National Training Centre

 

The National Training Centre is a player development program for players identified through the scouting system to produce international players who are comfortable with and understand what is required of them to perform successfully at the highest level. The NTC Program will provide a formative, structured path along which young players can move from an introduction to International Soccer at the age of 14 to International maturity between the ages of 17-20.

 

The vast majority of players are identified through the Provincial Programs and the National All-Star Championships each year. Players will also be scouted during National Club Championships and through prominent tournaments. E.g. the Rocky Mountain Cup, Alberta; Tournament of Champions, B.C., Alient Cup in Atlantic Provinces. Players can also be scouted or evaluated by National Team Coaches in Club competitions or be recommended by Provincial and Regional Coaching Staff. E.g. Provincial Cup Competitions; League Play. Club Coaches are welcome to make player recommendations from their own teams and those of other clubs. Due to the size of the country all recommendations made to the CSA will be copied to Provincial and Regional Staff Coaches to have the player scouted, and, if warranted, be invited to their programs. The player will then be evaluated and recommended to the NTC.

 

Players are assessed on four areas of the game of soccer:

 

Technical, Tactical, Physical Conditioning and Psychological. Players will be advised of the training priorities needed to be achieved by the end of each NTC Training Schedule. Players are to be committed to reaching those goals and show signs of progression at a reasonable speed. Players will be evaluated at each NTC Scouting Weekend and at the end of the first training phase Sept. – Dec. and the second phase Jan. – May. Players will be advised of their progression following each NTC Scouting Weekend and at the end of each training phase.

 

NTC is a Canadian Soccer Association funded program, which is operated by the provincial associations, with the exception of the Prairie Provinces, which is operated by the CSA.

 

Players train 3 to, 4 times per week during the off-season of Club commitments and 1 to, 2 times per week during the Club season.

Coaches are welcome to make player recommendations from their own teams and those of other clubs. Due to the size of the country all recommendations made to the CSA will be copied to Provincial and Regional Staff Coaches to have the player scouted, and, if warranted, be invited to their programs. The player will then be evaluated and recommended to the NTC.

 

Players within the NTC Program are not guaranteed a position on the roster of any National Team Event. Selection is based on player evaluation during NTC Scouting Weekends and in consultation with the individual NTC Director. Performances on each National Team Event will also be considered in the selection process.

 

Players are expected to make a full commitment to the NTC Program once selected. They are to act in a manner both on and off the field befitting of a National Team Player whenever in a soccer environment. They are to strive to meet the requirements of the NTC program and compete with consistency enabling them to compete at the highest level of international play. Players cannot control if they are going to be selected or not, but they can control their attitude towards their eating and sleeping habits, fitness level, work on technique, tactical understanding of what coaches want, and their commitment to their school work so they are able to attend National Team Events when selected.

 

CSA National Staff Coaches will be in attendance to evaluate and monitor the invited players invited in. Many university and college coaches from Canada and the U.S.A. have attended many of the weekends across the country.