Find out when the next Canadian Premier League trials will be held, including information about the CPL–U Sports Draft and how to go about it.
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) teams organise tryouts for young, talented soccer players.
The Canadian Premier League has improved over the years and is currently set to help young players establish themselves by taking their careers to the next level.
In a bid to improve the standard of play in the Canadian Premier League, clubs have decided to organise tryouts across the country in a request to identify talents.
Canadian Premier League tryouts and how to go about it
The league organisers have made it easier for players to catch the attention of clubs in the division easily.
Some of the ways to join a Canadian Premier League team are through the academy tryouts, the open league tryouts, or by invitation.
1. Open tryouts
The open tryouts are entirely different for each club, and it usually takes up to two days or more, depending on the organisation and schedule. It usually costs around 200 dollars for Canadian Premier League open trials.
If you fail to make the final shortlist, you should not worry too much. This is because you’ll get noticed, and coaches could still recommend you for clubs looking for players in Canada.
Ways to succeed during tryouts
Tryouts are once in a while, usually once or twice a year, and you should take it upon yourself as a priority to impress scouts and representatives.
*Be confident
Stay up to date and alert at all times. The key secret is to remain at your best at all times during tryouts because scouts are always watching to measure your performance with other players.
* Choose a role
Before you head out for tryouts, you should have gotten a picture of what you are expected to do.
To increase your chances of getting picked, you should attend trials after choosing a role you can confidently play. To identify this, you can approach your trainer or your local team coach, who will recommend the best position for you.
If you’ve already chosen to play as a forward or in a midfield position, you should stick to it and continue to improve on yourself. Train regularly and be consistent with the role you’ve already chosen.
* Creating a training schedule
One of the ways to improve your game is by taking care of personal training. Train regularly, either alone or with teammates.
Advantages of the Open Tryouts
* You gain more exposure as you play alongside other young players across the country.
* Your confidence level in the field of play is expected to increase even though you fail to impress.
* Opportunity to meet coaches and scouts who could end up picking up interest in you based on your performance.
2. CPL–U Sports Draft
The CPL–U Sports Draft is a soccer development program created to help young players in colleges or universities accelerate their careers.
The CPL It is an annual soccer development event in which Canadian Premier League clubs select players from U Sports. The CPL–U Sports Draft consists of two rounds for teams and players.
Draughted or selected players at the end of the event will be invited to the CPL team’s preseason camp, which promises to earn them their first pro contract.
3. Apply directly
It would help if you considered applying directly for a place in CPL teams. You can kickstart today by completing your CV, highlights, or videotapes of yourself and using them now.
The Canadian Premier League is still new, and clubs are looking for players that could adapt to their philosophy and style of play.
How to contact Canadian Premier League (CPL) teams for trials
Step: 1 Head to the CPL official website on canpl.ca.
Step: 2 Head over to the CPL club’s section and click on the club you’re interested in joining.
Step: 3 Click on Club overview and select the “Contact” button.
Step: 4 You will be presented with an official contact form. Here you can fill in details as well as videotapes you’ve recorded.
Although it is not limited, Canadians interested could still contact these clubs directly through the CPL website.
4. Agent and soccer scouts
Agents and soccer scouts are recommended options. If you can find a good agent willing to charge you less, you can strike a deal with him so he can do all the work for you.
Top agents contact these Canadian Premier League clubs, which could fast-track your approval or invitation for trials.
5. Visit CPL teams training sessions
You could still find your way to the team by visiting training sessions of Canadian Premier League clubs. As you see, you could speak to coaches or trainers to share your intentions of becoming part of their team.
CPL teams looking for players
Atlético Ottawa
Atlético Ottawa is a soccer club based in Ottawa, Ontario, that competes in the CPL. Founded in 2020, the club is one of the new teams in the CPL.
Atlético Ottawa plays its home games at the TD Place Stadium in Ottawa. The club is affiliated with the Spanish La Liga side of Atlético Madrid.
Cavalry FC
Cavalry Football Club is a soccer club based in the Calgary metropolitan region of Alberta that competes in the CPL. Founded in 2018, the club plays its home games at the ATCO Field, Foothills County, Alberta.
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is a soccer club based in Edmonton, Alberta, that competes in the CPL. The club is one of the first teams to compete in the newly created soccer league in Canada.
Forge FC
Forge FC is a soccer club based in Hamilton, Ontario, that competes in the CPL. The club won the first two editions of the CPL.
Forge FC is currently the most successful team in the history of the Canadian Premier League with two titles.
Forge was the first CPL team to compete in the CONCACAF Champions League, North America’s second-tier club competition.
HFX Wanderers FC
Halifax Wanderers is a soccer club based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, competing in the CPL. The club plays its home games at the Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Read: Soccer Academy Trials in Canada you should know
Pacific FC
Pacific Football Club is a soccer club based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that competes in the CPL.
Valour FC
Valour Football Club is a soccer club based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that competes in the CPL. The club plays its home matches at IG Field.
York United FC
York United Football Club is a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, that competes in the CPL. The club plays its home games at York University’s York Lions Stadium.
You could still contact clubs directly to enquire about the latest tryouts.
Canadian Premier League rules to help young players
* There should be a minimum of six Canadian starters per game.
* Foreign players in the CPL are limited to seven per team to encourage Canadian participation and development.
* About three of the domestic players must be under the age of 21 also to encourage player development.
About the Canadian Premier League
The CPL is the newly created top-flight professional soccer league for clubs in Canada. It is currently contested by eight teams, with further plans for expansion already made public.
The CanPL was created to help young players in Canada establish themselves to become top players in North America.
Wrapping up
You should always consider ways that would help you become a better player if your aim is to become a professional.
Soccer is another popular sport in Canada. With the creation of the CPL, the level of soccer in the country would grow beyond the current level.
Canadian Premier League teams carry out tryouts across various locations in Canada to scout qualified players.
Players interested in joining CPL clubs in Canada could pass through open tryouts, the CPL–U Sports Draft, agents/scouts, or direct application.