Canada Soccer – Canada Soccer, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and BC Soccer have partnered to open Canada’s second Super REX Centre in Vancouver, providing Canada’s top youth talent with a daily training environment that supports Canada’s elite women’s youth players through advanced curriculum.  As a hub for Canada’s most promising National EXCEL players, the Super REX Centre will welcome relocated players who will experience a nationally aligned training environment with the highest operating standards.

“Players in Canada Soccer’s EXCEL system, are provided with a foundation of technical, tactical, and physical development that aligns with the programing of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach. “Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Soccer have supported Canada Soccer’s development vision and their partnership in this initiative is providing more opportunities for players to train with the best, including those relocated from other areas of Canada.  The Super REX centres will provide players an opportunity to develop alongside the best in their age group, which ensures an alignment that will provide Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team with a continued flow of players who have the technical and cultural understanding that will allow them to succeed on the international stage.”  

Since the launch of the REX program in 2014, Canada Soccer has made huge gains in the alignment of player development, with eight regional lincensed centres offering 40+ weeks of standard development to 150+ players across the country.    Canada Soccer’s first Super REX Centre opened in Quebec in September 2016 and with the addition of the Vancouver Super REX Centre, Canada’s best players will further benefit from standard operating structures, systems and a national curriculum that is aligned with Canada Soccer’s long-term Women’s National Team goals.  

“Canada Soccer has created a robust infrastructure and system alignment throughout Canada, providing a strong foundation to build an even better future for our talented players,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary.  “With these foundations in place, the next four years present an opportunity to sharpen the focus in areas such as the quality and effectiveness of the processes, systems, programs and approaches that impact our EXCEL players as we look towards future FIFA Women’s World Cups and Olympic Games.”

Eight players from outside British Columbia will join the Vancouver Super REX Centre, including six players who were recently part of Canada’s National EXCEL U-17 and U-20 teams (Teni Akindoju, 2001, Soccer Nova Scotia REX Program / Dunbrack Soccer Club, Halifax, NS; Aaliyah Scott, 2001, Markham Soccer Club (OPDL), Pickering, ON; Jayde Riviere, 2001, Markham Soccer Club (OPDL), Pickering, ON; Maya Antoine, 2001, Vaughan Soccer Club (OPDL), Vaughan, ON; Maya Ladhani, 2002, Vaughan Soccer Club (OPDL), Guelph, ON; Tanya Boychuck, 2000, FC Edmonton Girls REX, Edmonton, AB). 

 “We are honoured to be selected by Canada Soccer as a Super REX centre,” said Emma Humphries, Whitecaps FC BC REX head coach and girls academy director. “We are very excited to now be welcoming out-of-province players to join our group here in BC. These additions will only strengthen our development structure, our competitive environment, and the pathway to Canada Soccer’s youth and senior national teams.”

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite program will officially become a Canada Soccer Super REX Centre on 5 September, welcoming top women’s soccer prospects from across the country.
The Canada Soccer EXCEL program aligns the National EXCEL (NEX) and Regional EXCEL (REX) training environments to provide the most talented 13 to 18-year-olds across Canada with 3,000+ high quality training hours over their six-year EXCEL journey.  With a standardised approach to player development, Canada’s EXCEL players benefit from the opportunity to train with the best young players, within Canada Soccer’s established system and national curriculum, as they move through their journey to Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team.

Corporate Communications | Gestionnaire, Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587

Richard Scott
Men’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale masculine
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305

Carrie Croft
Women’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale féminine
ccroft@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.406.4986