ACADEMY OVERVIEW

At TOP Academy, we strongly disagree with the current trend of early specialization in youth sports, where one sport dominates the allocation of time, effort, and family resources. Early specialization, among other things, robs kids of the joys of experimenting and learning new sports. It also hinders long-term development by increasing the pressure and prospects of burnout at an early age. Instead of being places to grow, thrive, and have fun, youth sports have essentially become "professionalized" where winning and rank among peers is prioritized.  

With our multi-sport model, we solve this problem by giving kids the opportunity to play three competitive sports in one calendar year, with no schedule conflicts, very little travel time, and proper seasonal schedules. That means a more well-rounded sport experience, more time back into families' lives, and fewer headaches to allow your child to play more than one sport. 

TOP ACADEMY

TOP Academy is the competitive arm of TOP Sports, and all TOP Hockey, TOP Lacrosse, and TOP Soccer Academy teams fall under TOP Academy banner. Our core values and philosophies are not changing, but there are a new set of guidelines and expectations for all TOP Academy teams that will help differentiate between the TOP Sports stream and the TOP Academy stream.

Core Values 

• Quality practice time over quantity of games
• Consistent, convenient, manageable schedule that allows for and encourages multi-sport play
• Focus on long-term athletic development that promotes well-rounded athletes
• High-quality coaching that builds character.

Attributes of TOP Academy

• Ability to play all three Academy sports in one calendar year with NO schedule conflicts and no overlap.
• Competitive programs and culture for players who want it.
• Clear differences in expectations, mindset, commitment, etc.
• Similar coaching philosophies throughout all programs.

TOP Sports believes in taking a long-term approach to the development of youth athletes. We believe that multi-sport play, over time, is essential to the creation of a well-rounded and successful athlete. As kids mature and grow, we think the most versatile athletes become the best players in each individual sport.

TOP Differences

1. Ability to play three competitive sports in one calendar year with minimal conflicts and minimal session overlap. 
2. Similar coaching philosophy and program structure across all three sports. 
3. Local, community-based teams that provide a more efficient schedule for families.

At TOP Academy, we strongly disagree with the current trend of early specialization in youth sports, where one sport dominates the allocation of time, effort, and family resources. Early specialization, among other things, robs kids of the joys of experimenting and learning new sports. It also hinders long-term development by increasing the pressure and prospects of burnout at an early age. Instead of being places to grow, thrive, and have fun, youth sports have essentially become "professionalized" where winning and rank among peers is prioritized.

With our multi-sport model, we solve this problem by giving kids the opportunity to play three competitive sports in one calendar year, with no schedule conflicts, very little travel time, and proper seasonal schedules. That means a more well-rounded sport experience, more time back into families' lives, and less headache to allow your child to play more than one sport.