Crucial Development for Young Players
The most crucial time for a player to develop basic soccer skills like dribbling, ball control, and touch is when they are between the ages of 6 to 10. The Fort Worth United Soccer Club Academy prepares recreational players for select soccer by providing intensive and focused skills training. Players receive professional training from our nationally and internationally licensed coaches. While the program employs a serious training environment, plenty of fun activities allow players to apply their newly mastered skills in competitive situations. Does it work? You bet. Many of our prior Academy players have gone on to excel in the top leagues in north Texas.

How do I participate in the Fort Worth United Soccer Academy?

1. Use the Academy schedule to pick an available location that best suits your player.  FWU runs sessions in Fort Worth proper, North, South, East, and West Academy training locations at various times throughout the year.  If you are unsure of the location nearest you, feel free to contact us for additional location information.
2. Attend an Fort Worth United Academy training session.  At this point, your Academy coach and Academy team manager will assist you through the process.
3. At the FWU Academy session, sign the Event Signup Form or use the online Event Signup Form to pre-register now.
4. At the FWU Academy session, you will be given an Academy Player Registration form.  Complete the form and return to the Academy coach or Academy team manager.
5. Use the contact us form to submit any questions or comments.

How do I sign up for PAL?
Academy participants have the option of playing in the North Texas PAL or SDL soccer leagues.  These leagues provide all Academy players a structured, league format for further demonstrating their newly acquired skills.  Playing in the PAL league is optional for all FWU Academy players.  Follow the steps below:

1. Download the PAL Player Registration form or pick one up at an FWU Academy session.
2. Complete the form and take it to your local association registrar.  Your local association is the recreational association that you registered your child for recreational soccer through.  Your local registrar must sign the PAL Player Registration form.  Examples of local registrars include Fort Worth Youth Soccer Association (FWYSA), Burleson Independent Soccer Association (BISA), and Crowley Independent Soccer Association (CISA).  If you have not first registered for recreational soccer, you may contact any of the above associations for details on how to register as a "non-rostered" player.
3. Bring the completed and signed form back to the next FWU Academy session and turn in to your coach or team manager.
4. You are ready to play PAL!

If the player wishes to play in the PAL league, the coach and manager will keep you informed of games dates and times.  Note that participation in the PAL league is optional for all Academy participants.

Am I too Late to Sign UP?
No, there are no deadlines - it is never too late.  Academy sessions run throughout the year and unlike traditional recreational leagues, players may join at any time throughout the year.

What is the Fort Worth United Soccer Academy?
The Fort Worth United Soccer Academy is a rich set of instructive lessons designed to accelerate the development of your U7 to U10 player (ages 6 to 10 years old). The Academy, open to all U7 through U10 players, will utilize Fort Worth United Soccer Club's highly qualified staff to teach your child the art of soccer.  In addition to the regular staff trainers, guest trainers, such as TCU and FC Dallas coaches and players, are often invited to conduct special sessions. The academy's focus is to build and accelerate your child's technical skills and tactical knowledge in order to lay the foundation for future growth.

Benefits of the Academy Program

• Weekly skills training led by our nationally and internationally licensed coaches
• Stimulating and challenging instruction
• Beginning tactical applications
• One-on-one attention and assessment
• Team training environment
• Age-appropriate training techniques
• Positive teaching and reinforcement techniques
• Highly qualified, experienced coaches and trainers
• Opportunities to play against advanced players from other clubs

Elements of instruction and training

• Tactical concepts and applications
• Physical fitness, agility, mobility, and explosive speed
• Team dynamics and teamwork
• Self discipline and work ethics
• Sportsmanship and integrity (very important)
• Respect for coaches and game officials

New Innovative Programs Offered!
Fort Worth United is excited to announce that it has begun offering weekly goalie schools for all Academy participants!  Just like the FWU's competitive goalie development program, these training sessions will focus specifically on goalie related skills, tactics, and techniques.  This is a truly innovative youth training opportunity that is unparalleled in North Texas (but surely to be copied).

In addition, Academy participants may attend Fort Worth United's weekly Speed, Strength, and Agility training (which also focuses on ACL injury prevention - players love the strength training in the RC Sand Pit) and our Friday Open Skills sessions  - all at no extra cost.

How Old Must my Player Be?
The Fort Worth United Soccer Academy is open to all U7 through U10 players (ages 6 to 10).  Younger players, U5 through U6 (ages 4 to 5), may attend the Fort Worth United Junior Kicks program..

When are Sessions Conducted?
Academy sessions will be held once a week during the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons and will be conducted under the leadership of Fort Worth United Director of Club Operations, Mike King  as well as our Fort Worth United Academy Director (Sam Overton).  Costs will be based on a monthly basis if the player wishes to participate in PAL (see details below).  Lessons will be conducted by Fort Worth United coaches, all with professional playing experience and/or youth select competitive soccer backgrounds.  A brief summary/overview Academy schedule may be viewed on the Academy Home Page and detailed Fort Worth United Soccer Academy schedules, which will include cancellation and location changes, may be viewed on the Academy schedule page.

Where are Sessions Held?
Fort Worth United Soccer Club currently has several branches of operation - the Fort Worth Branch, which includes Fort Worth and surrounding areas, the West Branch for Aledo, Granbury, Mineral Wells, Weatherford, and other interested players on the western side of Fort Worth.  The North Branch includes players from Keller and the northern parts of Fort Worth.  Occasionally, Academy sessions are also conducted in eastern and southern parts of the Fort Worth area.

The Fort Worth based Academy sessions are held at Fort Worth United's Resource Connection practice facility while the West branch sessions are held at Bearcat Park in Aledo.  Maps to the fields and facilities may be found on the Maps and Directions page.

Which Coaches Run the Academy Sessions?
Fort Worth United Soccer Club, Fort Worth's oldest and largest competitive soccer club, has the largest coaching staff in Tarrant County.  Current Academy coaches include (click coach name for a complete bio):

• Sam Overton
• Mike King
• Armando Jimenez
• James Southern
• Derek Vierling
• Keith Winton
• Jay Schaffer
• Bryan Johnson
• Jason Santiago
• Scooter Schaffer

Participation in Development Leagues
Soccer Academy participants also have the option to participate, under the direction of Fort Worth United coaches, in the PAL League (detailed information on PAL may be found here) as well as indoor and futsal leagues held throughout the year.  The cost for players who wish to participate in the PAL league is $60.00 per month.  These costs are all inclusive and will cover training fees, practice/game shirts, league fees, spring FWU Classic tournament fees, referee fees, and any other additional costs (such as field rentals).

Participation in Academy Tournaments and Indoor/futsal
In addition to Premiere Academy League (PAL) play, Fort Worth United Soccer Club Academy teams may participate in additional tournaments (the FWU Classic tournament is already included as part of the monthly Academy payment plan) and/or indoor and futsal leagues.  The decision regarding participation in these events is made on a team by team basis (by the Director of Club Operations and each team's respective coach).  If a team chooses to participate in tournaments and/or indoor soccer, FWU coaches will continue to coach the Academy teams through these additional events and Academy players will pay a small, extra fee to participate.

Program Costs
Costs for the Academy program are all inclusive and will cover all training fees, practice/game shirts, league fees, FWU Classic tournament fees, referee fees, and any other additional costs (such as field rentals).

What if I Still have Questions?
For more information on Fort Worth United's Soccer Academy, please use the Contact Us form to submit your inquiry.

Newsletter Reminder!
Don't forget to signup for the Fort Worth United Newsletter - you'll receive news and updates on the Academy as well as soccer tips and discounts from area soccer vendors.