More than a Soccer Club- Welcome to the family!

Get to know your club:

In 2025, the Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club celebrated 55 years of community service. A remarkable achievement resulting from the efforts of countless volunteers providing the structure for thousands of players at all ages and skill levels, wearing our distinctive red and white kits, playing the beautiful game.

Under the technical leadership of club head coach Boris Bajagic (CSA National 'A' License), the Club developed a culture of coaching excellence in order to enhance the development of all of our members. We are proud to have continued that excellence under the leadership of additional Technical Directors since that time, and now the leadership of Lloyd Barker as Sporting Director of the Club.

The Club has had many successes and we have been privileged to have Charmaine Hooper, Lyndon Hooper and Kristina Kiss wear our colours during their careers that saw them reach the national stage. Many of our other alumni have gone on to outstanding careers at colleges and universities across North America. We take equal pride in the exceptional achievements of those players, and the wonderful role we get to play in introducing the "beautiful game" to thousands of players - delivering quality programs to players of all ages and skill levels.

President’s Corner - Jeff Knight

As I begin my role as President of the Nepean Hotspurs, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share how excited I am for what lies ahead for our club. Soccer has been a part of my life in Ottawa for more than four decades. I am truly honoured and excited to have the opportunity to give back to the sport and community that have meant so much to me. At Nepean, we firmly believe every player deserves to be developed properly, regardless

of the level at which they play. That commitment is our raison d’être and why we continue to invest in both our technical and administrative teams to support every athlete’s journey. Of course, one of the most exciting developments for our club is our affiliation with FC Bayern — the first partnership of its kind between a Canadian club and one of the most successful and recognized soccer organizations in the world. We are incredibly proud of what this affiliation can mean for our players and club. Thank you for your continued trust and support of the Nepean Hotspurs. Hotspurs on 3!

Technical Plan - Lloyd Barker

Nepean Hotspurs prioritizes long term player development through four pillars: Technique (skills), Tactical intelligence (decision making), Character (discipline), and Speed (physical and cognitive). We believe that effective Grassroots and Youth development is achieved from creating varied, adaptive situations that challenge players to read, decide, and respond — building tactical intelligence alongside technique. Key training methods include rondos — which build pressure-tolerance and quick decision-making — and small-sided positional games that force players to find tactical solutions. Our game model is based on: Interchanging positional play, strategic ball possession, committed defensive organization, and tactical superiority.

Tip Of The Week: When shooting from outside of the penalty box, plant your standing foot

beside and slightly ahead of the ball as you strike it. Keep your head down and do not look up until the ball has left your foot and is on route to goal. This enables you to keep the ball from lifting over the crossbar.

What’s coming up:

Game Plan: Upcoming Events

FC Rapid Club Day - August 9th

Our FC Rapid Club Day is coming up on August 9, and we are so excited to attend what is sure to be another fantastic club event! Contact us to get your tickets and join the Hotspurs for a great day together supporting FC Rapid.

Ontario Cup - June 11-15

Our BU17 Red took to the field in Round 1, and are set to play their next match June 21, ready to represent the badge with passion, determination, and pride! Our GU15 Red is hosting Round 1 here in Ottawa on June 7, proud to show their hard work and dedication!

Ottawa Sport Council 200 - June 6-7

We are excited to host an Ottawa Sport Council 200 “Try It” event at Charmaine Hooper East Field, open to participants of all ages. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to play, and we look forward to welcoming the community out for a fun experience.

Hotspurs For Her - June 19

We are thrilled to announce our next event for Hotspurs for Her, presented by Boston Pizza.

Rapid FC is sending three of its players to come out and meet and greet our girls! We will have Boston Pizza Hunt Club sponsor our food and drinks... Woohoo!

FC Bayern Soccer Camp Returns to Ottawa in July 2026

NHSC is excited to once again bring the world-renowned FC Bayern Soccer Camp to Ottawa this summer, offering local players a unique opportunity to train under one of the most respected youth development systems in world football. Open to players born between 2008 and 2014 (U12–U18), the camp welcomes participants from all clubs, all genders, and all levels of experience who are eager to develop their skills in a high-performance environment.

The FC Bayern Soccer Camp will run over two separate weeks:

July 13–17, 2026

July 20–24, 2026

Participants will train directly with FC Bayern Academy coaches, learning the same player development principles and methodologies used throughout one of the world's most successful professional clubs.

In addition to elite coaching, campers will have the opportunity to be identified for the FC Bayern Pathway, opening the door to future development opportunities within the club's international academy network. Registration includes an official FC Bayern Camp uniform, with additional uniforms available for purchase. Families registering siblings or players attending both weeks can also take advantage of a 10% discount.

FC Bayern Munich is globally recognized for developing some of the game's top talents and maintaining one of the most respected youth academies in football. Through this partnership, Ottawa-area players can experience that same commitment to excellence right here at home.

Who made a splash this month?

Our June Boston Pizza Team Of the Month : BU15 White

By nomination of the Sporting Director Lloyd Barker, Boys U15 White team, under Coach Abdi, has earned the Boston Pizza Team of the Month Award for June! They are unbeaten after the opening two league games and their high turnout for practices is a contributing factor in their strong start. Boston Pizza Hunt Club sponsors the Team of the Month, where the winning team can celebrate with a team dinner including FREE entrées! June is the perfect month to take advantage of this award to watch the World Cup on game days! Additionally 10% of parents’ and siblings’ spend will go directly back to our club!

Head Strong MPC

Our club is excited to share a new mental performance training partnership offering workshops, small-group sessions, and individualized support. Programs focus on confidence, leadership, pressure management, and performance habits. Exclusive club rates available.

The Proving Grounds

TPG is offering team and individual athletic development training focused on strength, speed, conditioning, injury prevention, recovery, and leadership development. NHSC members will receive partnership exclusivities, including discounted personal training and free demo sessions for teams.

What’d we miss?

A Recap Of Our Recent Club Events!

Atlético Ottawa Club Day

What an incredible experience for our Hotspurs at Club Day with Atlético Ottawa. We are extremely grateful for the invitation and the opportunity for our players, coaches, and families to be part of such a special day! From watching the match up close to connecting with the soccer community at a higher level, it was an unforgettable experience that inspired everyone involved. Moments like these remind our young athletes what hard work, passion, and love for the game can lead to!

Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sport Expo

Nepean Hotspurs was proud to attend the Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sport Expo as an exhibitor, where we had the opportunity to promote our All-Abilities Program and connect with other inclusive sport organizations from across Ottawa.

Hotspurs For Her, Presented by BP

Our Hotspurs for HER Initiative continues to grow, with record-breaking participation at our March event as we create more opportunities for girls in soccer across our community. We are thankful to have Boston Pizza Hunt Club as the official sponsor of Hotspurs for HER!

Game Day Fuel - Missy Gore

Great performance starts with proper nutrition. Ideally, athletes should eat a balanced meal with carbs, protein, and healthy fats 2–3 hours before kickoff. If hunger strikes within an hour of game time, choose a quick, natural option like fruits or vegetables instead of processed snacks. After the final whistle, refuel with a balanced meal to support recovery, rebuild muscles, and prepare for the next challenge.

Summer Recreational Starts!

We are super excited for our 2026 Summer Recreational Season to kick off! With high registration numbers we have been able to open up fifty-five Grassroots teams, with nearly 600 registrants. A decade’s best! Keep your eyes peeled for information on our U4 to U10 Festival on August 15th and our U11 to U18 League Tournaments on August 22-23rd! Can’t wait to see everyone out on the fields for an amazing summer of soccer!

Laws of the Game - Chris Wade

50 per cent of referees don’t return for a second year. One of the contributing factors is referee abuse. You may not think that loud complaints constitute abuse, but newer referees have yet to develop a “thick skin”. Cheer for your team but try to avoid criticism of the referee. If a referee has a bad game, let the coach deal with it. They can reach out to me and I can try to get the referee additional training or mentoring. For info on new laws, you can go to www.theifab.com

School Takeovers

In May, we started an initiative to visit schools in our area, and teach them fundamental soccer skills in Phys Ed. classes! We visited Steve McLean Public School and Meadowlands Public School four days a week to introduce them to the beautiful game - the Hotspurs way! We are excited to announce that we are opening more availability for other schools in the fall. If you want us to come to your school, reach out to us at info@nepeanhotspurs.ca.

We’ll see you in October!

OUR VALUED PARTNERS

HeadStrong MPC: Mental performance training is now available for athletes through team workshops, group sessions, and individualized support, with exclusive club partnership rates available.

Boston Pizza Hunt Club supports NHSC with a free Team of the Month dinner, free dessert for players, and 10% of bills donated back to the club, and is the presenting sponsor of Hotspurs For Her.

Timbits Soccer: Provides uniforms and soccer balls completely free of cost to all of our U4-U11 recreational players.

The Proving Grounds: TPG is offering athletic development training focused on strength, speed, conditioning, and injury prevention, with exclusive rates, free team demo sessions, and discounted personal training for NHSC members.

Victory Vault: Runs weekly draws where our members are able to buy into the draw and get the chance to win money to profit the club.