Taylor Barkley '17 Recruiting Profile

I am 17 years old and I have loved playing sports all my life. I would play soccer every recess and hockey after school.  I starting playing hockey at 4 years old and have played Tier 1 Competitive for 6 years. I started playing competitive soccer at 9 years old and currently play at the OYSL- Ontario Provincial Level.  Two years ago I wanted to see if I could play at the Regional Level for soccer so I asked my parents if I could go try out for the Cumberland U15 Regional Soccer Team(Closest team to my house). They said okay which was awesome considering it is an hour away from where we live.  I made the team and we won the Regional Level that year and moved to the OYSL(Ontario Youth Soccer League) to play provincially where I am today with the Cumberland Cobras U17 team.  This club is great we have fantastic coaches that push us and teach us skills that I never imagined I could learn.  The commitment required to play for this club has changed every area of my life. I have to plan  ahead for the next week and month to make sure I am covering all my responsibilities.  We train 5 out of 7 days a week and have a very structured routine for our trips to Toronto(5 hrs away) for league games. We have no electronics Friday to Sunday, homework time, player/coach meetings, meals/snacks are prepared for us and we travel with the team/coaches only. The club told us if we made it to OYSL we would really learn what it is like to live the life of a competitive athlete. It does mean I miss some things with my friends and family but being with my team and getting to play this level of soccer is everything to me. I do well in school because I manage my time very well.  At school I was brought up to play for the senior girls soccer team this year and we won all Eastern Ontario and we went on to play the best in the Province at OFSAA I don’t know what the future will bring but I know that I want to play soccer at the highest level I can and as long as I can!