Charles Wyatt: President of Toronto Soccer Association

How can new immigrants get involved in soccer in Toronto?

New immigrants from around the world have always been involved in soccer in Toronto. Whether they came from European countries such as England and Italy or more recently from African countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria, soccer is the sport that new comers are most familiar with when they arrive. It is also the way many new comers can get involved in the communities in which they live. 

There are adult leagues for men and women as well as local youth soccer clubs that offer soccer programs for children and youth some starting as early as 4-years-of age. The Toronto Soccer Association is the largest soccer association in the Greater Toronto Area with over 27,000 registered players. The TSA operates leagues for children, youth and adults. Its competitive teams also take part in regional leagues with teams from other districts.

Whether you want to play soccer yourself or get your children participating, the first step is to contact your local soccer association such as the Toronto Soccer Association www.torontosoccer.net to direct you to a soccer club in your neighborhood. The Ontario Soccer Association www.soccer.on.ca can also put you in contact with one of the district associations.

The Toronto Soccer Association and other district associations like the North York Soccer Association and Scarborough Soccer Association are all members of the Ontario Soccer Association and sanctioned under the Canadian Soccer Association and International Association Football Federation (FIFA). Members of the TSA and other OSA districts use sanctioned referees and follow the FIFA rules and regulations.

Your neighbourhood school may also be able to direct you to a local sports organization that offers soccer. There are also community leagues.

What are the major challenges facing soccer organizations like the
 Toronto Soccer Association?

Soccer is the largest participation sport in Canada providing health physical activity for players at all levels of skill and ability.

With more and more people coming from soccer playing countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe to make Toronto their home, soccer associations need to provide the soccer experience here. But this means there is an ever-increasing demand for more soccer fields and indoor facilities where they and their children can play. Today in Toronto, there are not enough playing fields for the people and groups that want to play. The lack of fields has caused the Toronto Soccer Association to not accept any new youth clubs as members.

The soccer association needs to work with the soccer playing community as well as other sports bodies and governments at all levels to find ways to support the building of more sports fields. We also need to make sure that the existing sports fields whether in city parks or schools are used to benefit as many members of their communities as possible.

Because there is a limited amount of space that can be used to build fields we need to be creative in finding and developing fields. Soccer is played around the world on many different types and sizes of playing surfaces and often with the simplest materials. We need to try different approaches to making more space available for sports fields for the residents of Toronto. With the current limits on government spending, finding ways to finance new fields presents significant challenges to the soccer community.

Soccer associations and member clubs also need to encourage new immigrants to become part of the soccer community in Toronto. We need to ensure access to soccer in their community is not blocked by either high cost or distance. What can be done if there is no local soccer club in the community or the fee is more than a family can afford.  Soccer should remain a low cost sport that benefits children, youth and adults to be physically actively.

We also need to make sure proper training for coaches and players is available at a reasonable cost. This is particularly important as the Long Term Soccer Development program (LTSD) gets underway in Toronto and across Canada. LTSD focuses on soccer player development, training, competition and recovery based on biological age rather than chronological age.

Does soccer have a role in communities beyond playing the game?

Beyond the game itself, soccer can have a powerful role in building communities. The United Nation’s report on Sport for Development and Peace says “sport is a key component of social life, directly engaging communities. It brings people together in a fun and participatory way.”

It provides opportunities for community building, develops a sense of community identity, brings parents and children together and encourages understanding. Sports like soccer can help new comers adapt to their new lives and communities. It provides opportunities to work and play together in a positive and productive environment and encourages more inclusion. Soccer can also build bridges between cultures and a strong sense of community. Soccer like other sports can help young athletes develop their own emotional, mental and physical strengths as well as contributing to building their community.   

 What keeps you involved in soccer?

Like many people I got involved in soccer because my children played. I have stayed involved because I believe that I can continue to make a contribution to the soccer community by helping develop the game at the level of the individual player, team, club and association. By continuing to volunteer my time, I can help keep the cost of the sport affordable for people who want to participate.  I also believe that because soccer is a familiar game to many of the new immigrants coming to Toronto, it offers them the opportunity to become active in their communities and help make their communities stronger. Along with other like thinking soccer people we formed Toronto Soccer Community Outreach to help bring soccer training and organization experience to communities -often-new immigrants communities - that lacked enough resources and opportunities to get involved in soccer. 

My vision for the future of soccer in Toronto is to have the same opportunities for soccer development available in all communities.  I also see soccer as being one of the main contributors to the Canadian Sport for Life movement to increase sport’s contribution in Canadian society. It recognizes sport as an important part of everyone’s life by promoting each child’s healthy and logical development in a sport or physical activity. In addition, soccer can be one of the main movers behind the development of multi-sport organizations within communities, cities and the province of Ontario.

How can new comers to Toronto get involved in the shaping of the sport and its organization under the TSA?

The best way for new comers to Toronto to get involved is to bring their enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the game. There are volunteer positions within the association and local clubs.

In addition to the board of directors’ positions, the TSA has a number of committees that help administer soccer with the district. These include the league management committee, youth committee to finance committee and fields and facilities committee. However, It is through the local soccer club that most players, parents and coaches are involved directly in the sport and their community. 
 

Does the TSA hire experienced coaches and administrators?

The Toronto Soccer Association has paid administrative staff for operating its adult and youth leagues and its day-to-day operations. This includes player registration and travel permits. The TSA also employs a district coach to train and coach the district’s most talented players for advancement to the OSA regional program.  At the same time the district coach provides coaching ongoing assistance and advice to member clubs, coaches and individual players. 

Does The TSA train and qualify community soccer referees and coaches?

Throughout the year the Toronto Soccer Association through its district referee coordinator and district coach offers full certification referee and coach training clinics. Each year, dozens of new referees are qualified as well as an equal number of community coaches. Certified coaches and referees handle all TSA clubs competitive teams at sanctioned games.  After receiving their certification, referees are paid a pre-arranged game fee, depending on their qualification level and experience. All coaches who complete the coaching course receive a certification number and certificate. The vast majority of certified community coaches are volunteers within clubs, although an increasing number of coaches are paid.

Mr. Charles Wyatt