FLORIDA UNITED FAQ's


Florida United FAQ’s
  1. What programs are offered at Florida United?
    We offer a 1st team (Girls Academy League) and a 2nd team (Development Player League) in the U13-U19 age groups. Having a limited number of teams allows us to focus on our mission to create the nation’s best development and showcase environment for girls.
  2. What is Girls Academy?
    The Girls Academy was formed immediately after the US Soccer Development Academy shut down. Fifty-Five of the original Seventy-Five Girls DA clubs came together to form the Girls Academy. The showcase platform is the same as the former US Soccer DA. In fact, former US Soccer Federation DA event staff have now joined the Girls Academy to run the showcase events. The Girls Academy enhanced the experience for the players by adopting rules changes such as high school sports (including soccer) being permitted and a more player friendly substation rule that allows for re-entry.
  3. What is the Development Player League?
    The Development Player League (DPL) is designed to expand the Girls Academy player pool for participating clubs. The league creates a highly professional training environment and competitive model for aspiring Girls Academy players, bridging the gap between the Premier teams and Girls Academy. The DPL provides a clear pathway for players who show the potential to make the jump to the Girls Academy level of play. The DPL teams will offer players who excel to have the opportunity to be called up for their respective Girls Academy teams. This structure provides an expanded pool of aspiring Girls Academy players with more exposure to the Girls Academy environment while allowing them the time they need to develop. The DPL provides a structure that focuses on playing more meaningful games with highly profession game day environment, more training, high level coaching, development before winning attitude, and exposure to college showcase events.
  4. When will the Girls Academy and DPL leagues begin and what are the season dates?
    Pre-season training starts on the July 26, 2021. The league games are likely to begin in the late August 2021 and end June 30, 2022
  5. Why did Weston FC and Davie United partner to form Florida United?
    To provide the girls in our clubs and the surrounding areas the best possible development and showcase opportunities. Our goal is to provide opportunities similarly to what the elite boys currently have access to at MLS Academies across the country. Simply put we are looking for the “best of the best”, serious soccer players that are elite minded to represent Florida in competition.
  6. What age groups will participate?
    U13 to U19 Girls.
  7. Who will lead Florida United?
    Florida United will be run by Jerome Samuels, along with other highly qualified coaches and technical staff that has been recognized by US Soccer, NCAA Division 1 college coaches and other soccer professionals for their success and history of player development.
  8. Who can play in the Girls Academy?
    All players from across region are welcome at Florida United. Florida United is not solely for players from Weston FC and Davie United.
  9. Why should we play for Florida United?
    • FL United’s sole focus is the elite development of the female player.
    • FL United provides the highest quality coaching and facilities to help players develop their skills.
    • FL United has full-time medical staff and treatment facilities on-site to treat players when injuries occur.
    • FL United has a full-time performance analyst and College Program Director, Sharolta Nonen, to review training and game videos with players weekly and assist with the college recruiting process.
    • Potentially receive an offer to a college that may otherwise be difficult to be admitted to.
    • Potentially receive a scholarship offer to assist with the increasing cost of college.
    • Consistent visibility to college coaches and national team scouts via club visits, showcase events, hosted ID Clinics and our shared video library.
    • Network Effect: exposure gained by playing with and against the very best players who are being scouted.

    What about Weston FC and Davie United?

    Outside of the Girls Academy and DPL teams, Weston FC and Davie United will still offer the U8-U12 Junior Academy (Alliance League) local tournaments and U13-U19 Premier Teams (SFUYSA League) showcase tournaments and other competitive environments. The depth of the player pool from both clubs will still allow for competitive levels of play for players not participating in the Girls Academy or DPL.

    U8-U19 players at Weston FC and Davie United will be taught the same “Game Model” as the Florida United players to enable a seamless integration when selected to play in the U13-U19 age groups at Florida United.

  10. Who is in the Girls Academy?

    In the 2021/22 season the Southeast Conference will consist of the following Clubs: Florida (Florida United, IMG, United Soccer Alliance, West Florida Flames, Palm Beach Gardens), Georgia (Tophat Gold, Tophat Navy, Southern Soccer Academy, AFC Lightning) Carolinas (Wake FC, South Carolina Surf)

  11. Who is in the DPL?

    Starting in the 2021/22 season, the Southeast Conference will have a North and South Division. All of the Florida clubs will be in the South Division and will play each other home and away. Clubs from Alabama, Georgia, SC and NC will be in the North Division. The conference plans to have one crossover weekend North vs South Division, but that location and schedule is still TBD. The following Clubs are in the Southeast DPL Conference; Florida (Florida United, IMG, United Soccer Alliance, West Florida Flames, Palm Beach Gardens, Pinecrest, Sunrise, FC Tampa Rangers, Liverpool IA, Cape Coral, Azzuri Storm), Georgia (Tophat, Southern Soccer Academy, AFC Lightning, Inter-Atlanta, Roswell Soccer Club), Alabama (Vestavia Hills), South Carolina (Charleston Soccer Club), North Carolina (Wake FC, Trainagle Soccer Club, Charlotte Development Academy)

  12. How do the teams travel?
    The players travel with their parents to regular season games and showcase events. Florida United does not require teams to travel together or require players to stay together in the hotels.
  13. FLORIDA UNITED 2021-22 PRACTICE SCHEDULE - EACH TEAM IS ASSIGNED A MINIMUM OF HALF A FIELD FOR TRAINING.
    Day
    Bamford Turf Bronco field 4
    Bamford Grass Padre Field 8
    Bamford Grass Mariner field 7
    GOALKEEPER TRAINING
    MONDAY 5:30pm-7:30pm U17/19 GA
    7:30-9pm U16/U15 GA     		6pm - 7:30pm U14/U13 GA
    Field is ours from 5pm - 7:30pm     		-
    -
    -     		5pm- 6pm U19/U17 GA & DPL
    6pm-7pm U14/U13 GA & DPL
    7pm-8pm U16/U15 GA & DPL
    TUESDAY 5:30pm-7:30pm U17/19 GA
    7:30-9pm U16/U15 GA     		6pm - 7:30pm U14/U13 GA
    Field is ours from 5pm - 7:30pm     		5:00pm-6:30pm U17/19 DPL
    6:30pm-8pm U14/U13 DPL
    8pm-9:30pm U16/15 DPL
    		 5pm- 6pm U19/U17 GA & DPL
    6pm-7pm U14/U13 GA & DPL
    7pm-8pm U16/U15 GA & DPL
    WEDNESDAY 5:30pm-7:30pm U17/19 GA
    7:30-9pm U16/U15 GA     		6pm - 7:30pm U14/U13 GA
    Field is ours from 5pm - 7:30pm     		5:00pm-6:30pm U17/19 DPL
    6:30pm-8pm U14/U13 DPL
    8pm-9:30pm U16/15 DPL
    		 5pm- 6pm U19/U17 GA & DPL
    6pm-7pm U14/U13 GA & DPL
    7pm-8pm U16/U15 GA & DPL
    THURSDAY 5:30pm-7:30pm U17/19 GA
    7:30-9pm U16/U15 GA     		6pm - 7:30pm U14/U13 GA
    Field is ours from 5pm - 7:30pm     		5:00pm-6:30pm U17/19 DPL
    6:30pm-8pm U14/U13 DPL
    8pm-9:30pm U16/15 DPL
    		 5pm- 6pm U19/U17 GA & DPL
    6pm-7pm U14/U13 GA & DPL
    7pm-8pm U16/U15 GA & DPL
  14. What is next in the process?
    Florida United and the Girls Academy will be providing more information during the next couple months. Additional information will be posted on the Florida United website and social media platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Contacts