This year has been another year of significant and positive change for the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA). With the launch of the new Strategic Plan (2016-2018) developed in 2015, we will be more closely aligned with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) for the benefit of players, coaches and match officials. The four key organizational “pillars” in our Strategic Plan are: Organizational Stability, Long Term Player Development, Membership Engagement and continued Partnership Building. Combined with our Strategic pillars “respect and integrity” will be the cornerstone values of the organization. We will continue to strive to be player-centered in every decision and initiative that we undertake.

The OSA Board of Directors, now two years into the process, has continued to work toward modernizing our governance structure. This change will see the OSA led by a smaller, skills-based Board that will focus on policy and strategic planning while enabling staff to do their job more effectively on the operations side. At the same time, our Executive Director has led a reorganization of our staff structure to make the OSA much more efficient and also more responsive to the needs of our members. Thank you to staff for your commitment and dedication to the game.

We were all impressed with the skill on display at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 held across our country, as well as with the soccer action at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto and Hamilton this past summer. The real takeaway for the OSA is that we must continue to take the lead in ensuring that we unify our player development pathway. This will provide growth opportunities for players, coaches and match officials from the grassroots all the way to the most competitive levels in the game. It was very satisfying to witness in 2015 a number of Ontario teams and Ontario-born and developed players, coaches and match officials achieve distinction.

Further noteworthy items include:

• Expansion of League1 Ontairo to include a women’s division
• The inception of the Golden Horseshoe Soccer League as a new standards-based competition model at the Regional level
• Renewed focus on Accessible soccer and Futsal
• Renewed focus on adult soccer competition
• Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum induction in November
• Replacement of the Indoor Soccer field turf
• Renovation of the outdoor Soccer Centre Stadium – home to Toronto FC II, a USL team.

However, there is much more to do in 2016. Every major sports organization faces challenges and we are no different. We continue to make strides to be more responsive to our members, to build partnerships and create relationship opportunities for all those who want to be part of this great sport. We are all very proud of the work done by our Districts, Clubs, Academies and Leagues, large and small, in every corner of the province. Whether at the grassroots level, in our competitive leagues or our standards-based Ontario Player Development League and League1 Ontario, progress is evident and ongoing.

I want to thank our countless volunteers who are involved in every level of the game. Just as grassroots soccer is and will always be the foundation of our game, our volunteers have always been and will always be the backbone of the OSA.

Warm wishes and season’s greetings to all those who help make soccer what it is in Ontario.

Yours, 
Ron Smale | OSA President