MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact, including its Academy and its Soccer Schools (SoSc), and the Quebec Soccer Federation (FSQ), composed of 325 clubs in 18 regions (ARS) across the province, announced on Thursday a partnership to maximize the development of soccer in Quebec.

With a mutual, collaborative approach, the bleu-blanc-noir and the FSQ have implemented new initiatives in order to perpetuate their respective commitment to the progress of the sport among the youth of Quebec.



“This is the first time that we come to terms on such an encompassing agreement with the

Quebec Soccer Federation, which will consolidate the coordination of our technical sectors, such as our Academy and our Soccer Schools, with competition networks within the Federation,” said Executive Vice President of the Impact Richard Legendre. “This partnership will also establish new collaborations in terms of communication, promotion and even ticket sales for Impact games.”

The FSQ, the ARS and their clubs will work together to encourage young players with strong potential in becoming professional players by joining the Impact Academy. For its part, the Academy will facilitate the transition of these players by collaborating with their original clubs, where their clubs will continue to be identified and linked to each of the athletes.

"Our two organizations have the same goal — the development of our young soccer talent. For the Quebec Soccer Federation and all its 185,000 members, this partnership aims for higher efficiency and collaboration,” explained Martial Prud'homme, President of the FSQ. “We want to team up with the Impact to develop programs and tools that will facilitate the work of our trainers, in addition to maintaining their passion for soccer at the highest level."

The two entities will establish a consistent relationship with sport-études across the province to contribute to scouting programs.

Competition between the Impact sport-études program and other programs elsewhere in Quebec, as well as friendly games against AAA teams, will be organized. The Impact Pre-Academy teams (U8 to U12) and Academy squads (U13 to U18) may also participate in federated tournaments. If necessary, adjustments to the skill levels will be made.

Moreover, the Impact Soccer Schools will now be recognized by the Federation as the only soccer school organized by a professional club and will be a complimentary training option for young players and their clubs. Programs (camps, events, etc.) will be implemented with certain clubs, in collaboration with the Associations régionales de soccer (ARS).

In order to contribute to the training of coaches in Quebec, the Impact and its Academy will provide specialized technical training to a group of coaches selected by the FSQ.



A renewed collaboration in communication and marketing between the two partners will be implemented in order to promote various projects and maximize success. Among the planned activities, the FSQ and its regional associations will again organize annual meetings at Impact games, where the organization will be hosted in a predetermined section.

Finally, the Impact and the FSQ will share strategies annually to plan their missions and respective structures.



ABOUT THE MONTREAL IMPACT

The Montreal Impact made its debut in 1993. The club now has 11 teams under its banner (MLS, U23, U18, U16, U14, U13, U12, U11, U10, U9 and U8), including its own sports scholastic program. The 2014 season marks the club’s third year in MLS, the most prestigious soccer league in North America. In second division, the club won three league championships (1994, 2004 and 2009), five regular season titles (1995, 1996, 1997, 2005 and 2006), one Canadian Championship and made it to the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League in 2009. In 2013, the Impact qualiffied for the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican giants Club América in front of 60,000 spectaters at Olympic Stadium. Stade Saputo, home of the club since 2008, was expanded to 20,801 seats for MLS.

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ABOUT THE QUEBEC SOCCER FEDERATION

The Quebec Soccer Federation has a mandate to promote, develop and regulate soccer in all its forms in Quebec; support the Association régionales de soccer (ARS) by concerted and coordinated actions; promote access to its programs in alignment with its partners.

http://www.federation-soccer.qc.ca/

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