Ottawa TFC: Long-Term Player Development and Fostering a Lifelong Love of the Game

As Ontario Soccer celebrates 10 years of the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL), we also proudly commemorate a decade of Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) shaping our approach to grassroots soccer and guiding our decision-making in the sport.

What is LTPD?

LTPD is a model of athlete development and a crucial framework for Ontario Soccer and Canada Soccer, designed to nurture and enhance the growth of soccer players from a young age through to adulthood. It entails a player-centered pathway that aligns with developmental stages and focuses on the holistic development of players.

For Ontario Soccer, LTPD caters to players' developmental needs at various ages, promoting not just technical skills but also physical, psychological, and social growth. The model advocates for age-appropriate training and competition, ensuring that young players are engaged and motivated while developing a strong foundation in soccer fundamentals. By prioritizing enjoyment and skill development over early specialization, Ontario Soccer aims to create a positive environment where players can thrive and a lifelong passion for the game can be fostered.

When it comes to implementing LTPD at the Club level, Ottawa TFC stands out as a model for success, having embraced the model wholeheartedly over time. Through careful planning, cultural buy-in, and a phased implementation, the club has seen impressive results from employing smaller-sided formats at the recreational level and using open programming as an opportunity for early coach development.

Ottawa TFC’s journey with LTPD showcases the many benefits and challenges of prioritizing development over results, demonstrating what it takes to build a vibrant soccer culture where all youth have an opportunity to thrive.

"I think it's very difficult to argue the fact that kids develop at different stages; that five-year-olds need different things than eight-year-olds, than 12-year-olds,” said Ottawa TFC’s General Manager Pavel Cancura, who has been at the Club for over 15 years. “I think that part was so logical to me right off the get go."

In Ottawa TFC’s case, the principles of LTPD aligned harmoniously with the Club’s established vision and “people-first” approach. Cancura emphasizes that the Club strives to be a place where everyone’s potential can come to fruition.

"The volume of players that go through our place and through every club at this level is so high. And the ones that make it to the top of the dream is so low that if that's what we're targeting, we're failing,” stated Cancura. “It has to be about developing humans, long-term athlete development, not long-term ‘pro athlete’ development. It has to develop everybody."

To Ottawa TFC, helping players reach their full potential goes far beyond the pitch.

“Believe it or not, I don’t think becoming a pro is the ultimate success story. It can be along the pathway to success, and the steps necessary to become a pro are worthy of themselves - you know, looking after yourself, taking responsibility, waking up early, putting the extra effort in, working with others,” Cancura said. “We hope you become pro, but if you don't, we still need you. You're still going to impact this world in a massive way, maybe bigger. Actually, in my life, that was the case. I was blessed to play pro, but I didn't have nearly as much influence as I did later.”

Brogan Engbers, Ottawa TFC’s High Performance Director, said, “Each player is on their own path, and it's our job to provide a platform for all of these players to develop over time. Everyone has their own journey… you've got to put them in the right place and give them the right opportunities to help them grow.”

Pavel Cancurra. Photo courtesy of Ottawa TFC.

Brogan’s Story

Engbers himself is a shining example of what a successful and fulfilling long-term pathway in soccer can look like. Like Cancura, Engbers’ talents allowed him to play the game at a high level, but he has since found his true purpose in helping others.

As a youth player in Ottawa, Engbers repped Cumberland United Soccer Club (which would later become Ottawa TFC). Eventually, Engbers moved away from home to play with Toronto FC Academy. He then played in the NCAA, returned to the GTA, and then played for Toronto FC II. A few years later he took on a coaching position at Ottawa TFC, bringing his journey in soccer full circle.

“Soccer has been a part of me my entire life. For a long time, it was me chasing the player side… A good 10 years of my life was there, but truthfully, coaching has always been very close to my heart,” Engbers explained. “My dad was my coach when I was very young starting out. Pav has been a part of my life for a long time. When I was in Toronto, I actually lived with Greg Vanney, who was the first team Head Coach and was the Academy Director at one point. So basically, along the way, I've been surrounded by really influential coaches, people that have had success in the game, that have great knowledge. That's always been something that I knew I would get into.”

Brogan Engbers. Photo courtesy of Ottawa TFC.

Brogan Engbers as a youth player. Photo courtesy of Ottawa TFC.

“When my time came to an end playing, for a variety of reasons... The focus for me shifted to, ‘How can I impact the next generation?’ Because soccer was so big for me. It's where I saw myself long-term,” Engbers continued. “The opportunity came at the right time to come back to this place. It’s kind of my roots. It's where I learned how to play. It's where I've taken steps in my coaching journey. It's where I developed my voice as a leader.”

Describing Engbers’ own talent and devotion to his athletes, Cancura notes that Engbers - his High Performance Manager - was playing with Atletico Ottawa at the time he began working for the Club.

“It's a huge testament to the work ethic he brought,” Cancura said. “We’re talking about somebody who was waking up at seven, spending half their day training like a pro, and when the other pros go home and rest, he's coming to do a coaching job.”

“For me, one of the biggest things is I always want to be in a place where I'm learning, and where I'm growing, and where things are happening, and where the culture is right,” explained Engbers. “Ottawa TFC ticks all those boxes.”

Since joining the staff at Ottawa TFC, Engber’s leadership in the High Performance space has helped the Club maintain its success on the Girls’ side while giving the once lackluster Boys’ OPDL program a much-needed boost in morale.

“It was a crazy turnaround,” Cancura noted, speaking of Brogan’s impact on the Club. “All based on, like we talked about before, not chasing results. It was all about getting a great vibe going. Making it awesome. Making it so that one buddy pulls another buddy in, and we just kept chipping away at it. And by the end, you have this really great culture.”

A Culture of Caring

“When you talk about culture, really it’s just the types of people that are around the place and the way they behave,” Cancura continued, saying, “A lot of our staff is homegrown… there’s no substitute for that. It’s just people who care.

Engbers and other leaders at Ottawa TFC are lighting the way for youth players who may want to follow in their footsteps. The club has brought youth coaches into a variety of their programs, which has in turn made the Ottawa TFC community even closer and more robust.

Many of the club’s youth coaches are players who have grown up in the Ottawa TFC community and have a deep understanding of the club’s philosophy. Brogan emphasizes that these youth coaches bring a unique energy and enthusiasm to their roles. “They know what good looks like, so they know what we’re striving towards” he said, referring to their experience in high performance programs.

These coaches not only help lead younger players but also gain crucial life skills, such as leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. “Ultimately, it’s shaping their journey as humans, it’s developing them as humans… and giving them tangible skills that they’ll carry with them for a lifetime.”

It’s a symbiotic relationship where the coaches learn to guide others, and the younger players are inspired by seeing someone somewhat close to their age excelling in the sport. “It just creates this environment of growth,” Brogan says. “Those kids want to become better, the coaches understand their role, it just creates this incredible community that drives the club to a whole new level.”

Switching to the Small Side

Ottawa TFC has adopted small-sided play for all of their recreational programs, allowing players to learn and enjoy the game without the pressure of traditional 11-a-side formats.

“When you’re just introduced to the sport, you just play, you just play, you just play,” Cancura says. “Once you have that bug, that itch, that feeling of ‘hey, I like this, can I do some more?’ Then maybe we take it a little further, step-by-step.”

Small-sided formats lead to faster-paced games, which young players often find more exciting. It also ensures that everyone on the field is an active participant in the action regardless of their current skill level.

“It’s scalable, it’s fun. No matter how many kids show up, it’ll be a good day,” stated Cancura.

“The amount of touches and action that these players are getting when the games are smaller-sided, when there’s less subs… they basically spend that whole hour playing,” Engbers describes. “At the end of the day, that’s one of the biggest places our players develop. It comes down to the amount of repetitions and game-like scenarios. They’re being put in situations where they have to think fast and, naturally, you get better.”

Nowadays, Ottawa TFC doesn’t do 11v11 at any age in their recreational programs. The biggest it gets is 7v7, with younger groups playing 4v4.

Another benefit of this format is that more touches on the ball gives athletes more opportunities to showcase their skill and stand out. “The open program is a great place for players to learn the game and learn to love the game, first and foremost. But we’ve also seen players grow through the program,” Brogan says. “We find these ‘hidden gems.’ Really talented players that may not have otherwise been seen.”

At Ottawa TFC, a ‘stacked schedule’ is often used so staff can maximize their time and work with both recreational and competitive athletes. “When you stack it, you can get your Talented Pathway out of the way with all of your best resources, and then those resources are still available to help with the open program and grassroots,” Cancura explained.

This strategic set-up is what allows Ottawa TFC to identify their “hidden gems” and help gifted athletes take the next step in their playing journey.

There have been many such cases, like a U10 player who came from a hockey family but fell in love with soccer while playing in Ottawa TFC’s recreational league. Now he’s playing competitively at U12, and Engbers says he’s become one of the strongest players in his age group with sights set on joining the OPDL.

Another promising athlete was noticed by Cancura while playing 4v4. He remembers pulling the player aside and asking “Where’s your mom?” The boy dragged Cancura over to meet his mother, who explained that the family had moved to Ottawa six weeks prior and they signed up for recreational soccer on a whim. They were invited to a competitive team practice that same night, and they never looked back.

Challenges and Pushback

Despite the well-intentioned efforts to adopt LTPD, pushback from some families was inevitable. A portion of parents have struggled to let go of the traditional 11-a-side format. As Cancura notes, “"When you're dealing with hundreds of families, even 10% of complaints feels like a lot.”

The inclusion of referees, especially at younger ages, was another sticking point, with inconsistent calls frustrating both players and parents. “We have the debate every year—should we put refs or not?” Cancura shares, but he holds that the club’s aspiring Match Officials need a way to develop, too.

While Ottawa TFC has worked to address concerns, they have stayed on course with their vision. They’re committed to prioritizing player development over results, until the results, naturally, come over time. This is clear when seeing some families may have left in search of more traditional experiences but the club’s overall numbers have continued to grow.

For clubs undergoing similar transitions with LTPD, Cancura’s advice is clear: phase it in. Age group by age group. Gradual introduction allows parents and players to adapt without as much resistance.

Looking Ahead

As Ottawa TFC looks toward the future, their plans include expanding their program offerings, especially with a brand-new facility to call home. They aim to increase the weekly training hours for certain age groups from 6–7 hours to 15, a significant increase that could push player development to new heights.

Pavel and Brogan both express excitement about the potential this facility offers. “We’ve got the right people and the right facilities, we believe that could move the mark in a way that hasn’t been seen before,” says Cancura.

The entire club staff is contributing to their new strategic plan. “For me, that’s what’s really exciting,” Engbers shared. “The club has done amazing things, but all of us in this building know that there’s so much more to do.”

As Ottawa TFC continues its journey with LTPD, the club remains steadfast in its belief that the true success of a player goes beyond short-term victories. Their commitment to nurturing talent and focusing on individual growth is the driving force behind their teams’ success.

"Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s steps,” Brogan emphasized. “You can’t concentrate on the end goal without understanding the steps in the journey are most important. I think sometimes people lose sight of that or they just want to chase success right off the bat."

Echoing this sentiment, Cancura reminds us, “It's along the same pathway. You don't have to thwart [LTPD] to chase short-term victories or wins.” By fostering an environment where both players and coaches can grow over time, Ottawa TFC has seen the fruits of patience and long-term planning.

As OPDL10 marks a decade of Ontario Soccer's player-centered approach, Ottawa TFC stands as a shining example of the power of this framework to not only develop exceptional athletes but also cultivate a lifelong love for the game. Their dedication to LTPD is shaping the next generation of players and ensuring that the future of soccer in Ontario is brighter than ever.