Episode 2 - Summer Season in Full Swing

Sanford Carabin

Alright, welcome back to the FCD Touchline Podcast! your behind‑the‑scenes pass to the FC Durham Academy. Sanford here, and as always, I’ve got Ron with me. Ron, how’s the past few weeks been?

Ron clarke

Hey Sanford, it’s been busy, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Summer’s in full swing, the pitches are packed, all our teams have started league and festival play and there’s just this energy everywhere you look. I love it.“

Sanford Carabin

Yeah, you can really feel it across the Academy right now. Training nights at Vaso, the Civic and now at Monarch Turf have been packed with players from across our Academy. The energy has been awesome.

Sanford Carabin

On that note, Ron I believe we have some really exciting player news.

Ron clarke

Thats right! As you may be aware, this past year we changed our Uniform supplier to Capelli. A brand that is making waves across North America for its quality designs, products and service. What you may not know is that Capelli also owns several professional soccer clubs around the world.

Ron clarke

As we are now considered a Capelli Club, FCD receives access to their talent Identification network and showcase events.

Ron clarke

as such, we are thrilled to announce that last season, Capelli Sports+ hosted their annual North American Team ID camp in Oakville, Ontario, with 12 of our talented FC Durham players, both male and female, in attendance. Each player showcased their skills beautifully and represented our Academy with pride.

Ron clarke

Following the camp, the Capelli Sports+ staff traveled across the US and Canada to conduct additional camps and evaluations. We are proud to share that one of our own has been selected to represent the Capelli Sports+ North American team!

Ron clarke

Congratulations to Matteo Nawrocki from our U16 Boys OPDL Team on being selected for the 2025 North America Team for the Capelli Sport+ Cup Denmark. Made up of top talents from the Capelli Sport Network, the North America squad will compete against European academies for a chance to bring home the Cup. Best of luck in Køge!

Ron clarke

But thats not all!

Ron clarke

Our Goalkeeping Coach, Mykaela Volpe, has also been selected to be apart of the Capelli Girls Staff travelling to Denmark as the U16 Goalkeeping Coach. Congrats to both Matteo and Mykaela ....we wish you all the best as you represent FCD in Denmark next month.

Sanford Carabin

Its Great to hear FCD players and coaches getting recognized for their hard work.

Sanford Carabin

Switching gears now ...here's a quick update on what’s been happening on the training ground over the past month.

Sanford Carabin

Let’s start with our grassroots program. From U8 through U12, our teams have been working hard on developing our seven core technical habits—dribbling, shooting, passing, receiving, and turning—along with foundational defending skills.

Sanford Carabin

Coaches have been using a mix of technical drills and small-sided games to bring these concepts to life. The early signs are really promising—players are showing growth, confidence, and better decision-making during training and matches.

Ron clarke

Thats right sanford, transferring these concepts to match situations is the ultimate test of a players development, To date we are seeing our grassroots players and teams playing with allot more fluidity.

Ron clarke

and this week, they will be putting their skills on display as our U12 Girls and Boys teams are set to compete at the Robbie Festival in Toronto, while our U9 to U11 teams will be showcasing their skills at the Grimsby Festival. Best of luck to all our grassroots teams!

Ron clarke

For our OPDL teams, the training this past month has been heavily focused on defending principles, more specific how we press high up the field a key element in the FCD style of play. Our Coaches been dialing in on the tactical side—team shape, pressing triggers, and player roles. The goal is to develop smart, proactive defenders who know how to apply pressure with purpose, timing, and coordination.

Ron clarke

Across the board, players have been learning how to recognize cues—like a poor first touch or a backward pass—and react quickly as a unit to regain possession higher up the pitch. It’s not just about individual effort; it’s about collective movement, communication, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure.

Ron clarke

We’ve seen some excellent examples of this in recent games, with players anticipating play, cutting off passing lanes, and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. IN fact our U13 Boys scored 2 goals this past weekend off our high Press.

Ron clarke

It’s all part of building defenders who don’t just chase the ball, but defend with intent, intelligence, and intensity.

Sanford Carabin

That kind of execution doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from players understanding not just what to do, but why they’re doing it—and that’s where our newest development tool comes in.

Sanford Carabin

To build on our coaches work on the field, we’re excited to share that we’ve recently launched a new initiative for our OPDL teams: the FCD Video Team Review. Started this month, each team will take part in a monthly video review session… designed to deepen player understanding and accelerate development. These sessions give players the chance to reflect on recent match footage, analyze key moments, and connect what they see on screen with the concepts we’ve been working on in training. By watching themselves and their teammates in action, players gain valuable insight into their decision-making, positioning, and overall tactical awareness.

Sanford Carabin

It’s all part of our commitment to developing well-rounded, intelligent players who are constantly learning both on and off the pitch.

Ron clarke

That’s a great point Sanford —and it leads us perfectly into our next segment, where we shift the focus to the sidelines.

Ron clarke

Of course, developing players isn’t just about what happens on the field—it’s also about what happens off it. One area that plays a huge role in a young athlete’s performance, recovery, and long-term development is nutrition.

Ron clarke

As part of our commitment to developing well-rounded athletes, we’ve put together a resource to help support your child’s performance and recovery through smart, age-appropriate eating habits.

Ron clarke

The FCD Nutrition Guide for Parents highlights how introducing good eating habits early can have a big impact—not just in daily life, but in your child’s soccer development too. Soccer is a high-demand sport, with players constantly running, sprinting, and shifting direction. That means fueling their bodies the right way is essential if we want them to perform at their best and recover well after the final whistle.

Ron clarke

Here’s the breakdown: the night before a match, it’s all about complex carbohydrates—think whole grain pasta, rice, or potatoes paired with lean protein like chicken or salmon. These types of meals give players long-lasting energy and help store fuel for game day. And hydration? That starts early too—ideally the day before, not just hours before kickoff.

Ron clarke

On game day, lighter, carb-focused meals or snacks like cereal, fruit, oatmeal, or yogurt are key. Timing matters—ideally, meals should happen two to four hours before the game, with light snacks an hour out if needed.

Ron clarke

After the match, recovery is just as critical. Within 30 minutes—no later than two hours—encourage a meal or snack that combines protein and carbs. Options like chicken wraps, smoothies, chocolate milk, or yogurt can help repair muscles and replenish energy.

Ron clarke

We know every child is different, and not everyone needs to eat like a pro. But with a little planning and the right habits, we can give our players a real edge.

Ron clarke

For the full FCD Nutrition Guide for Parents, please visit the FCD Website and click on the More + tab.

Sanford Carabin

Alright, let’s take a spin around what has been happening around the province..

Sanford Carabin

Ontario Soccer just launched a new Goalkeeper Certificate? It’s a pilot program, but I think it’s going to make a real difference. Goalkeepers are so often overlooked in development, and this gives them—and their coaches—some real tools to work with.

Sanford Carabin

It’s also been nice to see some major corporate sponsors are once again stepping up in a big way to support soccer programs and community events across the province. .One standout supporter this year is BMO, continuing its commitment to grassroots soccer through its “Play ON” events, which have brought energy and excitement to communities across Ontario. BMO is also leaning into the future with its “Generation 26” campaign — a forward-thinking initiative aimed at building momentum toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup and inspiring the next generation of Canadian players.

Sanford Carabin

We’re also seeing strong activation from Circle K, whose 2v2 grassroots events have been a hit with young players and families. These fast-paced mini-tournaments create a fun, accessible entry point into the sport and reinforce just how important small-sided play is for skill development and enjoyment.

Sanford Carabin

All in all, it’s a positive sign for the sport that big brands are not only investing, but doing so in ways that directly impact the soccer community.

Ron clarke

Thanks for that summary sanford. Now, let’s wrap up this episode by highlighting a few key upcoming events that should be on your radar.

Ron clarke

Firstly, mark your calendars for June 27 as we host the FC Durham Graduate Game! This special event celebrates our graduates and features alumni players returning to participate in a game. Kick off is at 7:30 PM at Vaso Field, with exciting prizes and fun halftime activities awaiting everyone.

Ron clarke

Next, if your looking for summer camps for your child, FCD has partnered with Nike sports camps and will host 4 weeks of camps starting in July. If your interested, please visit the FCD Academy website and click the tab for Summer camps.

Ron clarke

Lastly, for those players U13 and up looking for more specialized training, FCD is currently investigating developing an Individual Development Program that would be run on Friday evenings for OPDL level players currently registered in the Academy. MOre news on this NEW program will be coming in July.

Sanford Carabin

Alright, that’s all we’ve got for this episode. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. We’ll be back in a few weeks with more updates and stories. Ron, always a pleasure.

Ron clarke

Always, Sanford. Thanks everyone for listening, and we’ll catch you next time on the Touchline. Take care!