About us
About
World Soccer Academy (WSA) was created in 1998 to provide a different approach to training in the Ottawa area. Founded by Zijo Nistovic, a professional coach and player in the former Yugoslavia, WSA has specialized in the development of the individual, teaching the techniques and tactical understanding to help each player excel, no matter what level he or she plays at.
Since coming to Canada in late 1996, Zijo has applied his unique approach to coaching with hundreds of players in Ottawa. Starting with an exceptionally talented group of players (born in 1986), he has helped many players (and their teams) achieve success, serving as a coach or trainer for teams with South Nepean United (now Ottawa South United) and the Ottawa Fury. Some have been selected by the Ontario provincial program, others have received full NCAA Division 1 scholarships and gone on to sign with North American professional teams. And a few have earned professional trials in Europe.
Zijo enjoyed a successful 10-year career as a professional soccer player with Yugoslav First and Second division clubs. He was selected by one of the top teams in the country at age 12, and signed his first professional contract before he was 18. During his playing career he had the privilege to play with or against many internationally recognized soccer experts from Yugoslavia, a number of whom later took up coaching roles across Europe and around the world. His former teammates include staff and head coaches with Paris Saint-Germain FC, AEK Athens, Arsenal, and Herta Berlin.
"That is our greatest accomplishment - instilling a love of the game that will last for life."
After retiring from professional soccer, Zijo studied at the Football Coaching Academy in Yugoslavia. During his coaching career, he was involved at both professional league level and youth development. As a full-time youth coach during the 1980s, Zijo helped develop 15 professional soccer players, two of whom represented Yugoslavia at the at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Zijo holds a Professional Football Coaching Diploma from the former Yugoslavia and a Canadian National Soccer Association Level B License.
As proud as we are of the achievements of our most talented, we are even more proud of the fact that over 70 percent of WSA participants remain involved in the game - as players, coaches and referees. That is our greatest accomplishment - instilling a love of the game that will last for life.
Guiding Principles
Due to the peculiarities of North American youth system most developing athletes are exposed to highly specific and intensive soccer training without being given time and space to build a solid skill base. This is comparable to building a high-rise on a poor foundation. Obviously such a construction error will result in collapse of the building.
One of the main reasons for soccer's high drop-out rate in North America is insufficiently developed skills. Most players never master fundamentals, yet they are expected to work on complicated tactics regardless of their individual level of skill. This leads to unnecessary stress, unrealistic expectations, and injury. The outcome is most often the abandonment of competitive soccer before reaching adulthood.
Our programs ensure that players at all age levels build a solid foundation of fundamental soccer skills before proceeding to advanced tactics.
Our primary interest is to develop soccer players. This can only be achieved by emphasizing skill development.
In designing a long-term development program we consider differences among participants, studying individual characteristics such as: anatomical age; biological age; and athletic age.
Our process of periodization divides training into stages from entry level to elite:
- Initiation stage: 6 to 10 years old
- Athletic stage: 11 to 14 years old
- Specialization stage: 15 to 18 years old
- High Performance stage: 18 years and up
Understanding these stages of player development is crucial. Our long-term program is intended for talented youth soccer players who are dedicated, passionate and want to excel at this beautiful game, whether that is at the highest levels or just starting out.