What is the best DA program?

[Anonymous]

DA is more for developing kids for Division 1 soccer than for professional soccer. Playing professional soccer in the US at a young age is not really a thing. Kids in the US have many more options than their non-US counterparts.

In South America or even parts of Europe, professional soccer is the one and only option for top players. In the US, using soccer to score a college degree is more important to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question was as follows
"What DA program has the best track record in producing professional players? "

I ask you this, when did the DA start and do you see that as sufficient time to produce professional players?

The answer is NO

Different poster, but I'm curious as to why you are so invested in slamming the DA? I don't know why the OP is asking this question, but assume the question were phrased as follows:

"I have a really talented 13 year old son, who has a US passport only. We can move anywhere in the country to support his soccer dreams. What would you suggest?"

Wouldn't you recommend that this poster look into seeing if her kid can play DA at FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders, etc? Like it or not, some DA programs are cranking out teen pros at a decent rate.

The DA is the best available option for US player without an EU passport.

The DA sucks compared to what it should be.

Both statements are true. That's what's so depressing about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DA is more for developing kids for Division 1 soccer than for professional soccer. Playing professional soccer in the US at a young age is not really a thing. Kids in the US have many more options than their non-US counterparts.

In South America or even parts of Europe, professional soccer is the one and only option for top players. In the US, using soccer to score a college degree is more important to them.

I don't really agree with the bolded, unless you change it to say that going pro at a young age happens far less frequently in the US than in countries with a more entrenched soccer culture. If you are familiar with what's going on in the DA around the country, you'll see that significant numbers of kids are skipping college to go pro overseas and in the US, and the number is increasing each year with the expansion of USL teams and increasing interest in US players from foreign leagues. I personally know over a dozen boys from this area who are trying to make it in USL or in lower tier leagues in Europe, and there are kids from here signed to MLS contracts and playing in higher level leagues in Europe as well. Whether these kids end up having long or lucrative soccer careers, time will tell.

When the DA started, most boys on the U20, and even U23 national teams had played in college, and that's not true at all now. Almost all of the US boys who played in the U17 World Cup are already pros. Of course, lots of kids in the DA will go on to college, either because they think a pro career is unlikely or because they or their family place a lot of value on a college degree and the admissions boost high level soccer can bring. But the landscape has changed a lot for men's soccer in the US over the last few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA is more for developing kids for Division 1 soccer than for professional soccer. Playing professional soccer in the US at a young age is not really a thing. Kids in the US have many more options than their non-US counterparts.

In South America or even parts of Europe, professional soccer is the one and only option for top players. In the US, using soccer to score a college degree is more important to them.

I don't really agree with the bolded, unless you change it to say that going pro at a young age happens far less frequently in the US than in countries with a more entrenched soccer culture. If you are familiar with what's going on in the DA around the country, you'll see that significant numbers of kids are skipping college to go pro overseas and in the US, and the number is increasing each year with the expansion of USL teams and increasing interest in US players from foreign leagues. I personally know over a dozen boys from this area who are trying to make it in USL or in lower tier leagues in Europe, and there are kids from here signed to MLS contracts and playing in higher level leagues in Europe as well. Whether these kids end up having long or lucrative soccer careers, time will tell.

When the DA started, most boys on the U20, and even U23 national teams had played in college, and that's not true at all now. Almost all of the US boys who played in the U17 World Cup are already pros. Of course, lots of kids in the DA will go on to college, either because they think a pro career is unlikely or because they or their family place a lot of value on a college degree and the admissions boost high level soccer can bring. But the landscape has changed a lot for men's soccer in the US over the last few years.

U17 team finished last in its group at U17 world cup scoring 1 goal and allowing 8 goals. Being a "professional" at MLS or USL may be sufficient when you face CONCACAF quality competition, but most of these boys struggled against higher level competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA is more for developing kids for Division 1 soccer than for professional soccer. Playing professional soccer in the US at a young age is not really a thing. Kids in the US have many more options than their non-US counterparts.

In South America or even parts of Europe, professional soccer is the one and only option for top players. In the US, using soccer to score a college degree is more important to them.

I don't really agree with the bolded, unless you change it to say that going pro at a young age happens far less frequently in the US than in countries with a more entrenched soccer culture. If you are familiar with what's going on in the DA around the country, you'll see that significant numbers of kids are skipping college to go pro overseas and in the US, and the number is increasing each year with the expansion of USL teams and increasing interest in US players from foreign leagues. I personally know over a dozen boys from this area who are trying to make it in USL or in lower tier leagues in Europe, and there are kids from here signed to MLS contracts and playing in higher level leagues in Europe as well. Whether these kids end up having long or lucrative soccer careers, time will tell.

When the DA started, most boys on the U20, and even U23 national teams had played in college, and that's not true at all now. Almost all of the US boys who played in the U17 World Cup are already pros. Of course, lots of kids in the DA will go on to college, either because they think a pro career is unlikely or because they or their family place a lot of value on a college degree and the admissions boost high level soccer can bring. But the landscape has changed a lot for men's soccer in the US over the last few years.

U17 team finished last in its group at U17 world cup scoring 1 goal and allowing 8 goals. Being a "professional" at MLS or USL may be sufficient when you face CONCACAF quality competition, but most of these boys struggled against higher level competition.

That's fine, and I have many criticisms of the US system myself. I think most are totally naive as to where even the US women fit in and where they will be 10 years down the road.

However, with all that being said, it is better than it was 10 years ago. The problem for us is that the rest of the world keeps improving too so it's hard to catch up when you are already so far behind.

[Anonymous]

FC Dallas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question was as follows
"What DA program has the best track record in producing professional players? "

I ask you this, when did the DA start and do you see that as sufficient time to produce professional players?

The answer is NO

Different poster, but I'm curious as to why you are so invested in slamming the DA? I don't know why the OP is asking this question, but assume the question were phrased as follows:

"I have a really talented 13 year old son, who has a US passport only. We can move anywhere in the country to support his soccer dreams. What would you suggest?"

Wouldn't you recommend that this poster look into seeing if her kid can play DA at FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders, etc? Like it or not, some DA programs are cranking out teen pros at a decent rate.

The DA is the best available option for US player without an EU passport.

The DA sucks compared to what it should be.

Both statements are true. That's what's so depressing about it.

Amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question was as follows
"What DA program has the best track record in producing professional players? "

I ask you this, when did the DA start and do you see that as sufficient time to produce professional players?

The answer is NO

Different poster, but I'm curious as to why you are so invested in slamming the DA? I don't know why the OP is asking this question, but assume the question were phrased as follows:

"I have a really talented 13 year old son, who has a US passport only. We can move anywhere in the country to support his soccer dreams. What would you suggest?"

Wouldn't you recommend that this poster look into seeing if her kid can play DA at FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders, etc? Like it or not, some DA programs are cranking out teen pros at a decent rate.

The DA is the best available option for US player without an EU passport.

The DA sucks compared to what it should be.

Both statements are true. That's what's so depressing about it.

Amen.

So move to Germany or Spain