Grassroots
INTRODUCTION TO GRASSROOTS SOCCER
Beginning in 2026, all sanctioned soccer in Canada will follow Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Standards, which emphasize inclusive, developmentally appropriate environments. Key changes include eliminating tryouts, introducing open registration, rotating training groups, and replacing traditional leagues with festival-style match days.
Moving forward, programs for players aged 8 to 10 will be delivered through the standardized Grassroots Program model. This model will combine the “developmental” and “recreational” streams within these age groups. The program will expand to include U11 in 2027 and U12 and U13 progressively in the following years.
Within WRSA, this will apply to all soccer providers, including:
· BYSA – Brandon Youth Soccer Association
· BUFC – Brandon United Football Cooperative
· MYSA – Minnedosa Youth Soccer Association
· RYSA – Rivers Youth Soccer Association
· SUSA – Southwest United Soccer Association
· PSA – Parkland Soccer Academy
· SVYS – Swan Valley Youth Soccer
The Grassroots Program is a child-centered, development-focused approach to delivering soccer. It ensures every young player receives quality coaching, fair playing time, and fun, meaningful experiences—helping them build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of the game.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the Grassroots Program?
A: The reimagined Grassroots Standards and Grassroots Programming are Canada Soccer’s updated, nationwide approach to soccer for children up to U13. The program focuses on creating a fun, safe, and age-appropriate environment where children can learn, play, and stay involved in the sport for as long as possible. Canada Soccer redesigned this program to give all young players—regardless of ability—access to quality coaching, appropriate training, meaningful games, and positive experiences. The goal is simple: to enable more children to play, learn, and love soccer in the best environment possible.
To support this, Canada Soccer introduced Grassroots Standards based on key principles, including:
· Programs and games should fit the child’s age and stage of development.
· Children should get plenty of playing time and not spend long hours travelling.
· Coaches should be properly trained to support young players.
· Talent selection should happen later, so all children have time to grow.
· The focus should be on fun and development—not on scores or standings.
Q: How does it work in Manitoba?
A: The Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA) and the Westman Regional Soccer Association (WRSA) are working together to bring these national standards into local communities. This includes coach training, community outreach, and support for clubs as they adjust to the new model. Manitoba will roll out the Grassroots Program in phases, beginning in 2026 with U8, U9, and U10. U11 will join the program in 2027. Programs will run with set training days and match days. Clubs will use station-based training and flexible, weekly match-day rosters to help players learn, grow, and enjoy the game.
Families can choose Grassroots Level 1, which includes one practice per week plus a game day, and, where available, Grassroots Level 2, which includes two practices per week plus a game day. Grassroots Level 2 may not be available in all areas or for all programs. All players train and play within the same pool; the levels only determine training frequency.
Q: What are the new changes to Grassroots soccer in Manitoba?
A: Manitoba Soccer is aligning its grassroots programming with Canada Soccer’s national standards, which emphasize inclusive, developmentally appropriate environments for players aged 8–13. Key changes include eliminating tryouts, introducing open registration, rotating training groups, and replacing traditional leagues with festival-style events.
Q: Who does this affect?
A: All MSA member youth clubs delivering U8–U13 programming will be required to follow this model. MSA will support clubs through training, audits, and resources.
Q: Why is Manitoba Soccer changing its Grassroots model? Why now?
A: These changes are not arbitrary—they are part of a national alignment initiative with Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Standards, which must be implemented by 2026. The current model has shown systemic inefficiencies in how young players are grouped, trained, and supported. The new model is designed to better serve all players, not just early bloomers or those with prior access to experienced coaching.
Q: What’s wrong with the current Grassroots system?
A: While many clubs work hard, the existing model has several challenges that can limit player development:
· Inexperienced coaches are often placed with teams of mixed-ability players without adequate mentorship or structure.
· Coaches are frequently left to manage small groups of five or six players alone when attendance is low.
· Training quality and consistency can vary significantly between teams.
· The current game structure can still prioritize results and fixed team identity, which may limit broader development.
Q: How does the new model address these issues?
A: The new training model requires each club to deliver training through a technical team. Novice coaches still participate, but in mentored roles where they are responsible for repeating one activity throughout the session. This helps increase their confidence and skill while ensuring they are supported by lead staff.
Q: Why are these changes important?
A: They foster inclusive, player-first environments, reduce early selection pressure, improve coaching consistency, and align Manitoba with national player-development standards.
Q: Why is Grassroots soccer a good thing?
A: Grassroots soccer puts the child’s enjoyment and development at the centre of the game. With age-appropriate training, fair playing time, and qualified coaches, the program creates a fun, safe, and supportive environment where children can learn, grow, and build confidence. By focusing on skills and experiences rather than scores or standings, children can develop at their own pace without the pressure of early selection or competition. This reimagined approach also helps keep soccer family-friendly and accessible, with less travel, clearer program structure, and more meaningful opportunities for players of all backgrounds and abilities.
Q: What is the difference between developmental and Grassroots programming now?
A: The primary goal of Grassroots Programming is to keep more young players involved in soccer for longer by providing an enjoyable experience through access to high-quality training and meaningful competition based on interest rather than ability. Clubs are encouraged to offer programming based on training frequency. Families who wish to participate more recreationally can do so regardless of ability level while still receiving quality programming.
Q: Does the new Grassroots program separate players based on competition levels?
A: The new Grassroots approach does not differentiate between various streams of competition. Within Grassroots soccer, the training program should be considered separately from the level of competition in which a player participates. For example, a player training three days a week may not necessarily compete regularly at the highest level of competition. Conversely, involvement in a one-day-per-week training environment does not prevent a talented player from competing at the highest level, as could occur under the traditional separation of developmental and recreational programming.
With the new approach, players are placed into player pools or training groups rather than static teams. While player pools may be divided further for activities and small-sided games within a training environment, these groups are fluid and should change frequently to provide a variety of learning experiences for young players.
Q: Is this just a move away from competition? Will children still play games?
A: Players will absolutely continue to compete—the format is simply evolving. Instead of traditional weekly league play, competition will take place through festival-style events. These events still feature structured games, with each team typically playing at least two matches. Alternatively, clubs can host internal game days on a weekly basis if that is more appropriate for their program. The competitive experience remains central; it is simply delivered in a way that emphasizes development, variety, and inclusion over standings or fixed team outcomes.
Q: Why remove tryouts and permanent rosters?
A: Fixed teams can create early barriers to development and introduce bias. The new model promotes fluid grouping based on effort, engagement, and growth rather than exclusionary selection.
Q: Why are there no more teams?
A: Moving away from a team-based approach and toward player pools with open rosters can support more meaningful competition, including fewer one-sided results. It also provides players with a wider range of experiences—sometimes being a stronger player within a group and, at other times, playing alongside players who are more advanced at that moment. This approach also separates team formation from the training program in which a player participates.
Q: What are open rosters?
A: An Open Roster System allows players to move between teams on an ongoing basis rather than using traditional fixed rosters, where a group of players is placed on a team at the beginning of the season with limited or no opportunity for movement. In addition to exposing children to a variety of experiences—including being a leader and a follower, playing with friends, and meeting new teammates—open rosters can also better facilitate meaningful competition between teams, which is important for player development.
Q: How will players be grouped if there are no tryouts or permanent rosters?
A: Players will be placed into fluid groupings that change from week to week based on growth, engagement, and effort. This model supports player development without the pressure of fixed rankings.
Q: Is this change mandatory?
A: Yes. The rollout will be phased in to allow for smooth adaptation:
· 2026: U8–U10
· 2027: U11 will be included
· 2028 and beyond: U12 and U13 will be included
Q: Is there a way for organizations to opt out of the new Grassroots programming?
A: Member Organizations will be required to participate in the Grassroots Program as an obligation of membership. There will not be an opt-out option for soccer providers.
Q: What is station-based training?
A: Station-based training is a format in which players rotate through small-group stations focused on specific skills. It helps ensure higher engagement and more touches on the ball.
Q: What are rotating training groups?
A: Rotating groups mean players consistently train with different teammates and coaches to ensure broad exposure, reduce bias, and support well-rounded growth.
Q: How will the Grassroots calendar be structured to align with existing recreational programming timelines?
A: Programming will be delivered in seasonal blocks, potentially totaling 30 weeks per year, split into four blocks of approximately 8–12 weeks from March to January. Families can register for one, two, or all blocks.
The Grassroots Calendar has been split into four blocks (approximately, depending on the program) as follows:
· Block 1: April to June
· Block 2: August to September / early October
· Block 3: Mid-October to mid-December
· Block 4: January to early March
The blocks have been created to ensure consistency with existing programming.
Q: What options are available in the winter months when space is limited?
A: Clubs may offer futsal-style play, scaled-down indoor station training based on space availability, or outdoor festivals where weather permits.
Q: Why is there no more league play?
A: League play is no longer offered because it does not align with Canada Soccer’s model for meaningful and developmentally appropriate competition in the Grassroots age groups. Traditional leagues—with fixed standings, uneven matchups, and a focus on winning—can lead to games that are predictable or one-sided, which does not support player development.
Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Standards require clubs to create competition formats that prioritize balanced games, flexible grouping, and age-appropriate rules, field sizes, and game durations. These standards help ensure that young players are matched with others of similar ability so they stay engaged, motivated, and confident.
Starting in the 2026 playing season, all member organizations in Canada must follow these standards, which replace traditional league play with competition formats designed to provide meaningful, development-focused experiences for all players.
Q: How do teams work on match days?
A: Teams are formed on match days using the pool of players who are available that day.
Q: What is a festival-style match day, and how does the match-day format work?
A: A festival-style match day follows the required Match Day Format for Grassroots programs, where multiple teams gather at a single venue to play rather than using a traditional home-and-away league format. Teams may play one or two matches, and there are no placement or elimination games. Match days rotate throughout the season, with some hosted locally by each organization and others hosted by WRSA. This festival-style approach emphasizes fun, development, and community by having divisions play in a unified, energetic environment.
Q: Were Grassroots coaches consulted before these changes were made?
A: The structure of this model reflects years of learning from within our local soccer community, as well as nationwide trends, continental standards, and global best practices in youth development. While not every Grassroots coach was formally surveyed, the design builds on what many coaches in Manitoba already do well—shared sessions, skill-focused instruction, and creating fun, inclusive environments for players of all abilities.
These enhancements align with Canada Soccer’s national standards, which draw from global leaders in Grassroots programming. The model is built around methods that have consistently delivered stronger player retention, better coach support, and more positive sport experiences in countries where long-term development is prioritized over early selection.
This is not simply a top-down approach; it is a scalable framework that continues to evolve with input from the people delivering it—local technical leads, coach developers, and mentors who work directly with players and volunteer coaches. In many ways, the new system formalizes and scales what effective coaches are already doing, providing them with the structure and support to go even further.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about Recreational or Developmental—it’s simply about soccer.
Q: Who will manage games if referees are not used in the younger age groups?
A: Games at the Grassroots level will follow a festival-style format and be facilitated by Game Leaders scheduled by the host club. One or two Game Leaders will help manage each match with the active support of both team coaches.
The Game Leader’s role is to:
· Create a fun and rewarding experience for children competing in small-sided games.
· Ensure player safety.
· Apply simplified rules appropriate for the age group.
· Keep the game moving by limiting unnecessary stoppages.
· Assist young players with restarts and help them understand how to continue play.
Referees will not be used for the younger age groups. The focus at this stage is on development, enjoyment, participation, and learning rather than formal officiating.
