Testimonials

From the very first time I met Tania I could tell she was the type of person who demanded respect from all her goalkeepers. If you have ever witnessed or been a part of any of her training you realize she gets exactly that. All of her keepers give 100% effort in every session because they are expected to and because Tania also gives 100% of herself every time she coaches. I have not only worked for Tania but she has coached me endless times because she believes in me as a keeper. I have never had the equivalent commitment from any coach. Tania works hard on the field but even harder off. She challenges everyone in her academy with homework every week, she evaluates them constantly and is always taking note of progression. She plans out sessions to the very last minute and has specific handouts for all of the other coaches involved so we are always on the same page. Her attention to detail when it comes to technique is better than any keeper coach I have come across in Canada, male or female. Because of her commitment to making her keepers better it is natural for those keepers to want the same. She has no doubt made me a better keeper and whenever I get the opportunity to train with her I do. Her high demands force you to look inside yourself and give more than you thought possible. I worked an entire winter with a group of keepers in her academy and I was completely amazed by their transformation in a matter of months. Her passion for what she does is contagious and although her sessions are intense and competitive they are also fun. Golden Gloves Academy is a wonderful learning environment and I am proud to have been a part of it.

Erin Mcleod

Olympic Canadian Team

Just wanted to thank you for all your work with Sean this past winter. He really enjoyed himself! He thought his selection to the Regional team this season was mainly due to all of your guidance and encouragement. He mentioned that he put a lot of your pointers to use during the tryouts. Will probably see you either this summer or next winter once again.

Cheryl

Mat really enjoyed your sessions and felt he gained a lot from the structured program. He also appreciated a program dedicated only to keepers!

Robin

I wanted to thank-you very much for your amazing program. Amelia loved attending every week and hopes she will be able to attend another session in the near future.

Cathy

Thanks for a fantastic 20 weeks! Mackenzie looked forward to each and every Friday sessions and has expressed remorse over not having another one this week. You always treated the children with respect while demanding discipline and respect for others as well as instilling a love of the game in them. She learned MANY techniques and strategies which I know she will put into practice this upcoming season. We look forward to receiving her report and information on upcoming sessions this spring/summer season.

Lorelee

Thanks very much for all your coaching expertise and guidance over the last term.
Cameron and Ainsley learnt a lot and both really enjoyed it ! And another thing I really liked and meant to thank you for… was when you went out of your way to give our son some extra encouragement after one of the sessions… I could tell it hit home with him and gave him a lot of extra confidence and I could see that with his enthusiasm.

Dean

We first met Tania at Ottawa University for an assessment and my son Chad was a 12 year old, tall skinny kid with hair too long to see. Having had no prior formal keeper training, we were both apprehensive. We had heard that Tania was not for the faint of heart. After one hour, Chad was invited to the Golden Gloves Academy and Tania recommended him to the coach of the R5 program. Tania did not mince words. She told Chad that not only was he younger than the other participants, but he was behind the eight ball in terms of training and he would have to work very hard to catch up. But she saw talent, coach ability and a willingness to work hard. And Tania demands nothing less.

After four years of watching Tania work, I can in fact tell you that if you are faint of heart, the Golden Gloves Academy may not be for you. But if you are a talented keeper wanting to get to the top of your game and willing to work hard, that’s the place to be. She will push you harder than you ever expected, both physically and mentally. But as hard as she makes her students work, you know she’s working just as hard. In every session, she analyzes each keeper’s technical and tactical mistakes and takes the time to correct them, every other keeper benefiting from the other’s mistakes.

I would say that Tania’s biggest strength is her passion. Her passion for the game, passion for her students and most of all her passion for success. Not her success, but the success of her prodigies. When a student of hers reaches a milestone, she beams with pride for them…. and then makes them work even harder (if that’s possible!). I won’t lie, there were times when Chad was younger, and he came home beaten both physically and mentally. The training is hard. But not once did he ever say, “I don’t want to go to training tonight”. And to this day, even if he’s training twice a day already, he won’t miss a session unless it conflicts with club training.

Having said how tough she is, I can also speak to her caring and nurturing side. When Chad was 12 and with the R5 program, he had had a particularly bad session. And like every elite athlete who’s hard on himself, he had a bit of a meltdown. Tania spent a long time sitting on the ground talking to him. What amazed me the most about that episode was that she was able to console him without letting him feel sorry for him and made him even hungrier to work harder!

At 14, Chad was invited to West Ham United in England for a trial. At 15, he participated in a couple of College training camps in the United States. Everywhere he’s been, the comments were the same that technically and tactically he was ahead of the 17-20 year olds he trained with.

Today, Chad has been invited to join the Toronto F.C. Academy. He owes a big part of his success to Tania and the Golden Gloves Academy. I can’t say enough about it.

Josette

This summer will be the seventh year in a row that Tania comes to Sault Ste. Marie to run a week-long training camp for our club goalkeepers (time really flies fast!). I must say that coming acrss Tania’s Academy was the best discovery our Club has made. Tania’s technical skills are second to none but most important, she possesses a rare talent for “connecting” with players and inspiring them to be the best they can be. She manages to be both demanding and encouraging, strict and motivational at the same time. Every year I speak to participants of her camp and without exaggeration receive nothing but raving reviews. I truly hope that our partnership continues for years to come, and we’ll have many more opportunities to tap into Tania’s fantastic instructional skills.

Michael Ter-Mikaelian

Sault Soccer Club

I have found the best goalkeeping coach in all my years of coaching that is willing to help your goalkeepers. Tanya can coach both boys as well as girls, and is good enough to be on the regional and national staff. She has done an outstanding job in a short time with our keepers, and her clinics are first class and actually under price.”

Abner Rogers

Laguna Hills Eclipse