What technical and sporting standards must a licensed club meet?

Question

Accepted Answer

From the National Youth Club Licence standards (25 June 2025), a club must:

Club pathway: submit a pathway aligned to the provincial/territorial and national player pathways, giving access to grassroots, community, competitive and development/performance streams and to the Soccer for Life stage (senior and masters), plus a player management pathway.
Technical plan: submit program descriptions aligned to Long Term Player Development, a yearly training plan for every stage, age group and team, a playing philosophy and training methodology or curriculum, a game model, and a coach recruitment, retention, development and recognition strategy (including targeting women in coaching and moving players into coaching roles). The plan must align to the Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards (required by 2026).
Sport science and medicine plan: a physical training plan with stage-appropriate testing, injury prevention, assessment, treatment and return to play protocols, and an anti-doping and healthy lifestyle policy and education program.
Technology: make match video available to coaches and players, and have video analysis capabilities.
Grassroots program: offer at least 3 sessions per week open to any player, allow open rosters in U9-U13 competitions, have two Grassroots Program lead coaches (boys and girls) who are Children's Diploma/Licence certified (one present at every session), and complete a desk audit and announced and unannounced site visits.
Competition and futsal: take part in the Canada Soccer Player Development Program or another competitive environment recognized by Canada Soccer, and provide futsal programming.
Technical lead: hold current certification including the Grassroots Workshops, Making Ethical Decisions, Respect in Sport Activity Leader, Safe Sport Roster, a Concacaf B Diploma/B Licence/Youth Licence, and the Children's Diploma (and the Canada Soccer Technical Director Diploma in 2028).
Goalkeeping and support: have a goalkeeper coach (with the Canada Soccer Goalkeeping Workshop) and goalkeeper training, and access to an integrated support team, a qualified physical training provider, and medical staff including at least one doctor and one physiotherapist or athletic therapist.

Source: Canada Soccer National Youth Club Licence standards (25 June 2025), criteria 33 to 78.