Academy – EtobicokeFC

ETOBICOKE FC ACADEMY 2026 SUMMER PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

Pre-pubescent players from age 9 to 12 years have a special ability to learn. Therefore, this is the right age to work on specific soccer techniques and skills. Developing good technique is essential at this age.

1v1 and 2v1 attacking and defending situations are important to develop individual skills as well as the passing techniques to develop the necessary team game.

Use small-sided games to develop basic attacking and defensive principles. Other important aspects of tactical training are possession, combination play, transition and finishing in the final third, as well as zonal defending. Players will rotate in two or three different positions to avoid early specialization.
Speed, coordination, balance and agility are the main physical aspects of this stage.

Schedule:

Club Technical Session: Twice per week U9-u12

Team Practice Session: Once per week U9-U10 & twice per week U11-U12

Skills Centre Game Night: Optional U9-U12

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COMPETITIVE STAGE

At this stage from ages 13 and 14, training sessions are orientated more toward tactics and the player will practice in bigger spaces. Players must practice all different types of techniques at this stage.

Strength and endurance should be part of the fitness training. Coaching methods have to consider and preserve players’ health since they will be experiencing many changes due to puberty at this stage. Warm-ups and cool downs are essential
as is dynamic flexibility.

Players must develop discipline at this stage by following the instructions of the coach both during and outside training sessions.

ADVANCED STAGE

At this stage ages 15 to 17, Tactical training and small-sided games are an essential part of the training at this stage. Attacking and defending principles must be part of all games. Important aspects of the tactical training are speed of play, quick transition, counter attacking and finishing in the final third, as well as pressing.

Technique will focus on speed and accuracy. Passing and finishing are two of the main techniques emphasized at this stage. Part of the technical training will be position-specific (e.g. defender: passing, center midfield players: receiving to turn and strikers: finishing).

The physical aspect of the game is key at this stage: endurance, strength and speed will be part of the weekly training routine.

Players should be expected to show commitment to the team, concentration in training sessions and competitiveness during the game.

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EFC SOCCER SCHOOL

Etobicoke FC Soccer School is our year-round, 3-day-per-week academy technical training program designed to accelerate player development through consistent, high-repetition training. Sessions run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, ON.

Each training day includes a 2-hour session, built around the Etobicoke FC Technical Training Pillars and aligned with Canada Soccer development standards. Players train in a high-energy, professional environment where the focus is on technical quality, fast feet, elite first touch, and applying those skills in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 small-sided games—building confidence and consistency on the ball.

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ACADEMY PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The Outdoor Summer Season 2026 20 weeks of training players get 6 hours of Club technical team training which is 3 sessions that are 2 hours long working on ball mastery, moves, passing, shooting with designated technical coaches. Players would then receive 1 to 2 x 1.5 hours of team tactical and game awareness sessions with our designated Team Head Coaches. In addition to training each team/player will play one game per week (subject to change by respective league scheduling).

As players progress through the Etobicoke FC Grassroots, Recreational, Competitive Programs, our club has a comprehensive curriculum that is aligned to stages of development and learning. The curriculum is the Technical Blueprint that encompasses a holistic 4 Corner approach (Technical/Tactical, Physical, Mental, Social/Emotional) to provide players with continuous high-quality training contacts from U9 to U18. Once a player has completed a stage of development, they are prepared to advance into the next stream that will be progressively more challenging and advanced. This systematic progression is based on research of best practice from Canada/Ontario Soccer and leading clubs across the world to ensure that Etobicoke FC is providing the optimal environment to allow players to be the best they can be.

The Etobicoke FC 4 Corner model is a holistic approach to training and development that aims to develop the whole person and not just the player. As players progress through the stages of development, their 4 Corner competencies will evolve, and the desired outcome of our pathway is the following:

1. Players who can apply the right technique on demand while
under pressure and in tight spaces
2. Players who possess the physical qualities to play at a high
tempo across the full duration of a match
3. Players with confidence and love for the sport
4. Players who model positive behaviours on/off the field

MLS NEXT TRAVEL PROGRAM

The Etobicoke FC Competitive and Advanced MLS NEXT Travel Program, will benefit from a development network of 65 MLS NEXT youth clubs and 30 MLS academies. The year-round program will focus on ELITE athletes looking to prepare themselves for the professional academy environment, which will include more than 8,000 players throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Our program consists of;

– 12 to 16 MLS NEXT flight games per year through tournaments, friendlies, and showcases (in additional to regular Ontario Soccer league games).

– Player identification initiatives

– Player education and individual player development and mentorship opportunities.

– Additional programming to create the premier player development environment tailored to each group and their specific needs.

Etobicoke FC Outdoor Summer Season 2026:

Weekly Schedule (U8–U16)

Age Group	Birth Year	Club Technical (3 × 2h)	Team Tactical (1–2 × 1.5h)	Weekly Game	Location
U8	2018	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U9	2017	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U10	2016	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U11	2015	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U12	2014	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U13	2013	Mon 7–9pm • Wed 7–9pm • Fri 7–9pm	Tue/Thu 6:00–9:30pm (window team uses 1-2 X 1.5 blocks)	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical + Tactical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U14	2012	Tue/Thu 7:00–9:30pm	Mon/Wed/Fri 6:00–8:00pm	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, OntarioTactical Training: Monsignor Percy High School Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U15	2011	Tue/Thu 7:00–9:30pm	Mon/Wed/Fri 6:00–8:00pm	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, OntarioTactical Training: Monsignor Percy High School Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)
U16	2010	Tue/Thu 7:00–9:30pm	Mon/Wed/Fri 6:00–8:00pm	1 game per week (TBA by the league)	Technical Training: 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, OntarioTactical Training: Monsignor Percy High School Games: 1 game per week (location TBA)