DC United Regional Development School

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The RDS at DCU, like all other things DCU does us totally garbage. It is a pure money grab plain and simple. Very few, if any, kids from the RDS are going to make it to the DCU squad. And to be honest, making the DCU squad is not what it may seem. It is a half a## academy system with no ambition, no money and even less of an idea in how to develop players for the modern game. Dont waste your time or money on DCU. They will disappoint you time and time again and the only one who will be missing out on real development opportunities is your son. DCU is a badge only academy. If you want the badge because that makes you feel good inside, do that. If you want to really progress at the sport to become a pro, DCU is not the place for that. It is that simple.

To the PP talking about pace...of course European academies look at pace of youth players when bringing them into their systems. The modern game is built on pace. But they don't take pace above all else. The best players have speed of thought/decisions/action and can couple that with pace and strong technique. But to say European academies don't focus on pace is wrong. In some positions it is all they focus on at youth ages because they believe they can teach the technical side but you can't teach someone with poor fast twitch muscles and poor genetics for speed how to be fast. You can't turn a Honda into a Ferrari...


So I don’t actually disagree with this but if you don’t have a dual passport (eu or South America for example), DCUA is still really your best bet or is still a really good option. Do keep that in perspective. Note too that to the extent that DCUA has had successes, it also helps to have a dual passport although DCUA isn’t totally great with maximizing that stuff but I think they are working on it?


Depends on what your end game is. Absent a vehicle to enter Europe or South America for a FIFA approved transfer, so you could join a European or South American academy, and if pro soccer is your ambition, DCU is certainly NOT your best option. First option is to explore other MLS academies and what they could offer your son. Philly Union and Red Bulls just have better and more recent track records of producing pros from their academy system. Yes, that requires a move but if you're serious, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken. Second is to look at other proven pathways and avenues...USL Academies, Residential Academies like Barca, Shattuck St Marys,, Benfica has a new residential academy.in the US. Yes, these are generally pay to play but scholarships are offered for top players and you need to focus on what gives your son the best chance of IMPROVING as a player at the fastest rate and what gives him a platform for exposure. DCU does none of that. Outside of GA cup, which ALL MLS academies go to because it is a MLS run event, DCU does nothing for the kids in terms of additional exposure. Philly Unioms u16 and u18 just came back from a two week trip to Germany playing some solid German academies this summer. What was going on at DCU??? Absolutely nothing. It's just not at the level.

If college is your end game, DCU is also not the best option because it doesn't have the relationships that other clubs have in the area AND your son is getting an inferior education and will be on a downward trajectory in terms of learning the game the second he enters their system which in turn lessens his chance of continuing to be a top player in a few years when it Actually mattera. Education is not the goal at DCU. It just isn't. If you're one of the top players in your age group at DCU, MAYBE it could be ok for college. But to me it is still a maybe because the program is just that bad. It's only 4 years with DCU. There are just WAY better ways to invest in your sons development and opportunities than spending those 4 precious years dealing with DCUs bullsh#t.


Except the fact there are no records of Philly or NYRB sending a significant amount of academy products to top clubs in Europe

This is a thread about RDS for younger players btw


There are records.. look them up yourself.

And yes RDS is bullsh#t just like DCU.


Poor pitiful you

You really invested your dreams and hopes in your kid making it to pro soccer huh?

There's still time to refocus on his academics for a productive adult life

DCU doesn't give a rats behind about your psychological struggles
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The RDS at DCU, like all other things DCU does us totally garbage. It is a pure money grab plain and simple. Very few, if any, kids from the RDS are going to make it to the DCU squad. And to be honest, making the DCU squad is not what it may seem. It is a half a## academy system with no ambition, no money and even less of an idea in how to develop players for the modern game. Dont waste your time or money on DCU. They will disappoint you time and time again and the only one who will be missing out on real development opportunities is your son. DCU is a badge only academy. If you want the badge because that makes you feel good inside, do that. If you want to really progress at the sport to become a pro, DCU is not the place for that. It is that simple.

To the PP talking about pace...of course European academies look at pace of youth players when bringing them into their systems. The modern game is built on pace. But they don't take pace above all else. The best players have speed of thought/decisions/action and can couple that with pace and strong technique. But to say European academies don't focus on pace is wrong. In some positions it is all they focus on at youth ages because they believe they can teach the technical side but you can't teach someone with poor fast twitch muscles and poor genetics for speed how to be fast. You can't turn a Honda into a Ferrari...


So I don’t actually disagree with this but if you don’t have a dual passport (eu or South America for example), DCUA is still really your best bet or is still a really good option. Do keep that in perspective. Note too that to the extent that DCUA has had successes, it also helps to have a dual passport although DCUA isn’t totally great with maximizing that stuff but I think they are working on it?


Depends on what your end game is. Absent a vehicle to enter Europe or South America for a FIFA approved transfer, so you could join a European or South American academy, and if pro soccer is your ambition, DCU is certainly NOT your best option. First option is to explore other MLS academies and what they could offer your son. Philly Union and Red Bulls just have better and more recent track records of producing pros from their academy system. Yes, that requires a move but if you're serious, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken. Second is to look at other proven pathways and avenues...USL Academies, Residential Academies like Barca, Shattuck St Marys,, Benfica has a new residential academy.in the US. Yes, these are generally pay to play but scholarships are offered for top players and you need to focus on what gives your son the best chance of IMPROVING as a player at the fastest rate and what gives him a platform for exposure. DCU does none of that. Outside of GA cup, which ALL MLS academies go to because it is a MLS run event, DCU does nothing for the kids in terms of additional exposure. Philly Unioms u16 and u18 just came back from a two week trip to Germany playing some solid German academies this summer. What was going on at DCU??? Absolutely nothing. It's just not at the level.

If college is your end game, DCU is also not the best option because it doesn't have the relationships that other clubs have in the area AND your son is getting an inferior education and will be on a downward trajectory in terms of learning the game the second he enters their system which in turn lessens his chance of continuing to be a top player in a few years when it Actually mattera. Education is not the goal at DCU. It just isn't. If you're one of the top players in your age group at DCU, MAYBE it could be ok for college. But to me it is still a maybe because the program is just that bad. It's only 4 years with DCU. There are just WAY better ways to invest in your sons development and opportunities than spending those 4 precious years dealing with DCUs bullsh#t.


Except the fact there are no records of Philly or NYRB sending a significant amount of academy products to top clubs in Europe

This is a thread about RDS for younger players btw


There are records.. look them up yourself.

And yes RDS is bullsh#t just like DCU.


Poor pitiful you

You really invested your dreams and hopes in your kid making it to pro soccer huh?

There's still time to refocus on his academics for a productive adult life

DCU doesn't give a rats behind about your psychological struggles


Yawn...dumb
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The RDS at DCU, like all other things DCU does us totally garbage. It is a pure money grab plain and simple. Very few, if any, kids from the RDS are going to make it to the DCU squad. And to be honest, making the DCU squad is not what it may seem. It is a half a## academy system with no ambition, no money and even less of an idea in how to develop players for the modern game. Dont waste your time or money on DCU. They will disappoint you time and time again and the only one who will be missing out on real development opportunities is your son. DCU is a badge only academy. If you want the badge because that makes you feel good inside, do that. If you want to really progress at the sport to become a pro, DCU is not the place for that. It is that simple.

To the PP talking about pace...of course European academies look at pace of youth players when bringing them into their systems. The modern game is built on pace. But they don't take pace above all else. The best players have speed of thought/decisions/action and can couple that with pace and strong technique. But to say European academies don't focus on pace is wrong. In some positions it is all they focus on at youth ages because they believe they can teach the technical side but you can't teach someone with poor fast twitch muscles and poor genetics for speed how to be fast. You can't turn a Honda into a Ferrari...


So I don’t actually disagree with this but if you don’t have a dual passport (eu or South America for example), DCUA is still really your best bet or is still a really good option. Do keep that in perspective. Note too that to the extent that DCUA has had successes, it also helps to have a dual passport although DCUA isn’t totally great with maximizing that stuff but I think they are working on it?


Depends on what your end game is. Absent a vehicle to enter Europe or South America for a FIFA approved transfer, so you could join a European or South American academy, and if pro soccer is your ambition, DCU is certainly NOT your best option. First option is to explore other MLS academies and what they could offer your son. Philly Union and Red Bulls just have better and more recent track records of producing pros from their academy system. Yes, that requires a move but if you're serious, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken. Second is to look at other proven pathways and avenues...USL Academies, Residential Academies like Barca, Shattuck St Marys,, Benfica has a new residential academy.in the US. Yes, these are generally pay to play but scholarships are offered for top players and you need to focus on what gives your son the best chance of IMPROVING as a player at the fastest rate and what gives him a platform for exposure. DCU does none of that. Outside of GA cup, which ALL MLS academies go to because it is a MLS run event, DCU does nothing for the kids in terms of additional exposure. Philly Unioms u16 and u18 just came back from a two week trip to Germany playing some solid German academies this summer. What was going on at DCU??? Absolutely nothing. It's just not at the level.

If college is your end game, DCU is also not the best option because it doesn't have the relationships that other clubs have in the area AND your son is getting an inferior education and will be on a downward trajectory in terms of learning the game the second he enters their system which in turn lessens his chance of continuing to be a top player in a few years when it Actually mattera. Education is not the goal at DCU. It just isn't. If you're one of the top players in your age group at DCU, MAYBE it could be ok for college. But to me it is still a maybe because the program is just that bad. It's only 4 years with DCU. There are just WAY better ways to invest in your sons development and opportunities than spending those 4 precious years dealing with DCUs bullsh#t.


Except the fact there are no records of Philly or NYRB sending a significant amount of academy products to top clubs in Europe

This is a thread about RDS for younger players btw


There are records.. look them up yourself.

And yes RDS is bullsh#t just like DCU.


Poor pitiful you

You really invested your dreams and hopes in your kid making it to pro soccer huh?

There's still time to refocus on his academics for a productive adult life

DCU doesn't give a rats behind about your psychological struggles


What DCU really doesn't care about is your son...
Anonymous
If the U14 scouted kids whose offers were pulled when DCU decided not to have a U14 team? are going to be folded into the RDS, it should be be a decent group. If you make the RDS team and aren not yet on an MLSNext or ECNL team, maybe that will help you get on one.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If the U14 scouted kids whose offers were pulled when DCU decided not to have a U14 team? are going to be folded into the RDS, it should be be a decent group. If you make the RDS team and aren not yet on an MLSNext or ECNL team, maybe that will help you get on one.


Those U14 kids are in the Futures program, not RDS.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?


"Designed as a supplemental program, the RDS exists to compliment a players’ current training environment. Players remain registered with their clubs. The program is open to both boys and girls (ages 8 to 14)"

Seems people didn't read the link about the RDS program before flying off on tangents about irrelevant issues
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!



Yes at showcases and tournaments. The only scout I've seen at regular games were DCU ones. Scouted at u14, went on trial at a few academies, went to play for one at u15. I know others had been scouted at u14.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!



Yes at showcases and tournaments. The only scout I've seen at regular games were DCU ones. Scouted at u14, went on trial at a few academies, went to play for one at u15. I know others had been scouted at u14.


I meant to say others were scouted at u13 and played for them at u14.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!



Yes at showcases and tournaments. The only scout I've seen at regular games were DCU ones. Scouted at u14, went on trial at a few academies, went to play for one at u15. I know others had been scouted at u14.


Nice! That’s awesome! How did DCU scouts miss your kid?

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!



Yes at showcases and tournaments. The only scout I've seen at regular games were DCU ones. Scouted at u14, went on trial at a few academies, went to play for one at u15. I know others had been scouted at u14.


Nice! That’s awesome! How did DCU scouts miss your kid?



When academy scouts pick 25 out of 40 regional kids because they meet the criterion of their program, it doesn't mean they missed the other 15

No academy on planet earth has roster sizes that can fit all the talent in their region
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell without knowing who the coaches are.

But I think if you are not on an MLSNext or ECNL team, it might be worth it based on the assumption that you’re training with a strong group of kids since it is tryout based.

I have no idea how much it is though so that will factor in. There are already a lot of small group training and great coaches around that are known good trainers.



I will add that redbull and Philadelphia have the same program and there are some threads in other groups (eg, FB) that gripe about the cost and that it’s not worth it and that very rarely are any players recruited from the RDS.



I've seen kids get picked up through their RDS system. If a player doesn't make it, maybe they're not on that level.


Most of the kids whose parents are interested are label-thirsty. They are open for business from any high-level label that wants them: DCUA, MLS Next, ECNL, ODP, etc.

I hope this helps well-meaning but naive parents. Do any of these parents know the development model for DCUA? Who is coaching? What is the benefit of the training? Do they correct bad technique?

DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery. As someone else mentioned, my child has open invites to all of the invite-only training that I am aware of which focuses on technical ball mastery with the top kids in the area so why would I need DCUA to develop? Is DCUA going to sprinkle magic black and red pixie dust on your kids feet to teach them how to use their weak foot or how to take a ball out of the air? That is accomplished by boring wall passing and receiving and unopposed ball mastery drills which can be done for $FREE.99. Become a standout by doing double the number of reps on your weak foot as your strong foot until they don’t know whether you are left footed or right footed at the next tryout.

99% of kids are not proficient with both feet and can’t take a sloth 1v1 but want to be scouted by DCU 😂.

Learn the 🇺🇸 soccer game and play it. Don’t let these fancy acronym organizations play you.

If you have never:

-Had an opposing team ask you to guest play for them
-Been offered a free club sponsorship to play for a club
-Been invited to invite only training where your technique is called out and you are pushed
-Been invited to guest on a top tournament team
-Had local clubs trying to poach you from your current club

You are just not good enough YET. Have your kid get to work to become that player that experiences those things.

100% honest truth and feel free to spend your money as you feel fit with this info.

IF they someone grab some of the top technique coaches in the area, I will easily change my tune.


"DCUA is guilty on focusing on pace when internationally, the focus up to age 14 is technical development and ball mastery"

So Barcelona Academy, Real Madrid Academy, Arsenal Academy at 14 years of age doesn't focus on speed of play aka: pace?

DCUA starts at U14, so where did you get their pre-U14 individual development plan for U-littles?


You compared pace at DCUA with pace at La Masia which clearly indicates you don’t know anything. This was a classic official DCUA PR response so they can’t even get anonymous trolling right? 😂🤣😂🤣

Hey, the owners are brilliant. They are raking in millions and these details for parents are buried in an anonymous blog so most won’t find it. Those that do will still believe in the DCUA foot ferry who will make their average EDP III player an academy baller in just 8 sessions for $395. 🤣😂🤣😂

No wonder private equity is entering youth sports. I need to start a club.


Actually, pace at DCUA wasn't compared to pace at European academies.

What was directly addressed was you saying DCUA focuses on pace at 14 but European academies do not.

So you either don't know what pace is in soccer or you don't know what's happening at European academies at 14 years old


Nice try. Unfortunately for you DCUA, we have been overseas to Portugal and Italy and my child has trained with Cat I and Cat II equivalent academies if we use the EEEP as a metric. There are a number of options to knowledgeable parents, even in the states. The FIFA rules are posted in a lengthy post about how to avoid your academy right here on DCUM. There are a number of families without dual passports in Europe provided you follow the rules.

Again, you are going to grab a lot of loot from the uneducated masses with the new RDS but the people with options and kids who can actually play are trying to avoid you at all costs. And whether true or not, the three MLS academies we have been in contact with have used “avoid DCUA” in their pitch.

Instead of using PR hours on DCUM, use the PR team to develop a way to have year round futsal and small sided play so the DMV can actually produce players locally worthy of the amount of money invested by parents. Families are investing $200 a hour into kids who can’t beat anybody 1v1. Since you know so much development, you should know the neural pathways for technique and ball mastery are reaching the end of the prime development right when you decide to bring kids into the academy. You are literally five years behind. Nine years behind in comparison to how Philly operates.

It is sad to see an organization so committed to mediocrity and defend incompetence. Yeah, I’ll pass.


How did you get in touch with other MLS Academies? Did you or your kids coach reach out?
.

Not the OP, but ours got scouted at MLS events. Your coach won't reach out for your player. We had 4 interested and funny thing is we were told "avoid DCU", just like a previous poster stated.

You can also try reaching out to them through the teams site, but I'm sure they get bombarded with forms so I don't know how viable that is.


MLS events like showcases and tournaments or just regular league play? What age group were they scouted at? Thank you!



Yes at showcases and tournaments. The only scout I've seen at regular games were DCU ones. Scouted at u14, went on trial at a few academies, went to play for one at u15. I know others had been scouted at u14.


Nice! That’s awesome! How did DCU scouts miss your kid?



When academy scouts pick 25 out of 40 regional kids because they meet the criterion of their program, it doesn't mean they missed the other 15

No academy on planet earth has roster sizes that can fit all the talent in their region


Shocking
I wondered why NYRB didn't have 150 on each roster to fit all the talent in that area
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If the U14 scouted kids whose offers were pulled when DCU decided not to have a U14 team? are going to be folded into the RDS, it should be be a decent group. If you make the RDS team and aren not yet on an MLSNext or ECNL team, maybe that will help you get on one.


They aren’t though. And since you don’t have an impacted u14 kid, which you obviously don’t bc you’d know these aren’t the same program, why do you even care? I get it. You want to bash DCUA every chance you get, but at least do yourself a favor and read a bit before bashing.
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