How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

I had grown up in Milwaukee. So I was very familiar with FC Milwaukee. I had tried out for them when I was a youth player a few times. I knew guys quite well who played for FC Milwaukee. I obviously was super familiar with their expectations and standards. I also knew about the whole buyout situation and when they switched over to FC Wisconsin. So, you know, those are all things that I was aware of just from being in the area.

I was coaching in the area at the time that I was referred to FC Wisconsin by another coach who had already been working for them. He got me in contact with Ben Shepherd. Then we just went through that process of joining and that was in 2022. I think it was the winter of 2022 when I joined them. So about four years ago. You know, obviously, my first experience of coaching with them was...the standard was even higher than I thought, which was really cool. It pushed me to be a better coach, right from the get-go. I learned a heck of a lot in my first year. And then as those years started to go by, just the potential that the club had, itself from the way it's structured, the fact that it's more of a collaboration than it is, a single coach to a single team or anything. Just really kept drawing me into the process of how we do things. So it was super attractive to be a part of a club the way that FC operates.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

Well, number one, I mean, we do it for the players and so, you know, they keep you going in a way that is unlike anything else. Everybody's there for the same purpose and everybody wants to get better. So helping the players out in that way just keeps you going. It drives you to be better every single day.

Another thing I would say is just the people you work with there. The other coaches that have so many experiences outside of the club, maybe before they join the club or even during, because there's opportunities, that present themselves when you're working for FC. So even those experiences are things, that have been cool. Just sending certain teams out to certain tournaments and even one of our teams heading to a national championship, since I've been with the club. Just like cool things like that. Obviously continue to push you, to be better. I would say for me personally though, every year for President's Cup, you know, up in Green Bay is something that I look forward to even though they're not necessarily my teams. But I'm helping out the NL teams up there and just being on the sideline for a high-intensity tournament is always a pleasure. That's definitely something that I look forward to every year.

How has the club impacted you as a coach?

I would say the biggest thing that's been an impact for me at FC is just the amount of relationships you're making. That's the number one thing with the players. And then obviously the other coaches you're working with... is the relationships you're building and the points, the multiple points of contact and feedback and collaborating that you're doing at the club is just something we do at a very high level. So the more you do it, the better you get at it. And so that's made a huge impact on my ability to communicate. So I would say that would be another aspect is just the clarity you need and the conciseness and the, if that's a word, and just being able to communicate things at a higher level and it's definitely helped me or had an impact on me as well because I'm a teacher as well. So those types of skills obviously translate to my current day job as well.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

I think the number one thing that stands out with FC is definitely the messaging, from top down in the administrative team that we have. There's constant communication between levels and directors and the administration just does such a good job with organizing things, right? And I think the club just itself is so involved in things even outside of soccer. So the fact that, there's a family aspect to it where, there's a lot members of the club who are maybe close with the club or, a little bit on the outskirts of the club that are doing really good things top down to make sure things are organized, to make sure things are going smoothly. And it's just a credit to it being such a high, operating club. It's a testament to those people as well and who they are and what they do. I think the biggest thing is just having the right people, right? And the messaging that they're able to do and, and the fact that it's heard and it's followed and there's buy-in is obviously, you know, something that you can't really replicate too many times.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague?

I would absolutely recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague. The thing we do the best is just meeting players where they're at, right? And making sure that they are in the best fit for their development. And whether you're a player at the club or whether you're a coach at the club, it works both ways. We have coaches who enjoy where they're placed and who they're working with, and what games they're coaching and what tournaments they're attending. But then at the same time, the player development aspect of it. I think we are absolutely, one of the better clubs at just making sure, players' needs are being met. And organizing them and evaluating them. And again, number one, making sure they're enjoying it. So I absolutely would recommend FC Wisconsin.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

I coached at FC for 6 or 7 years. That's actually where I started my coaching career, and I can't thank Ben and Billy enough for giving me the opportunity. I started coaching there when I was a freshman in college at Cardal Church University.

Actually, my college coaches at the time were coaching at FC Wisconsin, Jamie Bladen and Kevin Brennan, who are really good coaches, and I learned from them. I was able to then get into an opportunity to coach at a young age at one of the top clubs in Wisconsin, and I was really, really thankful for it. I worked my way up, started coaching with the youngest age groups there, the 5 and 6 year olds, and coached all ages throughout my time there, and eventually became the youth director there and learned a lot from Billy and Benji, coaching with them, coaching next to them, and learned a lot about how the admin works there as well. They do a really good job of placing players in college as well and finding the right fit for guys, and that was important for me and to be able to start my coaching career, and I can't thank them enough.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

My favorite experience at the club was just being able to be part of the young players' development, having a kid come into the club at a young age and seeing them grow, regardless of when they started at the club, whether they were. You know, 6 or 7 years old when they joined the club, or 9 or 10 or even 12, 13, 14, and seeing their development, not only as a player, but as a person as well, and that was something that I really enjoyed as part of my experience at FC.

How has the club impacted you as a coach?

The clubs impacted me massively, to be honest, like I said, being able to be in a really good club environment as a young coach and a lot of hours on the training ground and a lot of hours on the sideline when I was really learning and growing as a young coach was everything to me, to be honest. I think without FC Wisconsin, I don't know if I'd be sitting in the chair I am today, coaching at the college level. I think the amount I learned not only from Ben and Billy, but from a lot of the other staff coaches that have been there over the years and the club is really big on individual player development and, they're a players first club, and that's something that I still take into my program, into our team here - making our individual players better. And I think without my experience at FC Wisconsin, I don't think I would have that same ability that I do. So, yeah, the club's impacted my coaching career astronomically, and I can't thank Ben and Billy enough for it.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

Having the turf fields in Wisconsin, I think, is a huge advantage. Being able to train even when there's snow or rain, that's really important. I think also how FC Wisconsin can move players kind of throughout the club, from ECNL to ECNL-RL and different teams to get players more playing time, whether they need maybe a bit more challenge or maybe they need more minutes, I think that makes the club a top club, and, every single player's development path is different, and some players hit puberty at different ages, and I think the club having the flexibility and ability to have players play and on different, different teams kind of throughout their season. I think it is a big advantage, not for the club, but for the individual players themselves.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague?

I would highly recommend FC Wisconsin, and I think from whatever perspective you wanna look at it, speaking from a coach's perspective, the ability to learn and be around top coaches is only gonna help you in your own coaching career. Speaking from a parent's or player's perspective, if you're a player who wants to develop, it's a really, really good place to develop and grow. If you want to play in college, and I can speak to this as a current college coach, FC Wisconsin does a very, very good job of placing their players and finding the right fits for them, kind of regardless of the level, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA, or junior college. I think the number of connections that Benji and Billy have with college coaches around the country gives the players a really good opportunity to play in college if that's something they wanna do.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

My son played for FC Wisconsin from U13 through U19.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

My favorite experience at FC Wisconsin was having my son volunteer with the FC minis program and watching the older boys out there mentoring the younger boys, teaching them skills, helping them learn to really love the game, building rapport, learning about team building. It was really inspiring for me to see the older boys giving their time that way, and it really rounded out my son's experience at FC Wisconsin.

How has the club impacted your son/daughter? Share an example.

FC Wisconsin impacted my son in the ways you would typically expect from a soccer club. He became a better technical player. He learned how to be a great teammate and made really good friends on his team. He learned how to play and face adversity in a highly competitive environment, all skills that will translate into his adult life at some point. But probably most impactful for my son was the influence of Coach Ben on his development, both on and off the field. Ben really helped my son transition from middle school to high school and through the search process for college and really went above and beyond what was expected, in my opinion, of a club coach.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague? Why?

I would recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague who has children interested in learning the game of soccer at a competitive level. I appreciate that when you go to practice at FC Wisconsin, you're not just practicing with one coach. All the coaches are practicing with all the kids. So the kids know all the coaches and the coaches know all the kids. That way, when game day comes, whichever coach is available to be at your game already knows you as a player and already knows the philosophy behind the entire club. It's not coach by coach, team by team, it's a full club philosophy. I feel like my child really benefited from that.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

We have been with the club for about five years now. I have one son in ECNL and two sons in the junior academy program. What first drew us in was really the philosophy of the program. The training environment is great with the group training, and the level of competition is strong. They also have a great track record of developing athletes who go on and play in college.

One thing that we experienced personally is how group training helps kids grow. My son actually started on what we considered a B team, but because he was training with kids at a higher level, he was able to keep developing his skills and eventually move up to the A team. I really like that they place kids where their level of play is at, instead of having them stuck on one team their whole soccer career. The coaches see the player at every practice, and not just at tryouts, so they really get a full view of the kids' development throughout the year and will move them up and down if they see necessary.

We also love that the club focuses on the athlete as a whole. Things like mental health awareness, giving back to the community, and supporting kids who want to play multiple sports instead of penalizing them. And honestly, they keep it fun when they do dress up training days to really make a positive environment for the kids. Coaches have checked in on my son multiple times when they see that he is burnt out or mentally not in with the game. Each year, each team does a community supporting program. This year, my son's team, they made 30 blankets for the Ronald McDonald House, and they delivered them to the house and saw the impact that their work did on children who needed these blankets. We have collected shoes for Souls of Jesus and picked up trash along the highway. It is a great environment to see our son giving back while being competitive on the field, and that it's not all about sports, is that they're a person as well.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

My favorite experience with the club, honestly, isn't about whether we win or lose, although realistically, winning does feel good. It's really about the people. The families and players we've met along the way have been such a great experience for us. One thing that really stands out is the Winter's Champion League. They mix the age group and players and create a league, which makes it really competitive, but also a lot of fun. It's a great way for the kids to play with and against different players across the club, and it takes a little pressure off of them because it's more about development and enjoying the game. It also gives the parents a chance to connect with families across different teams and levels, which really helps build that one club feeling. Little siblings love to run around with other siblings as we watch the Champions League.

And again, what I love most is the community. When we travel for tournaments or games, it's not just your team that's hanging out, it's the families and players from all of the age groups that are together. Parents will invite each other to hang out in the hotel lobby or go out for dinner or group activities, and so it really does feel like we're one club and not just separate teams. As a parent, the support really means a lot to me too. If I can't make it to one of my child's games, there's always other parents sending me updates, videos, or cheering my child on like their own, and that kind of community is really special to me.

How has the club impacted your son/daughter? Share an example.

The club has really impacted my kids in a way that goes beyond soccer. One of the biggest things they've learned is how to handle adversity and work towards something they want. My middle son really wanted to move up to a higher team and play with his friends, but he had to work hard to get there. That experience taught him that if he put in the effort and kept improving and listened to his coach, that he could reach his goals. The coaches have also been incredible when it comes to the mental side of the game. When things get tough, they talk to my kids and remind them that confidence in mental health is more than just winning one game. This really helped my kids learn how to pick themselves up after they made mistakes on the field and to keep moving there were still minutes left in the game.

One example that stuck with me was when one of my sons struggled with confidence on the field because he was often playing against kids who were bigger and faster than him. One of the coaches pulled him aside and explained that soccer isn't about size. It is about positioning, field awareness, and how you play the game. That conversation really shifted his mindset and allowed him to become a field awareness and a position player.

And I've seen the same kind of lessons with my younger son in the junior academy. He is naturally a very competitive person, since he's the youngest of three boys, and one season they hadn't won many games. Then they played a team that was still learning the game, and he kept celebrating his goals while the other team was getting discouraged. I was trying to explain sportsmanship from the sidelines, but what I really appreciated was when the coach pulled him off the field for his behavior and talked with him about how winners should act, that being competitive is great, but it's also important to show sportsmanship and compassion. Those are the kind of lessons that stick with kids for life, and I appreciate that it's more than just soccer.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

What really stands out to me is how organized everything is. We love that kids practice and play on turf fields, which makes a big difference with consistency and weather in Wisconsin. The communication is also really strong. Updates come out weekly on the same day for everyone in the club, and there's one master document that lays out everything for the whole club. It makes it really easy for families to stay on top of the schedules and know what's coming up. We also love the Sprocket app. It makes it really convenient to see the schedules, updates, and everything in one place for all three of my sons. And honestly, the responsiveness is amazing. Shout out to Leanne, who's incredibly quick to respond, usually within minutes, not hours or days, which makes things so much easier for busy families like myself trying to coordinate everything.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague? Why?

I would definitely recommend this club to my friends, family, and colleagues. Why? Because then I would see more of them. But in all in seriousness, here are some great reasons why. First, the group training model is a big one. It gives kids the chance to train with different levels of players and continue developing instead of feeling stuck on one team. I also really appreciate the club's focus on mental health and helping kids build confidence and not just focusing on wins and losses. The emphasis on community service really stands out to me. The club is intentional about teaching kids to give back and be part of something bigger than themselves. When you combine all of that, it creates a really positive environment for kids to grow both as athletes and as people.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

have played for FC Wisconsin for 3.5 years and came to FC Wisconsin looking for a more competitive environment and culture, and FC Wisconsin has given me that, playing at one of the highest levels in the nation and just competing every day.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

My favorite experience at FC Wisconsin was U15 year when we were on the verge of making playoffs midway through the season, and we had to win out the last like 7 games to qualify for playoffs and a couple of results had to go our way. We went through the ups and downs of those 8 games, but ultimately, through every game we worked hard, we battled, and we came up with all those wins, a couple of ties to push us to the playoffs, and we came together as a team, which I think was a big reason why we ended up making the playoffs. That was just an unbelievable ride and experience, and awesome being involved with such a fun organization, and just the teammates were everything.

How has the club impacted you as a player?

FC Wisconsin has positively impacted me by pushing me to be the best version of myself - a competitive environment at every single practice, competitive rosters, pushing to be your best, and just every practice, you've got to go out there and battle and prove yourself and the coaches really support you and support your journey and everybody's journey is different, and I think the coaches really do a good job of supporting you through the way and helping you and giving you advice and just coaching you through those difficult times that can be difficult.

How has FC Wisconsin shaped you off the field?

FC Wisconsin has helped me and shaped me off the field to be more disciplined and just the teamwork aspect of life - show up on time, work together. Just the camaraderie of a team. And the environment that can make teams great and ultimately make organizations or groups work to the best of their ability.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a family that is considering joining the club?

I would 100% recommend FC Wisconsin to anyone who's looking to join. The coaches are super supportive in everything you do. You play at the next level in the ECNL, which once again is one of the highest levels, if not the highest in the nation, and you learn to be a great person and a human being with the team and just helping each other out and really striving to be the best to your ability and just pushing others and the environment in these teams is something I believe you cannot find anywhere else.

What makes FC Wisconsin different from other clubs you have been at?

FC Wisconsin is different from other clubs because of the college recruitment process. FC Wisconsin has numerous coaches who have many college connections, some even coaching at the collegiate level, which helps with the process and gets you recruited. FC Wisconsin attends many ECNL showcases, where there are numerous college coaches on the sidelines watching you play and can really see if you're right for the college.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

I've been at FC for about 6 years, moving at U13, so I could start playing ECNL there and played until I ultimately graduated high school, graduated the club, and was able to play in college.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

Overall, FC brought me a lot of great memories, but two that stand out the most to me was the first time I went to nationals with our ECNL team. We played phenomenally in San Diego. We had a bunch of team bonding activities that were super fun, and that was just one of the greatest memories that I have. And my second is winning the Midwest Conference in 2023. Great season, only two losses in conference, and we just played really great that season, and that's one of two of my greatest memories.

How has the club impacted you as a player?

FC has made me into the player I am today with the outstanding culture and high-quality expectations. The training sessions were always sharp, and the fact that we had multiple teams there always helped me, especially when I moved there, to fit in, meet new players, and overall train to the highest of standards.

How has FC Wisconsin shaped you off the field?

FC has helped me in many different ways off the field, but one of the most impactful ways they've helped me off the field is understanding how to be part of a team. Being a part of the team doesn't mean you're the one-man show, it means you're assigned a job and you complete that job. And if you don't do your job, the rest of the team can't complete theirs, and that's something that has impacted me in the real life outside of FC.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a family that is considering joining the club?

I would recommend FC Wisconsin to any kid trying to get better at soccer or play college soccer, especially. FC Wisconsin has a culture unlike any other, and their quality training sessions took an average player like me over the course of years to be able to play college soccer at a high level.

What makes FC Wisconsin different from other clubs you have been at?

FC Wisconsin is so much different than every other club that I've been at in a great way, because of the training sessions and the overall competition of the club. The training sessions are hosted much different than any other club I've ever been at, hosting multiple teams in one time slot, having older teams hosted with younger teams, and it's just a great way to improve the quality of everybody. The second part is competition, both in your own club and the competition you play. I've played some amazing teams with FC that have overall increased the quality of me as a player, and in training sessions, the competition is high, knowing that you need to compete for your spot, which is also overall helped my quality as a player.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

My son came to FC Wisconsin as a U14. He's now a U17, so we've been around for a little bit. He had only played for a few months on a club team, and that club was sort of falling apart. And so we, it was tryout time and he decided to go to all of the clubs in the area to try out. Already after the first tryout evening, he came out and was like, Mom, this is the place for me. I love it here.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

I'm not sure if we have a favorite tournament or favorite moment with the club. There's so much good stuff that has happened for him there. Maybe the tournament that stands out the most would be the ECNL tournament in Florida a couple of years ago. He went and guest played. He was on RL and after that second game, he got asked to join the ECNL team. So that was probably his most glorious moment. But there have been so many great travels, so much good time with the parents, the kids, good games, good coaching, even just training on a regular basis is fabulous there.

How has the club impacted your son/daughter? Share an example.

Lucas is a hard worker and super focused, but even still, I think that at FC Wisconsin, he has learned the value of working hard, training hard, and the fact that improvement will be noticed. There's mobility within teams. Just because you start out on a regional team doesn't mean that you can't. Move on to a national team. But what I have to say, regardless of what level team you're on, that the coaches are absolutely stellar, and care so much about the kids.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

The club has two outdoor turf fields at the main location in Germantown. It's pretty convenient access from all directions. I know we have players from all over the place as far as Madison. During the winter months, we move indoors to an indoor facility, and we have what's called Champions League. Several age groups are combined, divided up into four teams, and these teams play amongst themselves. They're super high intensity games, fast paced, they sharpen their skills in the winter, so that when springtime rolls around, we're in really good position. Communication from the club is excellent. Each team has a manager that sends out a weekly email, sometimes more if needed. And so you will never be lost or not know what's going on.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague? Why?

I would wholeheartedly recommend the club. In fact, I already have. The level of coaching is outstanding, and just as importantly, the level of care they show for the players really stands out to me. It's not just about the soccer either. The families that have come together here have created a really great community of kids and parents. When you're spending this much time at the club, it's nice to genuinely enjoy being around the other families. You end up traveling with them to tournaments. The boys hang out, the parents hang out. It's just a great overall community. The boys on my son's team are great kids. There's a real sense of camaraderie among them. It's been a really positive experience for all of us.

How long have you been a part of FC Wisconsin?

This is our first season with FC Wisconsin. We were with an ECNL club previously and played FC Wisconsin during Midwest Conference play. We were impressed with many things about the club as opponents, but what really stood out was the quality of coaching and the sense of togetherness and family that was apparent throughout the different age groups. We've been extremely happy with the culture that Ben and Billy have created and are ecstatic to be a part of FC Wisconsin moving forward.

What has been your favorite experience at FC Wisconsin?

Our favorite part of FC Wisconsin has been the organization and quality of every training session. Coach Ben and Coach Billy, along with their assistant coaches, have a vision every time the players take the pitch. There is no wasted time, and everything is done with player development in mind. Despite this being our first year at FC Wisconsin, Coach Ben and Coach Billy have already helped Banks make major strides individually, and have been great offering guidance and support through the college recruiting process.

How has the club impacted your son/daughter? Share an example.

FC Wisconsin has had a major impact on the way Banks approaches the game every day. Ben and Billy have instilled a work ethic in him by holding him and the rest of the players to high expectations. I will never forget the discussion on our way back to Beloit after Banks' tryout, when he said he had never received the amount of feedback from a coach in his club playing days before. The culture of the club is such a powerful dynamic that you can't help but feel you are part of something special.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

FC Wisconsin has excellent playing facilities and is able to utilize local spaces in the winter to maximize opportunities for the players. The communication piece is such an important part of running the youth sports program, and FC Wisconsin does a great job of staying on top of things and keeping families in the loop via the Sprocket Sports app, and making sure that we have the best team managers contacting families on a weekly basis with any updates.

Would you recommend FC Wisconsin to a friend or colleague? Why?

We would highly recommend FC Wisconsin to families, friends, or anyone who is looking for a high-level soccer club for their son. FC Wisconsin has a great culture, excellent coaches, and wonderful playing facilities. One of my biggest parenting regrets is that we did not join FC Wisconsin earlier, so my two other sons would have been able to have the same experience that Banks will have over the next two years.