Forge FC announced Friday, that Sigma FC will be the clubs affiliate League1 side as part of the Canadian Premier League’s Downward Player Movement Pilot Project announced by the CPL today. As an affiliate club, Forge FC will be able to send down players from the club to Sigma FC to earn additional playing time in competitive matches.

“As a club committed to player development and success, we are thrilled to have Sigma FC as our affiliate League1 club as part of the CPL’s Downward Player Movement Pilot Project.” Said Bobby Smyrniotis, Forge FC Technical Director & Head Coach. “This project provides an opportunity for our players to gain valuable match experience and we are confident that Sigma FC will provide a competitive environment for our players to continue their development.”

The pilot project, approved by Canada Soccer, allows all eight of the CPL’s member clubs to affiliate with one team in either League1 Ontario, League1 BC, Ligue1 Québec, League1 Alberta Exhibition Series, Alberta Men’s Soccer League, USL League Two and the top men’s leagues in Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

CPL clubs may then move their professional players down to their designated affiliate club, to earn additional playing time in competitive matches. There is no upward movement from affiliate clubs to the CPL as part of the pilot project.

The pilot project is intended to improve player development within the Canadian soccer pyramid by ensuring CPL players have various opportunities to earn valuable match experience.

“It is common in professional soccer for the lion’s share of first-team minutes to be played by about two thirds of a team’s roster,” said Mark Noonan, Commissioner, Canadian Premier League. “By implementing this pilot project, we intend to maximize the benefits of the ever-improving pathway between amateur and professional men’s soccer in Canada, ensuring all our CPL players, especially those under the age of 23, get the consistent competitive game time that is critical to their growth, as well as the growth of the overall pool of players in our country.”

A comprehensive review of the project will be conducted following the conclusion of the 2023 CPL season to ensure it is making a positive impact on player development and competitiveness within sport and to determine whether it is a viable long-term solution that enables all rostered CPL player to log such important minutes.

There is no limit on the total number of players a CPL club can send to its affiliate per year. A maximum of two outfield players and one goalkeeper can be moved down to an affiliate club at any given time.

Players aged 23 or older may only appear in three games for an affiliate club per year, and only one player aged 23 or older can be moved down at any given time. There is no match limit for players under the age of 23. Minutes earned by under 21 CPL players in lower division play do not count toward the League’s under-21 minutes threshold.

CPL players on loan in the League are not eligible to play in a lower division. CPL players may not appear in any Canadian Championship games or any post-season games for their affiliate club.