Foundation Phase
Welcome to the Foundation Phase at Foothills! The U9–U12 years are often called the Golden Age of Learning. It’s a time when kids pick up skills quickly, build confidence, and discover their love for the game. Our goal is to create an environment where players feel supported, inspired, and excited to come to the field.
We call this stage the Brilliant Basics. Practices focus on fun, creativity, and confidence through activities like ball mastery, 1v1 moves, and small-sided games. Success isn’t measured in wins or losses, but in the joy of learning, the courage to try something new, and the pride of mastering a skill.
By keeping sessions engaging and enjoyable, we help players develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. This is the foundation of not just strong soccer players, but confident, well-rounded young people.
- Pricing is dependent on the program(s) you choose based on your player’s age, development stage and soccer goals.
- Please refer to our Program Guide here.
- A $50 late-registration fee applies to registrations received on or after September 16, 2026.
- Indoor season starts October 5, 2026.
- Team practices and academy program sessions are held at Foothills Skills Centre.
- For all dates and times, please view our Program Guide.
- Click here to review the Program Guide.
- Click here to register.
- Foothills is a Club for Everyone. Please read our Program Guide to learn about all the programs we offer for all ages, development stages and soccer ambitions.
- If you haven’t done so previously, you will need to set up your membership in PowerUp.
- IMPORTANT: When registering, be sure to set up your Parent Profile first, then “add a family member” and add each child. All programs available for registration will show automatically for each child. A player cannot be entered into the system more than once. If you encounter an error or require assistance, please contact admin@gofoothills.ca.
- Watch our “How to Register” video here.
Foundation Phase Leads
- Pricing is dependent on the program(s) you choose based on your player’s age, development stage and soccer goals.
- Please refer to our Program Guide here.
- Indoor season starts mid-October.
- All sessions take place at the Foothills Skills Centre, 3916 56 Ave SE or the Macron Performance Centre, 111 Exploration Avenue SE.
- For all dates and times, please view our Program Guide.
- Click here to review the Program Guide.
- Foothills is a Club for Everyone. Please read our Program Guide to learn about all the programs we offer for all ages, development stages and soccer ambitions.
- If you haven’t done so previously, you will need to set up your membership in PowerUp.
- IMPORTANT: When registering, be sure to set up your Parent Profile first, then “add a family member” and add each child. All programs available for registration will show automatically for each child. A player cannot be entered into the system more than once. If you encounter an error or require assistance, please contact admin@gofoothills.ca.
- Watch our “How to Register” video here.
Phase Highlights and Key Principles
Play-Based Learning:
- Motor Skills and Coordination: Engage young players in activities designed to enhance motor skills, coordination, and fundamental soccer movements. These play-based activities provide a solid foundation for future skill development while ensuring that learning remains enjoyable.
- Creativity and Imagination: Foster creativity and imagination through age-appropriate games and exercises. By integrating playful elements, we stimulate cognitive and physical growth, making skill acquisition both fun and effective.
Introduction to Basic Skills:
- Fundamental Skills Development: Introduce core soccer skills—such as ball mastery, dribbling, passing, and shooting—through interactive and enjoyable drills. Our approach ensures that learning these basics is both engaging and memorable.
- Supportive Learning Environment: Cultivate a supportive atmosphere where players are encouraged to explore and enjoy mastering new skills. This positive reinforcement helps build a genuine love for the game and a sense of achievement.
Small-Sided Games:
- Enhanced Player Involvement: Utilize small-sided games to ensure maximum player involvement, frequent ball touches, and heightened enjoyment. These formats are ideal for developing individual skills and tactical understanding in a lively, participatory setting.
- Teamwork and Competition: Promote teamwork, cooperation, and friendly competition within a relaxed framework. This approach helps players develop social skills and an appreciation for collective effort, all while enjoying the sport.
Positive Coaching Environment:
- Encouraging Atmosphere: Our coaching staff is dedicated to fostering a positive and motivating environment. By focusing on building confidence, self-expression, and a sense of accomplishment, we ensure that every participant feels valued and inspired to excel.
Coaching the Creative Player
Foundation Phase coaches understand that U9–U12 players are in an especially important period for developing technique, coordination, confidence and a love of learning.
At this stage, coaches are supported to create active sessions that give players frequent opportunities to touch the ball, make decisions, express themselves and try new ideas. Technical instruction is important, but players also need the freedom to experiment without becoming afraid of making mistakes.
Foundation Phase coaches focus on:
- Ball mastery and the Brilliant Basics
- Creativity and confidence in one-versus-one situations
- Coordination, movement and body control
- Small-sided games and frequent decision-making
- Encouraging players to solve problems
- Recognizing effort, courage and improvement
- Introducing team concepts without restricting individual expression
Foothills provides coaches with phase-specific curriculum, education, practical resources and mentorship so the player experience remains connected as children move between teams and programs.
What Parents Should Expect From Foundation Phase Coaches
Parents should expect to see players active, engaged and encouraged to try. Coaches will provide instruction, but sessions should not consist primarily of long explanations, rigid patterns or players waiting in lines.
Progress at this stage may look like:
- Greater comfort and confidence with the ball
- More willingness to take on an opponent
- Improved coordination and control
- Better recognition of space and teammates
- Increased independence and decision-making
- Continued enthusiasm for training and matches
Player Pathway
The Foundation Phase serves as a key step in our comprehensive player pathway. As players progress through the age groups, they seamlessly transition to the next phase, building upon their foundation with advanced skills, tactical understanding, and competitive experience.
U10 Skills Program
Introduced in 2025, the Calgary Foothills U10 Skills Program focuses on the Brilliant Basics, the essential building blocks of the game. In age-appropriate, dynamic training sessions, players strengthen key technical skills while gaining the freedom to express themselves on the ball.
The program emphasizes three core areas: Confidence, Creativity, and Coordination. Each session is designed to build ball mastery, decision-making, and body control, all within a fun and supportive environment that keeps kids excited to play.
This evolving program is an important step in our long-term development vision at Foothills: helping every player build a strong technical base and the joy of exploring their full potential.
Foundation Phase FAQ
The Foundation Phase is for U9–U12 players. Foothills calls this stage the Brilliant Basics, emphasizing helping players build strong foundations while continuing to enjoy the game.
The Foundation Phase focuses on confidence, creativity and coordination. Players develop fundamental skills such as ball mastery, dribbling, passing, receiving and shooting while beginning to make more decisions in realistic game situations. Sessions include small-sided games and active learning experiences that encourage players to experiment, solve problems and become more comfortable with the ball.
Grassroots introduces children to soccer through fun, active play and their first team experiences. In the Foundation Phase, player development becomes more structured. Players receive more detailed technical instruction, begin to develop greater tactical awareness and participate in a more formal team and competition environment. Fun, belonging and confidence remain essential throughout the transition.
Most Foundation Phase players participate in the club’s evaluation and assessment process before team placement. Evaluations help Foothills understand each player’s current technical ability, decision-making, confidence and readiness. Requirements and schedules may vary by age group and season. Families should consult the current evaluation information before registering.
Team placement considers a player’s current technical skills, decision-making, confidence, game understanding and overall stage of development. The club also considers positional and team-composition needs. Children develop at different rates. Placement reflects the environment Foothills believes is most appropriate for the player at that time; it is not a permanent judgment of their ability or future potential.
No. Players should learn to compete and enjoy matches, but team results are not the primary measure of development at U9–U12. Progress may be seen in a player’s willingness to try a new skill, comfort on the ball, ability to make decisions, understanding of space, confidence with teammates and continued enthusiasm for training and games.
Foundation Phase coaches create active, positive environments where players receive frequent contact with the ball and the freedom to explore.
Parents should expect sessions where players are active, engaged and frequently involved with the ball. Activities may include ball mastery, one-versus-one situations, passing and receiving exercises, finishing and small-sided games. Coaches will provide instruction and feedback, but players will also be encouraged to make decisions and solve problems independently.
The weekly commitment depends on the player’s age, team and selected program. It may include team training, matches and academy or skills sessions. More competitive programs generally require a greater commitment. Families should review the current Youth Club Program Guide for exact schedules, season dates and program requirements.
Team training supports the collective development of the team, including technical ability, decision-making, game understanding and preparation for matches. Academy and skills programs provide additional focused development. They may emphasize ball mastery, coordination, creativity, one-versus-one ability or other technical skills. Availability and inclusion depend on the player’s age, team and selected program.
Opportunities to train or play at another level may arise when they support the player’s development and the needs of the teams involved. Decisions consider readiness, performance, confidence, development priorities and available opportunities. Movement is not based on match results or one evaluation alone.
Parents can support development by encouraging effort, enjoyment, courage and learning rather than focusing primarily on scores or team placement. Allow your child to solve problems, make mistakes and take ownership of their experience. After training or games, questions such as “What did you enjoy?” or “What did you learn?” are often more helpful than analyzing individual plays or results.
