I went online to check out the website and read up on the various academies available to the kids. I learned that along with the Skills Academies that were available to everyone, there was also a "Prospects Academy" starting at the U10 age level (kids born in 2003 and 2004). It was described as a "high level training program for advanced players in a professional club environment, with only a limited number of players being invited to participate." The try-outs were to take place over 3 days with 3 rounds of cuts. The evaluations would be done by official Whitecaps scouts and coaches. It was going to be INTENSE!! Pete and I talked to Ethan about it and we all came to the conclusion that it would be cool to try out for the experience alone. Hockey try-outs in September can be pretty stressful, and we all figured that this would make hockey try-outs seem like a cake walk. Never in a million years did any of us think he'd make it past the first round of cuts. Not only would he be one of the youngest kids trying out, but keep in mind that he has never played anything other than Community Association Soccer which only takes place in May and June each year. Sure we spend a LOT of our summer days kicking the ball around or following the Soccer in the Park coordinators around to various parks for pick up games, but the soccer balls are always stored on the shelf at the first suggestion of hockey season starting. None of us - Ethan included - expected anything to come from the tryouts.
The first day was as expected. Lots of evaluators and lots of clipboards. The kids trying out blew us away with their skills. There was one kid who repeatedly hammered the ball into the top corner of the net. Another kid who bounced the ball off his knee/head/foot more times than I could count without it hitting the ground. Another kid who was dribbling the ball through pylons and doing so many crazy moves that I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. The parents were proud and boasting as they compared their kids to everyone else's. No one seemed to pay any attention to the kid who was teeing up his ball on a mini cone before shooting on net to see if it would help his ball get airborne. That kid's parents watched on with a sickening feeling that they'd made a big mistake and just sat there chewing finger nails and hoping their kid would get through the session without breaking down.
Thankfully the 1.5 hour session flew by and Ethan gave it his all. He listened, he tried his hardest and we were thrilled for him when he bounded into the dressing room afterwards announcing that he was invited back the next day. WOW!
Day 2 was even more intense if that was possible. The top prospects coach from Vancouver flew in to run the evaluations and make the cuts. Ethan was given a number of tips from various coaches during the drills. He continued to listen well and try his hardest. He was rewarded by being invited to Day 3. HOLY SMOKES!
Day 3 was different. Bart, the head guy from Vancouver was still in charge but there were no more clipboards. Instead, they ran drill after drill after drill and had the kids dripping in sweat. With 15 minutes left and a group of exhausted kids, they ran a full field scrimmage. Ethan came off the field absolutely drenched but with a big grin.
At the end of the 3rd session the parents were asked to meet with Bart and Bryce - the two head coaches. They explained that we would receive an email by the end of the day. They warned us that some of the final cuts would surprise us. They explained their coaching philosophy, their expectations and the following criteria for selecting the final group of prospects:
25% on technical skills;
25% on endurance (that final scrimmage after exhausting them with drills was to see who was still willing/able to give it their all);
25% on coachability; and
25% on ability to commit to the whole program.
The afternoon was LONG. There was a nervous buzz in the air and we all were trying hard not to get our hopes up. We knew Ethan would score well on 3 out of the 4 criteria. We'd also seen him improve tremendously over the 3 days. But we knew it was still a huge long shot. Every time my phone vibrated informing me of a new email, we held our breath.
At 5:19 pm, the moment arrived. The email that was waiting to be opened in my inbox was finally from Bryce. It took Ethan about 5 full read throughs before he believed it. The smallest smile finally made it's way across his face before he looked up at me and asked if it was real.
Ethan
I would like to congratulate you for being selected to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan Regional Training Center U10 Prospects!
We look forward to working with you over the next 14 weeks. I have included a schedule for our program above if you have any questions please contact me.
Thanks
Bryce Chapman
Saskatchewan Academy
Regional Head Coach
AHHH!! Holy geez!! So what did it all mean? We hadn't exactly thought it through when we were just going to the try-outs for the experience! Fortunately the schedule attached to the email seemed manageable, with the Spring session wrapping up the first weekend in July. The opportunity was huge and the program description sold us:
- Only a limited number of players will be invited to participate
- Supplemental club training for advanced players in a professional club environment
- Participants follow a Whitecaps FC age specific curriculum that includes technical development, strength and conditioning, and sport nutrition, supported by assessments and evaluations
- All sessions developed by Whitecaps FC staff and delivered by Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan regional head coach Bryce Chapman
- Visits from Whitecaps FC Vancouver based coaching staff
- One Major League Soccer (MLS) or Showcase weekend in Vancouver with Residency staff and the opportunity to watch a Whitecaps FC MLS match
- Connected to Whitecaps FC's Academy Centre network to provide greater exposure and opportunities
Zia knew about the tryouts and had followed along with some texts over the weekend. Needless to say she was just as pumped as the rest of us when it became official. She made Ethan's day with a delivery at the door 2 days later:
I tried to take some pictures during the first two practices this past weekend. Spectators sit a floor above so it's hard to get a great shot. I'll try to get some better ones over the next few weeks.
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