Performance Department
Developing the Complete Player
Player development involves more than what happens during team training. Technical ability, tactical understanding, physical preparation, decision-making, confidence, and recovery all contribute to a player’s ability to perform and continue to progress.
The Foothills Performance Department brings coaches, trainers, video analysts, sport scientists and health professionals together in a coordinated approach to player development. These colleagues contribute different areas of expertise while working toward the same objective: helping players understand their development and giving them the tools to improve.
Depending on a player’s age, team and selected program, support may include:
- Sport science and athletic development
- Strength, speed, movement and conditioning
- Video and match analysis
- Position-specific development
- Player Performance Reviews
- Physical testing and performance data
- Injury-prevention education
- Rehabilitation and return-to-play support
- Education related to recovery, nutrition and mental performance
This integrated model helps connect what players do during team training, academy sessions, performance programming and competition.
Sports Science: Preparing Players
Foothills’ sports science and performance colleagues help players develop the physical qualities required for soccer while taking into account their age and developmental stage.
Programming may address:
- Movement mechanics
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Speed and agility
- Strength and power
- Aerobic fitness
- Repeated-sprint ability
- Preparation and recovery
- Injury-risk reduction
Performance staff work with coaches to connect physical preparation with the demands players experience during training and competition. Where testing or workload information is available, it can help colleagues identify trends, inform programming and provide players with greater insight into their development.
Sessions are designed for the needs of developing athletes. The objective is not simply to make players work harder; it is to help them move well, tolerate the demands of the game and develop physical qualities safely over time.
Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Return to Play
Player health and wellbeing are fundamental to long-term development. Foothills combines age-appropriate physical preparation with access to qualified health professionals to help players manage injury risks, address concerns promptly and return safely and confidently following an injury.
Building Stronger, More Resilient Players
Injury prevention begins before a player is injured. Depending on age, team and program, players may participate in movement, strength and conditioning activities that address:
- Movement mechanics and body control
- Strength, stability and mobility
- Acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction
- Soccer-specific warm-up and Pre-Act routines
- Appropriate preparation, workload and recovery
No program can prevent every injury. The objective is to prepare players for soccer’s demands and reduce manageable risks wherever possible.
Our Partnership with Vivo Cura Health
Through its partnership with Vivo Cura Health, Foothills players can access multidisciplinary, sport-focused assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
Vivo Cura and the Foothills Performance Department work together to support:
- Timely access to qualified medical and rehabilitation professionals
- Evidence-based assessment and treatment
- Individual rehabilitation and return-to-play planning
- Communication among the player, family, medical professionals and relevant Foothills colleagues
- A gradual and informed return to training and competition
Vivo Cura services are available to all registered Foothills players, not only those in high-performance programs. APDL players also receive baseline medical testing that can provide valuable context for monitoring and return-to-play decisions.
Book with Vivo Cura
A Coordinated Return to Play
When an injury occurs, the priority is the player’s health, not returning for a particular match or tournament.
Vivo Cura or another qualified healthcare provider assesses the injury and directs treatment. With appropriate consent, Foothills performance colleagues and coaches use that medical guidance to support a gradual soccer-specific return that may progress through:
- Medical assessment and rehabilitation
- Individual physical preparation
- Modified or non-contact activity
- Progressive participation in team training
- Unrestricted training and return to competition
Coaches and performance staff do not diagnose injuries or override medical direction. Their role is to apply the approved plan within the player’s training environment and help the player rebuild both physical readiness and confidence.
Video Analysis
Helping Players and Coaches See the Game Differently
Video analysis gives players and coaches the opportunity to revisit moments that can be difficult to recognize in real time. By examining match footage, they can identify effective behaviours, explore areas for improvement and connect game situations with concepts introduced during training.
Analysis may focus on:
- Position-specific movement and decision-making
- Technical execution under pressure
- Team shape and tactical organization
- Pressing cues and transition moments
- Creating, using and defending space
- Finishing and defending behaviours
- Communication and collective decision-making
Video analysts collaborate with coaches to select footage that is relevant to the team’s curriculum and development priorities. Coaches then help players interpret what they see and apply those lessons during training and competition.
As players mature, video can also support individual reflection, highlight development and preparation for future playing opportunities. Its primary purpose, however, is learning.
Player Performance Review: Connecting Perspectives
For applicable U13+ Tier 1–3 programs, the Player Performance Review process brings together observations from the team and academy environments. Team coaches and academy colleagues contribute feedback related to:
- Technical development
- Tactical understanding
- Mental and personal development
- Strengths demonstrated during the season
- Priorities for continued growth
- The player’s goals in soccer and beyond
The player, coach or trainer, and parent or guardian can then discuss that feedback and identify constructive next steps. Reviews are stored in ProSoccerData so players and families can revisit the information and monitor development over time.
The process is intended to create a shared understanding, not simply to produce a score or ranking. Players are encouraged to participate actively, reflect on their progress and take increasing ownership of their development.
Programs
Playermaker: Performance Technology with a Purpose
Technology can provide information that is difficult to capture through observation alone. Playermaker devices collect data related to movement, workload and ball interactions, giving performance colleagues and coaches another perspective on what a player experiences during training and competition.
The value lies not in collecting more data, but in asking better questions. Depending on the program, information may help colleagues:
- Understand training and match demands
- Monitor changes in workload
- Explore technical or positional patterns
- Inform individual development conversations
- Support appropriate physical programming
- Identify areas requiring further observation
Data is considered alongside coaching observations, player feedback and the context of the game. No individual statistic provides a complete assessment of a player.
Performance Director, Jamieson Sawka, has this to say about the partnership:
“Bringing Playermaker to our repertoire of tools is a great step towards bridging the gap between, and bringing us one step closer to, professional academies.”
An Introduction to Pre-Act
What exactly is Pre-Act? Pre-Act is short for “pre-activation.” It refers to a series of warm-up exercises before training or games to activate specific muscle groups unique to soccer. This proactive approach has proven to boost athletic performance while significantly reducing the risk of injuries. Pre-Act is divided into three stages (Ground Based, Standing Static, and Dynamics), each specifically focusing on preparing the athletes’ bodies for play. Each stage must be performed with the appropriate speed, intensity, and care, as neglecting these aspects can seriously hinder athletic potential and greatly elevate the likelihood of injury.
STAGE ONE. Ground Based. Exercises are designed to activate and mobilize key muscle groups, including glutes/hips, hamstrings, quads, core/back, and calves.
These foundational movements prepare players for the subsequent Pre-Act stages by priming essential muscles.
STAGE TWO. Standing Static. The exercises become more dynamic at this stage, engaging the entire body while continuing the activation and mobilization theme. These movements also emphasize qualities of athleticism, such as power and stability. Targeted muscle groups include quads, glutes/hips, hamstrings, groin, calves/ankles, and core.
STAGE THREE. Dynamics. This is perhaps the most critical stage of the Pre-Act routine. Here, athletes are brought up to the pace and physical demands of soccer, still focusing on activation, mobility, and stability. This segment concludes with athletes performing activities like hopping, jumping, and sprinting at close to 100% intensity. Proper execution of these exercises should elevate the players’ core body temperature, heart rate, and nervous system, indicating they are fully prepared to engage in game-specific drills with the ball. By diligently adhering to the Pre-Act routine, Calgary Foothills Soccer Club has established a winning strategy to maximize its performance potential and minimize the risk of injuries on the field.
Watch our video to learn more about Pre-Act.
Programs
Helping Coaches See More
The Performance Department supports the development of Foothills coaches and trainers by exposing them to additional information, specialist knowledge and new ways of evaluating performance.
Collaboration with video analysts and sport-science colleagues helps coaches:
- Connect match footage with the Foothills curriculum
- Recognize position-specific behaviours and decision-making patterns
- Understand age-appropriate physical development
- Consider workload, movement quality and readiness
- Use performance information responsibly
- Deliver clearer, more specific player feedback
- Integrate injury-prevention practices into the training environment
- Better understand when specialist input may be helpful
The purpose is not to replace coaching judgment with data. It is intended to give coaches additional evidence and expertise to strengthen their decisions.
Focused Training That Complements the Team Environment
Foothills trainers contribute to player development through academy, technical, position-specific and performance sessions. Their work is more focused than the team coach’s broader responsibility for the complete team environment.
Depending on the program, trainers may help players develop:
- Ball mastery and technical execution
- Position-specific habits
- Speed and quality of movement
- Strength, power and conditioning
- Decision-making in targeted situations
- Individual priorities identified through coaching or analysis
Trainers work within the Foothills curriculum and collaborate with team coaches and phase leads. This helps ensure that supplemental development connects with—not competes with—the player’s team experience.
Performance Support Across the Pathway
The type and level of Performance Department support vary by age, team and program. Younger players may encounter foundational movement education or coach-led injury-prevention routines. Older or more advanced teams may receive more structured video analysis, physical testing, performance programming or individual feedback.
Some services are included within particular team or academy programs. Others may be offered through supplemental camps, clinics or specialized programming.
Families should consult the current Youth Club Program Guide for details about what is included with their player’s registration.
Performance Department FAQ
What does the Foothills Performance Department do? The Performance Department brings together expertise in sport science, athletic development, video analysis, performance data, injury prevention and player feedback. It works with coaches and trainers to support the technical, tactical, physical and personal development of players.
What is the difference between a coach and a trainer? A team coach is responsible for the broader team environment, including training, matches, communication and ongoing player development. A trainer usually provides more focused technical, position-specific or physical development through academy, supplemental or performance sessions. Both work within the Foothills curriculum and may collaborate around player-development priorities.
How do team coaches and performance specialists work together? Coaches and specialists share relevant observations and information to help connect team training, individual development and physical preparation. Depending on the program, this may involve match footage, physical testing, performance data, player feedback or development planning.
Does every Foothills player work directly with the Performance Department? No. The support available depends on the player’s age, team and selected program. Some services are included in specific team or academy programs, while others are offered through supplemental opportunities.
What is video analysis used for? Video analysis helps players and coaches revisit match situations, recognize patterns and connect what happens during games with the concepts taught in training. It may support team learning, position-specific development, individual reflection and preparation for future opportunities.
What is sport science? Sport science applies knowledge about movement, strength, conditioning, recovery and athletic development to help players prepare for the physical demands of soccer. Programming is tailored to the player’s age and stage of development.
Does performance technology determine player selection? No. Technology and performance data provide additional information, but they do not replace coaching observation or judgment. Player development and placement decisions consider multiple factors, including technical ability, tactical understanding, decision-making, physical development, attitude and team needs.
What is a Player Performance Review? A Player Performance Review provides applicable players with structured feedback about their technical, tactical and personal development. It brings together observations from team and academy colleagues and helps the player understand strengths, development priorities and possible next steps.
How does Foothills support injured players? Foothills works with qualified health and performance professionals to support injury assessment, rehabilitation and appropriate return to play. The specific process depends on the injury, available services and the player’s program.
Can coaches or trainers apply to work with the Performance Department? Opportunities may be available for coaches, trainers, video analysts, sport-science professionals and other specialists. Applicants can explore the Coach & Trainer Development information and current opportunities to learn more about qualifications, support and available roles.
