Glenfir Soccer Academy

Academics and sports often go hand in hand. Our high performance athletes face serious time management issues in today's world, balancing academics and sports can be very challenging. The standards for graduating and being accepted to post secondary institutions are very high, and to play soccer at a high performance level requires an enormous amount of time and passion.

Glenfir is supporting highly motivated students by offering a high performance soccer academy. Student-athletes who love soccer can pursue their dreams and ambitions in a comprehensive school setting.

Students will learn the game first hand from Coach Chris Bennett, Director of Glenfir's Soccer Academy, who brings years of experience as both a well-respected coach and a professional player. He was a professional player in the North American Soccer League, player and coach for the Canadian National Team, Head Coach of the Whitecaps Women's League North American Champions in 2004, Whitecaps men's reserve coach in 2005, and is the Technical Director of the South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (SOYSA).

The program is strictly supplementary to the existing programs run by various community soccer clubs (i.e. SOYSA), and this program is not designed to establish or develop teams for competition.

In September 2009, the Glenfir Soccer Academy officially open it's doors. Next year we are offering more flexibility in the part-time program by offering players one, two, three, and four day options.

Click here to view next year's details and fees.

Click here to view the 2009/2010 Glenfir Soccer Academy Calendar. The 2010/2011 Academy calender will be posted shortly.

Goals
-To provide Glenfir students with outstanding instruction in the sport of soccer, in an environment that is totally committed to athletic development while matching the academic standards already set by Glenfir.
-To provide technical soccer instruction to athletes committed to high performance goals.
-To provide education in the history of soccer, sport science, psychology, fitness, nutrition, strength training, and all of the technical and tactical aspects of soccer.
-To provide time management, goal setting and leadership skills.
-To provide opportunities to pursue post-secondary athletic and/or academic scholarships, playing professionally, or seeking a career such as coaching or officiating.
-To provide parents and families with the support network and education opportunities using the school and academy as a catalyst.

Objectives
The aim of Glenfir Soccer Academy is to provide elite soccer training for student athletes. Students can combine a strong academic foundation with soccer interests in the context of an established, well-structured and organized school schedule.

Whether your aspiration is to play professionally, earn a university scholarship, or simply improve enough to win a spot on your team, the Glenfir Soccer Academy is the program to meet your needs.

Benefits
-Attend a private school with an excellent Academic Program
-Low student/teacher ratio
-Offers summer camps for boys and girls
-First aid training
-Superb gym and training facilities including access to an indoor soccer field
-Complete and on-going assessment & evaluation (2 full reports: pre and post)
-Parent-Instructor interviews offered with instructors/teachers
-Annual Year End Recognition & Awards Ceremony
-All students receive Physical Education credits.
-Grades 8 & 9 students receive credits for Health & Career Education
-Grades 10-12 receive credits for locally developed Board Authority Authorized (BAA) courses: Theory & Principles of Soccer
- Receive up to three levels of coaching certification: Community Coach Children (necessary for coaching 6 to 10 year olds, Community Coach Youth (necessary for coaching 10 to 14 year olds), and Community Coaching Senior (necessary for coaching 14 year olds and older).

Affiliations
-SOYSA
-BC Soccer Association

Program Costs
Click here for more detailed information on the different program fees for 2010/2011.

Expectations/Vision
To develop elite soccer players who:
-are technically sound
-are physically fit
-have an excellent knowledge of the game
-are mentally strong and resilient
-are soccer smart

Program Requirements
-Students must be registered full time at Glenfir School
-Students must be accepted into the Glenfir Soccer Academy
-Male or Female
-Grades 7-12

Program Components
Glenfir's Soccer Development Model :

Level I: an introduction to soccer, developing basic soccer abilities through small-sided games that help build an interest and love for the game.

Level II: developing coordination and soccer fitness through basic technique training and imaginative small-sided games that help foster the player's enjoyment.

Level III: a broad range of soccer specific individual and group training that will improve the player's skill level and soccer savvy.

Level IV: advanced soccer training that will support our vision, and prepare our graduating students for the next level of development.

Soccer is an integral part of the athletic program at the Glenfir School; however students who are accepted into Glenfir's Soccer Academy are subject to a higher, elite level of soccer training.

Click here for the detailed program components.

Timetable
During the three Glenfir terms, Coach Bennett will be able to train players five days a week. This training will cover all of the important key areas that have made his teams so successful in the past. His teams have won International, National, Provincial and Club Championships and he can now work with his Glenfir players using the same coaching style and techniques that have been tried and proven. Please click here to view the teams he is so proud of.

Full-Time Program
- 2:45 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday through Thursday

Part-Time Program
- 3.30 to 5.00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays,  Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Application
Application to Glenfir School:
-Application for Admission
-Confidential Character Reference
-Confidential Teacher Reference
-Confidential Health Record
-Copy of most recent report card
-Admissions Entrance Exam

Application to Glenfir Soccer Academy:
-Application for Admission
-Confidential Coach Reference
-Player Statement
-Parent Statement
-Try-Outs

Click here to download the 2010/2011 registration form.

Academic Credit
-4 credits in Athlete 10, 11, & 12
-Grades 8 & 9 students receive credits for Health & Career Education
-Grades 10-12 receive credits for locally developed Board Authority Authorized (BAA) courses: Theory & Principles of Soccer 

Academic Expectations
Students enrolled in the Soccer Academy will receive a solid grounding for university scholarship programs and therefore must maintain the high academic standards of the Glenfir School.

-Good to excellent work habits are expected in each subject area.
-Good to excellent is expected in the area of social responsibility.

The Standard Aptitude Test (SAT) exam is a mandatory requirement for any player or student at the Glenfir School. Glenfir researches different programs each year to confirm SAT entrance and core course requirements to give our graduating students a leg up in potential scholarship opportunities.

Coach/Instructor
To learn more about the Director and Head Coach of Glenfir's Soccer Academy, Chris Bennett, click here.