Why 20+ FC Alliance Boys Have Signed with Colleges Since 2024

It starts with FC Alliance Director of College Relations Frankie Delgado. Coach Delgado holds a specific role with FC Alliance to help boys players navigate the complicated recruiting process. This is his specialty. Delgado has decades of experience with college recruiting, both as a club director and a high-level coach. The relationships he has built with college coaches and programs are invaluable to FC Alliance players.

So what does the process look like? The first step is to figure out what programs might be the best fit for each individual player. This is a meticulous task to help narrow down possible destinations.

“We meet with the players to find out what they are interested in academically,” Delgado said. “And then look to match them with a list of schools that match their academic goals with their soccer goals.”

This connection of the multiple needs of each player is crucial to give them the best chance to thrive in college. Delgado added that it is important to know other factors important to each player: a school’s size, location, and final cost. Putting all these pieces together helps build the best list possible.

Another huge component in the process is honesty. Delgado is honest with players and coaches. First, with college coaches, it is vital to make recommendations that are accurate. Misrepresenting a player’s abilities hurts everyone including the player and coach, not to mention future recruits being recommended by the club.

“The college coaches we have come to know over the years trust that we are going to be honest with what our players can bring to their programs,” Delgado pointed out.

Honesty is also important with players. Everyone dreams big. Sometimes being realistic is hard to do. However, it is the responsibility of the club to set the right expectations for every player when they enter the process. Truthfully, most parents and players are not sure of the college level they can play at. Laying this out can be a priceless benefit. The conversation can be a challenge at times.

“The biggest challenge is having the conversation with the players as to where they sit in terms of what level of college soccer is best for them,” Delgado said. “Once we have established which level or levels is best, it is now time for the player to establish where they would like to go. We have been very fortunate that our kids are very good at understanding what they are looking for, making identifying their potential schools easier to create.”

In this new era of Boys ECNL and ECNL-RL, opportunities to play at the next level are much easier to find for players in these leagues. Playing high levels of soccer has not been easy, but players have grown dramatically and they have been in front of hundreds of colleges. FC Alliance has noticed a huge uptick of players being recruited since joining the league. Between 2024 and 2025, over 20 FC Alliance boys players have signed to play college soccer. Coach Frankie Delgado has played a major role in this; he has filled a crucial need of player support by providing advice, plans, and communicating with schools.

His advice to players ready to embark on the journey to college soccer: “Watch as many college games that you can. Honestly, there are not many schools that do not stream their games, making watching games very easy. For me though, the best piece of advice that I can give any player, boy or girl, is that do not go into this looking for simply the highest level possible. Too many players have the D1 or bust mentality and that mentality leads to players entering the transfer portal because they chose to pick the “cool” choice vs the RIGHT choice.”