The Talented Pathway was created to provide opportunities for the top players in the province to develop and advance. The basis for the program is the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) launched in 2014 at the U13 level. In each successive year, OPDL will add an age group. The licensing cycle for organizations wishing to operate an OPDL program is every two years. The OPDL is the primary avenue within the Talented Pathway model for players to be detected into future Provincial Screening Competitions which can then lead to Provincial Team opportunities. For those players who are not competing within the OPDL, they may enter into the Player Talented Pathway via Talent on Location Days by following the Player Recommendation Process outlined below.

It is also recommended that players, coaches, parents and guardians familiarize themselves with Information Bulletin I2017-028.

The Ontario Soccer High Performance Program has released the player recommendation process for the Membership Clubs and Academy’s Technical Staff.

This is being done so that players within Ontario who are currently or have never competed within the Ontario Provincial Development League (OPDL) will have the opportunity to be recommended by a certified and qualified Membership Club or Academy Head Coach or Technical Director.

Before beginning the process, it is highly recommended the coach, player and parent read and understand the information bulletin on the Recommendation Process: I2017-028.

The recommending coach can select the link below to complete the required documentation for whom they wish to recommend:

Please click here to submit the Player Recommendation Report

The 2019 player recommendation process have yet to be established as the 2019 dates are yet to be confirmed.  As such the information below still pertains to the 2018 dates.  However, the process will likely remain the same with the focus being on players born in 2006, 2005 and 2004.  Please check back often to this webpage for the 2019 dates.

The recommending coach will then complete the Coach Information page and provide their NCCP number and their Ontario Soccer registration number for to verify their coaching certification level and certification status. If no NCCP number (i.e. foreign license) is available please provide a scanned copy of the Coaching Certificate as outlined on the page.

The recommending coach will then be directed to watch 10 minutes of Provincial Teams’ game film.

The recommending coach should note the jersey number of the Ontario Provincial Player whom they believe their recommended player(s) is the equivalent of or better than. The coach will then download and complete the appropriate player evaluation form for each individual player being recommended. Once completed the document will need to be uploaded as prompted on the page.

The Recommending coach should have the following available:

Player’s name

Player’s date of birth

Player’s Ontario Soccer number

Player’s email(s) contact

The Player recommendation package is to be signed by the recommending coach, the player being recommended and the parent of the player being recommended.

The recommending coach is to submit the completed package by or before the closing date of August 24, 2018 at 5:00pm

The Ontario Soccer High Performance Program will review the player recommendation packages and assess if the player should receive an invite. Incomplete or inaccurate packages will not be considered for review.

The High Performance Program will contact those players and the recommending coach if they have been invited to the upcoming Talent on Location Day Event:

The Talent on Location Day event for the players is yet to be confirmed; however, the confirmed dates are as follows:

September 22, 2018

• Girls born in 2005
• Boys born in 2005
• Boys born in 2003

September 23, 2018

• Boys born in 2004
• Boys born in 2003

September 29, 2018

• Girls born in 2003
• Girls born in 2004

The email to the invited players will contain additional details (i.e. report time) and any other paperwork that will need to be completed prior to the event. This paperwork will be submitted by the player at the event.

The Talent on Location Days will take place at the Ontario Soccer Centre, 7601 Martingrove Road, Vaughan L4L 9E4 on the full size indoor or outdoor turf field.

If you have any questions or challenges regarding the submission process, please contact Matt Ferreira.

For all other questions please contact Bryan Rosenfeld.