The Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association (NLSA) and the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club of Major League Soccer announced a partnership on Monday to help develop young soccer players.

The partnership, which also includes Soccer Nova Scotia and the Prince Edward Island Soccer Association, will create a development pathway to professional soccer from coast to coast.

Whitecaps FC will develop high performance programs for young boys and girls in collaboration with each province, with the players being monitored and evaluated by Whitecaps staff for opportunities with the professional club.

'No brainer' for development

Mike Power, player development director with the NLSA, said it's a "no brainer" to partner with the club, given its history of producing skilled players, with more than 40 being called up to Canadian national teams in the past year.

With this partnership, a player has every opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work will take them. - NLSA Player Development Director Mike Power

"The Whitecaps have a reputation for being the clear leaders of player development in Canada," Power said in a statement.

"The club services both male and female players and is a key figure in the Canadian soccer landscape from player and coaching development, right up to providing talent for Canadian national teams."

Power said the partnership will be a great development for the soccer community in the province.

"Talent exists everywhere, but at the end of the day it's the environment and the exposure of that talent that will determine how far a player will go," he said.

"With this partnership, a player has every opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work will take them."

Following hockey's lead

The NLSA and Whitecaps FC look to model development of young soccer players after the growth of hockey players like Dan Cleary and Michael Ryder to produce future national team and professional players in soccer.

"To see a Newfoundlander playing at the highest level of professional soccer, in Canada, would hopefully beat down the door for more to follow," Power said.

The development programs will begin this fall.