Offseason Training Academy
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Vision Statement

To build a premier training environment where youth football players in Thunder Bay and area are empowered to #BeBetter—providing the elite coaching, resources, and structural support necessary to help dedicated athletes reach the next level of the sport.

Mission Statement

To deliver premium off-season football development through a purpose-driven organization. Guided by a staff with high-level performance experience, we are dedicated to elevating the local standard of play, challenging our athletes to #BeBetter every day, by creating and supporting pathways that promote their aspirations in High Performance, CJFL, and USports programs.

Our Organizational Ethos: Purpose Over Profit

Transparency and Community First

OffSeason Training Academy (OTA) was built by and for the local football community. While OTA is officially registered as a standard Ontario Incorporation—chosen purely as the most efficient legal avenue to get our cleats on the ground and start training youth immediately—our compass points strictly toward youth development, not personal profit.

Founder, Ryan Bliznikas, established OTA with an uncompromising goal: to build a sustainable organization that generates real, tangible opportunities for our youth.

Supporting Driven Athletes

We believe in full transparency with the community that supports us. The ultimate goal of this organization is to enrich our athletes, not its ownership. As OTA grows, our aspiration is to utilize this platform to facilitate future opportunities for the sport by:

  • Delivering Elite Coaching: Ensuring our athletes learn from the best. We intentionally select coaches with unique backgrounds and high-level playing and coaching experience—including at the CJFL, USports, Provincial High Performance and High School levels—to equip our local players with the exceptional training required to excel.
  • Developing a Bursary Program: Establishing an application-based bursary system to help ease financial barriers for dedicated players seeking access to top-tier training.
  • Supporting Elite Pathways: Considering applications for financial assistance to help driven local talent attend High Performance camps, provincial showcases, and pursue further CJFL or USports opportunities.
  • Elevating the Standard: Providing the essential off-season reps our local athletes need to confidently compete with programs across the province and the country.

At OTA, our ultimate measure of success isn't a bottom line, but seeing our athletes push themselves to #BeBetter on and off the field, and helping open doors for the next generation of football talent.