Academy for Student Athlete Development (A.S.A.D.)

The Academy for Student Athlete Development (A.S.A.D.) is a first-of-its-kind, high-performance sport and academic program for secondary school athletes. Based at Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario, with a campus in London, Ontario, A.S.A.D. supports student athletes by creating equitable access to elite training environments.

Our mission goes beyond the field of play. A.S.A.D. empowers student athletes to reach their personal best in sport, academics, and life by combining expert coaching, integrated support services, and an inclusive culture that prepares them for wherever their journey takes them next.

Abilities Centre launched A.S.A.D. in response to growing demand for high-performance sport programming that aligns with provincial and national long-term athlete development pathways. The program is designed for qualifying secondary school athletes who want to compete at the highest levels while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

A.S.A.D. provides opportunities for all aspiring student athletes, regardless of the sport they play or the pathway they are on. Whether you compete in able-bodied sport, parasport, or Special Olympic sport, A.S.A.D. is built for you.

Daily Structure

A.S.A.D. student athletes spend half of their school day at Abilities Centre and the other half at their home school within the partnering school board. Every student athlete is enrolled full time, which protects their eligibility for post-secondary academic and athletic opportunities within the standard four-year graduation cycle.

This balanced structure means student athletes never have to choose between their sport and their education. A.S.A.D. is designed so both can thrive together.

Inclusion and Culture

Inclusion is not an add-on at A.S.A.D. It is at the heart of everything we do.

Every student athlete enrolled in A.S.A.D. is expected to contribute positively to an inclusive culture where all people feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We educate our student athletes on inclusion and encourage them to model those values in their schools, clubs, and communities.

A.S.A.D. is committed to ensuring that all student athletes, regardless of gender, socio-economic status, disability, or ethnicity, have equitable access to the program. Our barrier-free training environment reinforces that commitment every single day.