Southwest United is excited to announce the Academy Training Program! This training option is being launched as part of our Club’s 40th Anniversary and is available to all players born between 2012 and 2003. The Academy’s goal is to facilitate individual skill development for players who may be looking for additional high level training, whether they are currently on a team or not.
Since our 1981 inception we have placed athletes in colleges, universities and professional clubs all over the world. The one characteristic of all these athletes is their focus and commitment to individual skill development. This skill development program will help players achieve higher levels whether that is club, provincial select team, national, university or even professional. We strive to develop young athletes to their full soccer potential by providing enriched training conducted in a challenging and dynamic environment.
Academy players will receive 10 sessions of Centre of Excellence training and 10 sessions of technical training during the outdoor season. Academy training will be led by SWU’s Technical Director, Tomasz Janas and assisted by other members of our technical team including Larisa Staub and Matthew King.
In addition to holding his USA Soccer Federation B, C, D and F Licenses, his USA and Polish National Goalkeeping License and being UEFA and FIFA certified, Tomasz Janas is also a Canadian Scout with SRUSA and a Sport Management Worldwide Soccer Management and Player Agent.
Larisa Staub, a SWU 1995 Girls alumnus, is no stranger to the international stage. As a member of the Canadian U17 National team, she won silver at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 Championship in 2012. That same year, she represented Canada again at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan. In July 2018, Larisa signed a one year contract with Portugal’s Women’s Premier League Team SC Braga. Later that year, the club won its first ever Women’s Super League Championship. Larisa has been a valued member of our technical team since 2018.
Matthew King played for SWU’s 1996 and 1997 boys teams as a youth before joining the FC Edmonton Academy in 2012. He played with FC Edmonton for three years and was captain in his final year. He then played two years at Grand Canyon University and two years at Valparaiso University, both NCAA Division 1 programs. After graduating from University Matthew played two seasons as a pro in Sweden before returning home to pursue coaching. In addition to being a valuable member of our Technical team, Matthew is also head coach of our 2008 boys team.
Academy players will be provided with SWU clothing and will train alongside our SWU teams for the technical portion. Fees for this option are set at $700 and registration is now open.
Please contact our Administrator, Lynn Marcellus, at administrator@swu.ca for more information.
