Performance Department
Foothills is a leader in athlete development and performance, and injury prevention, rehabilitation and video analysis. Our Club is proud to be the only one in Calgary with a Sports Science and Video Analysis Departments that takes a long-term approach to athletic development, both physically and analytically.
Sports Science: About
At our Macron Performance Centre, our athletes have access to a multidisciplinary team of sports-specific physiotherapists, athletic therapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports scientists. This holistic approach helps players achieve maximum potential in soccer. Our Sports Science Department focuses on developing key skills such as fundamental movements, speed, agility, aerobic endurance, repeated sprint ability, strength, and power. By excelling in these areas, our players gain a competitive edge among the Calgary soccer community.
Sessions are tailored to the age and stage of development of each player and cover a range of components, including Movement Mastery, Strength Training, and Last 15 Conditioning. Our Movement Mastery sessions focus on improving movement mechanics such as acceleration, deceleration, running, jumping, and bounding. Strength Training is done primarily in our gym facility, where players will focus on injury prevention and developing strength and power. Last 15 Conditioning focuses on helping players last longer in the game, and covers all aspects of energy systems from aerobic endurance to repeated sprint work.
At Calgary Foothills Soccer Club, we are dedicated to developing well-rounded, highly skilled athletes who are prepared to excel on the field and beyond.
Programs
New Partnership with Playermaker Elevates Player Performance
An important component of The Foothills Way is a focus on “Achieving Excellence” which includes providing our players with the best possible tools and opportunities for them to excel in “the beautiful game.” In that spirit, we have just forged an exciting new partnership with Playermaker, a cutting-edge sports technology company at the forefront of revolutionizing player development and performance analysis in soccer.
Foothills is one of the first youth clubs in Canada to introduce this kind of technology to our high-performance programs. This investment elevates our PATHWAY TO PRO support to a whole new level.
The Playermaker device attaches to a player’s boot, collecting an array of performance data, including footwork, stride, number of accelerations, number of decelerations, and ball interactions. It provides data on the total workload our players have endured as they progress throughout the season allowing us to better predict, avoid and manage injuries should they occur.
Head of Sports Science, Chase Wetherell, has this to say about the partnership:
“Since I took over the department in 2022, one of my goals was to partner with a company like Playermaker so that we can better serve the athletes we work with. This partnership is significant, because our first priority at Foothills is always the players. Playermaker will not only enhance our ability to serve them, but also enhance the experience they get when working with our performance department.”
Performance Manager, Jamieson Sawka, adds, “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.
Video Analysis: About
Video analysis has become an integral tool as we look to advance players’ understanding when it comes to on-field play. To be able to watch yourself play and reflect afterward on both the positives and areas for improvement is a tool that only professional players once had. Now, it’s available to Foothills players and we can actively help them review as part of their growth and development in the game.
As part of our video analysis program players get to look at positional key performance indicators that contribute to their success on the field. As players get older and start to think about ‘what is next’ beyond Foothills, these KPIs can contribute to their focus in highlight videos and contact with post-secondary programs or professional opportunities in the game.
Programs
Player Development Plan (PDP)
A key component of our Club’s Academy Program is the use of feedback to aid in player development. Our process involves a Player Development Plan (PDP) component at the end of every season.
PDP Process
Our full-time technical staff host individual meetings with U13+ Tier 1-3 players and their parents to discuss key aspects of a player’s development within the Academy curriculum. Together, we look at foundational skills such as ball striking, and development concepts around receiving and passing techniques. Within a player’s feedback, staff highlight areas of strength along with areas for development and create an action plan specific to each.
These reports become an integral part of the indoor season video analysis curriculum. They infuse more self-reflection-focused sessions around each player’s PDP, allowing each to review their feedback and align their game videos to reflect on the chosen areas of development.
