HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
The unique FCT High Performance (HP) Program combines academic education and futsal/soccer training in an all-day school program.
By collaborating with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Region of Peel District School Board (PDSB), student-athletes participate in a full day program where they attend school with their team for half a day, and then train with FCT for the other half. The academic education component is based on the Ontario Curriculum, and is comprehensive and intense. It is a complete full-time school program but condensed into half days. The program is designed to support high level amateur athletes with an accommodated half school day to help facilitate training needs promoting balance in their academic and athletic commitments. With a seamless methodology that cultivates academic growth, athletic improvement, character development, and social responsibility, the program prepares student-athletes both in sport and in life.
THE HP OBJECTIVES AND MISSION
To create a competitive atmosphere where athletes can showcase their talents and strive for excellence, while continuing to grow and develop both as athletes and individuals
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
To develop players to their maximum potential and skill set, ensuring that the player never loses their love and passion for the game
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
To create a “real world” type of experience where student athletes act and conduct themselves as professional athletes.
These experiences are learned through sport can be applied to gain mutual respect and humility.
COMPETITIVES
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HP STUDENT ATHLETE
An HP Student-Athlete Profile is:
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Committed to achieving both academic and athletic success
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Well disciplined, respectful, hardworking
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Independent, self-directed, and organized
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Working at grade level
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An individual with strong time-management skills
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Referred by FC Toronto coaches as being a “high performing athlete”
Note: a Student Athlete does not have to be a Rep member of FCT to qualify for the Program
FCT HP AFFILLIATED SCHOOLS
SILVERTHORN
COLLEGIATE
INSTITUTE
Toronto High School
Grade 9 to 12
HOLLYCREST
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
Toronto Elementary
Grade 4 to 8
MISSISSAUGA
SECONDARY
SCHOOL
Peel High School
Grade 9 to 12
DOLPHIN
SENIOR PUBLIC
SCHOOL
Peel Middle School
Grade 6 to 8
BRITTANIA
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
Peel Elementary
Grade 4 to 5
Learn More
The HP Program is now it is fourth year with Hollycrest Middle School (Grade 4 to 8) in the Toronto District School Board (Etobicoke), and students are now graduating to the HP Silverthorn Collegiate Institute (Grade 9 to 12) program. FCT has now successfully expanded and aligned with the Peel District School Board which includes: Britannia Public School (Grade 4 to 5), Dolphin Senior Public School (Grade 6 to 8) and Mississauga Secondary School (Grade 9 to 12).
PROGRAM CURRICULUM
The five-day training program is comprised of soccer and futsal training, as well as classroom sessions focusing on the sport and the sporting industry, as well as mental and physical well being and understanding. The Toronto program is held at The Olympium at Centennial Park for student-athletes attending Hollycrest Middle School. The Mississauga program is held at the Mississauga Secondary School Soccer Dome and Field for student athletes attending school in the Peel Region.
THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON FOUR DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Focuses on enhancing the students competence, commitment, and mental toughness. The program includes mental coaching and resilience skill building using on-line weekly video modules which are reviewed.
Focuses on training to improve the athlete’s distribution skills, dribbling skills, first touch skills and 1 v 1 attacking and defending.
SOCIOLOGICAL
Focuses on improving and fostering student athletes in terms of their maturity and responsibility, their leadership skills, relationships on and off the field, and communicating with their team, coaches, and trainers.
PHYSIOLOGICAL
Focuses on the players physicality by working with a professional Strength and Condition coach. Athletes focus on proper movement skills, improving on sprinting mechanics, working on basics of speed and agility and basic body weight strengthening. As well athletes focus on stretching and breathing with Yoga sessions.
TECHNICAL
FUTSAL AND SOCCER TRAINING
Lead by Coaches Roy Blanche, Hugo Rodrigues and Brandon Simoes, athletes train in intense soccer and futsal drills and exercises for 2.5 hours per day five times a week. The 12.5 hour per week training program is almost three times longer than the 4.5 hours typically offered by most other clubs (assuming 3 nights a week for 1.5 hours).
This allows for more focused, intense, and longer training sessions that cannot be matched by shorter evening training sessions. Athletes benefit from smaller training groups offering more intimate training with the professional coaches.
FCT Players who are enrolled in the High Performance Program are excused from evening training sessions allowing families to enjoy their evenings as a family, or allow the athletes to enjoy other sports or activities in the evening.
ON COURT AND FIELD TRAINING IS BROKEN INTO TWO SEGMENTS:
FUTSAL AND SOCCER TRAINING
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Dribbling
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Ball Mastery
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Attacking and Defending Transitions
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First Touch
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Passing
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Shooting
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Spatial Awareness & Cognitive Training
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On-Field Position and Game Flow
FITNESS AND HEALTH
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Strength and Conditioning
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Speed, Agility and Power Development
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Overall Fitness and Stamina
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Mobility
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Athletic Therapy
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Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid
IN CLASS EDUCATION
Off the field/court, student-athlete will spend 5 hours a week in Classroom sessions focused on three segments:
UNDERSTANDING THE GAME
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Tactics and Strategies
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Video Analysis of Training Sessions, Past Games, and Pro Games
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Understanding the Rules and Nuances of the game
SPORTS SCIENCE
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Nutrition
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Mental Coaching
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Injury Prevention and Management,
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Evaluation and Assessment
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First-Aid
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Basic Anatomy
SPORTS EDUCATION
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Sports Marketing and Advertising
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Player Promotion
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Public Speaking and Media Training
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Sport Industry research projects
In addition to expanding the student-athletes knowledge and understanding the sport and the industry technically off the field, FCT’s objective is to also help build the overall character of the student-athlete focusing on leadership, self-motivation, organization and time-management. Student athletes also are assigned research projects and public presenting on various aspects in sports and health. In-class sessions also include working in groups to help foster team building skills promoting team bonding, culture, respect and peer responsibility.
To expand the student-athletes experiences, field trips are also worked into the curriculum giving the student-athletes a break from their classes and training for fun, and unique opportunities to add to their in-class lessons.
