News

DYNAMO | DASH YOUTH SOCCER CLUB REBRANDS AS HTX SOCCER

Posted on February 17, 2023 BY Simon Boddison

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HOUSTON (Friday, Feb. 17, 2023) – The evolution of Houston’s leading youth soccer club continues as the Dynamo | Dash Youth Soccer Club reintroduces itself as HTX Soccer. The new identity is reflective of who the club is now and how it intends to continue growing in the future.

Beginning with the fall season, HTX Soccer’s club colors will be Black, White and Gold. The new club crest features HTX boldly emblazoned over a traditional soccer crest with five white stars representing the club’s five core values aligned inside the H. The crest also features a rocket arcing skyward, a design element that reflects the history of Texas Rush and Space City, the two clubs who merged in 2017.

The new name, colors and crest will officially launch on June 1 after the club’s six-year licensing agreement with the Houston Dynamo Football Club expires by mutual agreement.

“Our mission is to provide youth soccer opportunities for all ability levels serving the Greater Houston community, and this is an important step in enabling us to take that mission to an even higher level,” said HTX Soccer’s Technical Director Don Gemmell. “I want to thank the Dynamo and Dash for the partnership over the last six years. We all agreed that the landscape has changed significantly since 2017 and it was in everyone’s interest to forge our own paths forward.”

The new name and visual identity were developed through an extensive series of discussions with leaders from across all locations of the club, including coaches from the boys and girls programs as well as coaches from recreational teams along with the club’s elite competitive teams.

“We arrived at HTX Soccer, the color scheme and the crest after many long conversations about who we are and who we aspire to be going forward,” Gemmell said. “We want our club to be the first thing people think of when they think about soccer in our city and we are proud to make Houston a prominent part of our name. We will continue to set the gold standard for what a youth soccer club should be in all facets. That includes winning games, of course, but equally important are player development, our coaches’ professional development, recruitment services and the parent experience.”

The impact of the new identity stretches beyond the crest and name, as the club announced additional investments which will significantly improve the player and parent experience throughout all levels of the club, including facility improvements, cutting-edge technology and a full-time College Placement Strategist.

“As we evaluated the future of the partnership with the Dynamo and the Dash, it became clear that the strength of our club isn’t a name or a crest; it’s the people,” Gemmell said. “Our players and coaches are the key to everything we do and by directing even more resources where they can have the greatest impact, on the field, it enables us to provide an even better experience to everyone involved in the club.”

ABOUT THE NEW NAME, COLORS & CREST

The name HTX Soccer is representative of a club that encompasses all of Houston, serving more than 8,800 boys and girls from age 3 through 19 across a geographic region that spans the entire Greater Houston area. Already Houston’s largest youth soccer club with teams competing at the highest levels against the best teams in the country and around the world, HTX Soccer has been the standard bearer for H-Town at tournaments and in league play, and now the club has a name to reflect that responsibility.

The black and white primary color scheme is simple, timeless and immediately recognizable. Black represents power, status and sophistication while white represents virtue, balance and simplicity. The iconic combination has long represented some of the world’s greatest clubs.

The use of gold as a third color reflects both the club’s history and its ambition. Gold is synonymous with success, achievement and prosperity, a color befitting a club that has produced more collegiate players than any other in Houston and one which has had 43  players earn youth national team selections. As it looks to the future, HTX Soccer intends to be the gold standard for soccer in Houston, and the golden accents on their kits will serve to remind players and coaches alike of that responsibility every day.

ABOUT HTX SOCCER

HTX Soccer is the largest youth soccer club in the Greater Houston area with more than 8,800 players at every skill level from recreational to elite and all age levels from 3-19. The club truly represents the sport in Houston, with teams serving a 100-mile radius from Downtown Houston. Since 2017, it has developed 344 players who have gone on to play collegiately, more than any other club in the area, and 43 players have been selected to play for their respective youth national teams. HTX Soccer’s elite boys teams are part of the ECNL and Major League Soccer’s MLS NEXT league, the most competitive youth soccer leagues in America, and its elite girls teams compete in the Girls Academy (G.A.) League against the top teams and clubs throughout the country. 

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Posted in Membership

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Posted on November 22, 2021 BY Simon Boddison

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November 22, 2021

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire professional staff, we would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for being a member of the Houston Dynamo | Dash Youth Soccer Club.

We are extremely grateful for the time and dedication you provide for your children in their soccer development. Our players and families are the foundation of the club, and together we will continue to strengthen and build on the success of our soccer program.

We are proud to share a few highlights from the previous year:

  • Membership numbers increased to over 7,100.
  • Over 4,700 members visited PNC stadium to watch the Dynamo | Dash professional teams during the 2021 season.
  • 100% of the Girls Academy Class of 2021 have committed to a college program, with 21 players and counting already committed for 2022-23.
  • $10,000 will be donated to Memorial Hermann Foundation / In The Pink of Health from the club’s Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.
  • New Recreational Program added in Beaumont and Katy / Fulshear with Sienna being added in the Spring 2022.
  • Houston Dash Academy is ranked #1 in Houston by soccerwire.com
  • Boys Academy reached the ECNL national finals in St. Louis, MO.
  • Voted #1 Elite & Youth Sports Organization by Woodlands Online for the second consecutive year.
  • Michaela Abam (former club player) signed a professional contract by the Dash (NWSL) as the first female player from Houston.

As we enter the holiday season, we would like to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. The Dynamo | Dash Youth offices will be closed from Monday, November 22 through Sunday, November 28. We will re-open on Monday, November 29.

Thank you all once again for your continued support.

Best Regards,  

Don Gemmell, Technical Director


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Mia's Table Partnership 2020-21

Posted on August 17, 2020 BY Simon Boddison
 
The club is extremely excited to announce that the Houston Youth Cup 2020 will be brought to you by Mia's Table.   Originally a Houston favorite since 2012, Mia’s Table is part of the Johnny Carrabba Family of Restaurants. Mia’s Table is a casual, family-friendly place where all are welcome to enjoy the experience.
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Posted in Partnerships, Membership

PlayMetrics Start Date - July 6

Posted on June 25, 2020 BY Simon Boddison


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WHAT:  
All club internal communications will transfer to the new PlayMetrics platform.
 
WHEN:
JULY 6, 2020
 
WHY:
Provide all players, parents, coaches, and staff members unique access to this all-in-one club management software that is purpose-built for youth soccer clubs.
 
 
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BENEFITS:
  • Access PlayMetrics on desktop, tablet, or through a free mobile app.
  • View club and team calendars (practices, games, special events) and sync to your personal calendar.
  • Register your player for club events and programs.
  • Manage your player’s profile, including basic information and profile photo.
  • Add and edit additional contacts for your player, including email addresses and phone numbers.
  • Send and receive emails, texts, push notifications, and chats with other club members.
  • Fill out and access club forms, such as waivers and player evaluations.
  • See game scores and team records.
  • View club and team resources, such as videos, documents, and website links.
  • Manage payments to the club.

QUESTIONS:
Contact your Team Head Coach / Director of Coaching.

TRYOUT / PRE-REGISTRATION - CLICK HERE!


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Kwik Goal Partnership

Posted on May 28, 2020 BY Simon Boddison

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As a valued partner Kwik Goal has offered an exclusive price reduction for all Dynamo | Dash Youth members to purchase their own training products.  This equipment can be used at home while DDY continues to work through the return-to-play guidelines for soccer activities.  
 
DYNAMO Equipment - CLICK HERE!
DASH Equipment - CLICK HERE!

 
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"Due to the current situation over the last few months, individual training has become the alternative to our normal soccer programming. It's fantastic that Kwik Goal are willing to offer our members their individual training products at a reduced exclusive HDDY rate.  The club and our partners will continue to find productive ways to enhance and encourage our players to advance their skill levels in their own training environment."  
Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations

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Partnership Opportunities Available..........

Want to become a sponsor and get huge marketing exposure partnering with one of our events or programs in your local area, please contact Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations at sboddison@dynamodashyouth.com or call (281) 825-8650

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Posted in Membership

Club Update - May 17

Posted on May 17, 2020 BY Simon Boddison
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For Immediate Release - May 17, 2020
Contact: Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations

Dear Parent,

As previously communicated, we intended on returning to soccer programming this week. Before we confirm the exact dates for training, we have a few steps that we are going to take in the interest of being most cautious and best prepared.

We anticipated further guidance from Governor Abbott on return to play guidelines last week, but it did not get released. At this point, it looks like this information will be available in the next few days. We want to review this information and incorporate it into our plans.

Over the next few days, we will:

  1. Review the latest guidelines from Governor Abbott.
  2. Work with health experts from Memorial Hermann on safety protocols within the Governor's guidelines and specific to our training environment.
  3. Design club-specific training sessions in accordance with the Governor's guidelines and upon the advice of our health experts.
  4. Communicate details of our plans and protocols to you upon completion.
  5. Schedule training sessions.

We feel that it is important for us to have the latest information and for these steps to be taken before taking the field again. We look forward to being in touch with the final plan over the next few days.

Regards,

Don Gemmell
Technical Director - Houston Dynamo | Dash Youth Soccer Club

 
 
 
 

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Coaching Staff Personal Development - May 2020

Posted on May 15, 2020 BY Simon Boddison
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The club continues to enhance its coaching staff education platform providing the best available training and work environment for players and coaches to excel. Players are developed by the coach and impacted greatly by the training / teaching environment.  Continual reflection occurs on the resources and support required for the player and coach to be successful whether it is in-house coaching education, attending coaching seminars, workshops, new equipment, field and facility improvements, licensure or personal development plans.

 Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 11.46.33 AM"The players' development is our #1 priority and it starts with the coaching staff providing the correct curriculum and training environment.  The club must provide opportunities for our staff to learn, grow and have a clear coaching pathway to succeed personally.  If that opportunity is apparent, this results in a more productive training environment which will reflect in a detailed player developmental platform across the club. We have a joint responsibility of developing players and coaches in the club to the highest level possible." 
Dave Dengerink, Academy Director.

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 The Spring 2020 coaching education meetings cover a variety of topics that are associated with running a fully comprehensive youth soccer club.  The topics include both the soccer technical and business aspects of a club that now has a membership of 8,400 players.
The following topics will or have been presented:
 
COACHING EDUCATION TOPIC PRESENTER / TITLE

Personal Development Plan

Dave Dengerink - Academy Director

2020 Season Improvements

James Clarkson - Houston Dash Head Soccer Coach (NWSL)

Understanding Your Clients

Phil Ebner - Director of Coaching - Youth Academy

Dash System of Play (1-4-2-3-1)

Mark Gibbs - Girls Academy Director

Powerpoint & Your MAC 

Andrew Squire - Girls Academy Coach

Linking The Club Philosophies to Training

Dave Dengerink - Academy Director

Dynamo Youth Diamond (1-4-4-2)

Alex Cardenas - Boys Academy Coach

Growth Mindset / Practice Perfect

Andrew Squire - Girls Academy Coach


Unknown-19The club has the most qualified coaching staff in the city of Houston when it comes to player development.  The club employs over 100+ professional licensed coaching staff from multiple areas throughout the world that work and are educated under the same Dynamo | Dash age-appropriate curriculum. The club recognizes the importance of player development and coaching education.


NAME OF QUALIFICATION / LICENSE #
Academy Directors Course (License) 2
United States Federation (USSF) 'A' License 16
United States Federation (USSF) 'B' License 18
United States Federation (USSF) 'C' License 20
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) 'D' License 27
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) 'E' License 17
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National Youth License 12
Union of Europe Football Associations (UEFA) 'Pro' License 1
Union of Europe Football Associations (UEFA) 'A' License 2
Union of Europe Football Associations (UEFA) 'B' License 4

 


Coaching Education

"As a member of the HDDY coaching staff I have many reasons to be thankful, but none more than the investment the club has made in me as a professional coach. Without the club's support, completing my coaching pathway to the “A” License would never have been possible and I would not have had some of the opportunities that have been presented to me. Collaborating with the Houston Dynamo on building the Foundation Catalyst Program is one such opportunity.  Working with Dave Dengerink and Paul Holocher our Academy Directors on such a unique program to the Houston area is an experience I could not find anywhere else." Darron Rush, Director of Coaching - Catalyst.


Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 11.43.55 AMThe club has supported me to work my way up through the US Soccer Federation’s 'E' License, all the way to completion of the National 'A' License.  Furthermore, they’ve encouraged me to become a certified Grass Roots Coach Instructor which now allows me to provide a service back to the younger, beginner and volunteer coaches within our organization.  I am extremely grateful for the personal and professional investment that’s been consistently extended to me over the years.”
 
Phil Ebner, Director of Coaching - Youth Academy / Recreational

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“I can’t speak highly enough of the Dynamo | Dash Youth Soccer Club. My journey with the organization began ten years ago when I was playing in their development academy. The lessons I learned on and off the field during that period prepared me for a successful college career. During my four years playing college soccer Coach Don Gemmell and Dave Dengerink were in frequent contact extending advice when needed. I returned to the club upon graduation taking charge of the recreational program in The Woodlands. The club continued to support my professional development as I worked my way through coaching licenses and furthermore supported my decision to return to school in pursuit of a masters degree. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible organization."

Marcus Watt, Director of Coaching - Recreational


Screen Shot 2020-05-06 at 11.52.32 AM"Over the last few years the club was hugely supportive and helpful towards my coaching education and personal development. Sending me to acquire my USSF “B” License and providing opportunities to attend the United Soccer Coaches Conventions in Baltimore 2020 and Chicago 2019 was extremely educational. There were also various opportunities to attend the following seminars that were hosted by our club - 'Every Moment Matters' and 'Changing The Game Project' by John O'Sullivan and Soccer Starts at Home by Tom Byer. The tools and resources provided on a daily basis are invaluable to our growth and development as coaches.

Radojica Ristic, Director of Coaching - West


Coaching Education 3 


Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 3.37.14 PM"Coaching development is a continuous process, I am thankful for the opportunities provided by the Dynamo|Dash Youth Soccer Club. The tremendous support received within the club during my journey to obtain my USSF "B" License speaks volumes about the culture of the organization. The club has consistently provided me with the tools to develop young soccer talent physically and mentally while contributing to my own personal growth. My transition from a retired professional player to coach has been extremely rewarding thanks to the club's continuous support."

Benito Kemble, Director of Coaching - Boys (South)


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Partnership Opportunities Available..........

Want to become a sponsor and get huge marketing exposure partnering with one of our events or programs in your local area, please contact Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations at sboddison@dynamodashyouth.com or call (281) 825-8650

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Mia's Table is OPEN!

Posted on May 11, 2020 BY Simon Boddison
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Mias Table Open
 
Pick your location and please support a HDDY local business!

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MIA'S TABLE LOCATIONS - CLICK HERE!


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Partnership Opportunities Available..........

Want to become a sponsor and get huge marketing exposure partnering with one of our events or programs in your local area, please contact Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations at sboddison@dynamodashyouth.com or call (281) 825-8650

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Posted in Membership

Online Player Development Platform

Posted on May 11, 2020 BY Simon Boddison

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The club developed its own Online Player Development Platform in March to provide a comprehensive support structure for all its players that were no longer allowed to train / play soccer due to COVID-19.  The following areas were implemented for the players to engage:
 
Technical Skills Session:
 
 
Subscribe to the DDY YouTube Page - CLICK HERE!  

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Weekly Player / Membership Communications:
Players, coaching staff and team zoom calls
Tactical homework and assignments
Facebook live - technical skills & fitness training
Quizzes
Instagram Competitions
Guest speakers - Dash pro players / coaching staff
College coach panel - Zoom interactions
Athlete | Training | Health - fitness sessions


DDY Online Player Development Curriculum (Weeks 6 & 7) copy
"We devised an extensive calendar of soccer related activities to communicate and engage with our players.  It was very well received and a great way for the coaching staff to continually connect on a weekly basis with all our families."  Jamie Bell, East Director.

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 Quick Facts:
Over 300 players
Hosting Coaches - Stephen Bell (Kingwood), Thomas Shenton (Beaumont), Andres Cabrera (Woodlands) and Tom Parkinson (Woodlands).
Xbox One / PlayStation 4
Live games were streamed
Xbox winner - Jonathan “PacoELNako” Encinia (Humble 01 PA)
PS4 winner - Angel “IvanCR_07” Saldana (Dynamo Little United) 
 
"Well done to all participants and thank you for investing yourselves into the tournament so deeply. We look forward to hosting another in the future!" Stephen Bell, Dynamo Staff Coach.   

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Partnership Opportunities Available..........

Want to become a sponsor and get huge marketing exposure partnering with one of our events or programs in your local area, please contact Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations at sboddison@dynamodashyouth.com or call (281) 825-8650

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Frontier Development League 2020-2021

Posted on May 04, 2020 BY Simon Boddison
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations
Monday, May 4, 2020
 

Dash Teams to Join USYS Frontier Development League

As the 2nd tier of the Dash Youth elite development pathway, we are creating additional opportunities for development and increased exposure to college coaches for players on these teams.

Therefore, for the upcoming season, we will be competing in the U.S. Youth Soccer (“USYS”) Frontier Development League ("FDL").

By joining this league, we are immediately eligible for the USYS South Texas State Championships and have the opportunity to compete and qualify for the USYS National League and USYS Regional Championships.

The Frontier Conference will include: Houston Dash (Houston); Dallas Texans (Dallas), FC Dallas (Dallas); D'Feeters (Dallas); Solar (Dallas) and Lonestar (Austin).

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FRONTIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ANNOUNCEMENT - CLICK HERE!


The FDL will offer competition for girls in the U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups for the 2020-21 season. Each club participating in the FDL will field one team in each age group. The league will operate on a home-and-away schedule, with teams traveling as a club to each opposing club during the season.

The Development Player League (DPL) currently serves as the 2nd tier of teams for the Girls Academy (GA) clubs.  The Houston Dash will maintain event status in the DPL during the 2020/2021 season.  Event status will allow the Dash to participate in showcase events put on by the DPL.  Players will have the opportunity to play high school soccer.


DEVELOPMENT PLAYER LEAGUE INFORMATION - CLICK HERE!

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Randy Evans, Director of Coaching - Dash at revans@dynamodashyouth.com.


Evans-2-768x768“The Houston Dash are thrilled to be participating in the Frontier Development League this year. We value the opportunity to compete against other clubs across different platforms. We are 100 percent sold on the development model associated with the club vs. club format. Clubs take responsibility for the development of every team and every player, then you go to battle against other top clubs to evaluate the progression of their program. US Youth Soccer has done a great job to evaluate the landscape and make changes to enable this type of format and we believe it will help raise the level of play both regionally and nationally.”

Randy Evans, Director of Coaching for Houston Dash.


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