"Hosting Whitecaps billets over the past years has been a great experience. Each of our student athletes became a true member of the family – we celebrated their successes, shared in the disappointments, and encouraged each other to be the best that we could. When one of our billets signed his first professional contract, we all celebrated for days! It was a privilege to be a part of their journey."
- The Wasson Family
It was the summer of 2016 when
Thomas Hasal
moved to Vancouver as a teenager to join the Whitecaps FC MLS Academy. It was his first time living away from home after coming through the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System program in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“It was a huge step, and I didn’t really know what to expect. It was different being away from family and friends, and being in a new place. I definitely was a bit nervous to see how everything would go.”
Today he is a professional player, fulfilling his dreams in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the Whitecaps FC first team.
“Moving to Vancouver for this program gave me the opportunity to fulfill my goals and become a professional soccer player. Without that opportunity, I wouldn’t have been in this position.”
HOW TO APPLY TO BECOME A BILLET HOST FAMILY?
To apply, you can fill out a form
HERE.
The club is currently seeking billet homes on the west side of Vancouver in the following areas:
- The UBC area
- West Point Grey
- Dunbar-Southlands
- Arbutus Ridge
- Kerrisdale
- Kitsilano
Timeframe:
A typical MLS Academy season will begin in mid-August for pre-season preparation, with players travelling home for Christmas and Spring Break, finally culminating in July following the MLS NEXT Playoffs tournament.
Commitment & Compensation:
Each family will be given two 2021 MLS regular season tickets per player, as well as financial compensation to cover food & utility costs. As a family, you will provide a safe and comfortable living environment and physical nourishment, which includes three nutritious, prepared meals per day, seven days a week.
Health & Safety Protocols:
The Whitecaps FC MLS Academy is in close and constant communication with provincial health officers to conduct all operations as safely as possible. MLS Academy staff will provide comprehensive information and support to all host families to ensure that all members of the family stay as safe as possible.
PATH TO PRO
Becoming a Billet host in the MLS Academy program is a unique and rewarding experience, sharing day-to-day life with a young player developing towards their professional soccer career while continuing his education at University Hill Secondary School.
The ‘Caps have signed 24 players from the academy to the MLS first team, including 11 players currently on the Whitecaps FC MLS roster, and a number of others now plying their trade in Europe such as Alphonso Davies, Sam Adekugbe, and Chituru Odunze.
In total, approximately 80 players from the academy have moved on to professional soccer careers.
For more information please contact:
Max Corcoran
Senior Manager, Academy Operations
Billet Program Manager
billeting@whitecapsfc.com
