Grassroots Program U8-13

ETOBICOKE FC GRASSROOTS 2026 SUMMER PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

5V5 | 7V7| 9V9

Pre-pubescent players from age 8 to 13 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.

Etobicoke FC Outdoor Summer Season 2026:

Weekly Schedule (U8–U13)

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)

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.