British Columbia Youth Soccer.
New programs and some concerns about cost.
The latest news from British Columbia soccer is the introduction of the High Performance League. (HPL). The HPL has been highly promoted as the "New Regime". The answer to Canada's soccer problem. Most of BC & Canada's soccer top brass are ecstatic about the program.
I for one am not convinced that the great and almighty HPL will be our savior.
I am also very concerned that the HPL effectively eliminates those who do not have the wealth to participate.
Canadian soccer leaders have set a process that, by in large, caters only to the wealthy. The HPL will cost parents around $2,500 per year. Even a tryout will cost the parents $20 to $40. The leaders of this program tell the public how good the HPL is. They speak of how the HPL is a non-profit league that will develop players better than ever before. The sad truth, this is just another impossible journey for too many fine young Canadians. The dollar figure is out of proportion with reality. It's the same old story with BC and Canada soccer. They introduce a new and improved training program, they promote the program with great expectations and then charge the parents a bunch of money.
With the cash payment comes some questions and morals.
The HPL is designed to identify and improve BC's high performance youth soccer players, making a future for British Columbia and Canadian youth soccer.
Now all the questions and the mental anguish will get to you.
What is a parent to say?
If I don't pay the money to enroll my children in the HPL, what will happen?
Will I have disassociated them from a possible provincial or national team consideration?
A parent does not want to limit their children's chances of success now do they?
By design, those parents are somewhat pressured to come up with the cash.
Certainly the HPL wants the players and certainly they want your money.
If you are not part of this program it seems obvious that your chances will be limited.
BC and Canada soccer have been preaching for a very long time, their historical results are actually pretty ugly. By in large, the coaches are the same as the previous years. We are still dealing with the same organization and money has become an issue.
I would like to point out that many parents cannot afford to enroll their children in a league, let alone a special training program. Filling out forms and taking a hand out from Kidsport or the other hardship organizations is a great idea, except it's an admission of a pre-existing problem. The process and concept of helping parents afford soccer is a sensitive subject. You help one, but not the other, many are offended by the whole concept of charging money for something that in essence should be very low cost or even free. Enrollment in a league will cost a parent around $200 to $250 per child, per season. Then there are the extras, the baloney. The baloney money is as follows; a $40 capital fee, the $40 to $80 uniform fee, the $30 to $40 development days, the $25 to $75 volunteer fee, the $75 gold/silver program fee, the $10 to $40 coaches gifts etc.
Many parents are unable to get their children to a scheduled practice night. They are still at work at 5pm on Wednesday, their other job is on weekends and transportation options are limited. Some parents do not have cars, moving children around to various fields at various times by public transit adds a whole new dimension to the concept of time travel.
It is time to recognize that British Columbia still has the highest rate of child poverty in the country. There are numerous programs for financial assistance; among them are the soccer specialty programs like kidsport - the right to play and such. Those programs have existed for years. This truly indicates we have a major and ongoing problem.
Where are our leaders?
In 1989, Canada signed the UN Convention, The Rights of the Child.
The House of Commons unanimously passed the following resolution,
"To seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000."
That goal was definitely not realized. Over two decades have passed and we still suffer as the worst province in the country for child poverty. In fact, British Columbia represents a shameful record of seven consecutive years as the worst province for child poverty.
The exact numbers are variable, depending on the age groups of the children, their location and ethnic background. It may shock you that the numbers are even more alarming within certain communities and age groups. Most of the averaging reveals that one of every seven children in BC still lives in poverty. Despite the many great years of economic prosperity we have enjoyed in BC, somehow we have allowed income inequality to increase. We are now about to suffer as a result.
There is no question that child poverty is economically and socially unsustainable.
Ask any police officer, health care worker or financial planner.
They will tell you the sad stories.
As a society we tolerate poverty at our own demise.
It has been said that we either share the collective responsibility to prevent child and family poverty, or we shall all suffer the results of such ignorance and avoidance. The list of problems we will suffer as a whole is overwhelming. Everyone is affected.
Unfortunately, here in Canada we are experiencing an increase of family financial demands. We are experiencing a widening gap between those who can afford and those who cannot. Parents are faced with paying rent for housing, putting out the cash for food and clothing, paying the electricity bills, paying for transportation. I don't have to go on now do I ?
The HPL is clearly a success to some and is a massive failure to others.
How can Canada ever advance in soccer when such foolishness exists?
Honestly, I don't have all the answers. I do know that people are fatigued by all the preaching. They are tired of every soccer organization wanting a payment. I also recognize there are parents whom are just disgusted by the whole thing. They separate themselves from it all, it's not affordable and therefore they won't participate. This is where things fall apart. Some will say youth soccer training in this country has become a money grab. I will go one step further and say that some organizations disguise themselves as nonprofit, when in reality they are a thriving business that will never be without money.
This is a sharp contrast to the approach of soccer in other countries as an affordable sport. We must remember that many of the great players came from countries without the expensive High Performance Leagues or other special programs. Often the world's soccer players are students from countries that have little or no money.
We must educate ourselves as they have done in Europe, where youth soccer development is essentially free. At the very least, the cost is comparably very low.
The results are good for those countries. Not only do they build quality soccer players and quality human beings, they improve their communities as well. It's simple really, they give and they all benefit.
We must make an effort to provide some quality soccer programs for our youth. By design it is important to keep the cost very low. The message is as clear as ever; get involved with your community. We all have a responsibility to improve our youth's potential. The result will be a better community for us all.
John McKay
New programs and some concerns about cost.
The latest news from British Columbia soccer is the introduction of the High Performance League. (HPL). The HPL has been highly promoted as the "New Regime". The answer to Canada's soccer problem. Most of BC & Canada's soccer top brass are ecstatic about the program.
I for one am not convinced that the great and almighty HPL will be our savior.
I am also very concerned that the HPL effectively eliminates those who do not have the wealth to participate.
Canadian soccer leaders have set a process that, by in large, caters only to the wealthy. The HPL will cost parents around $2,500 per year. Even a tryout will cost the parents $20 to $40. The leaders of this program tell the public how good the HPL is. They speak of how the HPL is a non-profit league that will develop players better than ever before. The sad truth, this is just another impossible journey for too many fine young Canadians. The dollar figure is out of proportion with reality. It's the same old story with BC and Canada soccer. They introduce a new and improved training program, they promote the program with great expectations and then charge the parents a bunch of money.
With the cash payment comes some questions and morals.
The HPL is designed to identify and improve BC's high performance youth soccer players, making a future for British Columbia and Canadian youth soccer.
Now all the questions and the mental anguish will get to you.
What is a parent to say?
If I don't pay the money to enroll my children in the HPL, what will happen?
Will I have disassociated them from a possible provincial or national team consideration?
A parent does not want to limit their children's chances of success now do they?
By design, those parents are somewhat pressured to come up with the cash.
Certainly the HPL wants the players and certainly they want your money.
If you are not part of this program it seems obvious that your chances will be limited.
BC and Canada soccer have been preaching for a very long time, their historical results are actually pretty ugly. By in large, the coaches are the same as the previous years. We are still dealing with the same organization and money has become an issue.
I would like to point out that many parents cannot afford to enroll their children in a league, let alone a special training program. Filling out forms and taking a hand out from Kidsport or the other hardship organizations is a great idea, except it's an admission of a pre-existing problem. The process and concept of helping parents afford soccer is a sensitive subject. You help one, but not the other, many are offended by the whole concept of charging money for something that in essence should be very low cost or even free. Enrollment in a league will cost a parent around $200 to $250 per child, per season. Then there are the extras, the baloney. The baloney money is as follows; a $40 capital fee, the $40 to $80 uniform fee, the $30 to $40 development days, the $25 to $75 volunteer fee, the $75 gold/silver program fee, the $10 to $40 coaches gifts etc.
Many parents are unable to get their children to a scheduled practice night. They are still at work at 5pm on Wednesday, their other job is on weekends and transportation options are limited. Some parents do not have cars, moving children around to various fields at various times by public transit adds a whole new dimension to the concept of time travel.
It is time to recognize that British Columbia still has the highest rate of child poverty in the country. There are numerous programs for financial assistance; among them are the soccer specialty programs like kidsport - the right to play and such. Those programs have existed for years. This truly indicates we have a major and ongoing problem.
Where are our leaders?
In 1989, Canada signed the UN Convention, The Rights of the Child.
The House of Commons unanimously passed the following resolution,
"To seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000."
That goal was definitely not realized. Over two decades have passed and we still suffer as the worst province in the country for child poverty. In fact, British Columbia represents a shameful record of seven consecutive years as the worst province for child poverty.
The exact numbers are variable, depending on the age groups of the children, their location and ethnic background. It may shock you that the numbers are even more alarming within certain communities and age groups. Most of the averaging reveals that one of every seven children in BC still lives in poverty. Despite the many great years of economic prosperity we have enjoyed in BC, somehow we have allowed income inequality to increase. We are now about to suffer as a result.
There is no question that child poverty is economically and socially unsustainable.
Ask any police officer, health care worker or financial planner.
They will tell you the sad stories.
As a society we tolerate poverty at our own demise.
It has been said that we either share the collective responsibility to prevent child and family poverty, or we shall all suffer the results of such ignorance and avoidance. The list of problems we will suffer as a whole is overwhelming. Everyone is affected.
Unfortunately, here in Canada we are experiencing an increase of family financial demands. We are experiencing a widening gap between those who can afford and those who cannot. Parents are faced with paying rent for housing, putting out the cash for food and clothing, paying the electricity bills, paying for transportation. I don't have to go on now do I ?
The HPL is clearly a success to some and is a massive failure to others.
How can Canada ever advance in soccer when such foolishness exists?
Honestly, I don't have all the answers. I do know that people are fatigued by all the preaching. They are tired of every soccer organization wanting a payment. I also recognize there are parents whom are just disgusted by the whole thing. They separate themselves from it all, it's not affordable and therefore they won't participate. This is where things fall apart. Some will say youth soccer training in this country has become a money grab. I will go one step further and say that some organizations disguise themselves as nonprofit, when in reality they are a thriving business that will never be without money.
This is a sharp contrast to the approach of soccer in other countries as an affordable sport. We must remember that many of the great players came from countries without the expensive High Performance Leagues or other special programs. Often the world's soccer players are students from countries that have little or no money.
We must educate ourselves as they have done in Europe, where youth soccer development is essentially free. At the very least, the cost is comparably very low.
The results are good for those countries. Not only do they build quality soccer players and quality human beings, they improve their communities as well. It's simple really, they give and they all benefit.
We must make an effort to provide some quality soccer programs for our youth. By design it is important to keep the cost very low. The message is as clear as ever; get involved with your community. We all have a responsibility to improve our youth's potential. The result will be a better community for us all.
John McKay
