Partnered with BC Soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy is an official Canada Soccer National Development Centre (NDC), welcoming top women's soccer prospects from across Canada to attend school, train, and play together daily in Burnaby, BC.
The program kicked off in January 2015 and is led by Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy staff.
Key Program Details
The Girls Elite Academy is a fully funded, full-time development program in Vancouver that maintains a standardized national curriculum for U15-U18 female players, feeding into Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Program.
What is EXCEL?
Goal 1: To achieve consistent podium performances by our Women’s National Team.
Goal 2: To create an aligned talent structure and system that progresses more top players to the Women’s National Team and more often.
Goal 3: To align community, regional and provincial/territorial talent development programs with the EXCEL talent pathway.
The National EXCEL Program is a six-year structure for developing female players U-14 to U-20 who demonstrate the highest level of ability in preparation for their contribution to Canada’s Women’s National Team. The program is built on four pillars of development – physical, technical/tactical, mental, and social/emotional.
The Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy, in partnership with BC Soccer, includes:
- Individualized programs target areas of player ability and deficiency using statistical and video analysis
- Team concepts, tactical applications, injury prevention, and athletic nutritional requirements
- Age specific training with emphasis on speed of play and performance criteria
- Training is based out of the Christine Sinclair Community Centre in Burnaby, BC.
For more information on Canada Soccer’s Women’s EXCEL Program, visit Women's Excel Program
Partnerships
The Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy is partnered together with BC Soccer. The program is an official Canada Soccer National Development Centre.
The EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) is the official partner league and main scouting vehicle within BC for Whitecaps FC professional youth development programs.
Recruiting
Entrance into the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy in partnership with BC Soccer is by invitation only, and done in conjunction with Canada Soccer National EXCEL staff.
Across Canada, Whitecaps FC work together with Canada Soccer, and have partnerships and Academy Centres across the country.
Follow the program
Get all the latest news and updates on the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy by following the official program account on Twitter at @WFCElite.