CONCACAF Free Kick Issue #11

CLUB AMERICA WINS SCOTIABANK CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLEApril 29 – Montreal

Dario Benedetto scored a hat-trick to help Club America to a 4-2 victory over Impact de Montreal in the second leg of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League final and win the title 5-3 on aggregate. Oribe Peralta also scored for the Aguilas, who won their first SCCL title and tied fellow Mexico City-side Cruz Azul atop the continental ranks with their sixth overall CONCACAF club championship. Andres Romero netted early for Montreal, playing the second leg before a home crowd of more than 61,004 at the Stade Olympique. Jack McInerney added a consolation goal late for the Canadian side, and Ignacio Piatti had two assists. Benedetto and Peralta finished as the competition’s joint-top scorers with seven

goals each. Romero’s eighth minute goal gave Montreal the halftime lead, but Benedetto equalized with the first goal of his evening just five minutes into the second half. America then scored twice in two minutes to take a commanding lead. In the 64th minute, Quintero reached Rubens Sambueza’s cross and headed it back across the goal, where Peralta nodded it in from close range.

Then in a 66th-minute counterattack, Benedetto extended his leg to knock in Miguel Samudio’s curling cross to make it 3-1 for the visitors. Benedetto added his third on a strike into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 81st minute. McInerney pulled Montreal within 4-2 on the night in the 88th minute after taking Piatti’s pass and driving a low finish beyond goalkeeper Moises Munoz.

With its triumph in the Finals, Club America has now earned the right to represent CONCACAF at the FIFA World Club,

to be played this December in Japan.

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APR/MAY2015

CONCACAF.com

SCOTIABANK CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15 NEW RECORDS

• The 2014/15 edition of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League – with Club America defeating Impact de Montreal, 5-3 on aggregate in the final – was highlighted by record-breaking attendances in both the group and the championship stages.

• The championship rounds saw total attendance increase to 393,216 fans attending 14 matches, averaging more than 28,000 per game.

• Impact de Montreal established this evening its own Canadian attendance record with a sellout crowd at Olympic Stadium of 61,004 fans. The first leg of the Finals at Azteca Stadium was attended by 56,783 fans, summing to a total of 117,787 for the two-leg final.

• In group play, attendance also demonstrated a similar spike of more than 50% compared to the 2013/14 edition, establishing a new tournament high at 369,006 total attendees.

• The single game attendance record was broken as well, with Club America

establishing a new one-game mark when 66,208 fans turned out for the club’s semifinal match at Azteca Stadium against Costa Rican side Herediano.

• Television ratings have also been on the rise this season. The first leg of the Finals in Mexico averaged 1,763,000 viewers across three networks in the United States: UniMas, UDN and Fox Sports 2. On the pitch, average goals per game increased to 3.48.

AWARDSCLUB AMERICA Dario Benedetto and Oribe Peralta - Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) Golden Boot award. Each finished the 2014/15 edition with seven goals.

TOP SCORERS BY YEAR2008/09: Javier Orozco, Cruz Azul (7 goals)2009/10: Ulises Mendivil, Pachuca (9)2010/11: Javier Orozco, Cruz Azul (11)2011/12: Oribe Peralta, Santos & Humberto

Suazo, Monterrey (7)2012/13: Nicolas Muñoz, Isidro Metapan &

Carlos Darwin Quintero, Santos (6)2013/14: Raul Nava, Toluca (7)

Club America’s Martin Zuñiga - Inaugural Scotiabank Bright Future Award, as the 2014/15 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League’s best young player. In seven games, Zuñiga scored five goals, including three in a 10-0 win at Puerto Rico Bayamon FC on September 17, 2014.

Impact de Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush - Golden Glove winner. Bush is the first American to win an end-of-season SCCL honor.

GOLDEN GLOVE WINNERS2008/09 - 2011/12: not awarded2012/13 Oswaldo Sanchez, Santos2013/14 Alfredo Talavera, Toluca2014/15 Evan Bush, Impact de Montreal

2015 APRIL / MAY2

DRAW PRODUCES INTRIGUING MATCHES FOR 2015/16 SCOTIABANK CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGEJune 1 - Miami

CONCACAF conducted the draw for the 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL), sorting the 24 participating clubs into eight groups of three for the eighth edition of the continental championship in its current format. Reigning Champion Club America of

Mexico, headlines Group E. Finalists in 2011, Real Salt Lake open their third appearance in the CCL in Group G. Winners of Mexico’s Clausura competition Santos Laguna, was drawn in Group A. Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago headline

Group D. CS Herediano, champion of the Costa Rican Summer Tournament and a semi-finalist in the 2014/15 edition of the Champions League, will compete in Group B.

THE GROUPS FOR THE 2015/16 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, IN ORDER OF POSITION DRAWN, ARE AS FOLLOWS:

GROUP A: W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago)Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica)Santos Laguna (Mexico)

GROUP B: Isidro Metapán (El Salvador)CS Herediano (Costa Rica)Tigres (Mexico)

GROUP C:Verdes FC (Belize)San Francisco FC (Panama)Queretaro FC (Mexico)

Group D: Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago)CSD Comunicaciones (Guatemala)LA Galaxy (USA)

GROUP E: CD Walter Ferretti (Nicaragua)CD Motagua (Honduras)Club America (Mexico)

GROUP F:Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Canada)CD Olimpia (Honduras)Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

GROUP G:Santa Tecla FC (El Salvador)CSD Municipal (Guatemala)Real Salt Lake (USA)

GROUP H:Montego Bay United (Jamaica)Arabe Unido (Panama)D.C. United (USA)

The full schedule for the group stage will be announced in the coming weeks.

FORMATThe groups will be contested on a round-robin, home-and-away, four-game format, running August – October. Only the eight first-place teams will progress to the quarterfinals, which will kick-off in early 2016.

Please visit www.GoldCup.org to obtain tickets.

DELTA JOINS CONCACAF AS OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF 2015 GOLD CUPMay 21 – Miami

Agreement Names Delta as Tournament’s Official Carrier throughout U.S., Mexico and Latin America Delta joins CONCACAF as a first-time sponsor of the Gold Cup – the preeminent national team tournament of the North, Central America and Caribbean region. Delta has a well-established history of supporting soccer events in North America, including current backing for Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders FC, as well as support for England Premier League club Chelsea F.C “We’re delighted to sponsor the CONCACAF Gold Cup because of its reach – an audience of millions throughout Delta’s network in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean. “Delta wants to be the best U.S. airline in the region and partnering with CONCACAF allows us to play an even bigger part in the communities we serve by supporting one of their greatest passions.”

SPRINT RENEWS CONCACAF GOLD CUP SPONSORSHIP FOR 2015 EDITION AS OFFICIAL U.S. WIRELESS PROVIDERMay 19- Miami

Sprint, a leading national wireless provider and telecommunications company, will once again sponsor the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015. With the agreement, Sprint continues a long-term association with the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Including the 2015 Gold Cup, the company has now sponsored five consecutive editions of the tournament dating back to 2007. The U.S.-based telecommunications company signs on as the exclusive Official Sponsor of Gold Cup 2015 in the United States telecommunications and wireless sector, and the Official Wireless Provider of Gold Cup.

2015 GOLD CUP FAST FACTS

• The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup will be played from July 7-26, including 12 teams from the region – in alphabetical order: Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.

• The Gold Cup will take place in 13 cities across the United States and Canada. Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Toronto will all host group stage double-headers. Baltimore and New York/New Jersey will host the quarterfinals, while Atlanta will play host to the semifinals on July 22. Philadelphia will be the site of the third-place match on July 25, as well as the Final on Sunday, July 26.

• Taking place every two years, the Gold Cup has established itself as the region’s most popular national team tournament, routinely drawing capacity crowds and millions of viewers across the region. The Gold Cup has been played 12 times since the inaugural edition in 1991.

2015 GOLD CUP SCHEDULE (ET)

JULY 7, 2015 Toyota Stadium (Dallas, TX)5:00 PM Panama vs. Haiti

(FOX Sports 2/UDN)7:30 PM USA vs. Honduras

(FOX Sports 1/UniMas)

JULY 8, 2015 StubHub Center (Los Angeles, CA)8:00 PM Costa Rica vs. Jamaica

(FOX Sports 2/UniMas)10:30 PM El Salvador vs. Canada


JULY 9, 2015 Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)7:00 PM Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guatemala

(FOX Sports 2/UDN)9:30 PM Mexico vs. Cuba


JULY 10, 2015 Gillette Stadium (Boston, MA)6:00 PM Honduras vs. Panama

(FOX Sports 2/UniMas)8:30 PM USA vs. Haiti


JULY 11, 2015 BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, TX)6:30 PM Jamaica vs. Canada

(FOX Sports 2/Univision)9:00 PM Costa Rica vs. El Salvador

(FOX Sports 2/Univision)

JULY 12, 2015 University of Phoenix Stadium (Phoenix, AZ)6:30 PM Trinidad and Tobago vs. Cuba

(FOX Sports 2/Univision)9:00 PM Guatemala vs. Mexico


JULY 13, 2015 Sporting Park (Kansas City, MO)7:00 PM Haiti vs. Honduras

(FOX Sports 1/UDN)9:30 PM Panama vs. United States


JULY 14, 2015 BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)6:00 PM Jamaica vs. El Salvador

(FOX Sports 1/UniMas)8:30 PM Canada vs. Costa Rica


JULY 15, 2015 Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)6:00 PM Cuba vs. Guatemala

(FOX Sports 2/UniMas)8:30 PM Mexico vs. Trinidad and Tobago


JULY 18, 2015 M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)5:00 PM & 8:00 PM1A vs. 3B/C* (FOX/Univision)2A vs. 1B* (FOX Sports 2/Univision)

JULY 19, 2015 Met Life Stadium (New York, NY)4:30 PM & 7:30 PM1C-3A/B* (FOX Sports 1/Univision)2C-2B* (FOX Sports 1/Univision)

JULY 22, 2015 Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)6:00 PM SF 1* (FOX Sports 1/UniMas)9:00 PM SF 2* (FOX Sports 2/UniMas)

JULY 25, 2015PPL Park (Philadelphia, PA)4:00 PM 3rd Place (FOX Sports 2/Univision)

JULY 26, 2015 Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)7:30 PM CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL


GROUP A:USAPanamHaitiHonduras

GROUP B: Costa RicaEl SalvadorCanadaJamaica

GROUP C:MéxicoGuatemalaTrinidad & TobagoCuba

CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

OCTOBER 1 GROUP A, MD 1Sporting Park, Kansas City, KS

OCTOBER 2 GROUP B, MD 1StubHub Center, Carson, CA

OCTOBER 3 GROUP A, MD 2Sporting Park, Kansas City, KS

OCTOBER 4 GROUP B, MD 2StubHub Center, Carson, CA

OCTOBER 6 GROUP A, MD 3Dick’s Sorting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

OCTOBER 7 GROUP B, MD 3Dick’s Sorting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

OCTOBER 10 SEMIFINALSRio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT

OCTOBER 13 3RD PLACE & FINALRio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT

HOST CITIES NAMED FOR CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING CHAMPIONSHIP USA 2015May 14 - Miami

CONCACAF revealed the four U.S. cities which will host the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship 2015, scheduled for October 1-13 of this year. Denver, Kansas City and Los Angeles will serve as hosts for group stage matches, while Salt Lake City will be the site of the decisive semifinals, as well as the Final and Third-Place Match on October 13. Eight qualified nations will be divided into two groups of four for the Championship. Tournament host United States will be seeded in Group A, which kicks off at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas on October 1. Defending CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Mexico will head Group B, set to begin play the next day at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Host USA, along with North American automatic qualifiers Canada and Mexico, will be joined by three nations from the Central

America and two from the Caribbean, with qualifiers in those regions scheduled to be played in August. Kansas City and Los Angeles will also stage the second round of group matches on October 3 and 4, while Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado hosts all eight qualified teams for group stage Match Day 3 on October 6 and 7. The top two finishers in each group after round-robin play advance to the semifinals. The two finalists qualify directly to the Olympic Football Tournament Rio de Janeiro 2016, with the winner of the third place match earning the right to face South American Olympic qualifying runner-up Colombia in a playoff for an additional spot. The draw for the tournament is scheduled for mid-August, and will set the complete tournament schedule and kick-off times. Ticket information will also be made available at a later date.

Rio Tinto Stadium, Utah

2015 APRIL / MAY6

ON THE FIELD

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Canada, Mexico and the United States are automatically qualified from North America, while the qualifying processes in CFU and UNCAF will take place in coming months. As host country, Grenada is automatically qualified as one of the three representatives of CFU.

• The date of the official draw for the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship Grenada 2016 will be announced later this year.

• Teams: 8

Caribbean Football Union (3)

Central American Football Union (2)

North America (3)

• Number of teams to qualify for the World Cup: 3

• FORMAT: Eight (8) Participating Member Associations are divided into two (2) groups (A, B) of four (4) teams each for the group stage. After the group stage, the winner and second-place team from each group will qualify to the semifinals. The winner of each semifinal match advances to the final, and also directly to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The two losing semifinalists will reach the third-place match, from which the winner will earn the third and final CONCACAF spot in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.

• After the group stage, the winner and second-place team from each group will qualify to the semi –finals. The winner of each semifinal match advances to the final, and also directly to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016. The two losing semifinalists will reach the third-place match, from which the winner will also advance to the World Cup.

• Mexico is the defending champion of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, having won the title in Jamaica in November 2013.

GRENADA NAMED HOST FOR CONCACAF UNDER-17 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2016May 14 – Miami

CONCACAF announced that Grenada will host the 2016 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, which has been scheduled for March of next year. The Caribbean island nation is the site for the Under-17 Women’s Championship Grenada 2016, to be played from March 3-13, 2016. The tournament will crown the Confederation’s champion at this level, and qualify three teams to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be played in Jordan next September.

“Grenada is definitely supportive of CONCACAF and the promotion and development of women’s football in the region.

We are excited and grateful for this tremendous opportunity to host a women’s final and will work closely with the GFA to be a great host.”

- Grenada Minister of Sport Emmelin Pierre

“The decision of the CONCACAF Executive Committee to award Grenada such a prestigious tournament is a major milestone, and we appreciate the confidence shown in our association. The staging of such an event will require all stakeholders to work together to make the event a major success. This is the first time that Grenada will be hosting a tournament of this magnitude, and

we are very thankful for this opportunity. Grenada stands ready to host the best of the federations’ under-17 girls and we do hope to make their time here a very memorable one.”

- Grenada Football Association President Cheney Joseph

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WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

HONDURAS TO HOST CONCACAF UNDER-20 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2015May 7 – Miami

CONCACAF announced that Honduras will host the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, scheduled for December. San Pedro Sula is the site for the Under-20 Women’s Championship Honduras 2015, to be played from December 3- 13. The tournament will crown the Confederation’s champion at this level, and qualify three teams to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to be played in Papua New Guinea in 2016. The Under-20 Women’s Championship Honduras 2015 will include eight teams,

three from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), two from the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) and three from North America. Canada, Mexico and the United States are automatically qualified from North America, while the qualifying processes in CFU and UNCAF will take place in coming months. As host country, Honduras is automatically qualified as one of the two representatives of UNCAF. The date of the official draw for the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Honduras 2015 will be announced in the coming weeks. The eight

teams will be divided in two groups of four. After the group stage, the winner and second place team from each group will qualify to the semi-finals. The winner of each semifinal match advances to the final, and also directly to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The two losing semifinalists will reach the third-place match, from which the winner will also advance to the World Cup. United States is the defending champion of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, having won the title in the Cayman Islands in January 2014.

CONCACAF UNDER-20 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP HONDURAS 2015DATE: December 3-13, 2015SITE: San Pedro Sula, HondurasTEAMS: Caribbean Football Union (3) Central American Football Union (2) North America (3)

NUMBER OF TEAMS TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP: 3

FORMAT

Eight (8) participating Member Associations are divided into two (2) groups (A, B) of four (4) teams each for the group stage.

After the group stage, the winner and second place team from each group will qualify to the semi-finals.

The winner of each semifinal match advances to the final, and also directly to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The two losing semifinalists will reach the third-place match, from which the winner will earn CONCACAF’s final spot in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016.

2015 APRIL / MAY8

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

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MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS EMBRACE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DAYMay 23 - Miami

The CONCACAF region experienced a transformative day of women’s football on Saturday, May 23 through the confederation’s first Women’s Football Day. This inaugural event served as a platform for girls and women throughout CONCACAF to share their stories and participate in the world’s most beloved sport. Throughout the day, participants and organizers took to online and social media to post their photos, videos, memories and more using the event’s two hashtags - #WFD and #CONCACAFWFD – capturing the unforgettable moments of the event and ensuring that Women’s Football Day was

promoted and celebrated not only in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, but also throughout the entire world. With a record number of girls and women participating in festivals, tournaments, skills challenges, forums, and more, Saturday, May 23 has been solidified as the most impactful and widespread women’s football development initiative to take place in the CONCACAF region to date. Participating Member Associations included: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao,

Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands, USA.

“CONCACAF is thrilled to see the investment and dedication by our Member Associations for this day of celebration for women’s football”

- CONCACAF Executive Committee Member Sonia Bien-Aime

“I warmly congratulate CONCACAF and its member associations for establishing Women’s Football Day and organizing activities on this day. The one thing that I know helps to

fight gender stereotypes and reaffirm girls, is success in sports. We need to harness the exceptional capacity that sports has to educate and to change attitudes. Through engaging in sports and living its values, women and girls can develop leadership skills, overcome bias,

improve their health and become empowered.” - Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director at UN Women, United Nations entity for gender equality

USA Puerto Rico

Barbados

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES

• CONCACAF is the leading Confederation for participation in women’s football with nearly three million registered female players. In 2014, the Confederation conducted the first-ever Under-15 tournament for girls in the Cayman Islands.

• CONCACAF also hosted FIFA women’s tournaments for youth players – the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups in Costa Rica and Canada, respectively.

• There are currently 30 women’s football leagues at the national association level, including three futsal and three beach soccer leagues. In total, there are 25 youth leagues (U13, U15 and U17), which demonstrate the current focus on women’s youth development, as well as the potential for further growth.

2015 APRIL / MAY10

GIRLS’ GRASSROOTS PROGRAM CONCLUDES IN ANTIGUAApril 14 – Antigua & Barbuda

As part of a pilot project designed to advance women’s football in Antigua & Barbuda, the first-ever CONCACAF Girls’ 7v7 Grassroots Tournament concluded successfully at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG). The four-day program – led by the Confederation’s Development Division and instructor Heather Dyche, in partnership with the Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) – included a variety of events that engaged and encouraged approximately 300 participants. On Thursday and Friday, 25 coaches and administrators attended educational sessions, which covered the following topics:

• Empowering young girls through football• Strategies for coaching girls and women• Small-sided games• Pre-match, in-match, and post-match

coaching strategies and training session planning

• How to organize a grassroots tournament

“The first-ever CONCACAF Girls Grassroots Tournament in Antigua was a resounding success,” said Dyche. “The candidates that participated in the course did an excellent job of running the tournament, and we were pleased to be able to assist them in learning how to run an efficient event tailored towards coaching girls.

“All the players that participated had a wonderful experience thanks to the ABFA’s staff and coaches.” In conjunction with the activities, a Leeward Islands Women’s Football meeting was also conducted with representatives from the region in order to discuss ideas and opportunities for collaboration in women’s football. With the knowledge gained from this initial experience, CONCACAF will continue working to refine the program and looks forward to adding it to the portfolio of development courses offered to all Member Associations.

BARBADOS GROWS COMMITMENT TO WOMEN’S FOOTBALLApril 17 - Barbados

Women’s football in Barbados received a boost, when FIFA opened a Women’s Grassroots course at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium. The program, which ran

through April 18, was conducted by former Mexico international Andrea Rodebaugh for 31 participants (29 women and two men). The women’s grassroots curriculum is

geared towards the coaching of girls between from 6-12 years old and focuses on the fundamentals of football, including injury prevention, nutrition and physical fitness.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

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WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

GIRLS GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES HELD IN ST. KITTS & NEVISMay 4 – St. Kitts & Nevis

The fourth CONCACAF Girls Grassroots Course & Festival concluded at Warner Park Football Stadium. Through the three-day program, female coaches and administrators were supplied with the education and tools necessary to organize future festivals, while young girls were given an opportunity to experience football in a unique way. Activities commenced on April 30 with a two-day coaching course. In their remarks at the opening ceremony, St. Kitts & Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) President Anthony Johnson and General Secretary Stanley Jacobs each stressed that the course

was an important element in their efforts to grow women’s football in the country. Twenty-four engaged and motivated female participants were in attendance, possessing backgrounds ranging from coaching to administration to nursing. Instructor Heather Dyche led the sessions, which focused on CONCACAF’s grassroots philosophy and methodology, the role of the coach-educator, the benefits of small-sided games, empowering girls through football and organizing a grassroots festival. With their new found knowledge, the participants planned and implemented the first all-girls grassroots football festival in St.

Kitts. More than 75 girls – ranging in age from four- to 14-years-old – were in attendance, many receiving their first exposure to football. A combination of educational and fun exercises, as well as small-sided games, offered a positive morning of football. The CONCACAF Development Division and the SKNFA worked hand-in-hand to conduct the course and festival that undoubtedly increased the awareness and interest of women’s football. Additional festivals have already been scheduled in St. Kitts, with the coaches and administrators now fully equipped to conduct them successfully.

The CONCACAF Development Division and the SKNFA worked hand-in-hand to conduct the course and festival that undoubtedly

increased the awareness and interest of women’s football.

2015 APRIL / MAY12

CLUB LICENSING

CONCACAF BEYOND THE PITCH SERIES - EPISODE 1 RELEASED SEEKING TO SHOWCASE AND INSPIRE REGION’S LEAGUES AND CLUBSMay 26 – Miami

CONCACAF proudly presents the trailer and full documentary of Episode 1 of the new CONCACAF Beyond the Pitch video series. This initiative is part of the six development tools created by the Club Licensing Department in order to assist leagues and clubs throughout the Confederation. Episode 1 features Mexico’s top-flight league – LigaMX – and focuses on how it operates from an administrative perspective, providing our region’s stakeholders with an in-depth look at key performance indicators

and the organizational structure of one of the world’s best-run leagues. The full documentary, lasting just under 30 minutes, was released in mid-May and has already reached over 18,000 views. In the following months, CONCACAF will present Episodes 2 and 3 of the series, titled “The Countdown” and “Portland Timbers & Thorns.” Episode 2 will take our region through a journey behind the scenes of the operations of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions

League Game between Deportivo Saprissa and Club America played in February of 2015. Episode 3 will highlight a truly unique football club successfully operating a men’s and a women’s professional team in the top US leagues, MLS and NWSL.

At the following link you can find the full documentary:www.concacaf.com/video/concacaf-presents-episode-1-of-beyond-the-pitch-series-ligamx

13

CONCACAF CLUB LICENSING SEMINAR EDUCATES, MOTIVATES IN GRENADAMay 12 – Grenada

CONCACAF’s Club Licensing Department successfully conducted a three-day seminar this past weekend in Grenada. Held in partnership with the Grenada Football Association (GFA), the workshop was designed to educate federation, league and club stakeholders about the Club Licensing System, while providing the 40 participants with the tools and knowledge for effective implementation locally. After a productive first day of discussions with the GFA regarding the components and benefits of Club Licensing, the Opening Ceremony was conducted with federation officials and course participants in attendance. CONCACAF Club Licensing Manager Andres Portabella then presented the CONCACAF Club Licensing System, focusing specifically on the following crucial elements:

• Vision of the Club Licensing Project • Current Assessment of the Region and

Support Tools • Implementing Club Licensing Locally

and Regionally • Club Licensing Requirements for Clubs • Timeline for Implementation

This first session also highlighted the assistance being provided by CONCACAF to leagues and clubs in Grenada and around the region, including templates for Club Licensing documents, the Beyond the Pitch Series, Case Studies, the League and Club Guides, a Club Football Annual Report, and tailored Seminars on specific topics. Each of these development tools was well-received by participants, and interactive discussions took place regarding the current situation and future path for football clubs in the country. An innovative session was designed for the participants, as the football clubs’ representatives were given the opportunity to simulate the proper procedures and

protocols for executing a football match. After being assigned various roles and responsibilities, the attendees conducted a Match Coordination Meeting and then proceeded to follow all elements of “The Countdown” – CONCACAF’s operating procedures for all Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League matches. With the assistance of two local U15 boys’ teams in Grenada, the match was successfully planned and carried out. To complete the process, a set of online reports were provided to the GFA and participants in order to assist with the documentation of these matches moving forward. Through a combination of classroom and practical seminar sessions, the GFA is now fully prepared to implement the Club Licensing System in Grenada in 2016, and CONCACAF looks forward to continuing to assist the federation with this important initiative.

CLUB LICENSING

2015 APRIL / MAY14

HIGHLIGHTS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HOLDS STADIUM SAFETY COURSEMay 16 – Dominican Republic

The Federación Dominicana de Fútbol (FEDOFUTBOL) and the Liga Dominicana de Fútbol Banco Popular (LDF) – with the support of CONCACAF – kicked off a stadium safety course at the Project Goal facilities. The three-day program is designed to provide the instruction necessary to stage football matches in a secure environment, a central component of any effectively

managed event. In his address to the attendees, CONCACAF Director of Development Hugo Salcedo emphasized the importance of enhancing protective methods and

implementing preventive measures. He commended the leadership of the federation and the league for conducting the course, adding that the organizations can become working examples for the Caribbean region.

FIFA FUTURO III FOR FUTSAL COURSE IN PANAMAMay 8 – Panama

A six-day FIFA FUTURO III course for futsal and beach soccer referee instructors and physical trainers was held at the Hotel El Panama. More than 50 attendees from 12 CONCACAF-affiliated Member Associations participated in the program. Those countries

are: Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico. For the first time in eight years, the course includes representatives from both versions of the sport. Through classroom and field

sessions, physical and technical aspects of officiating will be shared. Additional items to be reviewed include, an examination of the rules, new teaching tools, testing protocols for physical evaluation, the use of electronics and first aid.

STADIUM SAFETY // FIFA 11 FOR HEALTH // FIFA FUTURO III FOR FUTSAL

FIFA 11 FOR HEALTH LAUNCHES IN THE CARIBBEANApril 24 – Puerto Rico

Seven pilot countries participated in a two-day FIFA 11 for Health workshop for the Caribbean, which concluded in Puerto Rico. The program promises to bring numerous benefits to the region by emphasizing the importance of national health to all Member Associations. The initial seminar was hosted by FIFA and attended by representatives of Member Associations, Governments and National

Project Leaders from the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. Key subject areas covered during the sessions included implementation strategy, training courses, project budget and responsibilities of the National Project Leader. In his opening remarks, Prof. Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer, explained the importance of collaboration in order to

maximize the program’s outcomes. “This project is designed to increase the level of physical activity and improve awareness of communicable and non-communicable diseases globally,” he said. “We are excited to launch FIFA 11 for Health in the Caribbean and involve another region to meet our objectives in this area, and we look forward to working with CONCACAF federations to implement the program.”

The FIFA 11 for Health messages vary based on region and the following have been developed for the Caribbean:

1. PLAY FOOTBALL

2. RESPECT GIRLS AND WOMEN

3. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HIV AND STDS

4. AVOID DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

5. CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT

6. WASH YOUR HANDS

7. DRINK CLEAN WATER

8. EAT A BALANCED DIET

9. GET VACCINATED

10. TAKE YOUR PRESCRIBED MEDICATION

11. FAIR PLAY

The next phase is for participating countries to implement FIFA 11 for Health into school curriculums, using football as a vehicle to promote healthy living from a young age, so that the advantages of a healthier and longer life can be realized.

“We are excited to launch FIFA 11 for Health in the Caribbean and involve another region to meet our objectives in this area, and we look

forward to working with CONCACAF federations to implement the program.” -Professor Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer

15

HIGHLIGHTS

INTEGRITY

CONCACAF/INTERPOL/FIFA INTEGRITY TRAINING COURSE HELD IN MIAMIApril 28 – Miami

CONCACAF’s continuing efforts to combat match manipulation received a boost, when a three-day “Train the “Trainer” workshop concluded in Miami. Representatives from CONCACAF, INTERPOL and FIFA conducted the program for 19 participants from eight countries, representing each of the Confederation’s three sub-regions. The attendees were provided with intensive instruction on methods to recognize approaches made by match-fixers, as well how to educate players, referees, coaches and officials on all facets of the issue. Additionally, CONCACAF’s rules/regulations and Code of Ethics were thoroughly reviewed. The Code of Ethics prohibits behavior that damages or could damage football’s integrity. It also obligates individuals to report possible match-manipulation incidents in order to protect themselves and to cooperate in any CONCACAF investigation. “Match-fixing is a known problem in international sport and the biggest threat to the integrity of football,” said Ralf Mutschke,

Director of Security at FIFA. “To tackle the global problem of match-fixing, a holistic approach is crucial to find sustainable solutions. The FIFA Security Division, in partnership with INTERPOL’s Integrity in Sport Unit developed a multifaceted program to build capacities to fight those manipulations. “Training the Trainer is an important multiplication initiative to address the increasing global threat of match-fixing and provide specific recommendations to key stakeholders. It is of utmost importance to have strong allies in that fight. FIFA highly values the cohesive support of CONCACAF to combat match-manipulation.” After passing the final training assessment, those taking part in the workshop will receive certification from INTERPOL and become CONCACAF Integrity Officers. Dr. Julie Norris, INTERPOL Head of the Interpol Sports Integrity Unit, said “I was excited to be in Miami with participants from over eight countries in the CONCACAF region. We appreciated the opportunity to train the attendees over the three days in

order to spread the message of integrity to all of our partners and protect the targets of criminals in the football family.’ As a component of CONCACAF’s expanding commitment in the battle against match–manipulation and as part of the broad prevention program, it will have an integrity officer assigned to each of the 12 teams participating in this summer’s Gold Cup. From an on-site vantage, the officers will be a constant monitoring presence, so that players are not approached by unauthorized parties.

BOOSTING NATIONAL EFFORTS AGAINST MATCH-FIXING FOCUS OF INTERPOL-FIFA MEETING IN CANADAMay 15 – Ottawa

Further enhancing Canada’s capacity to protect the integrity of sport and engage in international prevention efforts against match-fixing was the focus of a Partnership Development Meeting in Ottawa held under the auspices of INTERPOL and FIFA. Bringing together some 20 partners involved in the national prevention of match-fixing, the purpose of the meeting was to support stakeholders operate in a coordinated manner, especially at national level, to ensure a comprehensive and unified approach to both the prevention of match-fixing and responses to allegations of match-fixing.

INTERPOL’s Director of Capacity Building and Training, Dale Sheehan, said that no organization can tackle the problem of match-fixing alone. “Transnational organized crime can infiltrate key actors in the Canadian sport industry and make millions in illicit profits from match-fixing with little risk of being detected and will exploit every opportunity. By bringing together key partners, we are raising awareness and understanding of the problem and developing a strategy in order to protect the integrity of Canadian sport,” said Mr Sheehan. “Sports and fair play are the very fabric

of our society and youth, and the impact of match-fixing, including murder, suicide, assault and threats has the ability to undermine that very fabric,” he added. FIFA Director of Security Ralf Mutschke said: “Capacity building is vital to confront and combat the danger of match manipulation. FIFA and INTERPOL developed a multifaceted program to deepen the understanding, provide specific recommendations and enhance the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders to tackle the transnational threat. Strong allies are of utmost importance to strengthen good governance, investigations and prosecutions.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• The CONCACAF Integrity Officer Program was established in May 2014 and has been a great success. Through the end of 2014, CONCACAF has addressed awareness and education training at more than 45 events and workshops across the region, connecting in a direct way with more than 3,350 individuals.

For additional information visit www.concacaf.com

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Documents

CONCACAF Free Kick Issue #11