CAPERS Academy

MISSION STATEMENT

The CAPERS ACADEMY aims to identify, inspire and develop young soccer players from Cape Breton island. Our mission is to create a professional, best in class soccer environment. Guided by our Championship CAPERS values we will build an Academy where those who walk through these doors grow both on and off the field and emerge as better players and people. Their goal will be to always leave our jersey in a better place.

#AttitudeIsEverything #CreatingCompleteChampions #ForeverOrange

OUR VISION

The CAPERS ACADEMY will become one of Canada’s leading centres of soccer excellence, providing players, coaches and the Team Behind the Teams the opportunity to reach their full potential in The Beautiful Game.

• Nurturing our own talent: Building a sustainable academy that will produce players who can impact the CAPERS Varsity teams and strive to reach higher levels of the game.
• Innovation and the Integrated Support Team: From video analysis to Mental Performance, from Strength and Conditioning to nutrition. We will provide the resources to empower our young athletes to be the best versions of themselves.
• Impacting the heart of the community: Through our three pillars of Player Development, Coach Education and Community Engagement we will enrich soccer at the Grassroots level across Cape Breton island. We will provide pathways to foster the leaders who can support the growth of the sport.
• Inclusivity and diversity: We will ensure that the CAPERS ACADEMY is open to talent from all socio-economic backgrounds and communities throughout Cape Breton. They will flourish in a sporting culture of belonging, respect, teamwork and pride in our island roots.

OUR METHODOLOGY

• Developing the player and the person: Our CAPERS ACADEMY players will train in state of the art facilities, guided by top quality coaches, driven by our CAPERS philosophy that #AttitudeIsEverything and our aim of #CreatingCompleteChampions. We care deeply that they carry #ForeverOrange values in education, in the community and in life. We will provide them with the skills and nourish their character to do so. 

• Creating pathways to higher levels: We will guide and provide opportunities for players to reach the next level whether that is Team Nova Scotia, CBU CAPERS or other Varsity Programs, Canada’s WNT or MNT or the professional game in North America and beyond.

• Lifelong students of The Beautiful Game: A crucial part of our journey will be the Varsity student-athletes coaching those who aspire to follow them onto the CBU rosters. We will establish a cohesive Coach Education pathway for every player recruited, one that ensures they will continue to give back to game when they graduate.

• Soccer for Everyone: CAPERS ACADEMY will influence, support and help to grow the Grassroots game through the players and coaches in the 9 member Soccer Cape Breton clubs across the island, the school soccer network and programs serving those with learning difficulties and disabilities. We will ensure ALL children enjoy a quality soccer experience, inspiring their love for the game through an informed and consistent technical foundation. 

• Pride and connection: We will equip our players with the Championship CAPERS brand connecting them to our CAPERS Varsity teams and inspiring them to achieve their aspirations and foster the responsibility and understanding of what it means to be a CAPERS player both on and off the field.

EARLY EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS

• Four years ago in May 2022 when the position of Technical Director was restored to Cape Breton FC we had four Team Nova Scotia Provincial team players.

• In April 2026 we have 15 Provincial long list selections ranging with 7 players making it into the elite Team NS programs, five in the Girls and two on the Boys.

• Last year in 2025 three Academy players were included in the Team Nova Scotia Canada Games squads for 2025.

• In 2024 Cape Breton FC’s U13AA Girls won the Tier One Nova Scotia Soccer League banner after an invincible season of 15 wins and one tie before they triumphed in the Play-Offs knocking out much-vaunted Suburban FC from Halifax in the semi-final. They followed that up with a Bronze medal in 2025.

• From that squad, who were initially developed through the Soccer Cape Breton Skill Centre initiative, 11 of the 14 players made it into Provincial program contention.

• In the realm of Coach Education Cape Breton FC was one of only 20 clubs Canada wide to be chosen to take part in the initial TELUS SheCANCoach project which is designed to produce more female coaches in the game. CBFC had a cohort of 15 coaches successfully graduate through the program and the club was asked to be part of Year Two when eight more female coaches - including six CBU Varsity players - will take part.

• When it comes to Community Engagement there are two shining examples of the way the bonds between Cape Breton FC and the university can flourish. The USPORTS National Championship win for CBU Men’s Soccer on home turf in November 2023 and the Halifax Wanderers-Ipswich Town exhibition match in July 2024 were both sold out events thanks largely to the connection with local youth players and their families.

• In the Spring of 2026 we can reflect that a record NINE CAPERS Academy athletes have graduated to AUS or ACAA Varsity level - and we feel that number could rise.

THE LEGACY

Creating an Academy, guided by our CAPERS principles, will see the establishment from 2025 forward of a hub for soccer development and excellence in Atlantic Canada. This will grow to see the Academy gain National Youth Club status, the gold medal Canada Soccer standard, as we become a nationally recognised soccer institution. Our facilities, our history of success and our vision make us unique.

This project will safeguard the future of the game on the island, grow the CAPERS soccer community and inspire future CAPERS.

Dream big will be always be one of the cornerstones of our CAPERS program. It’s time.