Grassroots soccer experts agree Canada needs to change how it develops female players

In the wake of Canada's crashout at the Women's World Cup, there is great consternation and soul searching among its supporters about what went wrong. How did a team that captured the country's heart with its heart-stopping gold medal two summers ago in Tokyo fail to launch beyond the group stage at soccer's most prestigious event?

Many are pointing at the team's ongoing battle with Canada Soccer, the national sport federation, over pay, preparedness and the resources devoted to providing a professional environment for Canada's best players. Although the two sides were able to broker an agreement, it came in the midst of the tournament and there were suggestions that bitterness and resentment over the drawn-out and public dispute remained.

There was also talk that Canada's disappointing result could be traced to the fact that there is no domestic women's league in Canada, pushing this country's best to play professionally abroad. 

The face of Canadian soccer for the last few decades, captain Christine Sinclair, touched on these things after Canada's 4-0 loss to Australia that eliminated them from the tournament.

"I think you're just going to continue to see teams reach our level, surpass us, whatever you want to call it if things don't change," Sinclair said after the July 31 match, a 4-0 loss to Australia. "If the resources are there, we are going to continue to fall behind. If this isn't a warning sign, I don't know what is.

"I think more of it is like a wake-up call for our federation — the lack of a professional league, the lack of support for our youth national teams."

WATCH | Sinclair says early exit a 'wake-up call' for Canada Soccer:

Those working at the grassroots levels of Canadian soccer, from where the