The OPDL Spotlight Series, presented by Toronto FC, highlights stories, teams and initiatives from around the league. 

This week features comments from Ramin Mohammadi, Director of Soccer Development at Pickering SC (PSC). 

The PSC provides all our players with a competitive pathway. Our players enter the Club at U-4 recreational before moving onto our U-8-U-12 development programs. At the age of 13, our players have the option of joining our United FA OPDL program.  The PSC works under the United FA banner to provide collaborative, region-wide opportunities for talented players. We also firmly believe in coach education and development at all levels of coaches. 

The  affiliations are aimed at supporting local players in the United FA catchment area including West Rouge SC (Scarborough) and Oshawa Turul SC as well as our own Pickering Soccer Club players. The affiliation agreements allow for the movement of players up to an OPDL squad where we can allow players to benefit from experiencing the OPDL training environment and structure. Our affiliate Clubs appreciate that the pathway is open to their talented players and see it as a value-added component to their own programs. The nature of our West Rouge connection means that we can offer OPDL to members of the Scarborough Soccer Association where there is currently no license holders. Our affiliation with Oshawa Turul formalizes the alignment of technical philosophies and enables a small Club to offer playing experiences without overstretching its resources.

At the PSC, we pride ourselves on developing a culture of excellence with an environment that enables players to develop everyday. We do this by ensuring training aligns with the OPDL standards both at the developmental and recreational streams.

The PSC provides inclusive programming meaning that all players have access to quality resources, facilities, coaching and training.

As previously stated, we work uniquely under a region-wide United FA banner in an effort to develop talent from a broader scope.

Long-term planning and management by player and coach and strong team of technical and administrative staff monitor the progress of daily functions from parents' education, player and coach education, match official development and administration.

We pride ourselves on developing players who have now been part of the Ontario Soccer provincial projects and CSA national programs. This past year alone we had 10+ past or present players selected to represent their country at the National level. 

Ramin Mohammadi is the Director of Soccer Development at the PSC. Ramin's role is to monitor, develop and implement all programs throughout the Club. Ramin works closely with all OPDL players and coaches meets with them regularly to ensure OPDL standards are being met.

Ramin also designs, implements and monitors all grassroots programs in order to comply with LTPD standards.