Our Approach

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is Fortivus Academy. However, we begin our journey to bringing the full Fortivus Academy model to fruition with the game of rugby - a game that embodies discipline, teamwork, and resilience – but has limited access to a wider development structure. Quite simply, youth rugby deserves more!

As we grow, we will be adding other sports to the Academy, providing a mechanism for athletes to play multiple sports that are coached with a single coaching philosophy - the Fortivus Coaching Way!

At Fortivus Academy, we know that lasting development comes from the right environment — one that challenges players, supports them, and respects their individual journey. That’s why we’ve brought together some of the sharpest minds from rugby, business, other sports, and leadership to create a rugby academy like no other.

THE FORTIVUS ACADEMY PHILOSOPHY

We believe in developing the whole athlete through a long-term approach that meets athletes at their level of maturation. Our mission is to provide every child – regardless of their sport, skill level, or season of play – with a structured path to physical literacy, athletic growth, lifelong love for movement, as well as opportunities to train and compete at the highest levels afforded within their age group for those choosing such a path. 

At the core of our approach is the belief that athletes are made over time, not in a single season. A long-term athletic development model prioritizes age-appropriate training, recovery to maximize athletic potential, foundations for lifelong participation in physical activity, while progressively layering in competition across childhood and adolescence. 

Rather than rushing kids into early specialization or competitive overload, the Fortivus model recognizes that athletic development unfolds in stages. Each stage emphasizes the right skills, at the right time, in the right way. This model ensures that children build a strong foundation before advancing to more complex sport demands. Simply, we follow a progression of developing broad movements skills, then athletes, then sport specialization.

We recognize that every athlete’s journey is unique – across both individual development and sampling different sports. Through flexible membership levels, tailored programming meets every family’s needs for sports programming.

• Seasonal Access – for those new to sports or only interested in playing during a specific season. These athletes benefit from focused experiences that build confidence, enjoyment, and foundational movement skills.

• Multi-Sport Training Access – for athletes who complete in multiple sports but want structured training during the off-season. This membership supports general athleticism, injury prevention, and readiness across sports environments.

• Single-Sport, Year-Round Programming – for athletes committed to one sport and seeking sport-specific development all year while still providing for athletic development across a variety of movement patterns. These athletes receive progressive, periodized training that aligns with their sport’s physical, technical, and mental demands. 

Regardless of entry point, our goal is the same: to prepare young athletes for success in sport and life, through age-appropriate training, positive coaching, and a community that values development over early specialization. 

Our flexible, tiered participation model allows athletes to engage in a way that fits their goals, schedule, and experience — without compromising the quality of training or their love for the game. This structure ensures that every player — from first-timer to rising elite — has a place to thrive, grow, and progress at their own pace.