Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency kicks off expanded program

Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off the fourth year of their full-time Residency program this month with an expanded program that now includes U-14 and U-16 age groups, along with the U-18 side.

Last week, approximately 80 of the top youth players from across British Columbia and Canada arrived in Vancouver to join one of the most integrated soccer development programs in North America. Aspiring players can now enter the Whitecaps FC club system full-time as early as age 11, and be nurtured in an age appropriate learning environment, with gradual steps that will help them attain a successful professional and national team career.

“We look forward to welcoming some of the most talented young players from across the country to Vancouver to participate in the Whitecaps FC Residency program,” said Bob Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC president. “This program, in its fourth year, will provide an excellent training ground for our aspiring players to train and compete at a level which will ensure their continued growth.”

As part of the expansion, Whitecaps FC have become the first and only Canadian club to join the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) – America’s premier youth academy system – and will field a team in both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 leagues.

The Whitecaps FC Residency program begins with the U-14 Pre-Academy group, featuring players U-13 to U-15 separated into two squads; a senior and junior team for a total player pool of 36. Players train in the evenings and attend their local schools. Exhibition matches are scheduled within the Pacific Northwest region against elite club teams, MLS academies, and other USSDA Pre-Academy teams.

This past weekend, the senior and junior U-14 Pre-Academy teams travelled across the border to play a series of matches at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. The senior squad competed in the Seattle Northwest Challenge tournament, opening with a 2-0 loss to Portland Timbers Pre-Academy on Saturday, followed by a 4-2 win against San Jose Earthquakes Pre-Academy on Sunday, and ending with a narrow 2-1 defeat versus the host Seattle Sounders FC Pre-Academy on Monday.

The junior group, meanwhile, won a pair of friendly matches against Greater Renton Football Club and also played an inter-squad match, in addition to multiple training and video sessions. The primary focus for this group was to experience the academy environment and engage in valuable training.

From the U-14 group, players graduate into the U-16 and U-18 program and play matches in their respective USSDA leagues. These teams feature 18 to 20 players per squad that train and attend Burnaby Central Secondary School as part of a holistic development program. Residency players from outside of the catchment area are housed with local billet families in Burnaby, BC, who offer a safe, supportive environment that provides stability for the player, allowing them to focus their efforts on academic and athletic achievement.

The USSDA season kicks off next Saturday, September 17, as Whitecaps FC open against Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. The U-18 squads will play one another at 12:30 p.m. PT, followed by the U-16 teams facing each other at 3 p.m. PT. Every set of matches for the U-16 and U-18 teams will be formatted as a doubleheader. Complete U-16 and U-18 schedules are available at whitecapsfc.com/residency.

Successful Residency graduates enter the first-team development environment that includes training with the Major League Soccer (MLS) squad and competitive opportunities in both United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and MLS Reserve League games.

Whitecaps FC Residency has become a symbol of the club’s dedication and investment in player development, with the program aimed to increase professional opportunities for Canadian players. This has included Residency graduates such as two-time Canadian U-17 Player of the Year Russell Teibert, as well as standouts Philippe Davies and Bryan Sylvestre, who have each earned a spot on Whitecaps FC in MLS. In 2011 alone, Whitecaps FC have placed 13 players on Canada's U-17 and U-20 national teams. Find out more about the Whitecaps FC Residency program at www.whitecapsfc.com/residency.

U-14 Roster

U-16 Roster

U-18 Roster