From Switzerland to Canada: Loris Sieber’s First Four Weeks at Football North
From Switzerland to Canada: Loris Sieber’s First Four Weeks at Football North
Excerpt: Four weeks after moving from Switzerland to Mississauga, Ontario, Loris Sieber shares what life is like at Football North: from early training and film study to host-family life, academic preparation, and his first preseason test.
Four Weeks in Mississauga
Loris Sieber : Mississauga, Ontario
It’s hard to believe I’ve already been in Canada for four weeks.
Back when ScoutSync announced my commitment to Football North, it was still just a plan on paper: camp in mid-July, a new school, a new team, and a totally new daily rhythm. Now that I’ve actually lived through my first month here, I finally feel like I have a routine.
I wanted to share what life really looks like at Football North, both on and off the field.
A Typical Training Day
My days start early. I’m usually up by around 7:30 in the morning, and by 10:00 in the evening I’m ready for bed. The training schedule doesn’t leave much room for late nights.
Practice begins at 8:45 with a gym session, which sets the tone for everything that follows. After that, we move into meetings where we review film from the previous day’s training, break down different plays, and work through the mistakes we want to clean up.
It’s a level of video analysis I hadn’t experienced before. It has already changed the way I watch the game.
Film Study as Part of Development
Film study means more than simply watching practice back. We look at specific plays, identify mistakes, and focus on the details we need to improve.
That process helps connect training to performance. It also gives me a better understanding of how to recognize situations on the field and respond to them more effectively.
For me, this has been one of the biggest adjustments to the Football North environment. The game is not only about what happens during live practice. It is also about how carefully you review, learn, and prepare afterward.
The Core of the Day
After the gym session and meetings comes the core of the day: two and a half hours of full-team practice.
It’s intense: more physically and mentally demanding than anything I did back home: but I genuinely enjoy it. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to be here.
Most afternoons, a few of my teammates and I head straight from practice into another one or two hours in the gym. We finally get home around three in the afternoon.
The schedule is demanding, but it gives me a clear structure. Every part of the day has a purpose, whether it is strength training, film, team practice, or additional work in the gym.
What Does the Coach Say?
In response to the question, “How are things going? Are you happy so far with Loris’s performance and behavior?” JV Head Coach Edgar Garcia replied:
“He’s doing great. He’s a respectful gentleman who is disciplined, passionate, and shows up to work every day. He’s developing quickly. Of course, he’s still getting used to the speed and technique of the game. But we’re looking forward to everything that lies ahead.”
Hearing that from Coach Garcia means a lot to me.
Moving to a new country and joining a new football environment requires constant adjustment. I’m still getting used to the speed and technique of the game here, but I’m focused on learning every day and continuing to develop.
Life With My Host Family
Off the field, I’m living with a host family in Mississauga, and it’s been a great fit.
Two other teammates are staying with the same host family, and we have our own separate area in the house. They’re very welcoming, and the meals: when they’re freshly cooked: are genuinely good.
My room is brand new and much bigger than I expected.
For the most part, the other athletes and I manage our day-to-day lives on our own, without much outside help. Our host mom, Raquel, is mainly there in the background, ready to answer questions if we have any.
That gives us a good balance of independence and support.
Finding a New Routine
Living away from home is a major part of this experience. The football is important, but so is learning how to manage everyday life in a new place.
I’m getting used to the schedule, the training demands, the living arrangements, and the responsibility that comes with being more independent. Having teammates nearby makes the transition easier, while having a supportive host family gives us a comfortable place to return to after a long day.
Looking Ahead to the Queen City Quad
The next big milestone comes even before school does.
On August 22, I’ll play in the Queen City Quad: also known as the Quad City Classic: a four-team preseason scrimmage at Greenway Avenue Stadium in Cumberland, Maryland.
It’s the 16th year they’ve run this event. For me, it will be the first game that actually counts for something since I got here. It will be my first real test in front of real competition.
I’m excited and a little nervous, but that’s exactly the kind of moment I came to Canada and Football North for.
Training gives you the foundation. Competition shows you how much you have learned and what you still need to improve.
My Preseason Checklist
Before the Queen City Quad, my focus is simple:
✓ Get the most out of every training session.
✓ Continue adjusting to the speed and technique of the game.
✓ Apply what we review during film study.
✓ Stay disciplined and prepared.
✓ Compete with confidence and keep learning.
Preparing for School
With school starting at Clarkson Secondary School on September 8, this stretch of pure football and settling in will soon be balanced with a new academic routine.
My courses include:
Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Design Technology
These courses are designed to set me up for Mechanical Engineering down the road.
Balancing academics and athletics will be another important part of the experience. For now, though, I’m focused on building good habits in both areas and making the most of the opportunity in front of me.
A New Chapter
Forch, Zürich, Switzerland, and Mississauga, Ontario, are very different places. Football North is also a new environment, with a different level of intensity, a different daily routine, and a different style of preparation.
But every day here is helping me grow.
I want to thank Coach Hammer and ScoutSync for helping make this opportunity possible. None of this would have happened without them.
You can follow my progress through my ScoutSync Athlete Profile.
I’ll be back with another update in about four weeks.
Until then: Let’s Go Football North!
Loris Sieber
#92