Resources
Player Pathway
Player Development
From first kicks to competitive play
Every Squamish United player follows a development pathway built for their age and stage — starting with fun, small-sided games and progressing toward competitive soccer. Here's what each program offers.
Recreational
House Program
U6
A fun first introduction to soccer, focused on play and basic skills.
- Format
- 3v3
- Training
- 45 min / week
- Games
- Saturdays
- Season
- Sep–Apr
U8
Building a love of the game with more touches and small-sided play.
- Format
- 4v4
- Training
- 60 min / week
- Games
- Saturdays
- Season
- Sep–Apr
U10 House
Skill development and friendly competition, with an optional second session.
- Format
- 5v5 / 6v6
- Training
- 75 min / week
- Games
- Saturdays
- Season
- Sep–Apr
U12 House
Bigger-sided games and balanced teams for fair, fun, competitive play.
- Format
- 8v8
- Training
- 75 min / week
- Games
- Saturdays
- Season
- Sep–Apr
Competitive Stream
Development Program
U11 Development
Two sessions a week focused on individual skill and tactical understanding. Squads of 10–11 core players, with 1–2 spots for house-league players.
- Format
- 8v8
- Training
- 2 × 75 min / week
- Games
- Weekends
U12 Development
Continued development with focused training and competitive weekend games, integrating house-league training players.
- Format
- 8v8
- Training
- 2 × 75 min / week
- Games
- Weekends
High Performance
Select Program · U13–U18
An elevated level of training and competition for ages 13–18. We field select teams across age groups (combining groups where numbers are lower) and use a selection process to set final rosters, with a focus on skill, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
Drop-In Sessions
Open to players not in the Select Program — refine skills with specialized coaching.
Extra Training
An optional third weekly session focused on skill advancement and tactics.
Academy (Spring & Summer)
Specialized off-season training to further elevate playing ability.
Goalkeeping Clinics
Dedicated clinics for keepers to hone their unique skills.
Learn more →Additional U13–U18 training opportunities
The Framework
Canada Soccer Long-Term Player Development
Our pathway follows Canada Soccer's Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model — which, like models used in human development, recognizes distinct stages of growth, each with its own physical and psychological characteristics.
When kids train and compete in an environment suited to their stage, they perform at their best and have more fun. LTPD puts each player's needs front and centre — emphasizing skill and enjoyment over winning at all costs.
Read the LTPD Guide (PDF)Questions about the right program?
Our Technical Director is happy to help you find the best fit for your player.
Contact Us