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

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.

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.