Ontario Soccer is thrilled to announce the confirmed dates and host venue for the highly anticipated Player Development Program (PDP) Championship, following a recent announcement from Canada Soccer. The first-ever PDP Championship is set to unfold from August 13 to 18, 2024, at the Bill Gilhespy Soccer Complex in Edmonton, Alberta. 

Expressing gratitude to the Alberta Soccer Association and local venue partners for hosting this landmark event, Dave Nutt, the Interim Director of Development at Canada Soccer, highlighted Edmonton's impressive hosting history and noted that Bill Gilhespy Soccer Complex is poised to be an exceptional venue for this event. 

The PDP Championship, announced in December 2023, is being introduced to help showcase the quality of play in Canada’s standards-based programs and to strengthen the ties between these organizations. The current PDP network includes Alberta Youth Soccer League (AYSL), BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL), Ontario Player Development League (OPDL), and Première Ligue de Soccer Juvénile du Québec (PLSJQ). 

The PDP Championships will feature U15 and U17 Boys and Girls. Each participating Member Association will be allocated two spots per competition. The championship format will entail a two-pool round-robin with seeding crossover (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4) to determine placements. The competition will also feature match analysis, player identification, and scouting opportunities facilitated through the renowned Canada Soccer EXCEL program. 

More details regarding the PDP Championship schedule will be released in the coming months, according to Canada Soccer.