Academy

Vision

The Toronto Arrows Academy is committed to the development of the next generation of professional and international Canadian players. The Academy staff will continuously identify high-potential and high-performing athletes between the ages of 14 – 23 and develop these individuals into MLR-ready players through a player-centric, holistic, multi-year program.

Mission

The Toronto Arrows Academy is focused on building a nationally and internationally-renowned talent identification and development program that fuels the sustained success of the Toronto Arrows club.

To achieve this, the Academy staff will create a supportive and challenging environment that fosters player and coach development, allowing individuals to develop into elite-level performers. The foundation of this development will be a culture of work ethic, accountability and enjoyment.

The Academy recognizes the importance of being strongly connected to provincial and representative programs, clubs and educational institutions. The Academy staff will strive to foster strong connections and working relationships to ensure that the Academy programming is delivered in a complementary nature with these programs.

Philosophy

The Toronto Arrows Academy is committed to developing physically robust players with a superior work ethic that are able to play a dynamic, highly-skilled brand of rugby. The players will exemplify the Academy’s values of work ethic, accountability and enjoyment.

In order to achieve this, it will be important to maintain aligned coaching styles and support systems, underpinned by our values and terminology, in order to facilitate successful transition between Junior and Senior academies and the Arrows.

Players in our training environment will develop through a thematic framework of coaching that promotes the Academy’s core values and skills development, physical preparedness, and decision making while allowing and encouraging creativity.

Match opportunities will be used to support and review individual player development while ratifying Academy objectives.

Academy Player Pathway

The Toronto Arrows pathway has been simplified in order for players, parents, coaches and stakeholders to understand and assess potential entry points.

The pathway provides opportunities for players across Ontario to enter the pathway at any point throughout their development.

Regional Training Framework

Our non-residential Senior Academy operates in two regional training sites in Ontario (Guelph, Kingston) and one in Quebec (Montreal).

The hubs provide access to top-of-class training facilities and support systems.

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Our non-residential Junior Academy trains across three regional sites and is facilitated in partnership with Rugby Ontario.

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Please note that as the Academy is non-residential, selectors will focus recruitment on domestic players, rather than international.

2022-2023 Ontario Blues Junior Arrows Academy program information can be found here.

Staff

Cory Hector | Head Coach (Arrows Academy – Director)
Dave Butcher | Assistant Coach (Arrows Academy – Ontario East Lead)
John Lavery | Assistant Coach (Arrows Academy – Quebec Lead)
Adam Maahs | Assistant Coach (Arrows Academy – Ontario West Lead)

Latest Academy News

Feb. 20, 2023 | Eighteen Arrows Academy Players Participate in Canada U20 Camp
Jan. 11, 2023 | Toronto Arrows Announce 2023 High Performance Academy Athletes
Dec. 13, 2022 | Ontario Blues Junior Arrows Academy Athletes Announced for 2022-2023 Season
Nov. 18, 2022 | Arrows Senior Academy Athletes Headline RSEQ All-Star Teams
Nov. 16, 2022 | Arrows Senior Academy Well Represented On OUA All-Star Teams