MEN’S U21 RESIDENCY
Every year, young players leave behind their friends and family and move to Victoria to pursue their soccer dreams. A key part of the players’ success is receiving a world-class education while enrolled in WIA’s professionally coached, comprehensive standards-based program.
WIA offers a proven program to players from within Canada – Alberta, BC, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and other parts of Eastern Canada – as well as international students from around the world.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Eddie Mukahanana
Qualifications:
UEFA A Licence Diploma
CSA A Licence
Active Start
Fundamentals
Learn to train
Respect in Sports
Making Head Way in Soccer
Make Ethical Decisions
Mental Health in Sport
Technical Director Diploma
High-Performance Plan
The High-Performance Plan includes the following modules:
- Individual Technical training
- Team Tactical training
- Physical and Psychosocial Development
- Strength and Conditioning Sessions
- Mental Conditioning Seminar
- Leadership Development Plan
- Nutrition Training Plan
- Academic Education (fees excluded)
The combination of expert coaching, clear training goals, and annual competition allows for individualized growth technically, tactically, and personally within a world-class setting.
Training sessions include team field sessions with an emphasis on topics such as proactive decision-making, tactical game management, team strategies, and speed of play. WIA coaches also focus on individual development with personalized development plans including video analysis, position-specific instruction, soccer-specific training for strength and conditioning, leadership, and communication skills.
Our Student-athletes in WIA’s academic pathway are expected to prioritize both academics and athletics as their schedule mirrors that of a collegiate program. They develop an individual development plan with overall long-term goals, short-term measurable objectives. Every 6 weeks, coaches and players will review their progress and set new objectives when necessary, ahead of the upcoming cycle. Four times a year, players receive a report detailing their progress and future areas of focus which include strength, agility, and endurance test results as well as video review.
2023/24 Training Schedule
| DAY | MORNING SESSION | AFTERNOON/EVENING SESSION |
|---|---|---|
| MONDAY | TECHNICAL TRAINING | |
| TUESDAY | OPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL STRENGTH TRAINING | |
| WEDNESDAY | TACTICAL/PHYSICAL PREPARATION | |
| THURSDAY | TACTICAL TRAINING | |
| FRI/SAT/ SUN | MATCH |
Tentative 2023-2024 Showcase Tournaments
| Dates | Venue | Ages | |
|---|---|---|---|
T.B.A | Nov | T.B.A | U17 |
T.B.A | April | T.B.A | U17 |
The Men’s Season Plan
| PRE-SEASON | COMPETITIVE CYCLE PHASE I | COMPETITIVE CYCLE PHASE II |
|---|---|---|
| MEASURE & EVALUATE | PREPARE & PLAY | PLAY & COMPETE |
| AUGUST – SEPTEMBER | SEPTEMBER – MARCH | APRIL- JULY |
| Physical testing Tactical, Technical & Functional Introduction Individual Development Plans (IDP) | Physical, Tactical, Technical & Functional Competition and Tactical Phase LISA U17 & VISL U21 & DIV 1 | Competition & Tactical Phase PACIFIC COAST SOCCER LEAGUE Performance statistics collection & analysis |
Pre-Collegiate Pathway:
U17: the goal is to pursue post-secondary education scholarship opportunities at UVIC or other universities in Canada and the US.
Academic Pathway:
VISL U21 and Div 1: the goal is to develop their football for opportunities in the BC League 1 or other professional clubs while pursuing a Business Administration Diploma at the University of Victoria.
RESIDENCY SOCCER DEVELOPMENT COST
Football Academy is approximately $3,000 (Sept – June)
Cost includes kit, training, league fees, coaching fees
Homestay approximately $900/month (private room, three meals/day)
Academic Education (based on academic program)
MEN’S RESIDENCY ID CAMPS DATES
Visit our camps page for Player Identification Camp dates to apply for the Residency Program.
2023/24 WIA Competitive Platforms
WIA soccer program consists of teams ranging from high school age to post-high school graduate opportunities for players 18 and older. The program competes across two competitive platforms:
Lower Island Soccer Youth League
WIA U17 players will compete in the Lower Island Soccer Association U17Gold League. The LISA League is a winter competitive league in which teams compete for the BC Soccer Provincial A and B Cup Championship. www.lowerislandsoccer.com
Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL)
The Vancouver Island Soccer League U21 and Div 1 are a winter competitive leagues for our players to compete for the BC Men’s Provincial Championship and Canadian National Men’s Championships. www.visl.org
Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL)
The Pacific Coast Soccer League is WIA’s main competitive league. The PCSL is an amateur soccer league, currently featuring teams from all over British Columbia. In the past clubs from the USA, Washington and Oregon have competed. PCSL is considered to be British Columbia’s premier league for adult soccer. Westcastle will enter both Men’s and Women’s teams. www.pcsl.org
Professional Trials and College Showcase Tournaments
WIA players have the opportunity to explore professional opportunities in Spain and Belgium through our exchange programs. There are also opportunities to be scouted at international tournaments and college showcases in the US and Canada.
Our Soccer Partners
Westcastle International Academy is proud to work with the following soccer partners.
