Anyone who remembers Ben Knight's excellent work two years ago covering the governance reform process within the Alberta Soccer Association knows how messy and complicated that process got.
So with the implementation of the CSA's long-term player development model becoming a hot-button issue in recent months, many around the country have surely been wondering: What will Alberta do?
This week, we received our answer -- and for LTPD advocates, the news is largely positive.
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In a release earlier this week, the ASA said it would begin implementing elements of the CSA's LTPD plan but, unlike the Ontario Soccer Association, they would not be eliminating scores and standings for U12 ages and below (which is a recommendation rather than a requirement) -- not yet, anyway.
While the elimination of scores and standings at U12 and below is just one element of a broader player development plan, it has been jumped upon by pundits and commentators in Ontario and beyond -- and it's been used by some to improperly portray the LTPD plan as some attempt to "bubble wrap" kids or deprive them of the ability to compete.
For instance, even though the ASA isn't even following the OSA's lead in the scores/standings issue, that was still the focus of a CBC radio interview with ASA executive director Richard Adams. In the interview, Adams correctly notes that players and parents will always have a vague idea of scores and standings, whether or not leagues keep track officially. And though he's only given six minutes, Adams does a good job of explaining what's been going on in Ontario, as well as the differing approach in his province:
(The CSA's LTPD plan) calls for the elimination of standings... and I think we need to be very clear that standings not being posted doesn't mean that scores won't be tracked on the day, won't be available on scoreboards that will be available. ... I think kids and parents, everyone's competitive, everyone's going to count and when you walk off the field, you're going to know if you scored more goals than the other team....
A lot of what Ontario is doing, if you read the documentation, is that they feel that their best method to educate parents and coaches that the focus should be on skill development is to take away that be-all, end-all win attitude, win-at-all-costs, to those younger kids, and allow them to play the game on the day -- play to compete, play to score on the day.
And 20 minutes after the game, once they've had the joy of winning or even the disappointment of losing, that they can forget and not have to worry about the fact that "oh, we lost last week, if we lose again this week, we're in last place" -- and in Ontario's case, that meant relegation out of, in some cases their top league or their second league. That's not something we have in Alberta.
The ASA has chosen to focus upon a "phased in approach" that emphasizes coaching courses and development. This, of course, is crucially important to the entire process; while those defending the OSA's implementation plan have insisted that eliminating scores and standings at U12 and below will help shift the focus onto improving players' skills, the reality is that without adequately prepared coaches, it's all ultimately a moot point.
Adams noted that the ASA will take a look at whether the elimination of scores and standings is something they would also like to pursue, and presumably the aftermath of Ontario's decision will guide those discussions to some extent. But it's important to note there's no attempt here to cast either the OSA or ASA as taking the "right" approach -- the right approach is whichever one ensures maximal buy-in from soccer teams, parents and coaches, with the ultimate aim of reaching the goals of the LTPD plan.
In other words, it's important to remember that the elimination of scores and standings is nothing more than a means to an end.
Taking Canadian soccer from a clearly dysfunctional system to one that helps ensure the health of our professional and national teams while also creating a fun and rewarding experience for the overwhelming majority of kids who'll never aspire to play at the top level... well, it's a massive (and massively complicated) undertaking.
But while their approaches differ slightly so far, it is encouraging to see officials in two of the country's largest and most powerful jurisdictions getting onboard with long-term player development. Here's hoping all other provinces and territories (and their members) follow suit.