Moving to Dallas, advice or comments appreciated

Due to work we will be relocating to Dallas by the end of the school year, from a Midwest state.

My daughter is an 04, she is a starting midfielder, her team is the #1 ranked team in the state. She is very technical and has high level ball skills, she will play an intense spring/summer season, including out of state tournaments and regionals.

From what I am reading, bottom line is she will have to earn a spot during the try outs, we all know that is just the way it works.

We are looking for more insights and recommendations, my current assumptions:

Seems like ECNL Clubs are the priority, correct? Solar, FCDallas, Texans, and Liverpool are the top teams/clubs? Any dates for the tryouts, early July? Top coaches? My experience is that you should look for great coaches and a great group of parents, if possible. Thank you!

I would call the DOC of the clubs you are interested in. They would be able to guide you to the right team and coach for your DD. D'feeters Hue, Solar, Solca, Sting Medina, Texans ????, FCD Grub, Kicks Juan. If I forgot anyone feel free to add to the post. If I have the director wrong feel free to correct.

Is she 04 by birth or she by school year.

Do you have an idea where you'll be residing?

She is from Sept '04. Looking at West Plano, Grapevine, Southlake, Keller. Thank you for your comments.

Yes, ECNL is currently the gold standard. NTX clubs that have ECNL are Dallas Texans, Sting, FC Dallas, Solar, Defeeter's. Liverpool does, has and will continue to produce some very good teams, as do others.

Latest word is Development Academy (DA) is coming for girls. Hasn't been declared which Clubs will get those spots or even how many spots there will be. Most around here are saying 2 or 3 teams.

I've lived in Keller since 98. Schools in Keller and Southlake are both very good. Much as I hate to say it, Southlake is probably considered the gold standard by most on the west side of the metroplex.

Bullseye on the Coaches comment.

I believe Kioumars Rezaie (Coach Q) is the Texan DOC.

Most don't look for a great coach or a great group of parents. They just look for the highest ranked team, because after all, those great players from out of state only deserve to play for the highest ranked team.

Soccerdad33 wrote:She is from Sept '04.  Looking at West Plano, Grapevine, Southlake, Keller.   Thank you for your comments.

Then why not Flower Mound? Check out the number of National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists they put out (Flower Mound HS to be specific). But then that's not a priority to some. Also, it would be a long commute to get to all those great teams practices. Lol

KnKsDad wrote:Most don't look for a great coach or a great group of parents. They just look for the highest ranked team, because after all, those great players from out of state only deserve to play for the highest ranked team.

Like most of your posts KnKs, dripping with sarcasm with a good amount of truth. Most of us fell for that trap. We looked at the rankings and made a very short list of teams that our DD could play for based on rank and proximity. I am not saying rank shouldn't be a factor, just not the only factor. My daughter still hasn't let me forget the team I made her play with based almost entirely on rank.

Soccer Dad. One last thing, most of the LH D1/D2/D3 teams are relatively (key word relatively)close beyond the top 6/7 D1 teams. I will likely get hit with a pile of criticism for making that comment on this board, but my point is it should come down to the chemistry with the coach, style of play, teammates and parents if you are not playing for one of the top 6/7 teams. Good luck (I'm sure you will pick northwestern Tarrant County)

Get ready to duck!

Shake_and_Bake wrote:

KnKsDad wrote:Most don't look for a great coach or a great group of parents. They just look for the highest ranked team, because after all, those great players from out of state only deserve to play for the highest ranked team.

Like most of your posts KnKs, dripping with sarcasm with a good amount of truth.  Most of us fell for that trap.  We looked at the rankings and made a very short list of teams that our DD could play for based on rank and proximity.  I am not saying rank shouldn't be a factor, just not the only factor.  My daughter still hasn't let me forget the team I made her play with based almost entirely on rank.    

Soccer Dad. One last thing, most of the LH D1/D2/D3 teams are relatively (key word relatively)close beyond the top 6/7 D1 teams.  I will likely get hit with a pile of criticism for making that comment on this board, but my point is it should come down to the chemistry with the coach, style of play, teammates and parents if you are not playing for one of  the top 6/7 teams.  Good luck (I'm sure you will pick northwestern Tarrant County)

Nice. You got me, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic in your first paragraph..lol..if so, nicely done. The only thing I slightly disagree with is your relatively close comment regarding lower D1 vs D2/D3, etc. I believe there is a bit more separation, but that's just my personal opinion. I also think that it's only like top 4/5..

FC Dallas West (formerly Andromeda) is looking for some 04 girls to join us for practice.

Practice Times:                                              
Monday/Wednesday
6:00-7:30pm
FC Dallas (formerly Andromeda) )practice fields-Covenant Church (Glade Rd) Colleyville,tx

Coach Rick Lopez
214-796-9990
Rikylopez@hotmail.com

My DD is an 05 moving up with her team to 04. But if your daughter is seriously talented and has the drive then she needs to be with an ECNL club without question. There are five here.
Next year there will be USSF Development Academy status granted to one or more of these clubs. My recommendation would be MLS club, FC Dallas. They are virtually guaranteed a DA spot and have outstanding facilities and staff. Their top 2004 team just won State Cup and will be their DA/ECNL team next year. Lee Wedall is the coach, should be on the website. PM for anymore advice about North TX soccer (we moved to DFW seven years ago and the soccer market here is bewildering so I know what you are going through!)

D'Feeters 04AP in Southlake
T/TH 6-7:30pm
Coach Cody Bartlow
817-441-0964
cbartlow@dfeeterswest.com

We have an amazing 04 Team in west Texas! (FC Dallas). We're looking for extra players. Contact our coach...T. Duren (817-980-4188).

Come out if you are looking for continued development and a positive experience. Tuesday/Thursdays 5:30-7 Indoor Soccer Zone this week.

Due to some heavy interest, and the changing landscape that is N. Texas Soccer, D'Feeters North (Denton County-HV, FloMo, Lewisville, etc) will be forming an 04 team, even late in this process.  There are always teams that don't make at the last minute.  Strong players held on to and let down at the last minute.  Will be training Mondays and Thursdays starting 6/30.  7-8:30pm at Unity Park in Highland Village. One of the original All Female clubs, National name recognition wherever you go, player pass opportunities to ECNL, etc.  come out if you still don't have a home.  Will be holding open tryouts well into July.  Contact Tony Cavalle at 214-693-7196 with availability and questions

Welcome to Dallas! We are in the Sothlake/Keller/Colleyville area. We played Lake Highlands D1 last year and have a bye into D2 for the coming Fall/Spring season. We would love to meet your daughter. Please contact our coach T. Duren @817-980-4188 or tracyduren@aol.com for more info. Great team, great girls, great parents, great coach!

^^^^ did Duren keep the bye? I heard they lost the bye and barely have enough for a Plano team?