CSL 2009 Regular Season Ends This Week

The following games represent the final week of the regular season in the CSL – then playoffs begin the weekend September 25 – 27.

Wed Sept 16: Centennial Stadium 8 pm
Serbian White Eagles vs Italia Shooters

Both teams have made the playoffs, but it’s a big game for Serbian White Eagles, a prelude to their game with Toronto Croatia for the International Division title game on Sunday.

Wed Sept 16: Club Roma 8 pm
St Catharines Wolves vs Brampton Lions

The last regular season game at Club Roma – both teams will be back for the playoffs.

Fri Sept 18: Lamport Stadium 8 pm
Portugal FC vs London City

The last regular season game for both clubs – but Portugal FC will return in the playoffs.

Sat Sept 19: Esther Shiner Stadium 3 pm
North York Astros vs TFC Academy

Last game of the season for the Astros and the club has turned it into a special event – win a dinner for 4 and see the U-12 Girls play at half-time. It’s also the Rogers TV ‘Game of the Week’ taped delayed to 8 pm – TFC Academy will be back for the playoffs.

Sat Sept 19: Trois-Rivieres 4 pm
Trois-Rivieres Attak vs Brampton Lions

The last regular season game for both clubs – but the y’ll both be back in the playoffs.

Sun Sept 20: Maple 5 pm
Italia Shooters vs St Catharines Wolves

The last regular season game for both clubs – but the y’ll both be back in the playoffs.

Sun Sept 20: Lamport Stadium 8 pm
Serbian White Eagles vs Toronto Croatia

A big one – will decide the International Division title and both will be back for the playoffs.

Guide To CSL Playoffs 2009
Which teams qualify?
Of the 10 teams in the CSL, eight will qualify and they will be the top eight teams in the overall standings.

The overall standings are based on the league standings – total points from the 18-game regular season schedule for teams in the National and International divisions.

For teams tied on points, the tie breakers are:

(a) total wins in the regular season
(b) head to head record between the teams tied on points and total wins in the regular season,
(c) goal difference in regular season games,
(d) goals scored in regular season play.

What’s the playoff format?
Each of the eight qualifying teams will play two games (home and away) in the first round (quarter-finals) and the surviving teams will play two games in the second round (semi-finals). It’s a one game Championship Final.

When the eight-team overall standings are confirmed, it will be 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5.

Of the top eight teams in the overall standings, the top four will have the choice of playing their first game at home or away and, of course, the return match will be reversed.

This first choice for these top seeded four teams applies to both the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Are the games played for points only or is there a goals aggregate?
It’s points only. Goals don’t count once the game is over.

The first game of a home and away series will be 90 minutes, but the second game if tied on points over the two games after playing 90 minutes, will then play 2 x 15 minute overtime periods. If still tied, the team to advance will be decided on penalty kicks.

When are the games being played?
The regular season will conclude the weekend September 20 and the first round of the playoffs will be played Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 25, 26, 27 with the return games Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 2, 3, 4.

The first games in the semi-finals will be played during the weekend October 9 – 12 (Thanksgiving Day long weekend) and the return games in the semi-finals will be played October 16 – 18.

The Championship Final will be played on Saturday, October 24 at Lamport Stadium in Toronto.

What do we know now?
We know that as of the date of this bulletin Toronto Croatia, Serbian White Eagles, Trois-Rivieres Attak and Brampton Lions have secured a playoff berth.

We know that should they be one of the top seeded four teams, Toronto Croatia and Serbian White Eagles have elected to play their first playoff game at home. Trois-Rivieres Attak have elected to play their first game away and their second game at home.

How will we be kept up-to-date as we move along?
We have received an encouraging number of enquiries from the media about the CSL playoffs and we intend to send regular bulletins before the playoffs get underway and during the playoffs through to the championship game.

The CSL website will also be a good source of information.

Rogers TV have committed to carry the playoffs through to and including the CSL Championship Final on October 24.

CSL Searching For A Leader
The Canadian Soccer League search for a new commissioner is underway.

With solid footing on the path towards a vision laid down by the current commissioner, Cary Kaplan, the CSL is looking for a seasoned soccer enthusiast with the business skills and savvy required to build on the momentum.

Kaplan resigned recently to spend more time with his sports marketing company and will leave following the championship final game at the end of October.

The CSL is Canada’s only professional soccer league with a past that stretches back as the forerunner NSL to its first game between Toronto Ulster and Windsor Rovers on June 19, 1926 and which for many years held a pre-eminent position in the North American soccer community.

Today’s CSL seeks to establish the league as Canada’s second tier professional soccer, appealing to the increasing number of mid-sized communities which desire to have teams above the senior amateur level. About 50 per cent of its players sign professional contracts and many advance to higher levels in other parts of the world.

“This hiring is at an important juncture in the history of a league that has steadfastly remained Canadian and now expects to play a significant role in the much-needed further development of a professional soccer structure in Canada,” said CSL chairman Domenic Di Gironimo.

Job Posting – Position of Commissioner
The CSL seeks a Commissioner to head Canada’s only professional soccer league playing presently in Ontario and Quebec with plans for expansion to other parts of the country.

The successful candidate will lead an active and growing organization of presently 10 clubs with more than 300 professional and amateur players and approximately 150 team staff members and game officials.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, will lead a team to achieve the league’s immediate objectives and will pursue with energy a vision for eventual Canada-wide membership on a regional basis, while occupying second tier professional soccer in Canada’s fastest growing sport.

The successful candidate is expected to have a broad knowledge of the game, will have leadership qualities and a proven managerial or executive record in sport or business. A good knowledge of and appreciation for sound financial management is necessary.

Good organizational, communication and people skills are essential in this people-oriented environment.

Preference will be shown to candidates with strong marketing experience with good negotiating skills.

Possessing the skills to deal effectively with and to maintain a good working relationship with the sport’s governing bodies and leagues at various levels in the Canadian soccer community is an important asset.

The successful person will be required to reside in the GTA or in close proximity.

Applications to include a complete resume are invited and will be held in the strictest of confidence.

Regular mail or email is recommended, to be received by Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6 pm.

Mail to:
Domenic Di Gironimo, Chairman,
the Canadian Soccer League Inc,
1690 Bonhill Road,
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C8

Or email:
domenic@d2gsports.com