Sudbury soccer looks to amalgamate competitive leagues

It was almost five years ago to the day that I initially penned a column about how the Sudbury soccer community would be far better served if efforts were made towards a greater amalgamation within the youth competitive soccer ranks.

Tonight, that one time pipe dream might become a reality. With a meeting scheduled for the Croatian Centre, local soccer officials will have the opportunity of taking the first steps in providing a framework for competitive soccer, that might allow the sport to flourish.

It’s a reality that has been at least three years in the making, although the concept of some form of a “one-club system” has been tossed around for decades. To provide a little detail, the vote being taken would essentially create a new competitive soccer club in Greater Sudbury, bringing together all the youth rep teams which previously donned uniforms of Panhellenic, Croatia Adria, Valley East, Italia Flyers, Sudbury Athletic, Sudbury Canadians and S.C. Italia.

The existing house league recreational structure would remain unchanged. The likes of Sudburnia, Walden, Nickel Centre, Rayside and the non-competitive arm of Valley East Soccer would continue to be responsible for running their leagues, which cater to about 85 per cent of all youngsters playing organized soccer in Sudbury.

While I completely support the concept of a one-club system, I am certainly not under any false illusions that the creation of a new organization will cure everything that ails youth competitive soccer in the area. Challenges remain abundant.

Still, there is little doubt that a system, where individual teams at various age groupings operate in a virtual vacuum, concerned only about trying to create a path that will allow that particular group of 16 or 17 kids the chance to develop their soccer skills, cannot possibly be described as efficient.

Yes, some teams have garnered success in spite of the current dysfunctional structure of competitive soccer.

But the concept of establishing some form of pyramid framework, creating a widespread base of talent at a recreational level, which gradually leads up towards the most elite athletes grouped together, is simple common sense.

So what is to be learned from other sports in town, some of which benefit from a one-club system, and others who long to see it within their world of competitive athletics?

While a one-club system absolutely does not ensure that young athletes will work their way to the appropriate level (for a whole variety of reasons that could easily form the topic of several subsequent columns), the notion that having competing clubs producing better results simply does not hold water.

Even if the soccer one-club system becomes a reality, the new structure is just one “coaching decision” away from seeing a split of talent at any age grouping. Internal politics are not likely to be swept under the rug with any structure that is in place. They remain a challenge for every single sporting group that exists.

Many have questions about the next step, if the vote is passed, and there is no lack of misinformation being disseminated these days.

Having listened to the full presentation on a couple of occasions, I will offer these final two points based on my understanding of the proposal, gladly deferring to Andy Charsley — who has headed up the committee which has worked diligently for the past three years on this project — for all the details.

Expect very little change initially in the status quo for teams that currently exist. The included “grandfather clause” allows all teams that played at a certain level to remain together, if they so choose, into 2011.

It is really the next wave of competitive teams, along with the younger age groupings that have aspirations to work towards provincial caliber competition, who are likely to feel the effect.

The mere fact that the parent of a nine or 10-year-old child can now simply register the youngster with the “Greater Sudbury Soccer Club” (or whatever name they decide to choose) is better than scrambling around, trying to find out if one of the seven clubs have decided to field a team at that age level.

Let’s hope other sports are watching.

Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports editor for Northern Life.