Tell me about DC United Academy?

[Anonymous]

I thought DC United has a bus if you are an Academy player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, well over 1 or 2. Seems to be a decent number relative to other MLS academies. But still a bit disappointing given the relative strength of soccer in the DMV area and especially compared to success of the players coming out of the strongest academies like Union & FC Dallas.

From wiki:

Bill Hamid 2009
Andy Najar 2010
Conor Shanosky 2010
Ethan White 2010
Michael Seaton 2013
Collin Martin 2013
Jalen Robinson 2014
Tyler Rudy 2015
Chris Durkin 2016
Ian Harkes 2017
Eryk Williamson 2017
Antonio Bustamante 2019
Donovan Pines 2019
Griffin Yow 2019
Moses Nyeman 2019
Kevin Paredes 2020
Jacob Greene 2021
Jeremy Garay 2021
Ted Ku-DiPietro 2022
Jackson Hopkins 2022
Matai Akinmboni 2022

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.C._United_Academy

Typo: 1-2 per year.

Which is still nothing for all the hundreds of the little "Messi's" in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, well over 1 or 2. Seems to be a decent number relative to other MLS academies. But still a bit disappointing given the relative strength of soccer in the DMV area and especially compared to success of the players coming out of the strongest academies like Union & FC Dallas.

From wiki:

Bill Hamid 2009
Andy Najar 2010
Conor Shanosky 2010
Ethan White 2010
Michael Seaton 2013
Collin Martin 2013
Jalen Robinson 2014
Tyler Rudy 2015
Chris Durkin 2016
Ian Harkes 2017
Eryk Williamson 2017
Antonio Bustamante 2019
Donovan Pines 2019
Griffin Yow 2019
Moses Nyeman 2019
Kevin Paredes 2020
Jacob Greene 2021
Jeremy Garay 2021
Ted Ku-DiPietro 2022
Jackson Hopkins 2022
Matai Akinmboni 2022

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.C._United_Academy

Typo: 1-2 per year.

Which is still nothing for all the hundreds of the little "Messi's" in the DMV.

I agree that there is more talent in this area to produce just 1-2 signings every year.

But given the historically poor quality of training at DCU (although getting better), they probably loose a few talents to other MLS academies and for those with dual citizenships, to academies abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are kids recruited?

Where do they practice? How often?

Where do they play? How much travel? Who pays for travel? Does a parent go on all trips?

So many things I want to know!

Nice experience but just know only 1 or 2 of those kids have been invited/picked to play with the DC United team in the past 20 years!

It's quite a bit more than that actually. There have been half a dozen or more in the last five years. they get opportunities. The problem is that they don't succeed because they weren't developed properly when they were teenagers.

[Anonymous]

But given the historically poor quality of training at DCU (although getting better), they probably loose a few talents to other MLS academies and for those with dual citizenships, to academies abroad.

Although getting better?

Are you serious?

I would suggest it's hit rock bottom - and it didn't start at a very high level in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But given the historically poor quality of training at DCU (although getting better), they probably loose a few talents to other MLS academies and for those with dual citizenships, to academies abroad.

Although getting better?

Are you serious?

I would suggest it's hit rock bottom - and it didn't start at a very high level in the first place.

You seem really upset about this. Is that because you believe they failed your child or other players in the area? Or that they had over promised?

[Anonymous]

The criticisms here are hilarious.
Yes, they don't have the best MLS Academy, but every single person on this thread would kill to have their kid on DC, and I call BS on anyone that says otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The criticisms here are hilarious.
Yes, they don't have the best MLS Academy, but every single person on this thread would kill to have their kid on DC, and I call BS on anyone that says otherwise.

I don’t think anyone is really saying otherwise. DC United, for what it’s worth, still has the name and MLS brand needed to move a youth player’s career forward, for example, to another academy.

As a parent, these threads have been an eye opener and helpful. My kid would love a DCU spot but now I know enough to supplement their training or keep a close eye on the training they receive. And if they don’t get a spot, it’s not the end of the world and better training can be had elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The criticisms here are hilarious.
Yes, they don't have the best MLS Academy, but every single person on this thread would kill to have their kid on DC, and I call BS on anyone that says otherwise.

Call BS on me then. My kid is an MLS Next player, and I would not entertain an offer from DC United. Why? My kid, like ay other kid - even the skilled ones - is still in the less than 1% category of having a lucrative pro career. With that in mind, college soccer is the best route for him. Part of playing soccer in college is having the grades and the curriculum. It's very difficult to get that at DC United with the travel, transportation to and from, and overall structure. Even if he or she were to go pro, careers are usually a few years at best. Need to have an education because there has to be a life after soccer. Saying otherwise is like you quitting your job and buying lottery tickets every week as a career plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The criticisms here are hilarious.
Yes, they don't have the best MLS Academy, but every single person on this thread would kill to have their kid on DC, and I call BS on anyone that says otherwise.

Call BS on me then. My kid is an MLS Next player, and I would not entertain an offer from DC United. Why? My kid, like ay other kid - even the skilled ones - is still in the less than 1% category of having a lucrative pro career. With that in mind, college soccer is the best route for him. Part of playing soccer in college is having the grades and the curriculum. It's very difficult to get that at DC United with the travel, transportation to and from, and overall structure. Even if he or she were to go pro, careers are usually a few years at best. Need to have an education because there has to be a life after soccer. Saying otherwise is like you quitting your job and buying lottery tickets every week as a career plan.

I was about to write something similar, but you've said it better than I would have.

Even the kids at better MLS academies have a very small chance of ever playing professional ... and an even smaller chance of that professional career being more than just journeyman mediocre income for a short time window. Education and a realistic plan for your kid's future has to be the most important thing.

If an MLS academy didn't fit into that, due to logistics or time commitments or whatever, it's likely a detrimental move for your kid to be in that position. Even more so if it's a subpar MLS academy like DCU, from all accounts.

I don't know enough about the specifics of DCU to say for sure one way or another whether my kid would attend if he were given a spot, but he probably won't so I haven't had to look too closely at it yet. But it's just not true that everyone would kill for the chance to have their kid on DCU; it might end up being a negative thing for the kid in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this turns out to be an option for you, I believe that United provides shuttles from at least a couple locations. Several players in the Ellicott City area have used it, from what I hear.

Oh, that might make a difference. Does anyone know the locations?

One bus is from Mclean area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this turns out to be an option for you, I believe that United provides shuttles from at least a couple locations. Several players in the Ellicott City area have used it, from what I hear.

Oh, that might make a difference. Does anyone know the locations?

One bus is from Mclean area

The routes mentioned in the clip below are from last year. They changed this year based on what makes sense for the current players.


https://youtu.be/k5cLXMfCepc?si=Z1ZMrfYYOK0qgsDj

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google map tells me to expect an hour trip both ways from where I live to Leesburg. Obviously, that's not close enough that I can come home during practice, so it would be an extra 90 minutes in the car for my kid, and a lot of waiting around time for me.

Have people found that it's worth it, compared to an MLS or ECNL club in one's own neighborhood?

That depends. What are you looking to get out of it?

You won't get any attention from the national team without being there. And you have a shot at getting a homegrown contract if that is a goal. You will also find it easier to get college coaches to take a look at you when you're trying to get recruited.

On the other hand, if you want the best coaching and development you will be better off at any of Alexandria, Arlington, or Bethesda.

What factual, measurable, verifiable truths and evidence can you present to substantiate your claim of "best coaching and development" at Alexandria, Arlington or Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The criticisms here are hilarious.
Yes, they don't have the best MLS Academy, but every single person on this thread would kill to have their kid on DC, and I call BS on anyone that says otherwise.

Call BS on me then. My kid is an MLS Next player, and I would not entertain an offer from DC United. Why? My kid, like ay other kid - even the skilled ones - is still in the less than 1% category of having a lucrative pro career. With that in mind, college soccer is the best route for him. Part of playing soccer in college is having the grades and the curriculum. It's very difficult to get that at DC United with the travel, transportation to and from, and overall structure. Even if he or she were to go pro, careers are usually a few years at best. Need to have an education because there has to be a life after soccer. Saying otherwise is like you quitting your job and buying lottery tickets every week as a career plan.

What factual, verifiable evidence do you have access to that shows the academic underperformance of kids who are in the DC United Academy?
Many of the DC United Academy players go to the best public and private institutions in Maryland, DC and Virginia. They also have highly educated and successful parents. So what do you have to substantiate your claim?

Does your player at a MLS Next Affiliate club only play home games? (because I thought they all travel to NY, NJ, PA, DE, WV)