Like many varsity athletes, Ameen Alizada had heard some of the legendary stories about RBC Training Ground: a young athlete attends a free event near them, discovers a sport they haven’t tried, has the opportunity to receive funding and support from RBC, and then just a few years later, becomes an Olympian – some even winning medals.

What he didn’t fully realize, however, was that this program also comes with a welcoming community designed to provide greater access to high-performance sport for athletes from a wide range of backgrounds.

Cleats4Kids participant at an RBC Training Ground event in Calgary.

“Barriers to entering sport can be financial, but sometimes we forget that just making an athlete feel welcome and special – the intangible things – can be just as important,” said Alizada.

This stood out to Alizada after more than 20 young athletes from his organization, Cleats4Kids, attended RBC Training Ground’s March 22 visit to Calgary.

Cleats4Kids began when Alizada, co-founder Akwasi Agykum and a group of fellow sport-loving buddies drove around Calgary picking up used cleats and delivering them to neighbourhood kids from local sports fields. Today, it has grown into one of Calgary’s largest youth sports foundations, distributing hundreds of pieces of sports equipment and offering opportunities for young athletes facing financial insecurity.

“When we started Cleats4Kids, it really took off,” said Alizada. “It’s been the encouragement from our community and the generosity of our partners that have helped us grow. Seeing how much people care has meant everything. Giving young athletes a chance to experience and access the world of sport is why we started this.”

To help spread the word about RBC Training Ground’s visit to Calgary, Alizada and Agyekum relied on deep connections and existing relationships with community partners like soccer clubs and the Calgary School board’s LEAD (Literacy, English and Academic Development) program. LEAD supports newcomer students facing challenges and focuses on English as an Additional Language.

“There are so many reasons why we wanted them to come out,” said Alizada. “First, it’s free, which is awesome because cost is often a real barrier. Then, there are so many potential role models there for the youth to meet. Getting to be a part of a community of people with similar interests is so important for anyone, but particularly for those who might be feeling isolated.”

At RBC Training Ground’s free qualifying events, athletes aged 14-25, no matter their sport background, compete in speed, strength, power and endurance testing in front of fifteen National Sport Organization partners. The Top 100 athletes advance to a National Final where up to 35 RBC Future Olympians will receive funding and resources to further develop in their sport.

Cleats4Kids participants at testing station.

 

RBC Training Ground was developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, with support from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network. Since its inception in 2016, RBC Training Ground has tested over 16,000 athletes across Canada, with more than 3,000 athletes being identified by NSOs as having Olympic potential – many in a sport they had never considered.

According to Alizada, the fact that the event was being hosted at a university was another benefit.

“The idea of university or applying to university often isn’t on the radars of many of the young people we meet through Cleats4Kids, so even just to get them thinking and asking questions, and seeing what might be possible, is huge.”

In its 10th season, RBC Training Ground added several program updates, including the RBC Training Ground Athlete Accelerator – a new funding and support opportunity for RBC Training Ground participants facing financial barriers to high-performance sport. In addition to funding, recipients receive educational development, mentorship support and financial literacy resources. Athletes can apply at RBCTrainingGround.ca.

The program’s primary purpose is to find and fund future Olympians, but the additions enhance the ancillary benefits of the program – building community and opening doors.

“Some of the athletes from our network who came out in Calgary aren’t part of organized sport, so this was such a unique experience for them,” said Ameen. “They told me they felt really seen, which doesn’t happen for many of them.”

For more information, visit RBCTrainingGround.ca.

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subject matter discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.