A summer vacation in the Okanagan translated into a job in northern B.C. for Ross Holtom.
Holtom was recently hired as the associate head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Northern Academy based in Prince George, joining the program all the way from England.
He'll work with Sonny Pawar, the current head coach of the Northern Academy, in boosting the calibre of soccer in the region.
The Whitecaps FC Northern Academy provides supplemental training for serious, motivated youth soccer players based on a set of standards and a curriculum. Other academies are based in the Okanagan, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Kootenays, Kamloops and Saskatchewan.
"I'm excited about it," said Holtom. "I spent the summer months in the Okanagan in the off-season with a guy I used to play soccer with in England. Then I got speaking to the guys at the Whitecaps Okanagan Academy and [Whitecaps FC director of soccer development] Dan Lenarduzzi who said there might be a position coming up with the Whitecaps in the north.
"I've been up here for three weeks and am pretty familiar with the program. The players here have a good work ethic and the Northern Sport Centre is ideal and a great facility. The Whitecaps have definitely made an impact - the players in the system can handle the ball well and pay good attention in their training."
Holtom spent three seasons as a staff coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Academy, the highest level (Category 1) of the professional club academy system in England. At Wolverhampton, he was responsible for under-14 player development, delivering training sessions, match-day coaching, and performance reporting.
Holtom holds his UEFA 'A' license, part one and two, and is awaiting his final assessment date. Holtom also holds his FA Youth Coaching Module one, two and three and FA Junior Football Coach, Course Tutor Qualification.
In partnership with the Prince George Youth Soccer Association, the Whitecaps Northern Academy has four age categories of boys and girls - from under-10 to U18 - totaling 115 in all, who train twice a week.
"We're very excited to have Ross join us," said Pawar. "He adds a lot to the program that was only started a year and a half ago. He'll be a tremendous help and it speaks volumes on how we can grow the sport in the north.
"He brings a ton of quality [to the program]. He's an excellent coach and he'll also work on educating our staff coaches."
Holtom and Pawar will work together as associate head coaches to further grow the Prospects Academy in Prince George and reach out to other potential academy sites in northern B.C. In addition, the Northern Academy will seek to further collaborate and grow the relationship with current partners in the PGYSA.
"There's a potential to expand into the rural areas - there's untapped potential," said Holtom. "I'd like to get out and see what's around."
Ultimately though, it comes down to what Holtom describes as youth playing the Whitecaps way.
"We want players who are technically good and have a desire to win," he said. "We would like them to be creative with the ball - when they have the ball and have possession that they have the flow and the confidence to play with it. When they lose the ball, they have the desire to get it back."
