As 2023 comes to an end, Ontario Soccer looks back at some of the biggest moments that highlighted the sport in our province in the past year.

Despite the 2023 global landscape being reshaped by unprecedented events, the soccer system in Ontario emerged stronger than ever, having successfully navigated through these complexities.

The Ontario Indoor Cup and Ontario Futsal Cup are the first major competitions of the year for most Clubs, offering the opportunity to get the year off on the right foot.

• 2023 Ontario Indoor Cup Finals Match Centre
• 2023 Ontario Futsal Cup Concludes with Final Weekend of Exciting Championships
• 9 De Octubre Toronto Win Shootout to Take Championship in Exciting Tightly Contested Finals
• Scarborough Gs United Dominate in Women’s Futsal Finals to Take Championship in Historic Matchup
• U18 Ontario Futsal Cup Champions Crowned

The Ontario Soccer Summit - Ontario Soccer’s premier personal and professional development event - returned with a bang in 2023 following a three-year pandemic hiatus.

The event - which was co-hosted by the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association and headlined by co-presenting partners FuboTV and Respect in Sport - was an incredible success that sold out in record time and recorded a record-breaking cast of event partners.

Many factors contributed to the event’s success, including a line-up of world-class speakers, which was headlined by Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach, John Herdman, who inspired attendees at his keynote speech on Saturday morning with tales from his personal and professional experience, challenging the audience to always pursue their personal best.

To learn more about the 2023 Ontario Soccer Summit, visit: ontariosoccer.net/2023-summit-archive.

TEAM ONTARIO TAKES 2023 QUEBEC-ONTARIO INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES

Over the May 19 weekend, Ontario’s U15 and U17 Provincial Xcel Teams competed in the Quebec-Ontario Inter-Provincial Series at the Soccer Québec Soccer Centre in Laval, to wrap up the year’s Provincial Xcel schedule.

It was quite an even battle between the four Ontario and four Quebec teams, but overall, team Ontario came out ahead, amassing six wins, four loses and two draws, compared to Quebec’s four wins, six loses and two draws, over four, three-game series.

BMO GIRLS PLAY ON!

BMO Girls Play ON! is an innovative new girls’ soccer program and leadership day, engaging girls through coaching and playing opportunities. The program will create a safe and inclusive environment, where girls can enjoy a social setting, play the game they love, learn about coaching, and mentor/mentee with women coaches and facilitators.
 
The program will serve two distinct age categories: The Coaching Stream will feature young women aged U16-U17 (2007 and 2006) interested in learning how to coach. The Playing Stream will be open to participants aged U7 and U8 (2016, 2015) that want to play soccer in a 3v3 festival environment.

Click here to learn more about BMO Girls Play ON!

MADE IN ONTARIO – 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

OPDL Cup

ONTARIO SOCCER MATCH OFFICIALS APPOINTED TO U SPORTS AND CCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

A total of 17 Match Officials proudly represented Ontario at the U Sports and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Soccer Championships this year.

Top Match Officials from multiple provinces were hand-picked to officiate these high-stakes games, fulfilling their duties with the utmost professionalism and care.

"We are proud of the Ontario Match Officials who attended the U Sports and CCAA Championships this year, and performed with distinction," said David Barrie, Ontario Soccer's Manager of Match Official Development. "These tournaments can be challenging, which is a testament to the high-level abilities and all-round professionalism within the Ontario Match Official community.”

Click here to learn more and keep reading.

ontario cup

match official body camera pilot launch

Ontario Soccer’s Match Official Body Camera Pilot Project launched near the tail end of the 2023 Outdoor Season.

The launch was highlighted with a media event hosted at the Ontario Soccer Centre in late September, which saw an all-female match officiating team wear the cameras during the Ontario Player Development League’s (OPDL) sixth Central Venue Weekend of the year. Check out some of the media coverage in the listings below!

To learn more about Ontario Soccer's Match Official Anti-Bullying and Harassment Program, ontariosoccer.net/norefnogame.

OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield

Ontario Soccer Welcomes New Manager of Match Official Development David Barrie

This year, we welcomed David Barrie to the Ontario Soccer staff as our new Manager of Match Official Development.

Dave hit the ground running. He's already immersed himself well within Ontario Soccer's staff culture and has started building connections with stakeholders in our greater community.

Hear more about Dave's journey to this moment, and his hopes for the future of Ontario Soccer in this video.

Centre  Circle awards

The Centre Circle Awards are Ontario Soccer’s highest level of recognition and are presented annually to deserving soccer leaders and organizations nominated on the basis of their outstanding contributions to the development of soccer in Ontario and Canada.

Learn more about the Centre Circle Awards and view the list of 2023 recipients.