The Ontario Soccer Association recently announced the launch of the Long Term Official Development (LTOD) program and the work has already begun. 

Nicky Pearson, the OSA Manager of Match Officials Development and LTOD Project Leader Tony Camacho were in Ottawa and Gatineau this week presenting the LTOD Program to the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association match officials.

The OSA officials group were also in the region to co-present on the topic "In pursuit of officiating excellence: Get them involved, establish performance standards and Value" at the Canada Sport For Life (CS4L) Conference in Gatineau, Quebec with Dr. Lori Livingston and Dr. Susan Forbes,  both from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

"This has been an exciting 11 months preparing for this new strategic initiative from the OSA, and we are thrilled to be included in the Canada Sport for Life program. Through research, surveys and outreach we feel we have defined the areas of the match officials development program that need refinement, and are pleased to be able to present not only at CS4L, but also to the great officials in the Ottawa Region," Pearson said. 

Part of the events included a meeting with CS4L leaders to discuss incorporating LTOD into all sports strategic planning processes.

Recently, the OSA hosted a multi-sport think-tank that addressed the common concerns surrounding the support of match officials programming across multiple sports in Ontario.

"By working together, we will hopefully bring officiating to the front of the decision making process - as the OSA has recently done. Sport leaders need to be educated in the importance of officials to the success of sport in Ontario, and I think we are on the right track to do that," Pearson said. 

For more information on LTOD, please visit the OSA LTOD webpage.