ACCEL x EXCEL: A Winning Partnership for Athlete Health
We’re excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at our recent partnership with the Soccer Nova Scotia EXCEL program—and yes, we promise not to make too many jokes about how “EXCEL and ACCEL” teaming up just made perfect sense. (Although really… it kind of does.)
What Is the EXCEL Program?
The Soccer Nova Scotia EXCEL program is designed to identify, develop, and elevate high-performance youth athletes with the potential to advance into provincial and national pathways. The program focuses on long-term athlete development through high-level coaching, technical skill refinement, tactical understanding, physical preparation, and sport science support.
These athletes train with purpose, intensity, and ambition—so providing the right health and performance foundation is essential.
How ACCEL Supported the EXCEL Athletes
This fall, our multidisciplinary ACCEL team had the opportunity to support EXCEL athletes through baseline testing and VALD strength and movement assessments. These tools allow us to measure key performance indicators, identify asymmetries, and spot movement patterns that could increase risk of injury down the road.
One of our main areas of focus was screening for ACL injury risk factors—a top concern in youth soccer due to the sport’s rapid changes of direction, landing mechanics, and high training volume.
Turning Data Into Injury Prevention
Testing is only valuable if it leads to action. After analyzing the results, our clinicians compiled findings and passed them along to the EXCEL strength and conditioning coach. This collaboration allowed the S&C team to:
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Address individual risk factors
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Target specific strength deficits
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Improve neuromuscular control
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Build prevention strategies directly into training
The goal? Keep these athletes strong, resilient, and performing at their best all season long.
Why Partnerships Like This Matter
At ACCEL, we’re passionate about supporting emerging athletes and helping them develop safely. Combining our clinical expertise with the EXCEL coaching team’s sport-specific knowledge allowed us to provide a holistic, performance-focused approach.
Because when athletes have access to the right data, the right training, and the right care team, they can push their limits—confidently and safely.
ACCEL + EXCEL = Athletes Who Excel
(Okay, we had to do it once.)
We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Soccer Nova Scotia and look forward to supporting more athletes as they rise through the high-performance pathway.
If your team or organization is interested in performance testing, injury prevention screening, or sport science support, our multidisciplinary team is here to help.
