Club Licensing
On July 31, 2019, Canada Soccer announced the first group of successful applicants for the National Youth Club License. Across Canada, 39 clubs were successful in achieving a Provisional license, including the following 7 clubs in Alberta:
Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program – Executive Summary
The Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program is designed to guide member organizations throughout the country toward best principles for organizational development both on and off the field. Member organizations play an essential role in the development of players, coaches, and officials and provide both the daily playing environment and primary contact for participants. By raising the standards of member organizations, both the daily playing environment and participant experience are enhanced; thereby improving the overall soccer system in Canada.
In developing the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program, the underlying philosophy is to take “high standards” to “best principles”. Many Provincial/Territorial Soccer Organizations (PTSOs) have existing charters or standards-based programs, which provided a guide for the development of the national standards. By consolidating these programs along with those of Canada Soccer’s governing bodies, CONCACAF and FIFA, it is envisioned that the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program is vertically aligned (from FIFA through the PTSOs) and integrates best principles from several sources to create a standard that is both high quality and recognizes the unique Canadian soccer landscape.
The primary goals of the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program are to:
- Set clearly defined standards and expectations for member organizations;
- Recognize excellence in the soccer community;
- Raise the level of all soccer organizations throughout Canada; and,
- Drive change in the soccer system.
To achieve these goals, the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program takes a principles-based approach. Principles provide direction but not detailed prescription, allowing organizations to develop and select the methods by which they will operate based on their available resources and unique situation and context.
The principles of the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program are grounded in the values being established for the Canadian soccer community to guide the behaviour of all organizations and can be utilized to inform choices, establish impacts, and drive outcomes. The Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program Principles are as follows:
- Prioritize Fun
- Emphasize Physical, Mental, and Emotional Safety
- Provide Developmentally-Appropriate, High Quality Programs
- Maximize Attraction, Holistic Personal Development, Progression, and Long-Term Engagement
- Focus on Participant-Centred Decision Making
- Foster Accessible, Inclusive, and Welcome Environments
- Act as a Good Corporate and Community Citizen
About Us – The Alberta Youth Soccer League Explained
Alberta Soccer Vision: A centre of excellence for the game, providing opportunities for all players to reach their full potential.
Alberta Youth Soccer League Vision: To create a competitive development environment that provides opportunities for all participants at the highest level of amateur youth soccer in Alberta and Canada.
The Alberta Youth Soccer League (AYSL) is a partnership between Alberta Soccer, four (4) local District Members and seven (7) Canada Soccer National Youth Club License (NYCL) holders that is striving to achieve the vision for the league and push towards Alberta Soccer’s overall vision.
The AYSL Partnership
In order to provide the competitive development environment necessary for players to achieve their peak performance it will take the 7 NYCL, 4 local District Members, Alberta Soccer and Canada Soccer to work to achieve the National Standards. Working together we will provide a periodized schedule across the whole calendar year that will develop players technically, physically, psychologically, and socially. The schedule will be set-up to provide the proper amount of training, competition, and rest with specific focus on maximizing our ability to use indoor and outdoor facilities that create a true soccer environment.
Our Partner Districts
| Calgary Minor Soccer Association |  |
| Edmonton Minor Soccer Association |  |
| Sherwood Park Phoenix |  |
| St Albert Impact |  |
The National Youth Club License
The Canada Soccer Nation Youth Club License recognizes the highest achieving organization from across Canada and rewards them with the Canada Soccer Approved Youth Soccer Club endorsement and associated MLS Home Grown Player benefits. Organizations achieving this license display characteristics and demonstrate behaviors aligned with the highest expectations of governance, administration, infrastructure, and technical, support their Member Association and Canada Soccer Pathways and participate in the highest level of competition in Canada; the Canada Soccer Player Development Program.