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The Ontario Regional EXCEL Super Centre kicks-off

By Staff, 02/05/18, 10:30AM EST

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It provides Ontario's top youth talent with a centralised daily training environment that supports Canada’s elite women’s youth players through advanced curriculum

Play. Inspire. Unite. 

The Ontario Regional EXCEL Super Centre kicked off last week with its first training session for the province's top youth talent. 

Canada Soccer has partnered with Ontario Soccer, Own the Podium, Sport Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, and Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, to launch its third Regional EXCEL (REX) Super Centre in Canada.

"Ontario Soccer is very eager to work with Canada Soccer in developing a REX Program in our province. We feel that the time is right for Ontario to step up the development of female players for the National Female Teams," said Gary Miller, Ontario Soccer Technical Director. "The OPDL will act as an excellent feeder system for REX and all License Holders are excited to see this National Program back in Ontario."

Talented U-14 to U-18 players receive a comprehensive training program aligned to Canada Soccer’s national curriculum that provides an opportunity to accumulate high-quality training hours while developing world-class attributes across the four corners of Canada Soccer’s development program.

The 28 Ontario players attending the first intake of Canada Soccer Ontario Regional EXCEL Super Centre engaged in a full-time program and train or play five days per week in a “best with best” environment with national and internationally licensed coaches from January to June, while attending Bill Crothers Secondary School.

"With the Ontario Regional EXCEL Super Centre in full operation the the Regional Excel Pathway for Ontario's talented females becomes the next destination in there development for selection to the National Excel program," said Bryan Rosenfeld, Ontario Soccer's Manager of High Performance. 

Since the inception of the Women’s EXCEL System in 2014, player development progress has improved across all age groups, and a significant number of youth players having excelled towards Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, including bronze medalists Deanne Rose (Alliston, ON), Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton, ON), Ashley Lawrence (Caledon East, ON), Rebecca Quinn (Toronto, ON), and Jessie Fleming (London, ON).

Ontario has a history of producing young players who accelerate through the development system by demonstrating “Gold Medal Standards” at the highest levels.

By aligning the training environment in Ontario with Canada Soccer’s development program nation-wide and with the opportunity to develop alongside the best in their age group, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will be best positioned to have a continued flow of players who have the technical and cultural understanding that will allow them to succeed on the international stage.

Click here for more information on the Canadian Women's EXCEL program.