Whitecaps girls program boasts confined to B.C. tradition
Girls Elite program at Whitecaps FC designed for British Columbia born players
By Ross Armour
Jesse Symons, head coach of the Whitecaps’ women’s and girls’ elite programs. Photo: whitecapsfc.com
The Vancouver Whitecaps has confirmed that its own Girls Elite program is specifically designed to attract and nurture the best talent from that of British Columbia alone.
Players are chosen for the program after being watched and evaluated by Whitecaps scouts over a number of years.
“The program has been specifically BC born players,” said Jesse Symons, head coach of the women’s and girls elite.
“The program is a (fully) funded development program and we are committed to developing female players through collaboration with local clubs, the provincial association and Canadian Soccer Association,” he said.
Symons outlined that the program is geared to progressing players to youth national teams, as well as potentially the Whitecaps women’s senior team.
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The program’s scheduled sees players train up to four or five times each week from September in July, although no wage is involved. It began recently in September of this year.
“The team plays in the Metro Women’s Premier League from September to March and the PCSL Premier Division from May to July,” Symons confirmed. “Both are open senior divisions in the top flights that are available in the province.”
Included in the program’s structure is a part-time seasonal training camp for under 14 to under 16 girls that are playing in the EA Sports BC Soccer Premier League.
Beacon News recently reported a story on a selection of Mountain United U16 girls who have been incorporated this way.
The program tables three showcase events over the course of the season, the first being the NCAA Final Four Showcase hosted by West Coast FC from Nov. 29 to Dec 1. The tournament is held in San Diego, California and Whitecaps FC have a team registered in the U17 section.
The other two events will both take place in March of next year, with one held in Las Vegas and the other hosted by Whitecaps FC.
Symons explained the path taken specifically by the Mountain girls who will be entering the program.
“These players have progressed through the provincial teams program from under 13 to under 16 and have obviously recently been taking part in the EA Sports BC Soccer Premier League,” he said.
“Players are monitored from when they being in these programs.”
Category: Soccer
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