UPDATE on the West Ottawa Soccer Initiative

West Ottawa Soccer (WOS) News: Joint Tryouts Set for Three Age Groups in 2010

In a move that may profoundly change the landscape of soccer in the Ottawa area, four clubs in the west end have started the process of merging their competitive soccer programs. After more than a year of discussion and a few successful trials these four clubs are ready to enter a new era of cooperation. The Almonte, Goulbourn, Kanata and West Carleton Soccer Clubs have decided to work together to deliver a more comprehensive program for competitive soccer. For the 2010 season, players born in 1998, 1999 and 2000 will be selected to teams using the entire pool of players available to the four clubs. If successful this effort will pave the way for all age groups in competitive soccer to eventually be consolidated. The final result will be one of the largest and most developmentally advanced soccer programs in Ontario.

This means that all levels of competitive play (regional, premier and division 1) will soon be available to every player. Historically, on their own, the four clubs were seldom if ever able to field teams at all levels, forcing some players to go to other clubs to find the right level of competition. At times it also meant players had to drop out of competitive soccer if their club was not able to offer the appropriate level and other clubs had already completed their tryouts. This should now be alleviated and if registration permits the total number of teams entered from the west end of Ottawa may actually increase.

This will also mean a change for the players at these age groups. Tryouts will no longer be club specific, and club officials have been working tirelessly to create a tryout process that is fair and efficient. The process will be different than what most of the players are used to, but the objectives are the same: to make sure that as many players as possible get to play competitive soccer, and that they have the opportunity to compete at an appropriate level.

It should be noted that these changes do not have any impact on recreational/house league or adult soccer.

So please visit our new WOS website www.westottawasoccer.ca and get all the details as we make them available. To make things easy for players and their families, there will be one centralized registration process for competitive players in these age groups. If you have any questions, check out the FAQ on the website or feel free to call or email the president or technical director of any of the four clubs.

In Summary:

For players born in 1998, 1999 or 2000 wishing to register for a competitive tryout, please click on the following link: http://www.regonline.ca/Checkin.asp?EventId=807712

All other competitive players will register using the Club’s regular registration process as it becomes available.

See you on the soccer pitch;

Almonte Soccer Club
Goulbourn Soccer Club
Kanata Soccer Club
West Carleton Soccer Club