North Canton Soccer Club (NCSC) is a community-based organization that serves the North Canton School District boundaries in the Ohio Travel Soccer League (OHTSL). NCSC was founded in 2019 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by the High School coaching staff to fulfill the need for a high-quality developmental soccer club within North Canton to feed the high school soccer programs. OHTSL is a community-based organization that requires all members to have a dedicated community that has no other OHTSL members within it. We are the only travel soccer club in North Canton serving 8 to 15-year-olds in grades 2 through 8. Our travel program within OHTSL is the largest in Stark County, with 14 teams - 8 boys’ teams and 6 girls’ teams. We also have a Middle School ID program for boys who already play premier soccer to stay involved within the community program with a single practice per week and select tournaments throughout the year.
NCSC also manages a recreational Academy program serving children ages 4 to 8 years old. It employs a European Academy-style developmental approach focused on fundamentals, skill development, and fun. Each training group is broken up by age and developmental level, creating cohorts of 8 - 12 players. Our older Academy players are being prepared to join the travel ranks with small-sided games once a week.
Our Board and staff are made up of community members and the North Canton Hoover High School Soccer Staff. Coach Jonathan Zahn, the boys' varsity coach, is the director of our boys' program and director of coaching. Coach Brian Girdlestone, the girls’ varsity coach, is the director of our girls' program and coaches the majority of our girls' teams. Matthew Miller is the club president, academy director, and travel coach. Matthew is also a Hoover graduate, a former Hoover soccer player, and a Hoover High School soccer coach from 2010-2019. Other members of the boys’ high school staff coach within NCSC as their time allows, mainly in the winter and spring seasons. The remainder of the Board are parents and community leaders.
Who we serve
Approximately 300 active players ages 4 to 15
We abide by OHTSL community rules within the North Canton School District
Since 2019, over 1,000 families have been registered to play within our club
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to create a fun learning atmosphere for players and families to develop skilled soccer players. We are committed to the North Canton community to further the growth of soccer and promote good sportsmanship, and knowledge of the game. Our player development approach is based on the recommendation of The United States Soccer Federation and best practices from top European clubs. We encourage development by focusing on fundamentals and skill development over team results.
We Offer Both Recreational and Competitive Programs!
Our recreational programs are for ages 4 to 8 years old. Our competitive programs are for players, ages 8 to 15 years old, who will compete in the Ohio Travel Soccer League (OSTL). OSTL is a community based league with multiple divisions per age group. Our teams will be challenged against top Northeast Ohio community clubs.
The club offers a connection between the High School programs and the youth to better align players and parents with the most up to date North Canton soccer information. North Canton City Schools is partnering with us to provide practice and game locations within the North Canton community.