Raising the Standard for Girls Soccer in Southwest Florida – An Unexpected Collaboration
July 8, 2026
An Unexpected Collaboration. A Shared Vision. A Stronger Future.
What happens when two organizations decide that collaboration—not competition—is the fastest path to excellence?
Something bigger than either club.
DME Academy, Sarasota and FC Sarasota will collaborate starting in 26/27 bringing together a full suite of teams that are positioned to perform strongly right from the first game. The mission is simple:
Create the premier environment for female players to train, compete, develop, and ultimately reach the highest levels of the game together.
This isn’t about taking small steps.It’s about raising the standard.
Year One: Built to Win
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, the partnership will unite the region’s top girls players through a phased collaboration focused on competing in Girls Academy Aspire.
The immediate objective?
Dominate Aspire.
By combining resources, coaching expertise, player pools, facilities, and development opportunities, the partnership is designed to accelerate growth while creating stronger, more competitive teams across the pathway.
This first year serves as the launchpad toward an even bigger vision.
The Vision Beyond
Year One is only the beginning. The long-term goal is the creation of a unified girls soccer organization built specifically to become one of Florida’s premier development environments.
The vision includes:
- Top coaching and player development
- National-level competition
- Expanded college recruiting exposure
- Enhanced sports performance and education
- A unified pathway from youth soccer to the highest levels of the game
- An academic pathway for female athletes that want to purse collegiate soccer
The objective isn’t simply to participate. It’s to dominate.
More Than Soccer
Families participating in the partnership will benefit from opportunities that extend well beyond the field, including:
- College recruiting education and webinars
- Strength and speed development through DME FIT
- Access to discounted residential camps at DME Academy Daytona
- Academic opportunities through DME Academy, Sarasota
- Expanded training environments and competitive opportunities
- Collaboration of resources, field space and coaching education
Join the Conversation
We’re hosting a live webinar to walk families through the vision, answer questions, and explain what this partnership means for current and future players but rest assured this is not a traditional partnership. This is BIG and the girls from Tampa – Ft. Myers benefit the most.
During the webinar we’ll cover:
- Why this partnership was created
- The goal of the partnership
- The pathway and expected timeline for success
- Player movement and opportunities
- League structure and competitive plans
- Benefits for both FC Sarasota and DME Academy families
- Live Q&A
Whether you’re already part of one of our clubs or simply passionate about the future of girls soccer in our region, we invite you to be part of the conversation.