Girls 13 and under try out for the Ontario Player Development League at Ottawa university’s Lees Field.
Three Ottawa soccer clubs are planning to unite under one name in order to increase player development and share club resources.
The Nepean Hotspurs, Ottawa Royals, and Nepean City Storm jointly announced in September they are following the Ontario Soccer Association’s lead in implementing a new model that encourages skill development in young players for the long term.
The model will be implemented for under-12 players. Those in the program will not have to try out or be assessed, and will only participate to develop their skills.
Each clubs' board of directors has agreed to meet and discuss the amalgamation as an exploratory group to determine if the three organizations should join forces to become a single squad.
Each clubs’ membership, which includes their players, will also have a say in the union.
On the Hotspurs’ Facebook page, Robert Peixoto says the Hotspurs have always been a well-developed club.
“(The Hotspurs) have built a reputation for being one of the best development clubs and has led the way in long term player development as well as other initiatives to help keep the game BEAUTIFUL,” he writes.
The three clubs promise to operate as usual during the winter and summer season of 2014 despite the planning of the new skills development model.
However, Ottawa Royals Soccer Club president Bernie Etzinger says the club's union will produce better players as they progress in skill level.
Etzinger says he has seen skilled players leave his soccer club for other professional or semi-professional clubs.
He wants to increase the level of competition within a single, large club so players can play their best.
“It would be fantastic to see a kid now grow up to be on a national team,” Etzinger says.
The Ottawa Fury FC is one of the most recent teams to join the North America Soccer League in 2011 and is currently the highest level of competitive soccer in Ottawa.
There will be one team designated for each level of play determined by skill or age.
Mackenzie McKnight, 18, has played with the Hotspurs for four years and is against the merger.
“Instead of having one combined team of 20 good players, they would have more teams of 20 assorted players," she says. "If they were combined, scouts would only get to see 20 players instead of several separate teams representing different clubs.
"In my opinion, they should not combine all three clubs,” she says.
Some parents and players are concerned the union's focus on skill development might take the fun out of the game.
Soccer is, after all, the number one sport in Canada for children under 14, according to a 2008 Statistics Canada report.
“I think it could be a positive thing in terms of skills development for players if it means they will have access to more coaches,” says 20-year-old Kirsten Fenn, who plays for the Ottawa Royals.
“I think it could be a positive thing in term of skill development for players if it means they will have access to more coaches,” she says.
However, Fenn says she is concerned that if the clubs amalgamate it will mean playing teams further away.
Players under 12 will be doing skills training but will not participate in competitive leagues to further emphasize player development.
“There will always be a competitive attitude every time you throw a ball between two players,” says Ron Smale, president of the Ontario Soccer Association.
This union between the Hotspurs, Royals, and Storm includes only three of the seven clubs in Ottawa.
Not included in the merger are Ottawa Fury, West Ottawa, Gloucester Hornets, and Ottawa South United who are involved in a larger development program
“There is a new Ontario league called the Ontario Player Development League. There are four Ottawa clubs participating,” says Roy Hillier, head coach of the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club. “The new (league) will be starting in 2014 for under 14 boys and girls and will gradually replace the present Ontario Youth Soccer League.”
Each club is planning to vote on the merger by the new year, but until then have only agreed upon the exploratory group for the amalgamation of the three clubs into one.
They will be hosting town hall meetings with the club members until then.