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Why Foothills?

Foothills is a club for everyone from under 4 to adult. In a typical year, we have over 3,200 players. We feature programs for all levels of play, from recreational to professional. We believe in the “soccer for life” model.

Why Choose Foothills?Top Ten Reasons to Play Soccer

Foothills YOUTH CLUB has been changing the lives of Calgary's kids and impacting communities since 1972. Our Club is a recognized leader in Canadian minor soccer. 

  • Our organization is Alberta’s largest youth soccer club, with over 3,200 players.

  • We have programs for every age from U4 to adult and for all abilities, from recreational to professional.

  • Our environment is safe for all members, emphasizing diversity, equality, and inclusion.

  • Scholarship and financial assistance programs ensure all kids can play soccer.

  • Foothills is an active part of the following communities and offers a variety of activities within them:

    • Auburn Bay

    • Canyon Meadows

    • Cranston

    • Deer Ridge

    • Deer Run

    • Evergreen

    • Lake Chaparral

    • Langdon

    • Legacy

    • Mahogany

    • Marquis De Lorne

    • Queensland

    • Walden

  • We are verifiably the most successful youth club in Canada in terms of provincial and national results, including winning eight Canadian National Youth Championships.

  •  More Foothills Academy Members play for post-secondary institutions, consistently ahead of other clubs in Canada (116 players in 2023; 107 in 2022 across North America.) 

Foothills has also changed the landscape of Canadian soccer for our Pro-Am players. We are trailblazers in the Canadian pro-am soccer world for both men and women.

  • We are innovators, incorporating mental as well as physical health elements into our programs.
  • We are champions of the “women in soccer” movement in Canada.
  • We paved the road to membership in the Canadian Professional League for Cavalry FC and are their official player development system.
  • We have the highest level of Women's Club Soccer in Canada through our UWS franchise, which plays in a US-based Pro-Am league. We are a three-time conference champion.
  • Our Club is a founding member (and only Alberta-based Club), leading the charge to bring a Canadian Women’s Soccer League to Canada in 2025.
  • Our world-class training staff has the highest level of European certification.

Because of our relationships and top talent, our Club has been a driving force behind the establishment of League1 Alberta and the movement toward a professional Canadian women’s soccer league.

League1 leads to the Canadian Championship and a chance to play against CPL/MLS competition. It is also a part of the Concacaf pathway, as the winner of the CanChamp gets a spot to compete against teams within the Concacaf pyramid.

And, as one of the two founding teams, we have a seat at the table assisting Project 8 organizers as they move toward establishing a professional women’s league in 2025. These initiatives create better pathways to professional soccer careers for Foothills players and coaches.

Foothills and the CSA

 

Our Club is a Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) National Youth Club license holder. We are one of a select group of clubs in Canada holding a National Youth Club license as it requires that members demonstrate the best principles for organizational development both on and off the field. Foothills is proud to say we exceed them.

National Youth Club Principles

  • Prioritize Fun
  • Emphasize Physical, Mental, and Emotional Safety
  • Provide Developmentally Appropriate, High-Quality Programs
  • Maximize Attraction, Holistic Personal Development, Progression, and Long-Term Engagement
  • Focus on Participant-Centered Decision Making
  • Foster Accessible, Inclusive, and Welcoming Environments
  • Act as a Good Corporate and Community Citizen

Our PATHWAY TO PRO

Many clubs in Calgary offer pathway-type programs, but ours is Calgary’s (arguably the country’s) most successful program.

  • Foothills has a clear vision for the future of soccer in Canada. We have a seat at the table at the highest level in the country and are working closely with governing bodies to lead Canada’s success in soccer on the world stage.

  • We are Canada’s most successful club based on national results, having brought home eight national gold medals.

  • Most recently, our pro-am men's team, Foothills FC, won the 2023 League 1 Alberta Championship. This is especially exciting as 2023 was the League's inaugural year.

  • In the 2022 post-secondary soccer season, Foothills had 107 athletes participate for their university and college teams. In 2023, that number rose to 116.

  • We provide exceptional resources for male and female players, including world-class training centres, and top-rated technical staff and coaches.

    • Our technical staff includes professionally qualified (Canadian and European licensed) managers for every age group. These experts bring extensive player experience, having participated in university and professional environments. 

    • Foothills is the only club in Alberta to offer full-time video analysis and sports science capabilities.

  • According to Wikipedia, many Foothills FC players and Foothills Academy alums have moved on to professional clubs. These include Victor Loturi and Aribim Pepple, who both moved from Cavalry FC to Ross County and Luton Town, respectively.

  • The 2022 Canada World Cup squad included two Foothills alum (Joel Waterman and Sam Adekugbe), and the 2023 Gold Cup roster included two Foothills alum (Victor Loturi and Dominick Zator.)

Foothills Team Members, Performance Centre, and Facilities Set the Bar for Excellence

Our technical staff, including professionally qualified phase area managers, blend experience from Canadian and European licensing, university, and professional environments.

Our performance centre is a hub for innovation and includes:

  • A sports science program that enhances athleticism and prevents injuries.
  • Video analysis to sharpen tactical and technical understanding.
  • Specialized goalkeeper program for honing position-specific skills.
  • Our resilience and mental health strategy recognizes the importance of mental well-being.

Our Facilities

The Macron Performance Centre has been the home of Calgary Foothills Soccer Club since 2017. This 85,000-square-foot facility features FIFA international regulation size, grade-A turf field is specifically designed for intense training, conditioning, and game day for our youth and pro-am teams. As the only club-owned Fieldhouse in Canada, we can provide a superior level of access to teams year-round. In addition to the playing fields, the complex features a 2000-square-foot gym area, viewing area, offices, media room, dressing rooms, and teaching facilities. Learn more and watch the video.

   

The Foothills Skills Centre, formerly known as "the Factory," features five indoor turf training fields, a coaches' room, a meeting room, and viewing areas. The building is currently home to the club's Grassroots teams, as well as other tenants such as the Calgary Sport & Social Club and various lacrosse, rugby, American football, and ultimate frisbee organizations. Learn more.