All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

http://www.dallassoccernews.com/sections/youth2.php?article_id=5334

AND! wrote:All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

Maybe the Dallas Texans is not a MLS club?

AND!, no love for your old club when you lived in Dallas?

AND! wrote:All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/44995/2011-soccer-americas-best-boys-clubs.html

Sheer numbers? FCD added a lot of teams this year, some very good ones like Gentile 98s. Seems to be that doing good gets "points" while the lower ranked that lose don't count against?

So the more teams, the more likely to rank higher? And they have to be national/travel teams?

I don't understand why you don't think the numbers can be a factor?

From the article:

Criteria: Soccer America selects the top 30 clubs based on success of their teams in national youth competitions over the last three years (2009-11) and the selection of their players to national youth teams and other national achievements in 2011. Club profiles may reference other accomplishments, but accomplishments of former players and the number of players placed in college are not considered.

So, FCD has lots of teams, and has acquired many more teams...wouldn't that give them more success in "national youth competitions" and more players to possibly make the national teams?

Question: Are any of those top 5 clubs, small???

Soccer America exacerbates the problem. They preach 'development' while at the same time promoting the "successful" (winning) clubs.

No, there aren't any small clubs listed. And there won't be. It's a numbers racket. The better players generally gravitate to the winning clubs/teams under the guise of development.

USSF and USYS are basically good ole' boy bureaucracies.

Look at the rosters of the youth national teams. How many of the players listed come from small, grassroots type clubs? Not many.

Youth soccer "success" is by and large determined by two factors:

Physical maturation and club affiliation.

The system won't change until the parents become educated and savvy consumers.

I don't see a big "advantage" playing for FC Dallas. If you aren't part of their (free) DA setup, it's just another expensive pay-to-play scenario.

Ah now we are on to something. There is definitely an advantadge for being in the FCD DA. That being said, it is really a system set up to make future pro players. A player not looking to go any further that college could also be well served by the other DA teams and many of the college connections that they have. But of course with all of that, your BB has to be good enough to make the DA. So club certianly matter less at the yournger ages with the coach being all important. There really has shown to be no advatadge of coming up thru the FCD system or any of the other clubs in making the DA teams. Learn to play and be better than your peers and you will be able to make the jump when the time comes.

finish1 wrote:AND!, no love for your old club when you lived in Dallas?

We still live here. LOL But which club are you talking about?

Speaking of FC Dallas DA, what is the latest with their 'residency' program?

I remember an interview with Barry Gorman and him saying that that was the plan for the future.

I've seen players on their DA rosters with Oklahoma addresses. Surely they aren't driving 2 and 3 hours 3 and 4 days a week to train?

Are they living with host families?

Anyone have any info?

AND! wrote:All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

Pretty funny question - the article lists FC Dallas number 2 and Dallas Texans number 6. Not really enough difference to matter. Since this is a subjective piece the author could have just as easily switched positions of the two teams and it would have been just as credible.

off_the_woodwork wrote:

AND! wrote:All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

Pretty funny question - the article lists FC Dallas number 2 and Dallas Texans number 6. Not really enough difference to matter. Since this is a subjective piece the author could have just as easily switched positions of the two teams and it would have been just as credible.

So I take it ,,, the Texans are on the payroll

Laimport wrote:I don't see a big "advantage" playing for FC Dallas. If you aren't part of their (free) DA setup, it's just another expensive pay-to-play scenario.

How true ! check the website . It's like they don't have any other teams other than pre academy and academy..

plantit wrote:

off_the_woodwork wrote:

AND! wrote:All of a sudden FC Dallas is in the Top 5 and Dallas Texans are not. Does anyone have an opinion why? What is FC Dallas doing that other clubs can learn from? How did they come from nowhere so fast?

Pretty funny question - the article lists FC Dallas number 2 and Dallas Texans number 6. Not really enough difference to matter. Since this is a subjective piece the author could have just as easily switched positions of the two teams and it would have been just as credible.

So I take it ,,, the Texans are on the payroll

2010 Best Boys Clubs
1. Baltimore Bays
2. CASL
3. LAFC Cosmos
4. Michigan Wolves
5. PDA
6. Carmel United
7. Chicago Fire
8. Columbus Crew
9. New York Red Bulls
10. Cal Odyssey
11. Dallas Texans
12. Crossfire Premier
13. Andromeda
14. Real So Cal
15. Arsenal
16. Concorde Fire
17. Vardar
18. FC Dallas
19. D.C. United
20. Colorado Rush
21. Solar SC
22. Real Colorado
23. FC Delco
24. De Anza Force
25. Chicago Magic
26. St. Louis Scott Gallagher
27. West Coast FC
28. Triangle United
29. IMG Academy
30. FC Westchester
30. Westside Metros

2009

1. Baltimore Bays
2. Dallas Texans
3. Andromeda
4. Arsenal FC
5. Chicago Magic
6. Real So Cal
7. FC Delco
8. Solar FC
9. Michigan Wolves
10. Schulz Soccer Academy
11. CASL
12. LAFC
13. PDA
14. Concorde Elite
15. Chicago Fire
16. FC Milwaukee
17. Javanon SC
18. Real Colorado
19. Carmel United
20. West Coast FC
21. Sockers FC
22. NJSA 04
23. Columbus Crew
24. Vardar SC
25. St. Louis Scott Gallagher
26. Blau Weiss Gottschee
27. Bethesda SC
28. Colorado Rush
29. D.C. United
30. Kansas City Wizards

2008 They were not even on the list.

Dont really know much about FC Dallas, but i was just wondering how they past so many clubs so fast, Professional and private. Other clubs have the numbers, other clubs have Latinos, So what are they doing different. Is it their philosophy, their coaches, the location, their player pool, WHAT? Did these players play for other clubs before or just played rec? Just wondering?

good questions. Maybe you could ask the author to do a follow-up?

FC Dallas' rise is simple. The top players gravitate to their DA program. First, because of the allure of a possible pro contract down the road.

Second, their recent history of promoting youth players to first team.

Third, their DA players play for free.

Fourth, it is a snowball effect.

Being a 'pro' club, their regular select teams attract players into their system.

Essentially, these select players ("franchisees") subsidize the DA players.

Like a pyramid scheme, only those at the top of the pyramid actually benefit....

Laimport wrote:FC Dallas' rise is simple. The top players gravitate to their DA program. First, because of the allure of a possible pro contract down the road.

Second, their recent history of promoting youth players to first team.

Third, their DA players play for free.

Fourth, it is a snowball effect.

Being a 'pro' club, their regular select teams attract players into their system.

Essentially, these select players ("franchisees") subsidize the DA players.

Like a pyramid scheme, only those at the top of the pyramid actually benefit....

Couldnt you say they same thing for all the "PRO" club academies. Out of all the Professionall club's academies how did FC Dallas come from nowhere and rise so fast?

Plain and simple, FCD does a far better job of attracting hispanic talent. Pareja has done an excellent job of getting the word out that FCD's taking a certain route and they're sticking to it. Especially in the 98's, FCD has sucked a lot of the hispanic talent from other clubs and have built monster PA & Premier teams. DT's formula worked in the past, but the future is FCD.

While I agree that FCD has tried to corral all the 98 talent, I believe Solar might have a different version of "sucking" for FCD? LOL...interesting choice of words for the previous poster, just had to use it!

And question: is FCD only recruiting the Hispanics? So other ethnicities should only apply to DT and Solar?

Pre academt is not the same as academy and just because you are in the pre academy does not mean you will make the academy team. As far as the AL team goes FCD does not just recruit hispanics. however the fact that the only criteria to enter is your play does help some hispanics who have been previously excluded from the select soccer to participate. Mom and dad's money doesn't buy you in, you have to go earn in with your play. The AL team gets the best players because it is free and they travel for free. They get opportunities that none of the other clubs have but make no mistake, it is not the best route for all. It is a program designed to make future pros

Can you elaborate on that 'go'?

Are you saying it's an all or nothing proposition?

I would think that the kids that don't advance at least get looked at by college coaches...or is there more to it?

[quote="omega striker"]

Soccerinsanity wrote:While I agree that FCD has tried to corral all the 98 talent, I believe Solar might have a different version of "sucking" for FCD? LOL...interesting choice of words for the previous poster, just had to use it!

And question: is FCD only recruiting the Hispanics? So other ethnicities should only apply to DT and Solar?

yea FCD is doing so well then somebody better tell Solar and Texans that they dont have the best talent? [/quot


Why FC Dallas is doing better than the other clubs in Dallas so fast is very easy to understand, and it probably will only get better for them. MY QUESTION is Why are they doing better than all the other Professional Club Academies in the Country.

Yea, tell us more PapaGo!

What about the bb's that don't make Academy? And are the other Academies free, too, or just FCD?

[quote="AND!"]

omega striker wrote:

Soccerinsanity wrote:While I agree that FCD has tried to corral all the 98 talent, I believe Solar might have a different version of "sucking" for FCD? LOL...interesting choice of words for the previous poster, just had to use it!

And question: is FCD only recruiting the Hispanics? So other ethnicities should only apply to DT and Solar?

yea FCD is doing so well then somebody better tell Solar and Texans that they dont have the best talent? [/quot


Why FC Dallas is doing better than the other clubs in Dallas so fast is very easy to understand, and it probably will only get better for them. MY QUESTION is Why are they doing better than all the other Professional Club Academies in the Country.

Great topic, AND!. Would be interested in reading your perspective as to the reasons why...

Laimport wrote:Can you elaborate on that 'go'?

Are you saying it's an all or nothing proposition?

I would think that the kids that don't advance at least get looked at by college coaches...or is there more to it?

FCD's strength lies in it's connection to the pro's and it has this over all of the other clubs. However when it comes to connections in the college game they may not be as well connected as solar and texans. So I am saying it is not a one size fits all and the other clubs also have an important place in the soccer landscape