MEN’S U23 – VISL
Westcastle International Academy’s U23 team participates in the Vancouver Island Men’s League – in the winter and the Pacific Coast Soccer League in the Spring.
Team is mainly comprised of mixture of U19 players with a few U23 “mental players” to help the team to physically be competitive in the Men’s League.
Westcastle IA offers proven training methods, high-level coaching, a competitive and challenging training environment, and psychological conditioning for elite soccer players. These comprehensive elements are designed to enhance performance levels and provide sustainable tools for athletes to successfully reach and compete at higher levels of the game. WIA also offers youth players in-club the opportunity to be permitted to the men’s team as part of their development plan.
Applicants must complete an application and attend the ID Camps. Camp dates here
TECHNICAL LEADS
Manny Gomez
QUALIFICATIONS:
Canada Soccer YOUTH LICENCE
Canada Soccer C LICENCE
RESPECT IN SPORTS
MAKING HEADWAY IN SOCCER
MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS
AFTA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COACH DEGREE (IN PROGRESS)
Eddie Mukahanana
Qualifications:
UEFA A Diploma
Canada Soccer A Licence
United States Soccer Federation A License
Respect in Sports
Making Head Way in Soccer
Make Ethical Decisions
Mental Health in Sport
Technical Director Diploma
- TBA
TRAINING BLOCK 1: Sept 2024– Dec 2024
Program Schedule: August 2024 to June 2025
Training Block 1: August – December 12, 2024
Training Block 2: January 7 – March 13, 2025
Training Block 3: April 8 – June 19, 2025
- 2 sessions per week (Tues/Thur)
- 2 Technical and Tactical Training sessions per week
- 90 mins training sessions
- Locations: CML TURF
- Training days: TBA
- Plus 1 session per week (Mon) – U19 PLAYERS
- Strength and Conditioning Program (10-week Program)
- Whitecaps FC: Caps to College Program (20-week Program)
- Advanced individual technical habits and tactical principles
- Physical Preparation
- Matchplay and Whitecaps Caps to College Showcase
- Educational Workshops
- Creating player profiles, CVs and recruitment videos
- 2 Technical and Tactical Training sessions per week
- 1x League game per week
Physical Development: Primary development of aerobic power, acyclic speed and explosive strength.
Technical: Focus on speed of passing and receiving technique, ball controlling in small space, perception and quick execution of passing, overall ball control, receiving to turn at speed and finishing.
Psychosocial: Commitment to the team, increased concentration and self-control.
Tactical: Application of attacking and defending principles in SSG.
Social/Emotional: Cooperation, Communication, Respect and Discipline.
PRIMARY LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Making passes, receiving to turn and finishing at speed under pressure
- Playing short passes at speed in small spaces.
- Coordination of tactical principles with teammates.
- Coordinate the counterattack and pressing in SSG.
- Show good fitness in mid/high demanding aerobic power practices.
- Showing good technique under pressure in fatigue.
“We need to develop individual players so every player within our academy has his own individual plan to make the steps needed to finally get to the very top. “We use our [academy] team more or less not to win games, but to try to develop as many individual players as possible .” –Eddie Mukahanana, Technical Director
