What is Competitive Soccer?

Competitive youth soccer in Ontario is divided into the Development Program and the Competitive Program.  

Development Program

The Development Program is for players from U8 to U12. Winning in not the primary focus of development teams and the leagues do not publish scores or standings. The focus of the program is to train each player to develop their individual skills and learn how to play effectively as a team.  Players will play in multiple positions to learn all aspects of the game.

The U9-U12 ages are the “golden years of learning” and we strive to enable all players compete to the best of their abilities. If we enter multiple teams in U9 and U10 age divisions, we (and all other clubs in the district) will strive to ensure these teams are equal in ability. In U11 and U12, the tiering of teams will take place if necessary to prepare players for the Competitive Program. 

Teams in this program play within the York Region Soccer Association (YRSA) boundaries and include the towns/cities of Aurora, Concord, Georgina, Kleinburg-Nobleton, King City, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Thornhill, Unionville, Vaughan and Woodbridge.

Competitive Program
 

The Competitive Program is for players in the U13 to U18 age groups and follows the new IModel concept:

1. The "IModel" (Integrated Model) includes all clubs in Huronia, York Region, Toronto, North York & Durham Region. In total, 210 youth aged (U13-U18) competitive boys and girls teams will partake in this pilot spanning the 2022 Outdoor Season.

2. The new IModel concept is an innovative approach to provide a new competition and player development opportunity within the LTPD “Soccer 4 Life” competitive stream. These are the competitive levels for youth soccer at what has been known as District and Regional Level soccer. 

3. The focus of the IModel pilot project is to integrate stakeholders and existing competitive structures, with the goal to unify the soccer community and continue moving the game forward by introducing some novel and sensible solutions and concepts to address a number of difficult challenges: length of the season, self-determination, adequate level of competition, seasonal periodization, promotion & relegation, affordability, etc.

4. IModel drivers are a combination of league criteria and player readiness, with a vision to equally serve all members, allowing even the smallest organization the possibility of being placed at the adequate competitive level based on merit through a start of the season “Qualification Phase” (real-time assessment) rather than an outdated model of promotion and relegation using past year’s results.

5. More details of this new program can be located: https://www.ontariosoccer.net/news_article/show/1223983

The KNSC Development Program is under the direction of the Director & Assistant Director, Technical Development. Please contact our team with any questions.