From ECNL to College Soccer: A Firsthand Look at FC Wisconsin
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
When evaluating youth soccer clubs, hearing directly from the players who have been through the system is an invaluable part of the research process. In this player spotlight, we hear from Ian Daubert, who spent six pivotal years developing his game at FC Wisconsin.
Joining at the U13 level to compete in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League), Ian’s journey is a testament to what a high-standard club culture can achieve. During his tenure, he experienced everything from competing at Nationals in San Diego to winning the Midwest Conference. But beyond the accolades, Ian credits FC Wisconsin's unique, multi-team training environment and demanding expectations with transforming him from an average youth player into a college-level athlete.
More importantly, the club helped shape his character off the pitch, teaching him lifelong lessons about accountability and what it truly means to be part of a team. Read our full Q&A below to hear Ian’s firsthand experience and find out why he highly recommends FC Wisconsin to aspiring players.
FC Wisconsin Testimonial: Athlete Ian Daubert
Read more about Ian's journey with FC Wisconsin.
How long have you been a part of your club? Tell us about your journey as a player.
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?
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?
Overall, 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 qualities.
How has FC Wisconsin helped shape 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.