NASL FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton Academy Heads to Toronto for Umbro Showcase

Published on May 19, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


FC Edmonton's Academy program is breaking new ground as its U-16 and U-18 teams prepare to compete in the Umbro Top Rated Invitational Soccer Showcase, May 19-23 in Toronto, ON. The weekend will also see the Academy competing against Major League Soccer's (MLS) Toronto FC Academy in a pair of exhibition matches on Sunday morning.

Both the U-16 and U-18 age groups will compete in three matches during the Top Rated Invitational. The Academy's U-16 group will open their Showcase tournament Friday against Oakville SC. Saturday will see the U-16's taking on North Mississauga before wrapping up their schedule with a match against Ottawa South United SC on Monday morning. The U-16's weekend will be highlighted by a Sunday exhibition match against Toronto FC Academy.

The Academy's U-18 group begins their Showcase schedule against Toronto Lynx SC on Saturday before facing off against Woodbridge Strikers Sunday. The Academy concludes the weekend against Mount Hamilton Youth. The U-18's will also face off against TFC's Academy in a Sunday morning match.

"Any time our Academy can play against another professional academy whether it be TFC or hopefully the Whitecaps in the future, that's how we test ourselves," FC Edmonton technical director Jeff Paulus explained. "That's the standard. As a coaching staff in the Academy, that's how we test our training, it validates what we're doing and shows us where we need to get stronger and what we need to do a better job at as coaches."

The Umbro Top Rated Invitational hosts more than 130 teams and is recognized as one of North America's top showcase and stands alone as Canada's top-ranked showcase for Canadian clubs and college coaches. The showcase has hosted over 1,500 teams and more than 30,000 players, over the years millions of dollars in scholarship funds have been awarded to players who have participated in the Umbro Showcase. While the focus of the tournament surrounds the players on the pitch, Paulus stresses that the experience will also benefit the Academy's coaching staff.

"I think that for our Academy to continue to grow that our staff need to continue to grow as well, myself included," Paulus added. "This trip is really about everyone involved with the Academy, it's not just about the players."

FC Edmonton Academy began in January 2012 and now in its fifth year, continues to be a fully funded program by FC Edmonton owners Tom and Dave Fath. One of the goals of the Academy is to provide an opportunity for the elite player to focus solely on their individual growth within the playing philosophy of FC Edmonton.

For more information on the Academy and FC Edmonton, please visit www.fcedmonton.com.

FC Edmonton Academy Umbro Showcase Schedule

U-16 Academy

May 20: Oakville SC vs. FC Edmonton Academy - 5:00 p.m. MT (Ice Lands Field Turf #1)

May 21: FC Edmonton Academy vs. North Mississauga - 3:00 p.m. MT (Ice Lands Field Turf #2)

May 22: FC Edmonton vs. Toronto FC Academy - 9:30 a.m. MT (TBA)

May 23: Ottawa South United SC vs. FC Edmonton Academy - 8:30 a.m. (Ice Lands Field Turf #1)

U-18 Academy

May 21: FC Edmonton Academy vs. Toronto Lynx SC - 1:35 p.m. MT (Clarkson Park #12)

May 22: FC Edmonton Academy vs. Toronto FC Academy - 7:00 a.m. MT (TBA)

May 22: FC Edmonton Academy vs. Woodbridge Strikers - 11:40 a.m. MT (South Common #10)

May 23: Mount Hamilton Youth vs. FC Edmonton Academy

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 19, 2016


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