FC Dallas Academy Rated by US Soccer as Best in Country

US Soccer has released their evaluations of the US Soccer Development Academy clubs for the 2010-2011 season and FC Dallas was rated as the top club in the country out of the 78 clubs that participated in the 2010-2011 season. 

If you go to the Development Academy overview page, you can read up on how the teams are evaluated. 

Clubs are graded on a five-star system in comparison to the top international developmental environments. The evaluation criteria consists of eight key components necessary for a club to provide elite everyday environments for player development with technical components based on the U.S. Soccer Curriculum.

Previously it was unknown how the teams did on their ratings, but US Soccer has released the full evaluations for the 2010-2011 season and they're fascinating. Here is a link to them(It downloads a PDF portfolio).

Keep reading to see how FC Dallas did and how they have been rated tops in the country. 

 As mentioned, the clubs are rated from 0-5 stars in 8 different categories. 

FC Dallas achieved 5 stars in facilities and funding, something that shouldn't be too big of a surprise given the facilities in Frisco and Dallas' efforts to make the academy fully funded from within as well as an environment that can act like a full school. 

The most impressive aspect of Dallas' rating, and the one that should make everyone the most excited for the future, is the fact that FC Dallas is the only team to get 4 stars(the highest rating given to any club) in both player development and style of play. While RSL gained 4 stars in style of play and NYRB achieved it in player development, FC Dallas was the only team to get 4 stars in both categories. 

Dallas was rated 3 1/2 stars in training environment and Respect campaign while they were given 3 stars, their lowest rating, in Administrative. However, many clubs barely received 3 stars in any category so keeping things in perspective that's still good.

So how do we figure out that FC Dallas was rated as the best academy in the country? Well if you look near the top of the evaluation you'll see the overall rating and Dallas was the only team in the country to achieve a 4 star ranking. 

Someone on Big Soccer made a list of where each club landed and as you'll see 3 of the local clubs are among the top 10 in the country according to US Scocer

4.0 STARS

FC Dallas Academy; Dallas, TX

3.5 STARS

CASL Chelsea FC; Raleigh, NC
Dallas Texans; Dallas, TX
IMG Soccer Academy; Bradenton, FL
NE Revolution Academy; Foxboro, MA
Red Bull New York Academy; Secaucus, NJ
Solar Chelsea; Dallas, TX
Weston FC; Weston, FL

3.0 STARS

Albertson SC; Long Island, NY
Arsenal FC; Temecula, CA
Baltimore Bay Chelsea; Baltimore, MD
Charlotte Soccer Academy; Charlotte, NC
Columbus Crew Academy; Columbus, OH
Concorde Fire; Atlanta, GA
Cosmos Academy-East; Brooklyn, NY
Cosmos Academy-West; Pomona, CA
DC United Academy; Washington, DC
Derby County Wolves; Livonia, MI
Empire United; Syracuse, NY
FC Westchester; Westchester, NY
Houston Dynamo Academy; Houston, TX
Internationals; Cleveland, OH
Kendall SC; Miami, FL
LA Galaxy Academy; Los Angeles, CA
North Carolina Fusion; Greensboro, NC
PA Classics; Lancaster, PA
Pateadores; Costa Mesa, CA
Players Development Academy; Zarephath, NJ
Real SoCal; San Fernando, CA
RSL Academy-AZ; Phoenix, AZ
Seatle Sounders FC Academy; Seattle, WA
Sockers FC; Chicago, IL
South Carolina United; Mt Pleasant, SC
Sporting Kansas City Academy; Kansas City, MO
St Louis Scott Gallagher-Missouri; St Louis, MO
Texans SC; Houston, TX
Texas Rush; Woodlands, TX

2.5 STARS

Cal Odyssey; Clovis, CA
California Development Academy; Sacramento, CA
Chicago Fire Academy; Chicago, IL
Chicago Magic; Chicago, IL
Chivas USA Academy; Carson, CA
Clearwater Chargers SC; Clearwater, FL
Colorado Rapids Academy; Commerce City, CO
Crossfire Premier; Redmond, WA
De Anza Force; San Francisco, CA
FC Delco; Philadelphia, PA
FC Greater Boston; Boston, MA
Indiana United; Carmel, IN
Irvine Strikers; Irvine, CA
Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, MN
NJSA 04; Aberdeen, NJ
Nomads SC; San Diego, CA
North Meck SC; Charlotte, NC
Oakwood SC; Hartford, CT
Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, CO
Richmond Strikers; Richmond, VA
Seacoast United; Epping, NH
Shattuck-Saint Mary's; Faribault, MN
SJ Earthquakes Academy; San Jose, CA
St Louis Scott Gallagher-Metro; Collinsville, IL
Vardar; Detroit, MI

2.0 STARS

Birmingham Utd; Birmingham, AL
Classics Elite; San Antonio, TX
Colorado Rush; Littleton, CO
FC Milwaukee; Mlwaukee, WI
Match Fit Chelsea ; Bayonne, NJ
McLean Youth Soccer; McLean, VA
Potomac; Potomac, MD
Richmond Kickers; Richmond, VA
San Diego Surf; San Diego, CA
Santa Cruz Breakers; Aptos, CA
South Central Premier; New Haven, CT
Virginia Rush; Virginia Beach, VA

1.5 STARS

Lonestar SC; Austin, TX

1.0 STARS

Andromeda FC; Plano, TX
Met Oval; New York, NY

Really cool news to just confirm what most of us already know. The most interesting thing will be in 5 years when Dallas has to start turning away prospects who have graduated from college they don't have room for that will get drafted by other teams.