The Northern Elite
Announcement: Registration OPEN
Our Mission & Vision
Welcome to The Northern Elite Academy. WE ARE NOT A CLUB. We are a high performance academy where elite athletes from around the Greater Toronto Area can train and compete with each other without fear of club conflicts.
The Northern Elite was created as a support system for ambitious youth athletes looking to compete at the next level. Our goal is to bridge the gap between youth volleyball and the collegiate level. Our unique relationships with NCAA & U-Sport Programs have helped many athletes in their successful recruiting journeys.
Our program offers coaching & mentorship like no other program in Canada. We hand select our coaching staff, from the elite athletes representing Canada on the international stage. The game is changing. Who better to help coach these changes than Team Canada athletes who implement these changes in their OWN game.
Philosophy
We believe in learned behavior. Our program teaches & then demands high performance behaviors. We work hard to create an environment where athletes feel SAFE TO FAIL. We encourage our athletes to embrace the discomfort that comes with learning.
Our programs are not categorized by age. Athletes are grouped based on their skill level. Not only does this cultivate a competitive environment but it also welcomes new friendships and connections for our youth athletes.
Our programs are structured with top collegiate programs in mind. Our primary focus is on-court skill development/tactics with a sub-focus on strength & conditioning, mental performance, and recruiting.
Email your highlight video to join our program
Contact sophie@thenorthernelite.com
*Limited spaces available
18 athletes per gender
3 courts |6 athletes per court| 1 court coach +1 lead coach
About Founder Sophie Bukovec
Founder & Head Coach Sophie Bukovec has competed in ALL possible volleyball avenues in North America. She is an Olympian, Ontario University Athletics Champion, First- Team All star, Final Four MVP, BIG West Indoor conference champion, PAC-12 beach volleyball champion, 2x All- American and 3x National champion. “In-between collegiate seasons, finding a program in Toronto that understood the expectations and mentality of professional athletics was difficult” – Sophie Bukovec. The Northern Elite provides the opportunity for youth athletes to better their skill, learn new strategies, COMPETE, & engage in advanced resources so they are able to walk into their first year of college/university with confident capabilities!
2024
olympics, paris
2022
fivb vice world champion
2015-2017
AVCA National Champion
2x NCAA National Champion
2X All American
2x Pac 12 champion
2014
U21 FIVB World Champion
OUA Champion
Final 4 MVP
McMaster Rookie of the Year
NCAA Big West Champion
Want to Join Our Team?
Contact us for more information, or to answer any questions you may have about our academy. We look forward to hearing from you. Together we can continue to grow the game in Canada!