Saskatchewan Soccer Association and Canada Soccer to Launch Regional EXCEL Centre based at the SaskTel Sports Centre, one of the premier indoor facilities in Canada
Saskatchewan Soccer Association Introduces REX Program Set to Kick Off in November 2016
Saskatchewan Soccer Association and Canada Soccer announced today a partnership to launch the next Women’s Regional EXCEL Centre (REX) in Canada. Saskatchewan’s centre will be one of seven in the country through the 2016-2017 season. The program will be part of a realignment of the Female High Performance Stream in the province. “The Saskatchewan Soccer Association is committed to providing opportunities for participants to pursue their soccer goals,” said Dave Nutt, the Association’s Director of Soccer Operations. “We are very proud to be able to provide a training environment that meets the high standards and expectations of Canada Soccer, and we are thankful to its staff for the support and recognition that REX provides.”
As part of the Canada Soccer Pathway, Saskatchewan Soccer Association’s High Performance Development Centre will now offer the REX Program, and as such will help to maintain a standardized national curriculum for female players Under-13 to Under-18, feeding into Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Program.
“The Women’s Regional EXCEL program is a key learning step for aspiring players across the country as it will provide a high performance culture in a best-with-best environment that will continue to strengthen our Canada Women’s EXCEL system,” said John Herdman, Women’s National Team Head Coach. “The effort and dedication from the SSA at all levels of the game further highlights their commitment to enhancing player development. We are pleased to be partnering with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association and happy that the province is providing this opportunity for young female players.”
REX will become an essential program of the organization’s stream-based model, a system that provides a clear pathway for all participants. REX is a component of the Association’s High Performance Stream infrastructure that includes the new Training Centre and Dedicated Players Program network, which are designed to prepare young female players for REX. The Saskatchewan Soccer Association High Performance Stream is aligned with the recently restructured Competitive, Recreational and Grassroots Streams.
The Stream is led by the Association’s High Performance Stream Manager and REX Director, Terrol Russell. A dedicated team of program support staff work alongside players to offer a full complement of programming. This programming provides opportunities for female athletes to ultimately be identified for REX and potentially for the national EXCEL Program.
“We are extremely proud to be part of a national vision and pathway where all the members of the soccer community are working together on a common goal. The work ethic by our staff and athletes in gaining recognition for the program has started us on our goal of becoming a soccer development hotbed,” said Russell. “We are thankful to our members, SaskSport Inc., Canada
Soccer and the EXCEL staff for their support and for continually pushing us to reach new levels. The new challenges that have been placed in front of us are exciting and something we can work at achieving together; is a great time to be playing soccer in Saskatchewan.”
The Women’s National EXCEL Program is a six-year structure for developing female players Under-14 to Under-20, who demonstrate the highest level of ability, in preparation for their contribution to Canada’s Women’s National Team. The program is built on four corners of development – physical, technical/tactical, mental, and social/emotional. Canada’s Women’s EXCEL Program provides a clear and continuous pathway built across four main delivery mechanisms: the Women’s Regional EXCEL Centres; the Women’s National EXCEL Program; the EXCELeration stream; and a network of EXCEL recommended schools.
For more information on Canada Soccer’s Women’s EXCEL Program, visit http://www.canadasoccer.com/women-s-excel-program-u-14-to-u-17-p144318-preview-1. For more information on the Saskatchewan Soccer Association, go to www.sasksoccer.com.
