Annual Report - 2011 7601 Martin Grove Road VAUGHAN, Ontario L4L 9E4 www.ontariosoccer.net Introduction While 2011 was indeed a time of transition and renewal, the Association also Moving forward, it is very important that Alex Chiet can count on the continued Message from the President accomplished a great deal. Specifically, we introduced, under Alex Chiet, the support and input of every OSA District and Club around this critical program in beginning of our phased-in approach to LTPD. This may be the most important the years to come. step our game—and our Association—has taken on in more than a generation. 2011 was a year of significant “transition and In 2011 we launched our “Respect in Soccer” initiative. While our execution was In 2012 we will continue to build on some of the strategic initiatives we undertook renewal”. While we still have a lot of work to do flawed in terms of how the program was implemented and communicated to our throughout 2011 including: to get where we need to go, I am proud to be membership, that does not diminish the absolute value and importance of this part of an Association that continues to work effort. We have renewed our relationship with Respect in Sport Inc., in order to • Continuing to increase grassroots participation together and make positive change towards the rebuild and continue to execute a stronger program in 2012 and beyond. It is a • Sustaining Club, District, League and Provincial excellence betterment of Soccer in this Province. This would necessary step and timely response that will make our game better—and safer— • Further defining a clear philosophy, with achievable and realistic pathways for not have been possible without the strong for all our, players, coaches, referees and parents. our athletes stakeholder relationships we have built with and • Increasing the quality and quantity of our coaches, referees and administrators through our Clubs, Districts, Boards of Directors, Also, in July of 2011, we hosted the first ever no-holds-barred stakeholders • Re-aligning our competition structures Leagues, Associate and Affiliate members, and meeting at the OSA offices in Vaughan. To the best of our ability to reach out, • Developing more opportunities for the growth and development of facilities partners—relationships that have been developed everyone in the soccer community was invited to take part, including non- • Continuing to recognize how important soccer is to the health of our over many years. sanctioned groups, semi-professional leagues, professional clubs and Academies. communities The intent was to build even better relationships with some, and in other • Creating and supporting a standards-based environment In reviewing 2011, it is important to highlight a instances, to re-build or repair broken or ineffective relationships. A meeting does • Creating more links between all levels of soccer and our educational institutions significant change in leadership at The OSA. The not solve everything, but I believe we took a step forward in agreeing that for the in this country Ron Smale OSA Board of Directors determined that to move good of our youngsters who love the game of soccer—wherever they play and • Continuing to create more opportunities and links with clubs/schools/community forward with a clear direction and a passionate wherever they live—we need to work together in the future and not let historical • Providing strong leadership at all levels of the game belief in and support for our plans, it was vital to attract and bring onboard key disputes and disagreements stand in the way of building a better future for all • Further creating and developing partnerships at the municipal, provincial and personnel. With the hiring of all our senior staff at The OSA and the accompanying who play, coach and administer the game. federal levels of government mandating and implementation of Long-Term Player Development (LTPD), we are • Securing alternate forms of revenue to support programs and services now in the midst of some of the most important work The OSA has ever done. We The OSA also continued to host a number of Town Hall meetings throughout 2011, now have the leadership in place to make that work happen efficiently and in Ottawa, Hamilton, Woodbridge and Thunder Bay, continuing an undertaking I To build on our efforts around these objectives, we need to embrace and effectively. thought was very important back in 2010. At every stop, we heard from soccer recognize best practices and programs that Clubs and Districts have implemented supporters who appreciated that the Association was making the effort to around our great Province. We, as a Board and as an Association, need to support When I assumed the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer in April of 2011, it communicate more and connect with Clubs and Districts in different parts of the our membership and that will be achieved through genuine “emphatic listening” in gave me the opportunity to see exactly what type of individual and what kind of province—even as they were sometimes taking us to task! our relationships with one another. staff leadership we needed at the helm of The OSA. With the arrival of our Executive Director, Lisa Beatty, in September of last year—and the outstanding In relation to Committee process and work, I believe it is very important to Looking ahead, there needs to be an increased emphasis on improving experience she brings to her role—we took a major step forward as an identify and acknowledge the work of our chairpersons of the many committees membership service, especially in the areas of the development of players (LTPD), Association. we have at The OSA. Their continued work ensures the growth and development the development of coaches and referees at all levels, as well as enhancing of our game. The Governance Task Force has worked very effectively in 2011 in human and financial resources. In addition, through listening and working We also needed a new Technical leader. We found a tremendous candidate in our reviewing Committee structure and how we can better align ourselves at the together, we will continue to manage the organizational expectations of The Chief Technical Officer, Alex Chiet. He brings international experience of the Board level in relation to “operational” versus “standing “ committee roles and Association regarding the size, complexity and diversity of soccer in Ontario, and highest order, and has been moving our sport forward since his arrival in May of responsibilities. the continuing renewal and execution of our Strategic Business Plan. Perhaps 2011 with an unmatched zeal, passion and a determination to listen—and lead. most importantly, we can and must re-build that trust in one another, trust that Throughout the past year we have experienced a “synergy” around our great will allow us to work in harmony and enable us to achieve our worthy objectives— In relation to the Financial, Administration and Technology issues of The OSA we province. There has been an acceptance within many Clubs and Districts to listen together. have brought Leonard Golberg to our team to provide strong strategic leadership. to one another and work together in resolving challenges and differences. When I To complement Lisa, Alex and Leonard we are blessed as well to have an excellent use the word synergy, I do not mean compromise, because when compromise In summary, I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone for the group of staff, volunteers, administrators, coaches, referees and board members occurs someone often feels as though they have lost something. Developing continued contributions that each of you has given to our Association and the who give countless hours of time, energy and talent in promoting Soccer in the synergy is not necessarily about resolving conflict—it is about going beyond or sacrifices you make as a result of your commitment. I have witnessed and Province of Ontario. In addition our staff and facility employees continue to work transcending the issue at hand. Something new is created and it binds us together observed so much energy, ingenuity and excitement throughout the Province of in an effective and efficient manner to deliver programs and services to all our and creates an even more productive result. A good example of this is the Ontario in bringing change to our game through new and renewed programs and members. Many of you have told me that staff is more accessible than ever before development of our LTPD culture. services. and that communication is improving. Our Technical leaders can better address the importance of LTPD. From my Because I see passion—and hope—in you, I look forward to a bright and promising Our Provincial and Regional Coaches, their managers and trainers and our medical perspective, as The OSA President, I will simply say that LTPD is about—and for— future for our great game. staff—through their tremendous efforts and the many professional clinics they everyone, including— athletes, coaches and referees of all ages and abilities. Like host—continue to showcase an excellent product on the field. This is a direct never before, we are charting a unified pathway and an improved competitive result of the time, talent and effort that all our volunteers, coaches and staff of structure for all, so that whatever you want to achieve in the game as a player, Clubs and Districts across the Province have invested in our grassroots training coach, or referee, you know how you can proceed to attain your goals. environments, to create