DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do seem to be making changes for the better, however, it's costing the parents money. So much for academy teams being free.

Because the parents are not knowledgeable and have too much pride to understand they are suckers. So many people are asking us if we are trying out for the new RDS. It is a joke. I have to stay silent because you really can't convince people who chase shiny objects.

So we're all clear, the parents of the kids who did the right things at U-littles to develop into players who are desired by the professional club academy are not knowledgeable?
Including the parents of academy players signed to premier league clubs and going on trials.

But you who don't have an academy level player is the knowledgeable parent?

I imagine since DCUA does not start until U14, there are a number of parents on this board like myself with "academy level players" chiming in at U13 and under. Personally, we have been in contact with several other MLS academies with teams at our age and spoken with the parents of several DCUA alumni. It is tough contemplating sending your kids away because you live in the area with the leagues worst academy. If you like the situation at DCUA, good for you. That would make you extremely less knowledgeable than me at this point if you really did do research. It's okay to be in the DCUA academy, proud of your kids achievements and still be objective about where it is in the pantheon of MLS academy development.

"Personally, we have been in contact with several other MLS academies with teams at our age..."

How did all these MLS academies find out about your DS and how did they reach out?

Should be good info for others with younger sons

Guesting and networking. Don’t overhype your kid. Just show up and be a great parent. Don’t worry about flight level, playing time, positions, etc. Once coaches and other parents see you as a reliable family, you become valuable. If you guest up north in NJ and PA, you are always 1-2 degrees away from Red Bulls and Union which have people and families on the ground. We have learned this community is small, especially in the NE/Mid-Atlantic corridor. We weren’t actively looking for any opportunities. We were just looking to fill in empty weekends and then one thing led to another based on my child’s play.

If you're playing MLS Next on a local DMV club, don't you play Philly and NYRB?
Why do you need to guest up north for them to see you?

MLS Next starts at U13. Us parents of at U12 and below are talking. I think I specifically said we did not do anything for anybody to see us or exposure. We were filling in empty weekends by guesting and coaches and parents saw our kid can ball and then conversations start happening.

This is the exact attitude other clubs and parents are looking to avoid. The strategic positioning, I must win at everything parent that are so prevalent in the DMV.

What's the must win part?

Didn't think DMV U12 and younger were running up and down the Atlantic seaboard trying to get scouted and relocate to PA and Jersey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do seem to be making changes for the better, however, it's costing the parents money. So much for academy teams being free.

Because the parents are not knowledgeable and have too much pride to understand they are suckers. So many people are asking us if we are trying out for the new RDS. It is a joke. I have to stay silent because you really can't convince people who chase shiny objects.

So we're all clear, the parents of the kids who did the right things at U-littles to develop into players who are desired by the professional club academy are not knowledgeable?
Including the parents of academy players signed to premier league clubs and going on trials.

But you who don't have an academy level player is the knowledgeable parent?

I imagine since DCUA does not start until U14, there are a number of parents on this board like myself with "academy level players" chiming in at U13 and under. Personally, we have been in contact with several other MLS academies with teams at our age and spoken with the parents of several DCUA alumni. It is tough contemplating sending your kids away because you live in the area with the leagues worst academy. If you like the situation at DCUA, good for you. That would make you extremely less knowledgeable than me at this point if you really did do research. It's okay to be in the DCUA academy, proud of your kids achievements and still be objective about where it is in the pantheon of MLS academy development.

Agree with this poster. Consistent with what has been said on this board thousands of times. It is WIDELY known that DCU is one of the worst if not the worst MLS academy in the entire system. Doesn't mean you can't be proud of your son being in an MLS academy and having that accomplishment. Just know what you've signed up for...A subpar academy that has no real investment in your son becoming a better footballer. You will not find anyone that knows anything about the MLS academy hierarchy that will vouch for DCU and the work they are doing with their youth. Facts. If DCU is your only option, it is what it is, take it. But if you do have other options, explore them and try to avoid DCU because you're in for a rollercoaster of a ride with them as they try to keep the academy afloat with no money, no real resources and no real plan. Add incompetent leadership and you're going no where fast.

Fantastic summary. Not sure anything else needs to be said.

Strange that a club valued in the top 30 in the world can be said to have no money and no resources

If they have a new academy director and new senior head coach, is it the owners that are being called the incompetent leaders?

When you say no plan, the academy for 25/26 season is just winging it day by day?

So they just overhauled the academy system and philosophy starting this season according to reports, yet simultaneously have no plan.
That's odd

I had to look it up and according to Forbes, you're right:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinteitelbaum/2025/05/30/the-worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-2025/

So, it remains crazy that a club, with so much equity and such a high valuation has not been able to turn around their on field performance nor build an amazing academy is just mind boggling.

So you're just going to conveniently ignore the facts that the academy had a complete overhaul to start the 25/26 season?
And the new head coach with European success and experience at clubs with world class academies?

-Yes. These facts will be ignored until these (very recently) implemented strategies produce real world results. Many fans find it difficult to get behind a club, who seemingly has taken years to build up (what appears to be an incredible sum of wealth $785million dollars); and yet has actually used those dollars to really invest into an academy model or negotiate (purchase) higher quality talent on the pitch for the 1st team. I mean, they must be the most financially successful yet, worst ranked team in the world.

-However, the changes are good (and also inevitable) and so let's hope in the next 12 months we are talking about DC United and their Youth Academy in a better light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do seem to be making changes for the better, however, it's costing the parents money. So much for academy teams being free.

Because the parents are not knowledgeable and have too much pride to understand they are suckers. So many people are asking us if we are trying out for the new RDS. It is a joke. I have to stay silent because you really can't convince people who chase shiny objects.

So we're all clear, the parents of the kids who did the right things at U-littles to develop into players who are desired by the professional club academy are not knowledgeable?
Including the parents of academy players signed to premier league clubs and going on trials.

But you who don't have an academy level player is the knowledgeable parent?

I imagine since DCUA does not start until U14, there are a number of parents on this board like myself with "academy level players" chiming in at U13 and under. Personally, we have been in contact with several other MLS academies with teams at our age and spoken with the parents of several DCUA alumni. It is tough contemplating sending your kids away because you live in the area with the leagues worst academy. If you like the situation at DCUA, good for you. That would make you extremely less knowledgeable than me at this point if you really did do research. It's okay to be in the DCUA academy, proud of your kids achievements and still be objective about where it is in the pantheon of MLS academy development.

Agree with this poster. Consistent with what has been said on this board thousands of times. It is WIDELY known that DCU is one of the worst if not the worst MLS academy in the entire system. Doesn't mean you can't be proud of your son being in an MLS academy and having that accomplishment. Just know what you've signed up for...A subpar academy that has no real investment in your son becoming a better footballer. You will not find anyone that knows anything about the MLS academy hierarchy that will vouch for DCU and the work they are doing with their youth. Facts. If DCU is your only option, it is what it is, take it. But if you do have other options, explore them and try to avoid DCU because you're in for a rollercoaster of a ride with them as they try to keep the academy afloat with no money, no real resources and no real plan. Add incompetent leadership and you're going no where fast.

Fantastic summary. Not sure anything else needs to be said.

Strange that a club valued in the top 30 in the world can be said to have no money and no resources

If they have a new academy director and new senior head coach, is it the owners that are being called the incompetent leaders?

When you say no plan, the academy for 25/26 season is just winging it day by day?

So they just overhauled the academy system and philosophy starting this season according to reports, yet simultaneously have no plan.
That's odd

I had to look it up and according to Forbes, you're right:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinteitelbaum/2025/05/30/the-worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-2025/

So, it remains crazy that a club, with so much equity and such a high valuation has not been able to turn around their on field performance nor build an amazing academy is just mind boggling.

So you're just going to conveniently ignore the facts that the academy had a complete overhaul to start the 25/26 season?
And the new head coach with European success and experience at clubs with world class academies?

-Yes. These facts will be ignored until these (very recently) implemented strategies produce real world results. Many fans find it difficult to get behind a club, who seemingly has taken years to build up (what appears to be an incredible sum of wealth $785million dollars); and yet has actually used those dollars to really invest into an academy model or negotiate (purchase) higher quality talent on the pitch for the 1st team. I mean, they must be the most financially successful yet, worst ranked team in the world.

-However, the changes are good (and also inevitable) and so let's hope in the next 12 months we are talking about DC United and their Youth Academy in a better light.

You will have a long year if you think in the soccer world the Performance of the Senior team is in the same basket as the Development of the Youth teams

see: performance
see: development

[Anonymous]

Is it possible that DCUA isn't fielding a U15 squad this year? I knew about U14, but there are no matches showing up for DC on the MLS Next schedule for U15 either. There are matches for the U16 age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that DCUA isn't fielding a U15 squad this year? I knew about U14, but there are no matches showing up for DC on the MLS Next schedule for U15 either. There are matches for the U16 age group.

Unless this just reflects the MLS Academy teams all playing up and age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that DCUA isn't fielding a U15 squad this year? I knew about U14, but there are no matches showing up for DC on the MLS Next schedule for U15 either. There are matches for the U16 age group.

Unless this just reflects the MLS Academy teams all playing up and age group.

That is the reason. The U15 playing up if it is not MLS Academy teams.

Extension of Pro Player Pathway
MLS clubs will extend the Pro Player Pathway beginning in the 2025-26 season. MLS clubs will now have an option to include a third age group (U15) in the Pro Player Pathway with each of those teams playing up an age group in the competition – MLS academies’ U15 teams will play in the U16 age group, their U16 teams will play in the U17 age group, and the U18 teams will compete in the U19 age group. The extension of the Pro Player Pathway and MLS academies playing up an age group will create more meaningful competition for both MLS clubs and MLS NEXT Elite Academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that DCUA isn't fielding a U15 squad this year? I knew about U14, but there are no matches showing up for DC on the MLS Next schedule for U15 either. There are matches for the U16 age group.

Not possible. They were playing a friendly at VATech last weekend.

[Anonymous]

https://www.ussoccercollective.com/mls/mls-academy-rankings

Caught this via the Philly Union IG feed.

We are ranked #21.

Feels objective and accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ussoccercollective.com/mls/mls-academy-rankings

Caught this via the Philly Union IG feed.

We are ranked #21.

Feels objective and accurate.

Yup. 21 out of 26 is totally fair. Could easily be lower on the list. Definitely not higher. DCU doesn't deserve to be a top rated academy on any list and you won't seem them as a top rated academy on any lists anywhere. But you also have to take this guys opinion with a grain of salt.

He isn't a soccer expert but follows the kids and academies closely because he tries to monetize being in the know. To me, he's a big fan of the game but lacks the real football credentials or expertise to be taking his word as bond. Calling himself a soccer scout is a complete joke.

But some of what he says is spot on. Not everything. But some. And how he ranks the kids or the "prospects" in the academy is also very questionable. Parents manipulate him to get kids higher on the lists or even on the list. He is a tool alot of people use for IG exposure because he is easily manipulated. You think he has personally seen all of these kids and academies?? No chance. He gets his info from parents and thousands of parents send him clips of their kids. Only the good clips of course. Because he built this platform, and parents realized he could be used, they of course started to manipulate him. And this will continue. One thing is for certain USSF doesn't pay attention to him or make any decisions from his lists. They are literally just click bait and that is all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ussoccercollective.com/mls/mls-academy-rankings

Caught this via the Philly Union IG feed.

We are ranked #21.

Feels objective and accurate.

Yup. 21 out of 26 is totally fair. Could easily be lower on the list. Definitely not higher. DCU doesn't deserve to be a top rated academy on any list and you won't seem them as a top rated academy on any lists anywhere. But you also have to take this guys opinion with a grain of salt.

He isn't a soccer expert but follows the kids and academies closely because he tries to monetize being in the know. To me, he's a big fan of the game but lacks the real football credentials or expertise to be taking his word as bond. Calling himself a soccer scout is a complete joke.

But some of what he says is spot on. Not everything. But some. And how he ranks the kids or the "prospects" in the academy is also very questionable. Parents manipulate him to get kids higher on the lists or even on the list. He is a tool alot of people use for IG exposure because he is easily manipulated. You think he has personally seen all of these kids and academies?? No chance. He gets his info from parents and thousands of parents send him clips of their kids. Only the good clips of course. Because he built this platform, and parents realized he could be used, they of course started to manipulate him. And this will continue. One thing is for certain USSF doesn't pay attention to him or make any decisions from his lists. They are literally just click bait and that is all.

I wouldn't say his info comes from parents, nor is he influenced by them. He's pretty tied in with the scouts from academy teams, from where he gets all his info from. Scouts have player profiles for every kid on their team and their respective rankings within their academy. His main income is from evaluating players that are trying to break into the academy world, creating highlights, and setting up trials for them at targeted academy teams. His fees are pretty high from what I hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ussoccercollective.com/mls/mls-academy-rankings

Caught this via the Philly Union IG feed.

We are ranked #21.

Feels objective and accurate.

Yup. 21 out of 26 is totally fair. Could easily be lower on the list. Definitely not higher. DCU doesn't deserve to be a top rated academy on any list and you won't seem them as a top rated academy on any lists anywhere. But you also have to take this guys opinion with a grain of salt.

He isn't a soccer expert but follows the kids and academies closely because he tries to monetize being in the know. To me, he's a big fan of the game but lacks the real football credentials or expertise to be taking his word as bond. Calling himself a soccer scout is a complete joke.

But some of what he says is spot on. Not everything. But some. And how he ranks the kids or the "prospects" in the academy is also very questionable. Parents manipulate him to get kids higher on the lists or even on the list. He is a tool alot of people use for IG exposure because he is easily manipulated. You think he has personally seen all of these kids and academies?? No chance. He gets his info from parents and thousands of parents send him clips of their kids. Only the good clips of course. Because he built this platform, and parents realized he could be used, they of course started to manipulate him. And this will continue. One thing is for certain USSF doesn't pay attention to him or make any decisions from his lists. They are literally just click bait and that is all.

I wouldn't say his info comes from parents, nor is he influenced by them. He's pretty tied in with the scouts from academy teams, from where he gets all his info from. Scouts have player profiles for every kid on their team and their respective rankings within their academy. His main income is from evaluating players that are trying to break into the academy world, creating highlights, and setting up trials for them at targeted academy teams. His fees are pretty high from what I hear.

Dubious about his alleged massive detailed objective database on hundreds of individual players across the country.

Not only is this saying he has every MLS academy feeding him detailed profile compositions, performance and individual development plans for every player (beyond highly suspect), you're also claiming parents of young high level players are paying him to do what any and every parent can do.
Which is present their son for evaluation.

I'm with the previous PP
Runs a social media platform for hype and clickbait with information easily available from the group chats of kids

[Anonymous]

This is the most Stockholm Syndrome group of people I have seen in my life.

Let’s attack the source instead of determining how DCUA can take steps to improve their academy system.

Fuc&…I guess I would rather send my kids away than to be in the field of offspring of this parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the most Stockholm Syndrome group of people I have seen in my life.

Let’s attack the source instead of determining how DCUA can take steps to improve their academy system.

Fuc&…I guess I would rather send my kids away than to be in the field of offspring of this parenting.

Yes, the source should be attacked.

A certain so-called news media outlet was found guilty and paid over a billion dollars in fines for being a lying source

Alex Jones ruined for being a lying source

Dude in his mother's basement with a web page hyping kids with clips IG dependency parents send him.
Questionable, not being attacked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the most Stockholm Syndrome group of people I have seen in my life.

Let’s attack the source instead of determining how DCUA can take steps to improve their academy system.

Fuc&…I guess I would rather send my kids away than to be in the field of offspring of this parenting.

How should we treat people who keep repeating the same thing at nauseum?

Especially when they are asking how DCUA can take steps to improve, when DCUA has taken and is taking steps to improve.

Makes it seems they are just emotionally biased with a one-track jaded obsession, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ussoccercollective.com/mls/mls-academy-rankings

Caught this via the Philly Union IG feed.

We are ranked #21.

Feels objective and accurate.

Yup. 21 out of 26 is totally fair. Could easily be lower on the list. Definitely not higher. DCU doesn't deserve to be a top rated academy on any list and you won't seem them as a top rated academy on any lists anywhere. But you also have to take this guys opinion with a grain of salt.

He isn't a soccer expert but follows the kids and academies closely because he tries to monetize being in the know. To me, he's a big fan of the game but lacks the real football credentials or expertise to be taking his word as bond. Calling himself a soccer scout is a complete joke.

But some of what he says is spot on. Not everything. But some. And how he ranks the kids or the "prospects" in the academy is also very questionable. Parents manipulate him to get kids higher on the lists or even on the list. He is a tool alot of people use for IG exposure because he is easily manipulated. You think he has personally seen all of these kids and academies?? No chance. He gets his info from parents and thousands of parents send him clips of their kids. Only the good clips of course. Because he built this platform, and parents realized he could be used, they of course started to manipulate him. And this will continue. One thing is for certain USSF doesn't pay attention to him or make any decisions from his lists. They are literally just click bait and that is all.

I wouldn't say his info comes from parents, nor is he influenced by them. He's pretty tied in with the scouts from academy teams, from where he gets all his info from. Scouts have player profiles for every kid on their team and their respective rankings within their academy. His main income is from evaluating players that are trying to break into the academy world, creating highlights, and setting up trials for them at targeted academy teams. His fees are pretty high from what I hear.

Parents are a MASSIVE part of it. Massive. They feed him info and he takes most of it blindly. How do you think he is getting clips of kids?? From the academies?? H#ll no. Look at his Twitter/x account and see how many player clips he has. Almost all parents.

Yes, he does know some academy scouts for sure. But so do alot of people.. and yes, because he is a hype reel person, he of course hypes up people who pay him. Obviously. It's all a game. He is one person that is manipulated that is only somewhat influential online. US soccer gives no sh#ts about his opinion. He has literally no soccer credentials or experience. Just a guy who saw an opportunity to try and monetize parents desire to give their kids more visibility online. Not hating but call a spade a spade. His site is not BS but it is probably half legit, a quarter paid advertising and a quarter parents sending him info on their own to try and get their kids online exposure to increase SEO on their kids name and soccer resume.