About Pro Skills Testing & Development
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, we provide dedicated youth soccer players with an individualized, science-backed pathway to excel. Moving away from generic training, we combine measurable athletic testing with elite technical coaching to help every player reach their full potential.
Our philosophy and purpose
After more than 25 years of coaching, founder Maria Pucci created Pro Skills to address a critical gap in youth athletics: one-size-fits-all training. Every athlete develops differently. We establish clear baselines through comprehensive performance testing, assessing technical skill, speed, agility, power, endurance, and biomechanics. By pinpointing exact development priorities, we design structured plans that deliver measurable progress from each player's starting point.
Experienced and certified leadership
Head coach Maria Pucci brings over 25 years of athlete development expertise, including more than 23 years with Southwest United and five years with the Vancouver FC youth program. A former semi-professional player and Canadian-licensed coach, Maria holds educational qualifications in Health and Fitness, Sports Injury Therapy, and First Aid/CPR. Her coaching blends technical mastery with sports science to keep athletes performing at their best.
Empowering belief and proven results
Athlete development goes far beyond physical drills—it is about instilling deep self-belief. One of our proudest success stories is former player Jeanette Abarzua, who honed her technical execution, tactical decision-making, and self-confidence in our program before advancing to play professional soccer in Chile. We take pride in helping every player discover what they are truly capable of achieving on and off the pitch.
"Working on technical development, decision-making, and self-confidence transformed my game. Maria helped me recognize my true potential and gave me the foundation to pursue professional soccer in Chile."
Jeanette Abarzua, Professional soccer player