Announcing FC Alliance Academy and FC Alliance Rec! Registration Now Open!

We are excited to share some important updates regarding our recreational program offerings for the Spring 2026 season. Beginning this March, we will offer two new recreational programs: FC Alliance Rec and FC Alliance Academy. This means we will transition away from the format we have used over the past seven years in the Elite Soccer League (ESL).

While the ESL name will be retired, its purpose and impact will continue to grow through these new programs. The ESL has played a vital role in building a thriving recreational community within FC Alliance, and we are incredibly proud of the strong foundation of families and teams it has helped develop for our competitive program. Those core roles will not be changing. Through the ESL, we have also learned the importance of increased community accessibility and providing players of all ages with the appropriate level of play. With those priorities in mind, we are excited to expand and enhance our recreational offerings as part of our improved developmental pathway.

The following outline provides helpful information about each new program. Links to the new program pages and registrations will also be included at the bottom.

FC Alliance Academy

The FC Alliance Academy will provide a more competitive recreational experience (often referred to as “rec+”). Its goal is to offer our youngest recreational-aged players a clearer pathway into competitive soccer by providing advanced training, increased time on the ball, and quality match play as they prepare for their first competitive tryout.

As the former ESL Director, Caleb Lucas will now serve as director of the new FC Alliance Academy program. The Academy is best suited for players who are preparing for their first competitive tryout or who already have some playing experience and want to take the next step toward competitive play. The Academy bridges the gap between recreational and competitive soccer while maintaining the strong sense of community that defined the ESL. The Academy’s structure is similar to the former ESL U8 program, with improvements to coaching quality and league-play to better align with our updated development pathway.

Key details for the FC Alliance Academy program:

  • Available to grade levels K–2
  • Two 75-minute training sessions and one match per week
  • Training locations: Carl Cowan Park or Nicholas Ball Park
  • Training days: Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays & Thursdays
  • Training times (tentative): 5:00–6:15 PM or 6:30–7:45 PM
  • Optional open play every Friday at alternating locations (times TBD)
  • Match days/times: Saturdays between 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
  • Match locations: Primarily Nicholas Ball Park, with limited away matches at local partner clubs
  • Match format: Referee-led, 22-minute halves, 5v5 (four field players + goalkeeper)
  • Price: $370 one-time fee

One significant change ESL families will notice is that the Academy will no longer offer the 3v3 U6 format previously available for Pre-K and Kindergarten players. That format will now be offered through our second program, FC Alliance Rec.

FC Alliance Rec

Our goal with FC Alliance Rec is to offer soccer and community on a broad, accessible scale by offering lower price points, more locations, and expanded recreational programming. These programs are ideal for players who are new to soccer or for those who want a fun, low-pressure environment to play, learn, and grow their skills.

With this, we are excited to welcome Director of FC Alliance Rec, Sky Rosario. Many of you may already know Sky from his work in the Knoxville soccer community. We invite you to learn more about his background and the enthusiasm surrounding his hire by clicking here. Sky and Caleb will work closely together across both programs, and Sky’s experience and leadership are instrumental to this next phase of our development pathway.

The program offers two distinct levels: FC Starters and FC Foundations.

FC Starters is FC Alliance’s introductory soccer program for players ages 2–5. It emphasizes fun, confidence, and movement while introducing soccer in an engaging and developmentally appropriate way.

FC Foundations is a structured recreational program for players ages 4–12 who are ready for a more organized experience that includes skill development, teamwork, and game play. FC Foundations serves as the next step after FC Starters, and it provides a clear pathway into FC Alliance Academy for those players ready to take the next step.

Key details for the FC Starters program:

  • Available to ages 2–5
  • One 60-minute session per week
  • Locations: Solway Park, Carl Cowan Park, or Lenoir City
  • Session days: Monday–Thursday (depending on location)
  • Session times: 4:30–5:30 PM or 5:45–6:45 PM
  • Price: $150 one-time fee ($80 for the first 100 registrants)

Key details for the FC Foundations program:

  • Available to ages 4–8
  • One 60-minute practice and one match per week
  • Practice and game locations: Solway Park, Carl Cowan Park, or Lenoir City
  • Practice days: Monday–Thursday (depending on location)
  • Practice times: 4:30–5:30 PM or 5:45–6:45 PM
  • Match days/times: Friday evenings at the practice location (exact times TBD)
  • Match formats: 3v3, 5v5, 7v7, or 9v9 depending on age group
  • Price: $225 one-time fee ($150 for the first 100 registrants)

Development Pathway

One of FC Alliance’s greatest points of pride providing a pathway for the long-term success of our players—whether in college soccer, professional soccer, coaching careers, or beyond. That success begins with a strong foundation at the earliest ages. This overhaul of our recreational programs allows us to offer more age-appropriate levels of play and clearer developmental direction for every player, improving the pathway at its foundation.

Choosing the Right Program

Some things to consider when choosing a program:

  • Which location works best
  • Desired amount of time on the field per week
  • Appropriate level of play for your child
  • Preferred price point

Below are links to the new program webpages, registration pages, and contact information:

In closing, thank you for your continued support of the FC Alliance community (and for reading all the way through). This community continues to grow because of the positive environment our families help create for our players, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow soccer in Knoxville.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to seeing everyone on the fields this spring!

Caleb Lucas
FC Alliance Academy Director
8652062350
fcalliance.esl@gmail.com