The Vancouver Whitecaps FC was introduced to the Yukon’s competitive soccer program this weekend.

The Yukon Soccer Association (YSA) welcomed Bart Choufour, head coach of the Whitecaps’ pre-residency and academy centres, to Whitehorse, where he ran a series of high-performance sessions over a three-day span.

“My goal was to get a look at the soccer scene here,” Choufour said of his northern visit.

That included getting a good look at the Yukon’s competitive players, as well as the local coaching staff, he said.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise owns the rights to players from the northern territory, Choufour told the Star.

In fact, the team also has first dibs on players from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and the Northwest Territories.

Over the past number of years, the Whitecaps have launched seven youth academy programs within their jurisdiction as part of their strategic plan to develop homegrown players.

Manitoba will be the next province to gain an academy, said Choufour.

“We’ve expanded our methodology and the way we work with players,” he explained.

As for the Yukon capital, the club is exploring its options. With the size of the Yukon Strikers program at about 150 players, an academy centre doesn’t make sense, said Choufour.

But regular visits with intense weekend sessions between players and coaches might work, alongside a program that could see coaches head to Vancouver for strategy workshops.

“I don’t see a full-fledged academy here, but I do want to work with the players on a regular basis,” Choufour said.

A regular Whitecaps presence in the territory could serve to add more excitement for local players, and in turn boost membership, he added.

John MacPhail, head coach of the YSA, said the local association was happy to host the Whitecaps coach.

The weekend was an opportunity to get to know one another with a potential affiliation being set up between the Whitecaps and the YSA going forward.

About 80 players from the Yukon Strikers program participated in the weekend sessions with Choufour.

“He’s reinforcing strategies we teach,” said MacPhail. “For the kids, hearing it from a different voice is always good.

“It’s a brand the kids recognize and everyone’s energy levels are up.”

Choufour, 58, spent several years with the Haarlem youth program in his native Holland, before becoming a coach at a young age.

He put the players through their paces over the weekend – including an up-tempo session with the U16 boys Saturday afternoon.

“That was pretty cool. I’m not going to lie,” said 13-year-old Felix Maltais, following the clinic that saw players quickening their footwork to push the pace of play.

Maltais said he is a Whitecaps fan, with two of the soccer club’s jerseys hanging in his closet.

“We learned how to be prepared for different situations and attack fast,” the youngster said. “We knew some of these strategies already, but (Choufour) gave us an idea of why we do it.”

At last year’s U14 national club soccer championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Maltais had two of the Yukon’s three goals, netting each after coming on as a substitute mid-game.

Finding homegrown gems within the Canadian soccer system is important for the Whitecaps’ success, said Choufour.

At present, seven graduates of the academy program currently hold MLS contracts with the club.

“We work hard to find those gems,” said Choufour. “There’s good players everywhere, and I’ve seen some good players here, although some need to learn how to train a little bit better.”

The coach added that the young players can catch his eye at any age – anywhere from eight to 14.

In Vancouver, Choufour takes care of the program for 13- and 14-year-olds, training multiple times a week.

He also oversees the Whitecaps’ academy centres ­– regional training hubs that link staff, curriculum and training standards for serious players.

The academies are development centres, often run in partnership with a local organization.