Young players more than any others need to have access to the highest standards of coaching within a structured and professional development environment to ensure that they have the opportunity to fulfill their talent and potential.

The Ottawa Fury Academy is a key component of the Ottawa Fury S.C. Player Development Program. The Fury Academy provides young soccer players between the ages of 10 and 13, residing in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, with player development programming that is of the highest standard and quality.

The Ottawa Fury's approach to player development relies on the same model used in leading soccer nations, which in recent years is also being adopted by progressive North American clubs - the model is based on providing a player development pyramid internal to a club that includes youth, reserve and senior teams playing in national and/or continental leagues.

Within the Ottawa Fury S.C., the Fury Academy acts as a preparatory and feeder program for the Fury's Super Y-League teams (age 14 and older) but not to the exclusion of other potential players.

Academy Programs: The Fury Method

The Fury Academy offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to player development. All Academy players benefit from training and instruction that ensures development across all four elements of soccer performance - technical, tactical, physical, and psychological - and in a manner that is informed by outcomes. Players also benefit from age appropriate training and instruction that provide the necessary foundations for continued, and often accelerated, development in subsequent years.

The Fury Academy also fosters, and relies on, an environment that supports the social and emotional needs of the young children participating in the Academy. This includes encouraging positive attitudes toward learning, friendship and fair play as well as helping engender inner discipline and self-esteem within each player.

In offering a high quality learning environment, the Fury Academy provides players with access to quality facilities and unique training aids that help facilitate development.

Led by Technical Director, Frank Lofranco, the Fury Academy is staffed with knowledgeable and specialized coaches.As is the case at all levels within the Ottawa Fury S.C., the ongoing education of staff coaches is vital to ensuring player development programs are refreshed to keep pace with international advances in coaching methods and standards (link to Staff).

Academy Teams and Selection

• 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams
• U10 to U13 players are eligible (link).
• Open-tryouts take place in September/October
• Individual tryouts are ongoing.

The Annual Program and Commitment Level

• Average of three to four sessions/games per week
• Games scheduled through indoor league play/outdoor competitive games (local).
• Tournaments are mix of local and out-of-town tournaments (e.g. US National Cup)
• Specialist Training for Goalkeepers
• 2 day weekend camp (May)
• 1 week summer camp (July)

Please note that, unlike the School of Excellence, where players may remain with their community youth clubs, the Academy program has a team-based competitive component.