In Quebec, Better Supervision of the Little Ones to See Them Grow

uly 2038, Jonathan David, the venerable 38-year-old Canadian captain, is preparing to kick off the first FIFA World Cup semi-final played by the Maple Leaf team. Carried by incredible popular fervour, the veteran has managed to bring in his wake a generation of young talents who have shaken the old world order. Stop! Readers will have understood that the scenario is based on a futuristic fiction. A fiction that Canadian technical executives are nevertheless working towards to make credible in a country where soccer now occupies first place among sports played by younger generations. To do this, the Canadian federation and its regional offshoot Soccer Quebec have been pursuing an ambitious development policy for several seasons. At the top of the priorities, modelling the work done within clubs and improving skills in grass-roots soccer. Two predominant axis were created, the first being a "Club Recognition Program", and the second the optimization of the organization of sessions by workshops, called CDCs (Club Development Centers). This is an existing program but one that is expected to evolve from 2026.

"Obligations imposed on clubs to promote a learning climate for 9-12 year olds"

Christophe Blin, the club development manager at Soccer Québec, explains: "The first actions were introduced in 2020 with the formulation of guiding principles and standards for clubs (see elsewhere, editor's note). Until then, these standards were valid as recommendations, but for the past two seasons, for everything concerning the practice of soccer for 9-12 year olds, we must speak of obligations put to the clubs to promote a learning climate." And to add: "To make sure that children participating in a soccer session in a club literally fall in love with the ball." Much more than a pious wish, a learning philosophy for the managers who have generalized the concept of training platforms by workshops (CDCs) on which the young registered players rotate. A philosophy organized around a few particularly attractive principles (see opposite) and the delivery of specific training for technical directors and other club managers. If the regional entity is pleased with the relationship of trust established with the main actors, it does not exclude visits to check on club progress at regular intervals: "We go to the clubs at the rate of two "surprise visits" during the season. This allows us to observe and evaluate whether the changes are effective or whether they need to be rethought. »

"Not there to police the educators, but to support them"

Having been in office for about fifteen years, Christophe Blin has already noted an improvement in the supervision of the training of 9-12 year olds: "The educators have understood that we are not there to police them but to support them. With children, the environment must be the same for everyone, without taking into account the level or even the potential. In doing so, we have seen a very clear improvement in the general level of young players in these categories. We must give credit to the clubs that have agreed to play the game even if it has not always been easy and there is still a lot of work to be done." A policy of access to the greatest number promoting childhood more than talent and where all players are valued in the same way seems an extravagant idea. However, do the educators share it? The Soccer Québec executive responds: “Yes, as long as they see that this translates into an increase in the number of registered players and the establishment of a more favourable learning climate.” An honourable arrangement, but above all a win-win for the clubs, the institutions and, especially, the young players. The beginnings of improved performances by the national team at the World Cup perhaps? The future will tell!

Some Guiding Principles*

• Children sign up to play soccer, not to watch others play or spend time travelling. Teams should strive to have fair playing time
• Talent identification and selection should be delayed as long as possible to provide the best possible training environment for as many players as possible
• Match results should not be the focus of grass-roots soccer as this limits player development and negatively impacts their experience

*Excerpts from Canada Soccer

The 5 objectives of a CDC (Club Development Center/Training Center)

1-A safe CDC:
- Provide a physical training environment that minimizes risks
- Be able to manage emergency situations
- Control the arrival and departure of children

2- An organized CDC:
- Present a unified and appropriate clothing framework
- Hold a pre-session meeting
- Assign tasks to each staff member

3- A CDC where children move (see illustration)
- Ensure that the session reaches 75% motor engagement time

4- A CDC where children learn
- Offer educational supervision that promotes the acquisition and consolidation of learning by children

5- A CDC where children have fun
- Provide a social psychological environment that promotes pleasure by leading workshops
- Maintain the pace in the workshops
- Offer a match activity