Michaël Marchandise, originally from Belgium, now settled in Ottawa, loves the diversity and open-mindness, the capital city has to offer. Having played soccer most of his life, Michaël believes teamsport impacts individuals positively, physically as well as character-wise. Having worked in HR, accounting and IT consulting, Michaël is excited to combine his love for sports with his professional experience through Soccer Shots. He has always enjoyed coaching young people and seeing them evolve, which he exceled at while volunteering for soccer teams throughout his tenure in college and after. Michaël is passionate about positively impacting the lives of children in Ottawa through sports-based development, all while having fun!

Born and Raised in Ottawa, Zain had a passion for soccer and sports from a young age, playing with the local Gloucester Dragons from the age of 7 and then playing with the Gloucester Hornets at age 13. He was always involved in sports activities in school and took part in school teams. Zain enjoyed helping and teaching others, as the oldest sibling of 2 younger brothers he always found himself playing, teaching, and helping his little brothers out. This lead him to work in daycares with children and various sports camps in his community.

Coach Caleb recently moved to Ottawa from New Zealand! In New Zealand he owned a sports and movement program for 2-8 year olds and operated classes at kindergartens and primary schools all over the city. He has a strong background in competitive sport including soccer and squash. Coach Caleb loves to watch kids grow and develop their skills and confidence while having a good time. He is always full of energy and hopes to give the best experience possible.

Aïcha is from the Ottawa area and is a former Ottawa internationals and Gloucester Hornets soccer player, who started playing soccer at the age of 4 and played competitively for 9 years. Throughout her life, soccer has given her skills and experiences she could’ve never imagined, and she is excited to be a Soccer Shots coach to inspire young soccer players! Aïcha has a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work at the same university. She has worked in a wide range of children’s settings, including an educational non-profit organization, wading pools, and a church’s children and youth ministry. Aïcha has always enjoyed working with children and hopes to continue doing so in her future practice.

Rebecca grew up in Ottawa and has always had a passion for sports, she specifically loves soccer and from a young age was fortunate enough to play first with the Nepean Hotspurs and then join the Nepean City soccer club. She was always involved in sports activities at school, playing on her high school soccer team and then played intramural soccer while attending Carleton University. Rebecca is passionate about teaching young children and has extensive experience working with children in both educational and recreational settings over the past 15 years, she currently works as an elementary school teacher. Rebecca is looking forward to meeting all her new soccer friends!

Samantha is a student at Carleton University who is originally from a small town in the GTA area. She has always had an interest in being involved in sports and extracurriculars, but specifically has developed a passion for soccer at a young age. She played competitively at Oakville Soccer Club for many years, where she played in various tournaments. This is when she was first introduced to the city of Ottawa before deciding on moving there for her studies. Samantha has developed a love for working with children in her experience coaching and teaching on different occasions and is thrilled to join the coaching team at Soccer Shots!

Coach Aline grew up in PEI, has a lifelong passion for sports, particularly soccer. She has also dabbled in judo, rugby, badminton, mini handball, snowboarding, and skiing. Aline’s experience working with kids includes being a camp counselor and working at the Boys and Girls Club. She recently graduated from the University of Ottawa and comes from a family of seven siblings.

Coach Noah was born and raised in Ottawa, where his athletic career began. He’s grown up playing competitive sports for local teams such as the Ottawa Sting, Ottawa Internationals, and the Mustangs! Moreover, his love for sports has translated into his career. Noah has been a Multi-Sport camp supervisor here in Ottawa, instructing sports like soccer, hockey, pickleball, and many more, to children of all ages. He can’t wait to see you out there!

Coach Athena is a fourth year student at Carleton University majoring in psychology. She started playing soccer when she was four years old and fell in love with the sport! She went on to play indoor and outdoor soccer through her teenage years. Athena has experience working with children in a daycare setting and is excited to now be working with children in a coaching capacity.

Dedicated to sports since the age of 3, Alexa has gained a passion for soccer, earning a scholarship for the sport at Carleton University. Currently studying Childhood and Youth Studies, Alexa seamlessly blends academic insights with practical coaching experience. Having coached children previously, Alexa brings a unique understanding of both the game and the developmental needs of young players. Beyond academics, Alexa plays soccer with in League 1 Ontario in the GTA, showcasing a commitment to excellence on and off the field. While Ottawa is now home, Alexa has a rich athletic journey and wants to create an environment for people to fall in love with the sport, just like she did!