The Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended to the OSA Competitions Committee that for 2017 there will be a pilot project set up through the U-13 age group that competes in the Ontario Cup. 

The TAC group has observed the previous round robin tournament format and recommended that the U-13 age group switch to a single elimination format in accordance with Long Term Player Development principles. This will allow teams to play in one game per weekend, rather than three games in three days. 

In 2017, the U-13 Girls and U-13 Boys divisions will play a single game knockout format similar to what the senior divisions currently play. Under this format, each Region will be guaranteed a spot in the Third Round and further representation in the Third Round will be based on the percentage of entries from each Region. 

These divisions will not incorporate the tournament round format that the U-14 to U-17 divisions will operate under.

Tournament Host Applications

The Ontario Cup Tournament Host Application Form for the 2017 Ontario Cup is available on the OSA Website.

The deadline for Clubs to submit the application to their District Association is Jan.13, 2017.

The Competitions Management Committee will be meeting at the end of January to approve the applications that have been submitted through the District Associations.

Therefore, please forward the applications you receive by no later than Jan. 20, 2017 so they can be compiled.

Next week, The OSA will distribute an email out to Clubs and teams that participated in the Ontario Cup last year with information on the Ontario Cup Tournament Host Application process and the applicable deadlines.

Please keep in mind that Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) players and teams are not eligible to participate in the Ontario Cup.

However, OPDL clubs can still enter the Ontario Cup with players and teams outside of the OPDL Roster.

Dates

The dates for the 2017 Ontario Cup have been posted and are available on the website.

If you have questions, please contact Robyn McComb.