The Official Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer Club Site

TFC Academy @ MHYSC

With the 1st year of the program nearly half complete, we take some time to reflect back on what has been a fantastic start for the TFC @ MHYSC Academy. Equally important, we wish to thank all the coaches and volunteers who have helped to make the program possible through their dedication to our youth.

With over 80 boys and girls selected into Premier and Elite Academy, players train a minimum of 3 hours each week on either a U13 or U11 squad. Goalkeepers get an additional 2 hours of dedicated training each week.

Approximately once per month, games are scheduled to watch the progress of the players. Scores are irrelevant but technique, intuitiveness and willingness to play in a team format are watched closely. The developmental training received is unparalleled in our district.

Led by our very own Canadian National A licensed coach, players are funneling through a curriculum crafted by the academy in conjunction with the TFC playing philosophy and youth academy training recommendations.

The TFC Academy@MHYSC program is designed to help aspiring soccer players between the ages of 9 and 13 to experience the commitment level required to play elite level soccer while receiving accelerated training through the fall and winter month or the traditional "off season" for club soccer.

Sessions are conducted and supervised by competent, nationally & provincially accredited coaches who work in conjunction with TFC Academy to deliver age appropriate curriculums to boys and girls.

All players from any district club are welcome to attend trials each September or by special request through their club head coach.

Details:

· Successful players will be grouped into squads with two age brackets either U11 or U13

· There will be an Elite & Premier squad for each bracket

· Boy and Girl squads will operate separately

· Players selected for the Elite academy squads will receive all training and equipment at no cost

· Players selected for the Premier academy squads will pay a cost to cover indoor fields and equipment only

· All players will train for 20 weeks beginning in November and go back to their summer team in late March

· All accepted players will also train a minimum of once per week with their MHYSC Competitive team

· Equipment will include a training uniform plus Training suit

· All squads will have Provincial level coaches and C3/senior level certified coaches

· The entire curriculum and delivery including coaching instruction will be augmented by our National B level coach with input by TFC Academy.

· Guest University, District, Provincial & TFC coaches will be on hand as well

· TFC scouting sessions will be held periodically

To pre-register for the try-outs, please contact: c.horton@mhysc.org

Trialist Registration Form

Academy Volunteer Staff Positions Available - Click Here

Complete soccer development

finally comes to Hamilton

through an affiliation between:

Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer

Toronto FC Academy

“This is huge for players from Hamilton and district who want to reach their goals in soccer” says Leo Cavalluzzo, Competitive Director for MHYSC. He goes on to say “For years parents and players have thought that they have to be on teams with the best record to succeed and that that meant development when in reality families should be looking for the best player development program, resources and pathways”

Cavalluzzo has experienced for himself as a coach and later as a parent with a son in the current National U20 men’s pool, what it takes to succeed. Interestingly, he comments that as you go up the ladder, it does begin to correct itself and become player centric as opposed to team centric but many players miss out. He points out immediately that very few of the teams that try to create dynasties ever really develop players enough as individuals who reach the highest level of competition. “Players stagnate and parents get wise, they start to look for other paths but we want to offer something that starts them on the right track early. MHYSC wants to serve players as a developmental foundation and have casted something solid with our TFC affiliated academy”.

“This fits nicely with the new Long Term Player Development plan (LTPD) handed down by the CSA recently and our own club’s player development vision. We are participating in a time of soccer development reform in Canada” says MHYSC Club Head Coach Carl Horton. John DiDonato, president of MHYSC comments … “It’s about the player” echoing similar words of founding president Cliff Marshall. He goes on to say “We have gone ahead of the curve because we want to invest in soccer participation at all levels for life and lead the way in the Hamilton district”.

The club decision to affiliate with TFC was easy. Toronto FC offer expertise, training, mentoring resources and most importantly a tangible path through their academy system for aspiring players to become professionals and to possibly play for their country. Recently, several TFC Senior Academy players have earned professional contracts and it is widely known in the serious soccer community that a large percentage of the Canadian national teams are comprised of players from either Toronto FC, Vancouver White Caps or Montreal Impact Academies.

“Several organizations slap on the name academy and try to lure folks into spending thousands yearly for often questionable training and in typically a watered down talent pool dictated by the ability to pay not play.”

The MHYSC / TFC affiliation will offer National level – player centric coaching, be mentored by a professional soccer organization and best of all will be free for top talent players in the Hamilton area. Players will be on the radar screen of district, provincial and TFC Academy coaches. If you would like detailed information please contact Carl Horton or Leo Cavalluzzo.

Download more general info here

A new way of providing training excellence

MHYSC are adpoting a new Long Term Player Development program that has been structured using components from the new CSA LTPD and TFC Academy.

Although our competitive side has run a full program from the start, we will be moving forward with more of an Academy style training and competition regiment. It will be very technically focused, more demanding and player centric. There is a good chance this will be the last year that some of our teams participate in local leagues like MJ unless the league changes rules and allow for larger rosters to be held so we can train one big pool of players and place them according to ability each week instead of fixed rosters.

This is critical for the motivational needs of both the established player and the ones trying to push upward. If the leagues won't adapt, some teams will play with other club Academy teams from different areas and stay out of the MJ/SRSL league and attend more tournaments.

Expect to also see a movement away from winning based goals or targets to more skill and tactical based targets as a measurement for success. A good example to relate to is a desire to have the goalkeeper handle the ball in the back and help switch play from one side to the other. A second one would be proper build up from the back instead of kicking long balls and giving up possession. Yes, at the young ages we may concede goals and lose games, but if players learn proper soccer technique and tactics plus become proficient over time our mission to prepare boys & girls for the critical age (U11-U15) is accomplished and they will have an advantage.

This concept will be very tuff for some parents (and some coaches) to handle because we've all been made to believe that success is measured in winning. It is a measurement at the higher levels when players are mature for sure, but in youth sports it only serves to stray away from technical excellence in order to exploit physical advantage at a young age which disappears at maturation. In other words, "winning at all cost".

Previous experiences confirm that the winningest teams do not produce the best long term, well rounded quality players. They can play within their team metrics but are not complete soccer players. When observing what has happened at the Provincial level, National level and TFC, we see that today very few players are there from the teams that were winning the leagues back when they were 10-15 years of age. The successful players are those who have strong individual technical skill and a full understanding of how the game is played with and without the ball, in a team environment.

Home About Us Contact Us Outdoor Registration Summer Soccer Camp Winter Programs TFC Academy @ MHYSC Staff Shop Competitive Soccer Tiny Tot Soccer WWISL Club Head Coach/News Club House Renovations Ivor Wynne Standings Schedule Fields & Maps Cliff Marshall Tourn. Photo Day Convenors Referees Festitalia Photo Galleries Our Sponsors Awards Conduct Codes Links	TFC Academy @ MHYSC With the 1st year of the program nearly half complete, we take some time to reflect back on what has been a fantastic start for the TFC @ MHYSC Academy. Equally important, we wish to thank all the coaches and volunteers who have helped to make the program possible through their dedication to our youth. With over 80 boys and girls selected into Premier and Elite Academy, players train a minimum of 3 hours each week on either a U13 or U11 squad. Goalkeepers get an additional 2 hours of dedicated training each week. Approximately once per month, games are scheduled to watch the progress of the players. Scores are irrelevant but technique, intuitiveness and willingness to play in a team format are watched closely. The developmental training received is unparalleled in our district. Led by our very own Canadian National A licensed coach, players are funneling through a curriculum crafted by the academy in conjunction with the TFC playing philosophy and youth academy training recommendations. The TFC Academy@MHYSC program is designed to help aspiring soccer players between the ages of 9 and 13 to experience the commitment level required to play elite level soccer while receiving accelerated training through the fall and winter month or the traditional "off season" for club soccer. Sessions are conducted and supervised by competent, nationally & provincially accredited coaches who work in conjunction with TFC Academy to deliver age appropriate curriculums to boys and girls. All players from any district club are welcome to attend trials each September or by special request through their club head coach. *Details:* · Successful players will be grouped into squads with two age brackets either U11 or U13 · There will be an Elite & Premier squad for each bracket · Boy and Girl squads will operate separately · Players selected for the Elite academy squads will receive all training and equipment at no cost · Players selected for the Premier academy squads will pay a cost to cover indoor fields and equipment only · All players will train for 20 weeks beginning in November and go back to their summer team in late March · All accepted players will also train a minimum of once per week with their MHYSC Competitive team · Equipment will include a training uniform plus Training suit · All squads will have Provincial level coaches and C3/senior level certified coaches · The entire curriculum and delivery including coaching instruction will be augmented by our National B level coach with input by TFC Academy. · Guest University, District, Provincial & TFC coaches will be on hand as well · TFC scouting sessions will be held periodically To pre-register for the try-outs, please contact: c.horton@mhysc.org Trialist Registration Form Academy Volunteer Staff Positions Available - Click Here Complete soccer development finally comes to Hamilton through an affiliation between: Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer & Toronto FC Academy “This is huge for players from Hamilton and district who want to reach their goals in soccer” says Leo Cavalluzzo, Competitive Director for MHYSC. He goes on to say “For years parents and players have thought that they have to be on teams with the best record to succeed and that that meant development when in reality families should be looking for the best player development program, resources and pathways” Cavalluzzo has experienced for himself as a coach and later as a parent with a son in the current National U20 men’s pool, what it takes to succeed. Interestingly, he comments that as you go up the ladder, it does begin to correct itself and become player centric as opposed to team centric but many players miss out. He points out immediately that very few of the teams that try to create dynasties ever really develop players enough as individuals who reach the highest level of competition. “Players stagnate and parents get wise, they start to look for other paths but we want to offer something that starts them on the right track early. MHYSC wants to serve players as a developmental foundation and have casted something solid with our TFC affiliated academy”. “This fits nicely with the new Long Term Player Development plan (LTPD) handed down by the CSA recently and our own club’s player development vision. We are participating in a time of soccer development reform in Canada” says MHYSC Club Head Coach Carl Horton. John DiDonato, president of MHYSC comments … “It’s about the player” echoing similar words of founding president Cliff Marshall. He goes on to say “We have gone ahead of the curve because we want to invest in soccer participation at all levels for life and lead the way in the Hamilton district”. The club decision to affiliate with TFC was easy. Toronto FC offer expertise, training, mentoring resources and most importantly a tangible path through their academy system for aspiring players to become professionals and to possibly play for their country. Recently, several TFC Senior Academy players have earned professional contracts and it is widely known in the serious soccer community that a large percentage of the Canadian national teams are comprised of players from either Toronto FC, Vancouver White Caps or Montreal Impact Academies. “Several organizations slap on the name academy and try to lure folks into spending thousands yearly for often questionable training and in typically a watered down talent pool dictated by the ability to pay not play.” The MHYSC / TFC affiliation will offer National level – player centric coaching, be mentored by a professional soccer organization and best of all will be free for top talent players in the Hamilton area. Players will be on the radar screen of district, provincial and TFC Academy coaches. If you would like detailed information please contact Carl Horton or Leo Cavalluzzo. Download more general info here A new way of providing training excellence MHYSC are adpoting a new Long Term Player Development program that has been structured using components from the new CSA LTPD and TFC Academy. Although our competitive side has run a full program from the start, we will be moving forward with more of an Academy style training and competition regiment. It will be very technically focused, more demanding and player centric. There is a good chance this will be the last year that some of our teams participate in local leagues like MJ unless the league changes rules and allow for larger rosters to be held so we can train one big pool of players and place them according to ability each week instead of fixed rosters. This is critical for the motivational needs of both the established player and the ones trying to push upward. If the leagues won't adapt, some teams will play with other club Academy teams from different areas and stay out of the MJ/SRSL league and attend more tournaments. Expect to also see a movement away from winning based goals or targets to more skill and tactical based targets as a measurement for success. A good example to relate to is a desire to have the goalkeeper handle the ball in the back and help switch play from one side to the other. A second one would be proper build up from the back instead of kicking long balls and giving up possession. Yes, at the young ages we may concede goals and lose games, but if players learn proper soccer technique and tactics plus become proficient over time our mission to prepare boys & girls for the critical age (U11-U15) is accomplished and they will have an advantage. This concept will be very tuff for some parents (and some coaches) to handle because we've all been made to believe that success is measured in winning. It is a measurement at the higher levels when players are mature for sure, but in youth sports it only serves to stray away from technical excellence in order to exploit physical advantage at a young age which disappears at maturation. In other words, "winning at all cost". Previous experiences confirm that the winningest teams do not produce the best long term, well rounded quality players. They can play within their team metrics but are not complete soccer players. When observing what has happened at the Provincial level, National level and TFC, we see that today very few players are there from the teams that were winning the leagues back when they were 10-15 years of age. The successful players are those who have strong individual technical skill and a full understanding of how the game is played with and without the ball, in a team environment.