The Waco Texans Soccer Club believes in Long-term player development - from the earliest age of the recreational player through the highest level of play. The Waco Texans have created a player pathway beginning with the recreational/grassroots player looking to break into the Academy pre-select program. Through a holistic approach, using guided discovery and a systematic means of player analysis, we focus on the individual player’s needs. We utilize weekly Academy Skills training to allow players to develop the skills needed to be successful on the field. As the players progress, we are able to utilize our affiliation benefits with the Dallas Texans Soccer Club to place identified players in a highly competitive environment through the ECNL, ECNL-RL, and FDL programs.
Recreational soccer: Is that soccer program that is primarily devoted to the enjoyment and development of soccer players without the emphasis on travel or high-level competition. The purpose of recreational soccer is to provide an opportunity for the participants to have fun, learn the sport and develop life skills including a lifelong love of the game.
Youth Academy: A “Soccer Academy” is a group of Under 7 through Under 10 registered NTSSA recreational players who desire to participate with other players without following the recreational team formation rules. Players must register with a member association and may or may not be on a recreational team, unless required to be on a recreational team by their member association. Academies are to be governed by NTSSA Youth Associations, and NTSSA Youth Associations may host as many Soccer Academies as they deem desirable. Academy teams are governed by the league in which they participate. (If more than one association is involved in an academy league an A&D committee should be in place.)
Select: A competitive (select) player (aged Ull-U19) is obligated to his competitive team for the soccer-playing year for competitive players from the time he signs a contract until the end of the subsequent soccer playing year (August 1 of the prior soccer year through June 30 of the current soccer year). Competitive (select) youth players may not change teams prior to July 1 of the current soccer year except in limited circumstances as provided in Rule 3.10.7. Players will become free agents on July 1. No NTSSA membership form, club contract, or any agreement may be signed before July 1. Competitive players do not need a release from their current coach to attend camps/clinics from June 1 through July 1. However, they will not be allowed to be added to any team until July 1.
ECNL: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) program provides the optimum developmental environment for the nation's top youth soccer players, coaches and referees by emphasizing development through quality training and limited, meaningful competition. The Dallas Texans are proud to have its ECNL teams at the top of its developmental structure.