The Lakehead Express S.C. offers a recreational program that plays in the spring May-June at Chapples Sports Park and new in the Spring 2008 River Terrace Park. We also work in alliance with The SportsDome to run a youth recreational house league that plays for 20 weeks in the winter months at the SportsDome. New in the winter of 2008 Lakehead Express will be running a men's league in the Sports Dome with 2 divisions. The Lakehead Express soccer program is designed to provide everyone with a positive experience, teach soccer skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, while contributing to the enjoyment, general health and social needs of the participating boys and girls in the Thunder Bay area.

The House League program both indoor and outdoor is open to all youth and is divided into separate divisions for boys and girls ranging in age from U6-U18. Games are played between teams made up of players of the same age and sex. The league for the youngest players, U-6 through U-8 focus primarily on skill development with some game time.

COMPETITIVE PROGRAM (REP)

The Lakehead Express S.C. offers competitive programs that play throughout the entire year although generally the summer program is completed by the end of July, and the winter program does not begin until October.

The Competitive Program is for those desiring to play soccer at a higher competitive level. It is divided into boy and girl divisions by age. Lakehead Express Rep players often participate in competitions sanctioned by Soccer Northwest Ontario (SNO) and the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA). All interested youth are eligible to compete for positions on Lakehead Express rep. teams through open tryouts which occur in September and the spring of each year.

The Lakehead Express program is designed to provide everyone with a positive experience, teach soccer skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship while contributing to the enjoyment, general health and social needs of participating youth in the area.

The Competitive Program also prepares players for:

• Provincial/National Team potential candidate program

• Player Educational Scholarships

• Player Leadership - Mentoring

• Preparation and arrangements for soccer trials

• Opportunity for University/College Scholarships - Professional Contracts

• Evaluation and analysis of player strengths and weaknesses

COACHING PROGRAM


One of the guiding philosophies of the Lakehead Express Soccer Club is "Positive Coaching" training and is one of our highest priorities. Our volunteer and competitive coaches receive complete training right from the beginning. The Club Head Coach provides a wide range of instruction to our volunteer and paid coaching staff.

Age-specific coaching courses provide training for coaches of every level of experience. Complete with manuals, handouts and outlines that are continually reviewed and updated. Supplemental local instruction programs, camps and clinics are also held throughout the year as identified by the Board of Directors.