ߣߣƵ

Club Licensing Program

ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program is designed to guide member organizations throughout the country toward best principles for organizational development both on and off the field.

National Youth Club License

ߣߣƵ’s highest amateur club designation under its Club Licensing Program

MA Level 2

Member Association Level 2 clubs meet the standards set in partnership with ߣߣƵ for their member organization clubs

MA Level 1

Member Association Level 1 clubs meet the standards set in partnership with ߣߣƵ for their member organization clubs

Quality Soccer Providers

Entry-level for all member organizations in good standing with a ߣߣƵ Member Association

National 1 Licence

The National 1 License establishes the mandatory professional standards in infrastructure, administration, and technical quality for all ߣߣƵ professional clubs competing in the MLS, CPL, and Northern Super League.

National 2 Licence

The National 2 License sets the essential criteria for clubs in provincial professional or amateur leagues, serving as a prerequisite for those seeking eligibility for the Canadian Championship and a pathway to the Concacaf Champions Cup.

About the Program

The ߣߣƵ 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 ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program, the underlying philosophy is to take “high standards” to “best principles.” Many Provincial/Territorial Member Associations (MAs) 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 ߣߣƵ’s governing bodies, Concacaf and FIFA, it is envisioned that the ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program is vertically aligned (from FIFA through the MAs) and integrates best principles from several sources to create a standard that is both high quality and recognizes the unique Canadian soccer landscape.

Club licensing Backgrounder

Beyond those that contributed to this project with existing programs, the feedback from MAs and member organizations from across the country was invaluable in developing the ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program and ensuring it is supported.

These contributions are recognized, appreciated and detailed in the ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Backgrounder.

The soccer Club

Within the ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program, the soccer club is defined as being any organization that is a member of ߣߣƵ either directly or affiliated through membership with a MA that registers players and coaches and delivers soccer programming. The status of the organization as either not-for-profit or private is not relevant to the eligibility for inclusion in the Club Licensing Program, which is open to traditional not-for-profit soccer clubs, private academies, and any other soccer organization in membership.

The ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program is designed to guide member organizations throughout the country toward best principles for organizational development both on and off the field. 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.

The principles of the ߣߣƵ 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 ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program Principles are as follows:

Prioritize Fun

Creating an enjoyable environment ensures players develop a lasting love for the game

Emphasize Physical, Mental, and Emotional Safety

The well-being of every participant, in all its forms, comes before everything else

Provide Developmentally-Appropriate, High Quality Programs

Every participant deserves structured, high quality programming tailored to their age and stage of development

Maximize Attraction, Holistic Personal Development, Progression, and Long-Term Engagement

Great clubs develop great people, fostering lifelong relationships with the game through clear pathways and whole-person growth

Focus on Participant-Centred Decision Making

Every decision a club makes is guided by one question: what is best for the participant?

Foster Accessible, Inclusive, and Welcoming Environments

Soccer belongs to everyone, and clubs are committed to removing barriers and ensuring every person feels valued

Act as a Good Corporate and Community Citizen

Clubs are pillars of their communities, operating with integrity and upholding the values of Canadian soccer on and off the field

Elements of the program

To achieve the goals and align to the principles, the Club Licensing Program requires a broader scope than simply classifying organizations into different categories. Beyond classification, which is a traditional staple of licensing and charter programs, the ߣߣƵ Club Licensing Program also includes elements of development and appraisal, which will be described in greater detail in the resources below.

Program Goals

The primary goals of the ߣߣƵ 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

Drive change in the soccer system