Elite Soccer Academy Information Sheet

Hello everyone, please see below the Academy Information Sheet that was released on Saturday.  We will be holding an Information Meeting for parents and players shortly where we will be able to go over our program in more detail.

ELITE SOCCER ACADEMY INFORMATION SHEET

Released: October 20, 2012

Everyone who loves the beautiful game agrees that we need to add a significant level of professionalism to our player development programs across Canada. It is clear we need to emulate how the rest of the successful soccer countries around the world do it. This means developing and implementing a systemic, consistent and predictable method of exposing our brightest young talent to highly qualified, licensed professional paid coaches.   This is why Elite Soccer Academy exists.

Our Academy program is second to none in terms of quality and quantity of training, and exposure to the best possible opportunities for our players. Our program is only for dedicated players who want to take their game to the highest level.

Under the leadership of our Technical Director Clayton Rosario, Head Coach Tuukka Salonen (a former 10 year pro player in Germany) will head player development using his vast knowledge and experience. With Tuukka’s formal university level education, professional playing experience and proven track record of developing talent in Canada, he is easily one of the top coaches in Ontario.

Our program includes training 11 months a year, three times a week in quality training facilities. Once signed on with Elite, parents will not be required to register for other training, camps or clinics throughout the year - the Elite Soccer Academy package provides the highest quality of training year round – a complete package.

Professional connections include visits from and training with international coaches and agents (examples from this past year include from Italy, Croatia and Finland).   Elite staff are building a plan to take the team for showcase tournaments in Europe within two years.  Our players will get exposure and gain experience not available elsewhere.  We are taking lessons we have learned from Academies in Europe and putting them into practice here in Niagara.

Our team will compete in the Canadian Academy of Futbol League.  The season will include at least three US Tournaments and one Canadian.

Elite Soccer Academy will see to it that our players are OSA registered so that they continue to be part of the District, Regional, Provincial and National Programs.  While these programs are flawed and due to be revamped by the OSA, we believe in working with them, not against them.

We will also always put an emphasis on your child’s scholastic progress.  We will look towards providing assistance for school studies in the form of a tutor.

Our academy will do its utmost to ensure a smooth transition to our program for both players and parents.  For those that decide to join Elite, it will quickly become evident that the benefits will far outweigh any concerns that might have existed going in. 

Our players will be immersed in a positive but intense environment with like-minded teammates. The priorities of the professional coaches will be to ensure that each player in the program develops to their full potential. They will not be placing unreasonable pressures on the players to win games and collect trophies, but rather they will challenge them to identify and develop their weaknesses, as well as to grow as individuals and as Elite athletes.

 One of the questions about the program is the cost. At first glance, the investment required to place your child may seem prohibitive. However, when one stops and thinks about the services being provided, it becomes evident that cost is indicative of value, in other words, “you get what you pay for”.

Club level soccer, with volunteer parent coaches, serves a purpose at the grass roots level, and although well meaning, can only take players so far. The results of the last 100 years of soccer in Canada prove this.  The OSA has developed the Long Term Player Development Program for this reason.  The “Academy Way” is far ahead of the Club environment in achieving the measurables and goals of the LTPD.

It is more expensive when you pay your professional coaches and support staff. It is more expensive when you run an 11 - 12 month program. It is more expensive when you insist on using best-in-class facilities and only the best training equipment and uniforms available… but it is the only way we are going to be able to develop world class players in Canada on a regular basis.  Again, this is why Elite Soccer Academy exists.

When you compare the cost of a full year of competitive hockey, swimming, gymnastics or dance, our Academy gives similar or greater value to parents. Also, our Academy will, as much as possible, work with parents re payment plans, etc.   Our vision is that within two to three years, our Academy will be completely self-funded through corporate donations and fund-raising programs.

If you have any questions about our Academy, please contact Clayton Rosario at 289-214-1414.

There is no secret to success, but dedication and hard work.   Come join the professionals and train like a pro!