Article written by FSQ’s Director of Sport, Matt Young
The Canadian sport system is structured with National Sport Organizations (NSOs) at the helm, often receiving the lion’s share of funding and resources to access the expertise necessary for creating successful frameworks. However, the reality is that, despite substantial funding, meaningful impact is often lost if these resources do not effectively reach the grassroots level. This disconnect creates a bottleneck, leaving implementation to the discretion of provincial and local leaders, many of whom believe they possess superior resources and solutions.
The reality is stark: when those at the top consistently falter, it erodes trust and buy-in at every level below. The dysfunctions that plague teams, as outlined in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, are not just theoretical—they are very much alive in our sport system.
When trust is lacking, particularly among the most resourced and knowledgeable leaders, the system fragments. Instead of focusing on delivering real, impactful solutions, time and energy are wasted on posturing and internal politics.This lack of alignment at the top sends ripples through the entire structure, leading to disengagement and skepticism at the grassroots level. This not only causes further fragmentation but also undermines the potential for a unified, cohesive approach to sport development.
If we don’t address the failures at the top, we can’t expect those below to rally around a vision they no longer believe in. It’s time to face these dysfunctions head-on and rebuild trust from the ground up, ensuring that every level of our sport system is aligned and working toward a common goal.
For Canadian sport to thrive, it is essential that we address these systemic issues and foster greater collaboration and trust across all levels of the sport system ASAP. Here are five potential solutions:
- Centralized Communication Platform: Develop a unified digital platform that connects National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO’s) and Local Sport Organizations directly with players, parents officials, coaches and administrators. This platform would serve as a hub for distributing resources, sharing best practices, and fostering real-time communication across all levels of the sports system. By ensuring that everyone has access to the same information and tools, this approach can reduce misunderstandings and promote consistency in implementation.
- Incentivized Collaboration Programs: Create programs that incentivize collaboration between NSOs, PSO’s and LSO’s. These could include grants, recognition awards, or additional resources for those who demonstrate effective partnerships and successful implementation of national initiatives. By rewarding teamwork and shared success, this approach encourages a culture of trust and cooperation.
- Leadership Training and Development: Implement leadership development programs specifically designed for provincial and local sport leaders. These programs would focus on building skills in communication, trust-building, and collaborative problem-solving. By equipping leaders at all levels with the tools to work together more effectively, the overall system will function more cohesively.
- Direct Consumer Engagement Initiatives: NSOs should engage directly with players, parents, officials, coaches and administrators through targeted outreach initiatives. This could include webinars, workshops, and town halls where consumers can provide feedback, ask questions, and gain a clearer understanding of national strategies. By creating more touchpoints between the top levels of sport and the end consumers, trust and alignment can be improved.
- Flexible Implementation Frameworks: Develop adaptable implementation frameworks that allow for regional customization while maintaining core national standards. These frameworks would provide guidelines and resources that can be tailored to the unique needs of different provinces and local clubs. By balancing national consistency with local flexibility, this approach can help align efforts while respecting regional differences and expertise. It’s time to acknowledge what many can’t—or won’t
If we all agree on the importance and value of sport in our society, it’s time to cut through the bullshit, relinquish control and come together—both at the top and grassroots levels—and embody the very standards we expect from those participating in sports.
Our current sport system is not functioning effectively, nor is it serving the best interests of the players, parents, coaches, officials, or administrators who are THE END CONSUMERS. We’ve given group consensus a fair chance, but the results have been inconsistent and the numbers don’t lie. We’re failing. Now, decisive action is needed before sport’s continual amateur-hour-carousel deteriorates beyond repair.
This all begins with legitimate leadership that embodies integrity and fosters genuine collaboration. This isn’t just about maintaining existing structures; it’s about breaking down the silos that have caused fragmentation and inefficiency. The time for half-assed-measures is over—let’s commit to a new standard of excellence, that prioritizes the participants and let’s do this right now!