“Welcome to the Touchline: Inside Our Academy”

Sanford Carabin

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of The FCD Academy Touchline podcast. I’m Sanford Carabin along side Ron Clarke and were thrilled to have you join us as we dive deep into the stories, the strategies, and the people that embody the heart of our academy—and, really, the beautiful game itself.

Sanford Carabin

Each week, we’re going to explore three key segments that capture what’s happening both on and off the pitch at our FCD Academy. It’s all about keeping you connected to the pulse of the game, whether you’re a coach, a player, a parent or fan on the sidelines. Soccer, as we know, is more than a sport; it’s a culture, a way of life, and through this podcast, I hope we can reflect on that and uncover insights together.

Sanford Carabin

Alright, so let me break it down for you. First, “Inside the Lines”—this is where we’ll tackle updates from within the academy walls.

Sanford Carabin

We will recap the week’s training sessions and match results, mention any upcoming events, and of course, give recognition to players and teams who’ve stood out. It’s a space to keep you up-to-date on everything current, as it happens.

Sanford Carabin

Next, we’ll have “From the Sidelines.” This segment is dedicated to parents, because we all know it takes a village, and—well, sometimes that village needs a little guidance. We talk tips, tools, and strategies to help you support your young athletes, and, crucially, we break down our academy's playing philosophy, the underlying principles that drive everything from development to competition.

Sanford Carabin

And then, we shift to “Around the Province.” Soccer doesn’t stop at the academy gates. Here, I’ll break down what’s happening across Ontario—trends in player development, tactical shifts we’re seeing on matchday, and the stories that, frankly, shape where the sport is heading.

Sanford Carabin

So, this podcast is gonna be, well, part update, part strategy, and part inspiration—designed to bridge the gap between the field and the broader soccer community. You’re gonna wanna tune in weekly if you’re invested in what makes this game tick and how we continue to develop talent right here within our academy structure. And with that in mind, I'll pass over to Ron to dive into the first of our updates.

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HI everyone, Ron here, Lets begin with grassroots development. Our U8 to U12 teams started their summer competitions this week and judging by some of the games to date, our teams and players are well positioned for success. We will keep everyone updated as to team progress as the summer progresses but we are excited to see the future of FCD Academy compete week in week out against our regional rivals.

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Moving on, this past weekend, our High Performance teams from OPDL and OWSL participated in the Annual Top Rated Showcase event around the GTA. This event attracts college coaches from Canada and the US and offers our players an opportunity to showcase their talents. Games were played on friday, saturday and sunday across all age groups and brought a mix of challenges, lessons, and, of course, moments to celebrate. Over 21 competitive matches, FCD emerged with an impressive overall record of 9 8 and 4. Thanks to all the coaches, managers and parents that gave up their long weekend in the name of player development.

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Speaking of player development, the past 2 weekends also showcased the Ontario Provincial teams competitions and FC Durham can proudly boast that three of its OPDL players were selected to play for the U15 and U16 teams respectively. Shout out to KIki, Tessa and Torrie for their selection to our Provincial teams. IN fact, Torrie scored the goal to get a 1 all draw with quebec. Congrats Ladies!

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Finally, our Men's League 1 Reserve team is well into its season having already played 4 games.

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Our team led by Coach Justin represents the top boys team in the academy and is competing against the very best in Ontario at the U20 level every week. If you get a chance, please drop by one of their games this summer at Vaso Field. I think you'll enjoy.

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Finally, these past few weeks have really highlighted the breadth of development across our academy. Teams are not only competing fiercely; they’re showing an understanding of the game that goes beyond results. But I’d encourage us all to remember—whether it's a win, a draw, or even a loss—every game is, at its core, a developmental opportunity.

Sanford Carabin

Now, shifting gears......I want to bring up an issue that every player, parent, and coach will encounter at some point—playing time.

Sanford Carabin

It’s one of the most discussed, and sometimes divisive, aspects of youth soccer. But here’s the thing—understanding the role that playing time has in development is absolutely critical to shaping not only a player’s skills but also their love for the game.

Sanford Carabin

Ron......why does this matter!.

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Well, the topic of playing time can often lead to frustration, confusion, and even burnout—for both players and parents. At our academy, we believe it’s time to clarify how playing time fits into a broader development picture.

Sanford Carabin

To clarify.....Playing time is not the same thing as development. While it’s a key factor, especially at younger ages, it is only one part of a much larger picture. We need to reframe how we think about it by introducing the "Playing Time Paradigm."

Sanford Carabin

In the Grassroots Phase from ages 6-12 years old ...which we will call "Staying in the Game", our focus is simple: ensure players enjoy their experience and want to come back. Fun, belonging, and confidence are prioritized over competition and skill metrics.

Sanford Carabin

At these ages, we follow the concept of fair playing time which is aligned with Canada Soccer's Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model that emphasizes the FUNdamentals and Learn to Train stages.

Sanford Carabin

As players grow, so do the expectations. Their love for the game shifts from simple enjoyment to improvement and mastery. This is when a player starts to develop internal drive.

Sanford Carabin

Playing time becomes more competitive, but is still guided by fairness, opportunity, and potential. More important than minutes played are the Quality of training sessions, coaching vision, a motivating and demanding environment and visible individual improvement.

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Thats right Sanford. At FCD, we ensure players have access to top training environments where their growth is supported—even when game minutes fluctuate. We always maintain that playing time can’t, and shouldn’t, be viewed in isolation. It’s connected to so many variables—training attendance, effort, attitude, tactical needs, and yes, even the team’s collective goals on a given day. When we take the time to frame playing time within this broader context for players and their families, it helps to reframe those tough conversations. It becomes less about fairness in a singular game and more about the bigger picture.

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There will be times when a player isn’t seeing the field as much as they hoped. This is a natural part of the journey. What’s important is how we respond: Some players stay the course, using training and coaching feedback to work their way into more minutes. Others may need to adjust, perhaps playing in a different context where they can rebuild confidence and rediscover joy. The key is maintaining the spark—the small wins, the progress, the sense of belonging.

Sanford Carabin

So what can parents Do Ron?

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Well the best is to Focus on their child’s effort, attitude, and learning—not just minutes or results. Support the club's long-term vision for development and communicate openly and constructively with coaches

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Our priority is helping each player reach their potential—not just today, but over the long term. Playing time is a piece of the puzzle, but never the whole picture.

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As players mature, our job is to help them understand that growth often happens between the games—in training, in challenges, and in character. Let’s keep our young players in love with the game. Let’s prioritize development. And let’s understand playing time for what it really is: a tool, not a trophy.

Sanford Carabin

Now, as we turn our focus to the broader landscape, let’s delve into some of the key highlights from across Ontario Soccer this past week.

Sanford Carabin

First up, if you have not already done so, I would encourage you to download the latest free app from Ontario Soccer called "My Soccer".

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The app initially focuses on the OPDL and Ontario League and provides a great resource for news, match line ups and live game scores, player profiles, etc. You can also follow up to date information for all our academy teams participating in these competitions.

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Soccer week in Ontario is coming. Ontario Soccer will be celebrating a week of soccer activities from June 9th to the 15th, as we begin the one-year countdown to the Soccer World visiting Canada.

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Soccer organizations and partners across Ontario will be hosting exciting activities throughout the week — from grassroots programs to community spotlights — showcasing the full scope of our game.

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Also with Ontario Soccer, they have recently unveiled a Technical Development Plan for 2025 to 2036. This is the latest roadmap that will guide soccer development in the province over the next 12 years. This plan aims to modernize infrastructure, elevate standards across all areas of the game, and ensure inclusive, high-quality experiences for everyone involved in soccer in Ontario. I would encourage all those involved in the game to visit the Ontario Soccer Website to download and read. Its 86 pages long...so you may want to put time aside.

Sanford Carabin

And with that, we’ve reached the end of this week's episode. I hope these insights—both from within our academy and across the province—have offered you something to reflect on, something to discuss with your players, your peers, or even just within yourself.

Sanford Carabin

Thank you for tuning in to The FCD Academy Touchline podcast. If you’ve enjoyed this episode into our beautiful game, do share it with your friends and colleagues.

Sanford Carabin

On that note, well leave it there. Take care, enjoy the game, and we'lll talk to you next time

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Bye everyone.