Skill Centre @UVic

Players registered in the Skill Centre @UVic focus on their football development and physical literacy.

Sports like Basketball, Dodgeball, Judo and Track and field form a key part of the training regime and account for 25-30 percent of their development up to the age of 12. Through these sports, players focus on specific skill sets that enhance their soccer development such as agility, balance, coordination, decision-making, falling safely, peripheral awareness and speed.

WIA is a Full Lower Island Soccer Association member and participates in the weekly LISA development league against other LISA member clubs.

Accepted Players (U9-U11)

• Players are accepted to join the Skill Centre Foundation Training Program.
• Players may register with other LISA Clubs to participate in their House League.
• Those players who choose to register with WIA only will participate in the Active Start Festival under WIA.
• WIA does not offer an in-club house league for this age group.
• This Program is co-ed.

Accepted Players (U10/U11-U12)

• Players accepted to join the Skill Centre, will register with WIA, be placed into training groups and be rostered weekly for LISA games.
• WIA Rangers teams play in the LISA U11/U12/U13 Developmental League, Girls and Boys, which aligns with Canada Soccer requirements for Skill Centres
• WIA does not have set teams, but fluid rosters that are created weekly according to the competition and individual player’s development

Spring Session

• The Skill Centre Spring program is open to all players in the district.
• There are limited spots available. Players must apply.
• Accepted players will join the WIA Rangers and train from April to June.
• Priority registration is given to players wishing to join the Skill Centre for the next season.

PHYSICAL LITERACY:

Our program delivers physical literacy training in areas of agility, balance & coordination, basic motor skills, flexibility & mobility, perception & awareness, reaction time, and speed. Development modules of cross-training activities will run in 4-6-week cycles with activities like

• Track (endurance, agility and speed)
• Basketball skills/ Gymnastics (balance and coordination)
• Judo (flexibility & mobility, strength, and stamina)
• Futsal (dribbling, decision-making skills, confidence 1v1, creativity)
• Dodgeball (agility, concentration, reaction, and team-building skills)
• Badminton (excellent balance, flexibility, motor skills, mental resilience, team spirit and quick reflexes)

PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

The Psycho-social development program will be delivered in partnership with the University of Victoria’s Centre for Outreach Education (CORE). The program focuses on psycho-social development in 2-4-week cycles with age-appropriate activities in areas such as

• individual motivation
• self-confidence, respect & discipline
• concentration, cooperation, teamwork
• competition, sportsmanship and team spirit building

TECHNICAL TRAINING:

With the understanding of age-appropriate levels of intensity and workload, technical training will focus on

• passing and receiving
• dribbling
• ball control
• turning
• running with the ball
• shielding the ball
• shooting
• finishing on goal

TACTICAL TRAINING:

With the understanding of age-appropriate levels of intensity and workload, tactical training will focus on:

• combination plays
• 1v1 attacking
• receiving on turn
• possession
• positional play
• finishing on goal
• movement off the ball
• 1v1 defending

The Tactical emphasis is on possession, passing accuracy, and fluid movement between the orthodox delineations of midfield and attacking principles.

2025/2026 season

• Start date -September 2025
• End date – June 2026

Training Block 1: September 2025 – December 2026

• • Training session locations – UVIC
  • 2 Training sessions per week (Technical and SSG incorporated)
    • 60-75 mins training sessions
  • 1 Multi-Sport session or Psycho-social activity per week
  • Participation in a LISA Active Start Festival (U10)
  • NOTE: UVIC session times are 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm

Training Block 2: January 2026 – March 2026

• • Training session locations – UVIC
  • 2 Training sessions per week (Technical and SSG incorporated)
    • 60 -75 mins training sessions
  • 1 Multi-Sport session or Psycho-social activity per week
  • NOTE: UVIC session times are 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm

Training Block 3: April 2026 – June 2026

• • Training session locations – UVIC
  • 2 Training sessions per week (Technical and SSG incorporated)
    • 60-75 mins training sessions
  • 1 Multi-Sport session or Psycho-social activity per week
  • NOTE: UVIC session times are 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm

FULL-YEAR PROGRAM