FC Dallas Emerald Coast (FCDEC)

FC DALLAS EMERALD COAST (FCDEC) IS A MEDIUM-SIZED CLUB BASED IN FLORIDA providing highly competitive soccer for the military-heavy communities throughout northwest Florida. Accepted into the FC Dallas affiliate program in 2011, the board of FCDEC has placed a focus on providing the best player and coaching development program possible for this unique and somewhat challenging community. “The Florida Panhandle is geographically large with relatively low soccer density,” says Tim Melancon, FDEC Board President. “As such, we commute long distances to participate in events that RYAN MARTIN are just around the corner for other clubs. With such dedication from our membership, we want to Director of Coaching provide the best service in return.” As an example, on a recent weekend the U15 Girls team and their NSCAA and US Club Soccer DOC Diploma parents collectively drove approximately 15,000 miles between Niceville and Auburndale, Florida, to NSCAA Premier Diploma NSCAA Advanced National Diploma compete in the Florida State Cup. USSF B Provisional “Over the last year, FCDEC has worked to improve coaching education and player development USSF D, E, F Licenses as well as its relationship with its members and community at large,” says Director of Coaching Ryan Coerver Youth Module Martin. “As we strived to improve our business model, we recognized that formal coaching courses and coach mentorship were key factors to improving our coaching pool.” Additionally, “our Board has TYPES OF PROGRAMS OFFERED also been a driving force in improving our performance off the pitch with respect to communication, Recreational | Competitive website management, tournament management, registration services, and financial management.” ADDRESS Another challenge for FCDEC is the fact that about half of the club’s players come from military P.O. Box 832, Niceville, FL 32578 families. Board member Ed Espinoza, himself a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, says the club has PHONE: 850-217-5822 placed a special emphasis on providing structure and development through soccer for this group of WEBSITE: www.fcdallas-ec.com kids who may have to pack up and move away with their families at any time. “We have a ton of military families here and that means a lot of military kids, and we’re focused on raising awareness about the resilience it takes to be a military kid,” says Espinoza. “Sports, sometimes, are the only constant these kids have.” DOC Martin says FCDEC believes strongly in developing its coaches and has invested heavily in their education and development. Within the past 12 months, the club has sent four coaches to USSF D1 License courses, six coaches to USSF E license courses, two coaches to NSCAA Level 1 Goalkeeping courses, and one coach to the Coerver Youth Module. Along with coaching education, Martin said, the club has placed a renewed emphasis on player development, focusing on technical acumen at the younger ages, learning to compete at the middle ages, and competing plus showcasing at the older ages. These efforts have proved successful, producing two teams that are currently competing in the second round of the Florida State Cup, two teams competing in the Elite 8 or better of the Florida President’s Cup, and three teams in the semifinals of the Commissioner’s Cup. “We are also in the process of strengthening our affiliation with our parent club, FC Dallas,” explains Melancon, “through camps, coaching