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 Prospects Program is an integrated scouting program to identify the top U8 to U12 prospects in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec and provide them with advanced player-centric training from top-level coaches. It forms part of a comprenhensive Player Development Pathway which offers a development path for all players in the club from age 5 through the professional ranks.

The program is offered to Boys and Girls aged 8 through 12 or players born in the calendar years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 or 2004.

The 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 Pathway internal to a club that includes youth, reserve and senior teams playing in national and/or continental leagues.At the pinnacle of the pyramid is Ottawa's Professional North American Soccer League (NASL) team. The pathway also maps onto the development stages inthe CSA's Long Term Player Development model (LTPD)

Participation in the Prospects Program is by selection only and requires total commitment, Trials will be held annually in September and continue throughout the year.

Continued participation in the program will be based on commitment, performance and potential.

A select group of Prospects players will be invited to travel to London to take part in a 1 week Tottenham Hotspur Academy program at March Break.

The Prospect Program acts as a preparatory and feeder program for the Boys and Girls Elite Youth Development teams (ages 13 through 16) but not to the exclusion of other potential players.

Prospects Program Approach

The Prospects Program offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to player development. All Prospects 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 Prospects Program also fosters, and relies on, an environment that supports the social and emotional needs of the young children participating in the program. 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 Prospects program provides players with access to quality facilities and unique training aids that help facilitate development. 

The Prospects Program is staffed with knowledgeable and specialized coaches. The Boys Prospects Program Technical Director is Jason Whiting while the Girls program will be led by 2010 Ottawa Coach of the Year, Jimmy Zito. As is the case at all levels within the Player Development Pathway 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.

Prospects Program Information

     - Boys and Girls born in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 or 2004
     - Open tryouts take place in September/October. Registration will open
       shortly
     - Individual tryouts are ongoing throughout the year.

The Annual Program and Commitment Level

     - Training Sessions held at Algonquin College Soccer Complex (Domed in
       Winter)
     - Boys Winter Sessions scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings                 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.
     - Girls Winter Sessions scheduled on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00            PM and Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
     - Bi-Weekly Winter sessions on Friday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. 
     - Algonquin College Soccer Complex (Domed in Winter)
     - Winter - Teams will play in the Ottawa-Carleton Futsal League
     - Summer - Tournaments are mix of local and out-of-town tournaments
       depending on age level (e.g. Robbie, FC Delco, Spirit United, Seacoast,
       Nordic Cup, Laval, Brossard, Mini World Cup, Kickin' in the Capital)
     - Specialist Training for Goalkeepers - coach David Bellemare.
     - International Academy Week at March Break e.g. 8 day visit to Tottenham
       Hotspur of the EPL in London. Train for a full week with Tottenham                     Academy coaches, attend a first team training session, attend a Spurs               Premier League game, visit Wembley Stadium and more.
     - Discounts to Specialist Summer Camps (Tottenham, Specialist Camps,           etc)

Please note that, unlike the School of Excellence, where players may remain with their community youth clubs, Prospects players must commit fully to the program.