FC Dallas Development Academy

 The FC Dallas Development Academy program consists of two elite youth teams that play in the U-16 and U-18 categories of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league. The Academy Program was created to identify and develop the top 13 to 18-year-old local soccer players who will be eligible for promotion to the FC Dallas professional team. The Academy teams consists of between 40-44 players, with an additional 20 players selected as developmental, who may be called in to fill roster spots as needed. The FC Dallas Academy is directed and coached by Oscar Pareja.

FC Dallas Academy Teams
U 16 Academy
U 18 Academy

How To Get Involved
Contact Coach Oscar Pareja at opareja@fcdallas.net.

U.S.Soccer’s Development Academy program is drivenby the game and its players, coaches and referees. This game-centric approachallows for long-term development to occur through a deep understanding of whatmakes players successful around the world. As the sport of soccer grows in the United States,young players in our country need the proper environment to compete against theworld’s elite. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy program provides the optimumdevelopmental environment for the nation’s top youth soccer players, coachesand referees by emphasizing development through quality training and limited,meaningful competition. Currently, FC Dallas has two DA teams: U16 and U18teams that are referred to as the FCD Academy.

Meaningful Training

Academy teams spend a greater amount of time focused on training to improve as individuals and as a team. The teams and players receive direct feedback and evaluations from FCD Professional Staff. To round-out the complete training environment, Academy players are tested in their physical capabilities using the FCD Way testing methodology. FCD Development Academy Players also receive the FCD Way

curriculum for soccer-specific athletic training. Each athlete then gains a greater understanding of how they compare physically against their peers and what they need to do to achieve their optimal performance levels.

Competitive Environment

The Academy program features teams from the top youth clubs from around the country. Development Academy teams play approximately 30 regular season games to ensure all games are meaningful and highly competitive. Games are played according to FIFA’s Laws of the Game and officiated by a pool of the nation’s top young referees in order to prepare players for the next level of competition. National Team Scouts regularly attend Academy games, so players are evaluated over the course of the season and in their natural positions allowing for better player assessment. As the program enters its second year, it has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100 players from Academy clubs were included in U.S. Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from the inaugural Academy class participated in college soccer the following fall. Virtually all college programs use the Academy program as a scouting vehicle and the program has received increased attention from professional scouts representing domestic and international clubs.