Strategic Plan provides new start for soccer in Canada

Soccer in Canada is heading in a new direction. With the development of its Strategic Plan and Strategic Activities documents, the Canadian Soccer Association has taken the first steps in achieving specific milestones for the sport over the next five years. To achieve those milestones, the Association has identified key priorities that will help Canadian soccer prosper both at the national and international levels.
The Strategic Plan and Strategic Activities (2009-2013) have been published online at CanadaSoccer.com (www.CanadaSoccer.com/strategic/strategicplan.asp). Both documents are very much the starting points to a coordinated approach to soccer’s future in Canada.
“The first strategic plan outlines the three-big priorities for our Association and expresses how the Association will, through the well-defined strategic activities, reach its fixed objectives,” said Canadian Soccer Association president, Dr. Dominic Maestracci.
Those three strategic priorities are Wellness to World Cup, Member Interaction and Sustainable Capacity. Wellness to World Cup features the Association’s long-term player development plan and its international aspirations for the national teams. Member Interaction highlights the Association’s relationships at both the external (FIFA, CONCACAF, FIFA members, provinces/territories, federal government, multi-sport organizations) and internal levels (players, coaches, referees, administrators, volunteers). Sustainable Capacity covers both operational and revenue priorities.
The strategic priorities have been established to help the Association achieve specific milestones for 2013. Those milestones include greater revenue streams (a $25-million annual budget), triumphs for the national teams (FIFA World Cup qualification for the men and a FIFA or Olympic podium finish for the women), the promise of another FIFA tournament (FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015), and the registration of more Canadians playing the beautiful game (a million players by 2013).
“As soccer continues in its growth across the entire country, there will be significant opportunities for the Canadian Soccer Association to further develop its brand and to position soccer as the premiere sport in Canada,” said Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli. “As such, the Strategic Plan provides the necessary roadmap to guide the sport through this exciting growth phase.”
The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its members and all its corporate partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but it also encourages Canadians towards a life-long passion for soccer.