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Attention Academy Team Parents and Players:

Please visit our Academy Home Page for more information regarding those players participating in the 2008 - 2009 Academy Program. 

 

Vision For A Unified Soccer Development Program:

To promote and foster the creation of a strategically unified Soccer Development program in our bi-county area that focuses our most competent resources toward the local player, team, coach/trainer, and parent needs.

 

Phased Approach:

To help navigate the inevitable change factors and communication challenges we will face as a community, the following phased approach was suggested:

Phase One:  Shared entry among area clubs to enter the Club Director's League (CDL) as club neutral entity (i.e., FC Sarasota) for 2008 - 2009 competitive season.  Club teams will also continue to participate in other competitive leagues as deemed appropriate to their level of skill and competition need (i.e., perhaps one age group has a stronger level of competition in USA league vs. CDL, or FSL may offer the best fit for team 'x'..., flexibility is the key.  This phase allows for continued relationship-building among area affiliate clubs to move into Phase Two. For a pictorial view of Phase One please CLICK HERE.

Phase Two:  Integrate local club affiliate Competitive Programs into one cohesive initiative to maximize goals of player development under unified soccer curriculum and training leadership.  Explore the most effective and efficient framework to promote the areas Recreational Programs to be geographically representative of current club markets and service needs.

Phase Three:  Strengthen model and operations for consideration to be awarded a new US Soccer Development Academy as the culminating point so that our area's elite boys and girls can play at the highest levels nationwide. 

Concept Notes for Parents and Club Leaders:

  1. This approach was decided upon with representation of most of the local area club Presidents and/or DOC's in cooperation with John Hackworth's mission and appeal to help meet the objectives outlined by the US National Development Initiatives and which are being implemented across the nation.
  2. These club Presidents and DOC's elected to maintain their current coach selection and assignment process for phase one (i.e., for the CDL core teams) vs. having Keith Fulk appoint a neutral coach to begin the centralization of player development model.  This process would take place in phase two after the player development team (e.g., Keith Fulk and club DOC's) have an opportunity to work together in phase one.  
  3. The use of the concept name FC Sarasota was one of convenience for this first year as the brand name is already associated with 'shared club' involvement as a participant in the Summer Super Y League program.  The final 'unification' name may or may not be representative of today's name.  This will be on of many topics for the shared advisory board to discuss and address.
  4. Parents:  The leaders of the local clubs recognize that with any change there exists anxiety and the presence of many questions.  The single greatest factor in helping reduce these natural uncertainties is that of  communication.  There will be several areas focused on communication and information sharing over the next year.  Please ask your club leaders for further information and visit the collective websites often. 
  5. More Phase One questions and answers can be found on the CDL League Page.

Program Models To Help Reach The Vision:

Currently the FC Sarasota name has four areas and/or levels of program offerings which it is associated with.  It is important to note that only ONE of these programs (e.g., The Academy) is representative of the FC Sarasota Academy mission, beliefs and operational accountability.  To promote community unity in the pursuit of John Hackworth's youth development mission and local entry into the CDL Soccer League for 2008-2009 season, FC Sarasota gave permission to use its name sake to the CDL and Super Y League team programs.  This was, and remains, a good faith effort to help continue a local dialogue among strategic soccer leaders for the benefit of future youth soccer players and parents.  FC Sarasota and its associated coaches, leaders and advisory board are not accountable for the specific operations related non-academy CDL or Super Y League teams.  A brief description of the four developmental programs targeting our Bi-County area follows:

  1. Offer training to players from area clubs on a team basis or community-wide 'open' age group sessions.  Strategic goals are to supplement the local club affiliate development programs while transitioning in the most appropriate action plans and phases to reach our vision.
  2. Club Director League (CDL) Program - A coalition of area soccer clubs to compete as a neutral entity in the 2008 CDL League.  The core FC Sarasota Academy program and associated leaders have no direct supervision or coaching responsibilities for CDL entered teams (other than those teams directly in the FCS Academy).  Please direct inquiries to the respective club team entered in the CDL.
  3. USL Super Y League Program - Enter and coordinate multiple teams in the USL Super Y League program as a collaborate initiative between local clubs.  The core FC Sarasota Academy program and associated leaders have no direct supervision or coaching responsibilities for Super Y League entered teams (other than those teams directly in the FCS Academy).  Please direct inquiries to the respective Super Y League team coach. 
  4. FC Sarasota Academy Program (age group specific) - Full 'Academy' approach for U12 - U18 age groups.   This is the only local community program where Keith Fulk and respective academy leaders have direct supervision and accountability to said players and parents.  You can learn more about the FCS Academy program and services via our website at www.fcsarastoa.com.

Note:  Please click on the hyperlink above for a description of the respective programs and more information. These service and/or program offerings can, and most likely will, change to meet the larger vision and dynamics along the way.

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FC Sarasota Leadership:

Given this initiative is solely focused on the unified development of soccer in our local counties (i.e., player, team, coach, training, and parent education), we have primarily two areas of leadership.  The first is the 'soccer side' mentored and lead by soccer people, while the second is the concept or logistics, administrative, marketing side, etc...

  1. Player and Program Development Leadership:

John Hackworth - John is currently the Director for the US Development Academy Program and the USA Men's National Team Assistant Coach.  John will act as senior liaison and advisory resource for Keith and the FC Sarasota training/coaching staff. 

Keith Fulk - Keith is the Full-Time Director of Coaching and Player Development for FC Sarasota initiatives and programs.  Keith is a former United States U-17 Men’s National Team, Senior Assistant Coach.  He will oversee the professional infrastructure and player development model for our outreach program to assist local clubs.  Keith is also the Head Coach for the ‘U14 Boys Academy’ as well as other age group academies that may develop in the pursuit of the Vision Statement above.  Keith will also be a lead force to help the other Super Y League Team Coaches join together and maximize team /player development and promote a rewarding Super Y season. 

  1. Concept and Unification Leadership:

The 'next step' is to establish an advisory board and governing body to maintain progress with the broad consensus to achieve our Vision Statement.  This Board will include representatives from each of the area clubs as well as coaching and administrative representation to provide maximum resource distribution to meet the player development needs and player interests as a whole.

Participating Clubs:

The following soccer club affiliates have agreed to in principle to form several joint efforts in the pursuit of the Vision Statement above. 

Please Note:  This is a 'work in progress' with the representative leaders of each of these participatory clubs.  This concept was not originally geared to be a 'competitive affiliate' for the area soccer clubs.  Rather, it is and was solely created to help foster a club-neutral, environment where unification concepts and dialogues could evolve among the participating clubs and soccer enthusiasts alike. 

 

“In order to move forward we need to have the courage to take a step

in the direction we desire to move in.”

 

 

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