Subject: Understanding Athlete Placement at the Academy

Subject: Understanding Athlete Placement at the Academy

Dear Parents,

Over the years, we have noticed a common trend: when given the option, many parents register their child at a level higher than recommended. This is often because, within their usual playing group—whether at school, in a smaller community, or at a smaller club—their child is among the stronger players. However, skill level is relative, and what seems like a strong performance in one setting may not translate the same way in a different, more advanced group.

Through feedback from over 1,600 athletes annually, the most frequent concern we hear is about players being placed in a level they are not ready for. This impacts both their development and the experience of others in the session. After carefully analyzing this, we found that only two or three athletes per year genuinely benefit and should be playing outside their recommended level.

As the Academy grows, our guidelines for registration will transition into firm rules. While we understand this may be frustrating for some, this change is essential for maintaining a positive and productive training environment.We often see concerns from athletes who are at the top of their assigned level or just below the cutoff for the next one. In our experience, being at the top of a level is actually an advantage.

It provides an opportunity to:

• Learn self-motivation and personal accountability
• Improve consistency by making every contact count
• Elevate teammates by leading and setting the standard
• Develop leadership skills and resilience
• Build confidence through success and responsibility
• Understand how to recover and adapt when teammates make mistakes
• Learn to be the reason your team wins, rather than just watching others make it happen

On the other hand, if an athlete moves up too soon, they often struggle to keep up, feel discouraged, and may not develop the same leadership skills. Just as they might feel frustrated playing with athletes below their level, the more advanced group may see them the same way—someone who isn’t quite ready and requires extra support.

We encourage every athlete to embrace their role within their assigned level, work hard, and focus on becoming the best player they can be. Growth comes from learning how to lead and elevate others, not just from playing with stronger teammates.Thank you for your trust in our Academy’s process. We are committed to developing all athletes at the right pace to maximize their long-term success.

Best regards from the desk of Dr. Darren Cannell
Canadian Elite Academy