The future of soccer in Moose Jaw will be receiving a big boost. The Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer is expanding its academy program to Moose Jaw starting this fall.

The Moose Jaw Soccer Association (MJSA) and Yara Centre will be home to the second Prospects Academy in Saskatchewan, joining Saskatoon in the academy system for the MLS club.

"This is huge, we're very fortunate to have this kind of opportunity afford to us here in Moose Jaw," said Jordan Jeffery, technical director with Moose Jaw Soccer. "It's great that we can now look to become a destination (for top soccer players in the province) rather than a stepping stone and that’s key for soccer in Moose Jaw."

The Saskatchewan Prospects Academy opened up in Saskatoon four years ago and was the first one to be opened outside of British Columbia. The Academy is led by head coach Jonathan O'Neill, who will partner with the MJSA and the Saskatchewan Soccer Association to bring the academy to Moose Jaw.

O'Neill said that they've been looking for a host for their second academy in the province and Moose Jaw's Yara Centre was an intriguing option.

"It's great for us and Moose Jaw that this is one," said O’Neill. "They have the facility in the Yara Centre and there's the buzz about soccer in the community, so hopefully we can build on it."

The Whitecaps are building a network of academies throughout Western Canada that will serve as a prospect feeder system to the Whitecaps Boys Academy residency program and Girls Elite program in Vancouver.

"The Whitecaps actually have multiple players in their academy from Saskatchewan at the moment, so in terms of the population here, it's quite fantastic," said O'Neill. "We have Brett Levis from Saskatoon, who plays for the first team, so it seems to be a hotbed of talent."

The academy will feature programs for players in the U8 Division all the way up to U17 and the players will practice in eight-week blocks.

"We will do 16 hours of coach education, which will be crucial to the development of the players in the city and out of the city," said O'Neill. "We already have the facility, so if we can give quality practice to the players, they're going to develop."

Jeffery added that any extra chance for players to get on the field in a high calibre atmosphere is good for the game here in the city and surrounding area.

"It will help us attract more players into the program for the grassroots first, we'd like to progress players from that into the Whitecaps, but the key is we want you to still be signed up with your city club, the Whitecaps program will be there as a supplement for that program, we want as many touches on the ball and playing games," said Jeffery.

There's also a benefit for the city, as Mayor Fraser Tolmie said this is what was the envisioned when Yara Centre was built.

"We're grateful for the Whitecaps to recognize the City of Moose Jaw and Jordan Jeffrey for putting this together," said Tolmie. "It's a great opportunity for future development for our youth and very excited to see where this is going to go.

"We're seeing the potential of that facility. They're there to provide opportunities for the people that live here and that's where our focus needs to be on the development of Moose Jaw athletes."

More details on the programs being offered will be released at a late date. Contact the Moose Jaw Soccer Association for more information.