so doubtful that it's going to happen in my kids youth soccer days?

He's just about to go into U13 and we have to consider BCSPL or Metro, cost vs quality, and all the other things discussed here. Some of these things mentioned can't happen soon enough.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
So a silly question but at what age group would this organization shift affect? U12 and older? Grassroots?

Equally silly question - why only make changes u12 and up? Genuinely though, this ridiculous amount of focus we put on kids u13 and up was very misguided (coming from a guy who was very excited about BCSPL).

I assume they'll begin the changes from the first year soccer is offered.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
If all this was to happen, I would think that it was a positive change and would be perhaps from the workings of DeVos in his new position.

Why do I feel so doubtful that it's going to happen in my kids youth soccer days?

He's just about to go into U13 and we have to consider BCSPL or Metro, cost vs quality, and all the other things discussed here. Some of these things mentioned can't happen soon enough.

I saw a mention of 2019.....have seen various BCSPL appointments for 2018, so my guess is the remark of 2019 makes sense.
 
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