Draft:FM Elite Programs
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Last edited by Asilvering (talk | contribs) 22 days ago. (Update) |
| Founded | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Fredy Montero, Josh Gelzer |
| Focus | Youth soccer development, player advancement to academy, collegiate, and professional levels |
| Headquarters | Washington State, United States |
Area served | Pacific Northwest |
| Services | Soccer training and player development |
Key people | Fredy Montero (Co-Founder and President) Josh Gelzer (Co-Founder and CEO) |
| Website | FM Elite Programs |
FM Elite Programs
[edit]FM Elite Programs LLC is a soccer training organization based in Washington State, United States. Founded in 2022 by professional footballer Fredy Montero and friend, Josh Gelzer, the organization focuses on individualized player development for youth and emerging athletes. FM Elite is known for offering small group training environments aimed at bridging the gap between premier-level youth players and academy or professional opportunities.1
HISTORY
[edit]FM Elite was founded following a collaboration between Fredy Montero and Seattle Sport Science, with a shared goal of raising the standard of player development in the Pacific Northwest. Drawing on Montero’s professional playing experience across Major League Soccer and international leagues, and guided by performance experts, FM Elite designed a methodology focused on technical, tactical, physical, and mental development.
From the beginning, the program emphasized small group training rather than individual private lessons. This model was chosen to better replicate game environments, allowing players to develop skills like communication, spatial awareness, and tactical decision-making in real-time scenarios.
FM Elite specifically aimed to bridge the gap between high-performing Premier players and athletes on MLS Next Academy pathways, providing a stepping stone toward professional careers.
In 2025, FM Elite expanded its professional network by partnering with a FIFA-licensed agent to facilitate European trial opportunities for qualifying athletes.
PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURE
[edit]FM Elite organizes its training into five main development groups, structured by age and competitive level:
Next Level (Ages 8–11)
Academy (Ages 12–13)
Elite (Ages 14–16)
Pro Next (Ages 17–22)
Pro (Contracted Players)
The organization also offers individual player assessments to benchmark and monitor player development.
METHODOLOGY
[edit]FM Elite’s training methodology emphasizes a holistic approach to player development, focusing on technical execution, tactical intelligence, physical movement, and mental resilience. The program is built around the belief that consistent exposure to game-realistic environments — rather than isolated drills or private individual lessons — leads to more sustainable long-term growth.
Sessions are intentionally designed in small group settings, allowing players to engage in competitive, high-tempo scenarios that demand communication, scanning, decision-making, and spatial awareness. This format replicates the demands of actual match play while still allowing for individual feedback and correction.
FM Elite incorporates a neurocognitive training approach, helping players improve their decision-making, scanning, information intake, and soccer IQ. Players are continually placed in situations requiring quick reads of the environment, anticipation of movements, and fast execution, building the mental speed necessary to succeed at higher levels of competition.
The program also emphasizes biomechanics and movement efficiency, teaching players that success is not just about hitting a target or finding a teammate, but about executing movements effectively and efficiently. Training addresses all aspects of body mechanics — from how a player opens up to receive a pass, to the way they position themselves under pressure to execute quick, decisive actions.
This holistic model ensures that areas like first touch, movement, speed of play, influence on the game, and confidence under pressure are developed together, creating more complete and adaptable players.
Structured progression through FM Elite’s development groups increases the complexity, physical demands, and tactical nuance of training, providing clear pathways for players as they advance.
FM Elite places a strong emphasis on accountability, professionalism, and personal ownership — core values that mirror the expectations of collegiate and professional environments.
ASSESSMENTS
[edit]To support measurable growth, FM Elite developed the FME Player Assessment — a personalized evaluation designed to benchmark and track player development over time.
The Assessment was created to address a major gap in traditional youth soccer development: the lack of objective feedback and progression tracking. Each player is evaluated across key areas such as technical execution, tactical awareness, physical sharpness, mental resilience, and training habits. By establishing a clear baseline, FM Elite helps athletes and families understand where they are today — and more importantly, what specific areas need to improve to reach their goals.
As co-founder Fredy Montero often says, "What you can measure, you can improve." This belief drives FM Elite’s commitment to providing players with clear, honest evaluations — empowering them to take ownership of their journey and achieve tangible growth.
Assessments help guide individualized feedback, group placements, and long-term development planning.2
TECHNOLOGY
[edit]In 2024, FM Elite launched the FM Elite App for iOS and Android devices. The app allows players and families to manage session reservations, receive program updates, communicate with staff, and access development resources.
FM Elite also integrates advanced training systems such as 2Victa and ISO Techne — a combination of ball machines and sensor-based tools designed to enhance and expedite player development. These technologies are used to support improvements in scanning, distribution, and movement by providing structured repetition, data-driven feedback, and dynamic training scenarios beyond traditional methods.
FACILITIES
[edit]FM Elite operates primarily at Arena Sports locations and the Snohomish Dome in Washington State. These venues provide year-round access to professional-grade indoor and outdoor training environments.
IMPACT
[edit]Since its inception, FM Elite has seen many of its athletes transition into competitive club academies, collegiate teams, UPSL clubs, and professional trials. Select players have pursued professional trial opportunities internationally through the organization's FIFA agent partnerships.
In 2025, FM Elite introduced an Ambassador Program to encourage community growth by recognizing and rewarding athletes who refer new players into the training environment.
LEADERSHIP
[edit]Fredy Montero – Co-founder and President
Josh Gelzer – Co-founder and CEO