Detroit City FC and Detroit PAL are proud to announce a new partnership to create a select soccer program to provide professional coaching, training and a higher level of competition for Detroit youth interested in soccer.
The new year-round initiative is designed to provide the best environment for the development of youth players in a setting that encourages fun, creativity and competitiveness, while being a low to no-cost program for families in the city.
The new Detroit City FC/Detroit PAL Select Program will build off the decades of fantastic work done by PAL to introduce thousands of youngsters to the game of soccer.
The participants in the program will be selected from the more than 2,000 kids currently playing in Detroit PAL’s recreational and in-school soccer programs.
The primary focus will be on individual technical development under professional coaches provided by Detroit City FC.
The Detroit City FC/PAL Select is a combined effort by both organizations to raise the game to a higher level and provide opportunities for players to maximize their potential.
The program will be funded through Detroit City FC’s non-profit arm, Detroit City Sporting Coalition.
Profit from the sale of alcohol at Detroit City FC matches will be utilized to support the program, along with fundraising events hosted by the club, and 50-50 raffles at DCFC matches. Detroit City FC is committed to keeping the cost of the year-round program to a low or no-cost fee for Detroit families.
PROGRAM: DETROIT CITY FC/PAL Select will form boys and girls teams in the age groups of U-12 and U-10, with a minimum of 3 teams in each group. Each successive year, an additional age group will be added to the program.
SELECTION PROCESS: Detroit City FC, in cooperation with PAL, will set up training/ID sessions utilizing DCFC players. The DCFC players will run the training session for one hour, followed by small sided games. During these sessions, the DCFC players will select the most talented players in the respective age groups. Those players will be invited to a final tryout at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck on Saturday, June 16.
STAFFING: The program will be under the technical supervision of Klaas de Boer. Klaas has decades of experiencing coaching soccer and currently serves as a scout for US Soccer. The teams will be coached by licensed professional coaches organized by Detroit City FC. Detroit City FC players and coaches will also regularly conduct training sessions and clinics for participants.
TRAINING: The Select teams will utilize Detroit city parks during the Fall and Spring seasons. From October to April, the teams will train multiple times a week at Detroit City FC’s new indoor soccer facility, Detroit City Fieldhouse.
COMPETITION: The Detroit City FC/PAL Select teams will compete in the Michigan State Developmental Soccer League, a greater Detroit select travel league for U-8 to U-12 players. During the Winter months, the teams will compete in leagues organized at the Detroit City Fieldhouse.
