48
Weeks a year
Technical and tactical work, coached in small groups. See an example week
Girls Soccer Development in Toronto
There is a school for everyone.
Toronto Blizzard develops committed soccer players through training, competition and university exposure — helping athletes across Toronto and the GTA pursue educational opportunities.
Boys can train with Blizzard too →
Hear from families already on the pathway
Every player's pathway is different. Admission, roster places and scholarship funding are determined by the receiving institution.
- 48 weeks
- Of programming a year — technical, tactical, physical and goalkeeping
- 94%
- Club-reported full or near-full scholarships. Outcomes vary by player
- 4 showcases
- Annually, plus ID clinics where university coaches attend
- March tour
- Up to 12 US university programs visited on the annual tour
Mission and culture
A family learning and development environment.
Blizzard is a place where all are welcome and equal — an opportunity to grow, build and create your future.
Players and families come from across Toronto and the GTA, and stay in the program for years at a time. Development and academic goals belong in the same conversation here, which is what Joe means by his line.
There is a school for everyone.
Joe Parolini, Director and Head Coach
The Program
Prepare for the commitment ahead.
Technical, tactical, physical and goalkeeping work across a 48-week year, plus four annual showcases, ID clinics and a March university tour.
S&C
Strength and conditioning
Led by Mark McKoy, Olympic gold medallist, and programmed by age and stage.
4
Showcases a year
Competitive showcases and ID clinics attended by university coaches.
12
Universities in March
An annual tour visiting up to 12 US university programs.
Joining means leaving your current club
Players join the whole program, so a player moves across rather than adding Blizzard alongside another club. School sports are permitted.
Enquiries welcome for all birth years
Following an enquiry the player attends a trial, and joining is discussed with Joe. A place is not automatic — the trial is how the staff see where a player is.
About Joe
The person families actually speak to.
Giuseppe “Joe” Parolini is Director and Head Coach. He has owned the club since 2000, coaches the program and leads the university conversations himself.
There is no admissions desk between a family and the person making the decisions. That matters most when the honest answer is a difficult one — when a player is not ready, when a target is unrealistic, or when another route would serve her better. A program that only ever says yes is not giving advice.
The record
Where our players actually went.
Blizzard publishes its graduate record in full — which players, to which institutions, in which year.
94%
Full or near-full scholarships
A club-reported outcome for Blizzard players who went on to university soccer. Individual outcomes vary, and admission and funding are determined by the institution.
57
Players placed
Across the published graduate record, 2018 to 2023.
35+
Named institutions
NCAA, NAIA, junior college and Canadian universities.
Pro
And beyond
A 2023 graduate signed professionally in Scotland. The pathway does not end at university.
Recent Blizzard graduates
Alegra Black
D’Youville University
Vanessa Lovisa
Wagner College
Natalie Bevan
Lincoln University of Missouri
Selena Poveda
Chicago State University
Sarah DaSilva
WVU Tech
2026
U21 Women’s Ontario Cup Champions.
The squad that trained together through the winter and travelled the showcase calendar together finished the season with the trophy.
Players take part in competitions such as the Ontario Cup and iModel through partner club affiliations, as part of Blizzard’s independent development program.
In their words
Parents and players who have been through it.
Current players, parents, and former players now at US universities.
Read what is in the video
Running order. Current players, three parents, three former players now at US universities, head coach Joe Parolini, and strength and conditioning coach Mark McKoy. Recorded by the club in 2024.
Vanessa Lovisa, current player. Describes wanting to continue her education and soccer at NCAA Division I level, and says Joe builds a relationship with every player in the program. “As long as you stay consistent, you try your hardest, you get good grades — because education is such a big part of it — Joe will help you.”
A parent. Describes her daughter’s group all receiving scholarships and playing in their first year of university, and the hours and sacrifice the family put in.
Joe Parolini. Explains that the working relationship rests on trust on both sides, and that it is “not about winning.” Describes bringing in Mark McKoy for strength and conditioning, Lorenzo Redwood and Jason for coaching. Says the aim is to prepare players for the demands of playing in the United States, and that his own measure of success is the moment a family walks onto a campus and the idea becomes real.
Three former players. A full-ride scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with two Division I seasons in 2023 and 2024; a former 2006 team captain now playing Division I at Wagner College; and a player now attending Seminole State College.
A second parent. Says she was sceptical that scholarships were realistic — “it is only for the top, top, top tier” — and describes changing her mind after seeing the program and meeting returning alumnae.
Mark McKoy. Olympic gold medallist. Talks about choosing one goal rather than chasing every competition, and about trusting a process he compares to his own preparation as an athlete.
Summary of a recording the club published in 2024.
I never thought a soccer scholarship to the States was possible — in fact my parents and I thought it was unrealistic. At 16 I switched to Toronto Blizzard. The training was way more intense but well worth it.
On my old teams we used to get excited when we saw a guy with a clipboard on the sidelines. We thought they were scouts when really it could have been anyone. With Blizzard I've never seen so many scouts in my life.
Joe welcomed me to the Toronto Blizzard Scholarship Program where I was truly amazed with the professional training environment. Joe has a hands-on approach to helping student athletes get to the best university soccer programs.
I am very thankful to have met Joe and his staff, who helped me obtain an opportunity in life I will never forget.
How the pathway works
A scholarship is not one moment.
It is a system built over years. Blizzard brings development, competition, exposure and recruitment support into one continuous pathway.
Identify
An honest conversation about potential, goals and fit.
Develop
Year-round technical, tactical and physical work.
Compete
High-level matches that test what has been trained.
Be seen
Showcases, ID clinics and the March university tour.
Progress
Recruitment support through to a decision.
What we can and cannot promise
Blizzard commits to seeking opportunity for every player. Scholarships are awarded by post-secondary institutions, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Before you call
The questions families ask first.
Enquiries are welcome for all birth years. Following an enquiry the player attends a trial with Blizzard, and joining is then discussed with Joe.
No. Players leave their existing club to join Blizzard. School sports are permitted, and questions about other activities go to Joe.
The annual program covers 48 weeks: $5,395 paid in full or $5,695 across three instalments. Kit, showcase travel, tournament charges and the summer fee are additional. See the full breakdown.
No. Blizzard commits to developing a player and seeking opportunity for her. Admission, roster places and funding are decided by the receiving institution.
Blizzard operates an independent, university-focused development program. Players take part in competitions such as iModel and Ontario Cup through partner club affiliations.
The people
Coached by people who know your player.
Blizzard is deliberately small enough that the coaching staff know every athlete and every family, and specialists are brought in to do one thing well.
Giuseppe “Joe” Parolini
Director and Head Coach
Mirko De Francesco
Club Technical Director
Davide Masciantinio
Technical Staff Coach
Chris Wright
Technical Staff Coach
Mark McKoy
Strength & Conditioning Trainer
Jonathan “Jon” Franco
Head Goalkeeping Coach
Part-time contributors
Nikki Matarazzo
Mental Training Coach
Lorenzo Redwood
Technical Staff Coach
Jason Mesa
Technical Staff Coach
Belonging
A place to stay in the game.
Too many girls leave soccer in their teens. Blizzard is a year-round environment — training, travel and the hours in between — built so they stay, improve and are seen.
A simple next step
How to join Blizzard.
Enquire
Enquiries are welcome for all birth years. Tell Joe where your player plays now and what she is aiming at.
Attend a trial
Following the enquiry, the player attends a trial with Blizzard so the coaching staff can see her play.
Discuss joining with Joe
What the week looks like, what the family commits to, the fees, and whether the program is the right fit.
Support Blizzard
Help talent reach opportunity.
Training and travel can put opportunity out of reach. Your support can help players and families remain in the program and pursue their next step.
Our current sponsor
Mighty Protein
On the kit the squad wore to the 2026 U21 Women’s Ontario Cup title. Business sponsorship →
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