Vancouver Whitecaps FC partner with BC Soccer and Canada Soccer to launch Western Canada's first Women's Regional Excell Centre Photo courtesy Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX Program in Partnership with BC Soccer set to kick off in January 2015

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: VANCOUVER, BC - December 11, 2014 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, BC Soccer, and Canada Soccer have announced a partnership to launch Western Canada's first Women's Regional EXCEL Centre (REX). Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX Program in Partnership with BC Soccer will kick off in January 2015.

"The vision of our Girls Elite program has always been to produce the next generation of stars for Canada's Women's National Team," said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. "BC Soccer and Canada Soccer share that vision. We're thrilled to unite together on this program which will greatly benefit the future of women's soccer in our country."

As part of the Canada Soccer Pathway, the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite program will merge with the REX program in Vancouver to maintain a standardized national curriculum for female players U-13 to U-18, feeding into Canada Soccer's Women's National EXCEL Program. The National EXCEL Program is a six-year structure for developing female players U-14 to U-20 who demonstrate the highest level of ability in preparation for their contribution to Canada's Women's National Team. The program is built on four pillars of development - physical, technical/tactical, mental, and social/emotional.

"The Women's Regional EXCEL Centres are a crucial learning environment for aspiring players across the country and an important component of the concerted effort by organizations at all levels of the game in building a comprehensive player development system that is Canada's Women's EXCEL Program," said John Herdman, Canada's Women's National Team head coach and director of Canada Soccer's Women's EXCEL Program. "We're thrilled to partner with BC Soccer and Vancouver Whitecaps FC to bring this opportunity to young female players on the West Coast."

The Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX Program in Partnership with BC Soccer will be led by head coach Jesse Symons and Whitecaps FC Girls Elite staff with support from BC Soccer. The EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) and BC Soccer's High Performance Programming will act as REX identification, evaluation, and assessment platforms throughout the year.

"BC Soccer's goals have long included ensuring BC's female soccer players have access to a first-class program to help them achieve their dreams of playing for our country, which will also ensure BC develops more, stronger players for Canada's national teams", said Roger Barnes, BC Soccer president. "Now, BC's talented young women have that program. We are proud to be partners with Whitecaps FC in the REX program and thank them and Canada Soccer for this commitment to women's soccer in BC."

Canada's Women's EXCEL Program provides a clear and continuous pathway built across four main delivery mechanisms: the Women's Regional EXCEL Centres; the Women's National EXCEL Program; the EXCELeration stream and a network of EXCEL recommended schools that are recognized as being committed to the support and delivery of training at EXCEL program standards.

For more information on Canada Soccer's Women's EXCEL Program, visit canadasoccer.com/w-excel . For more information on the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX Program in Partnership with BC Soccer, go to whitecapsfc.com/girlseliterex .

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