Meaning "quarries" in Castilian Spanish, canteras are youth training facilities used by sports organizations. Most notable of these are the football clubs of the Spanish Primera División. Players trained in the cantera frequently go on to play for the club.

Spanish canteras have been highly productive over the years; for example Vicente del Bosque , a product of the cantera at Real Madrid, rose through the club to the position of head coach which he kept until 2003.

The Basque-only policy of Athletic Bilbao and (for a period) Real Sociedad made them pay great attention to cantera development.