DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU’s academy pathway to pro is suffering by not having an MLS Next Pro team.

Why does dcu not have a team in mlsn pro?

The reason DCU doesn't have a mlsnp team is complicated but it essentially comes down to what plagues the entire club and slows its progress in everything it does from the first team to the academy - MONEY.

DCUs situation in terms of a satellite club is unique. 27 of MLS's 29 clubs own and operate teams in MLS Next Pro, which is classified by U.S. Soccer as a third-division league. D.C. and CF Montréal are the two exceptions, with the Canadian side running an under-23 side in Ligue1 Québec.

DCUs situation is more complicated: The club launched Loudoun United as a USL Championship side in 2018, a period in which MLS satellites were being placed in that league and USL League One depending on the parent organization's preferences.

MLS later announced MLS Next Pro, which Loudoun did not join because the USL wanted to compete with the MLS. That club remains in the USL Championship, though DCU sold their controlling stake in Loudoun to Attain Sports in order to be able to make a move on a mlsnp team.

The owner of DCU has signaled that they have every intention of creating a team and this signal came two years ago. But nothing since. This delay is in large part due to the fact that in order to have the team, the MLS is strongly suggesting that the team build a soccer specific stadium that is of course smaller than Audi field to help foster connections with the local community and build the fan base further. Some MLS clubs operate their mlsnp team out of their first team stadiums but MLS is trying to get away from this model to penetrate new areas of the country and bring in more fans.

For DCU this means Baltimore is the target area for expansion. Because they feel like Baltimore is close enough to Philly for Philly to make consistent attempts to take those local players but also because it has been a traditionally strong area for talent in the DMV. The problem is that the stadium will cost 200m+ and DCU doesn't want to pay that and they are trying to find ways to offset that cost but all efforts have failed. Why we are here today with no mlsnp team.

DCU is one of two teams in all of the MLS to not have a full pathway to the pro team. Why it is almost impossible to reach pro soccer from DCU unless your player is ready at 17 or 18, which most players are not. So, the PP saying DCU is a dead end for pro soccer is absolutely right for this reason alone. If you couple that with how bad the academy is, the chances are even less.

Is it correct that now Loudoun Utd is going to be fully owned by Revolution and the GM is a known extramarital home wrecker?

Loudoun United and Virginia Revolution merged last Spring which was actually a really savvy play. If you really think about it and are paying attention, this merger places this entity in a much stronger position than DCU in terms of potential growth and development of youth players. They have and own the facilities (DCU borrows their facilities, including Raventek fields and Segra), they have a youth setup and a professional pathway in house, they have a strong hold on the NVA talent base and they start the youth pipeline young at the grassroots level (something DCU fails to do). If they can get the coaching and the methodology right and build some partnerships with outside clubs in Europe or abroad, it could be very a very powerful alternative professional pathway for our kids in the DMV. The USL pathway is totally slept on. It is a legit pathway in this country.

DCU just has the MLS badge and that does carry weight because MLS is the highest level of football in this country. But without that badge, DCU would literally be FAR inferior to what Loudoun and Va revolution have and will continue to create.

Can't opine on the GM.. I genuinely don't know and don't care.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1336909#:~:text=LEESBURG%2C%20Va.,soccer%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Any kid at Virginia Revolution after U13 that is DCU good enough quality is taking a DCU offer if offered

All the other marketing and PR stuff you listed sounds nice but doesn't change that

Unfortunately, you are right. That is why it is disappointing that folks will still drink the kool-aid and ego bump of the badge over the best actual pathway.

"best actual pathway" is only the one that has a proven track record of developing U-littles to significant professional contracts at high level divisions senior clubs

Anything else is speculation

As always, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about what they are talking about.

Past success does not predict future success. DCUs current state as a club and as an academy is not the best of anything. Definitely not the best pathway to pro football for all the reasons stated.

People like you are the reason why football can't progress in this country. You accept the status quo because you dont have the b#lls to.demand better for your kid and you're too scared to do something that isn't accepted by your peers. This attitude almost guarantees your son won't be a pro.

Let me enter the ring to address this garden fertilizer comment

Ajax, La Masia, Chelsea, Dynamo Zagreb, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Porto are some of several academies that are best option pathways to professional levels and their past successes are a huge factor

Won't address the personal attack from one anonymous individual to another anonymous individual on an anonymous blog

Imagine calling someone out for being scared and not take chances when they could be a millionaire entrepreneur or navy seal

Again, dumb.

All of those academies experience ups and downs in their performance. Ajax isn't producing pros like it used to for instance and some.might say it isn't as strong as it used to be because the methodology has gotten stale. The pendulum is always swinging. But the consistent in those clubs is that they heavily invest in their academies so future performance is more likely than not. DCU doesn't invest and future performance of its academy is very questionable at best. With any sports franchise, anywhere, past performance does not predict future success. And it is the same for the MLS and it's academies. Look at FC Dallas. It's academy was once the gold standard for academia in the US and in the past was super successful...Now it is mediocre at best because leadership changed and their results have slowed.

Leave the discussion to people that know what they are talking about. You clearly don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU’s academy pathway to pro is suffering by not having an MLS Next Pro team.

Why does dcu not have a team in mlsn pro?

The reason DCU doesn't have a mlsnp team is complicated but it essentially comes down to what plagues the entire club and slows its progress in everything it does from the first team to the academy - MONEY.

DCUs situation in terms of a satellite club is unique. 27 of MLS's 29 clubs own and operate teams in MLS Next Pro, which is classified by U.S. Soccer as a third-division league. D.C. and CF Montréal are the two exceptions, with the Canadian side running an under-23 side in Ligue1 Québec.

DCUs situation is more complicated: The club launched Loudoun United as a USL Championship side in 2018, a period in which MLS satellites were being placed in that league and USL League One depending on the parent organization's preferences.

MLS later announced MLS Next Pro, which Loudoun did not join because the USL wanted to compete with the MLS. That club remains in the USL Championship, though DCU sold their controlling stake in Loudoun to Attain Sports in order to be able to make a move on a mlsnp team.

The owner of DCU has signaled that they have every intention of creating a team and this signal came two years ago. But nothing since. This delay is in large part due to the fact that in order to have the team, the MLS is strongly suggesting that the team build a soccer specific stadium that is of course smaller than Audi field to help foster connections with the local community and build the fan base further. Some MLS clubs operate their mlsnp team out of their first team stadiums but MLS is trying to get away from this model to penetrate new areas of the country and bring in more fans.

For DCU this means Baltimore is the target area for expansion. Because they feel like Baltimore is close enough to Philly for Philly to make consistent attempts to take those local players but also because it has been a traditionally strong area for talent in the DMV. The problem is that the stadium will cost 200m+ and DCU doesn't want to pay that and they are trying to find ways to offset that cost but all efforts have failed. Why we are here today with no mlsnp team.

DCU is one of two teams in all of the MLS to not have a full pathway to the pro team. Why it is almost impossible to reach pro soccer from DCU unless your player is ready at 17 or 18, which most players are not. So, the PP saying DCU is a dead end for pro soccer is absolutely right for this reason alone. If you couple that with how bad the academy is, the chances are even less.

Is it correct that now Loudoun Utd is going to be fully owned by Revolution and the GM is a known extramarital home wrecker?

Loudoun United and Virginia Revolution merged last Spring which was actually a really savvy play. If you really think about it and are paying attention, this merger places this entity in a much stronger position than DCU in terms of potential growth and development of youth players. They have and own the facilities (DCU borrows their facilities, including Raventek fields and Segra), they have a youth setup and a professional pathway in house, they have a strong hold on the NVA talent base and they start the youth pipeline young at the grassroots level (something DCU fails to do). If they can get the coaching and the methodology right and build some partnerships with outside clubs in Europe or abroad, it could be very a very powerful alternative professional pathway for our kids in the DMV. The USL pathway is totally slept on. It is a legit pathway in this country.

DCU just has the MLS badge and that does carry weight because MLS is the highest level of football in this country. But without that badge, DCU would literally be FAR inferior to what Loudoun and Va revolution have and will continue to create.

Can't opine on the GM.. I genuinely don't know and don't care.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1336909#:~:text=LEESBURG%2C%20Va.,soccer%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Any kid at Virginia Revolution after U13 that is DCU good enough quality is taking a DCU offer if offered

All the other marketing and PR stuff you listed sounds nice but doesn't change that

Unfortunately, you are right. That is why it is disappointing that folks will still drink the kool-aid and ego bump of the badge over the best actual pathway.

What’s unfortunate is that a club with no proven track record can fleece each family to the tune of $3,500 yearly and they don’t even have access to highest youth leagues

MLS for boys
ECNL for girls

This is true but parents sign up for that willingly. Can't fault them for charging what parents are willing to pay for average at best soccer training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU’s academy pathway to pro is suffering by not having an MLS Next Pro team.

Why does dcu not have a team in mlsn pro?

The reason DCU doesn't have a mlsnp team is complicated but it essentially comes down to what plagues the entire club and slows its progress in everything it does from the first team to the academy - MONEY.

DCUs situation in terms of a satellite club is unique. 27 of MLS's 29 clubs own and operate teams in MLS Next Pro, which is classified by U.S. Soccer as a third-division league. D.C. and CF Montréal are the two exceptions, with the Canadian side running an under-23 side in Ligue1 Québec.

DCUs situation is more complicated: The club launched Loudoun United as a USL Championship side in 2018, a period in which MLS satellites were being placed in that league and USL League One depending on the parent organization's preferences.

MLS later announced MLS Next Pro, which Loudoun did not join because the USL wanted to compete with the MLS. That club remains in the USL Championship, though DCU sold their controlling stake in Loudoun to Attain Sports in order to be able to make a move on a mlsnp team.

The owner of DCU has signaled that they have every intention of creating a team and this signal came two years ago. But nothing since. This delay is in large part due to the fact that in order to have the team, the MLS is strongly suggesting that the team build a soccer specific stadium that is of course smaller than Audi field to help foster connections with the local community and build the fan base further. Some MLS clubs operate their mlsnp team out of their first team stadiums but MLS is trying to get away from this model to penetrate new areas of the country and bring in more fans.

For DCU this means Baltimore is the target area for expansion. Because they feel like Baltimore is close enough to Philly for Philly to make consistent attempts to take those local players but also because it has been a traditionally strong area for talent in the DMV. The problem is that the stadium will cost 200m+ and DCU doesn't want to pay that and they are trying to find ways to offset that cost but all efforts have failed. Why we are here today with no mlsnp team.

DCU is one of two teams in all of the MLS to not have a full pathway to the pro team. Why it is almost impossible to reach pro soccer from DCU unless your player is ready at 17 or 18, which most players are not. So, the PP saying DCU is a dead end for pro soccer is absolutely right for this reason alone. If you couple that with how bad the academy is, the chances are even less.

Is it correct that now Loudoun Utd is going to be fully owned by Revolution and the GM is a known extramarital home wrecker?

Loudoun United and Virginia Revolution merged last Spring which was actually a really savvy play. If you really think about it and are paying attention, this merger places this entity in a much stronger position than DCU in terms of potential growth and development of youth players. They have and own the facilities (DCU borrows their facilities, including Raventek fields and Segra), they have a youth setup and a professional pathway in house, they have a strong hold on the NVA talent base and they start the youth pipeline young at the grassroots level (something DCU fails to do). If they can get the coaching and the methodology right and build some partnerships with outside clubs in Europe or abroad, it could be very a very powerful alternative professional pathway for our kids in the DMV. The USL pathway is totally slept on. It is a legit pathway in this country.

DCU just has the MLS badge and that does carry weight because MLS is the highest level of football in this country. But without that badge, DCU would literally be FAR inferior to what Loudoun and Va revolution have and will continue to create.

Can't opine on the GM.. I genuinely don't know and don't care.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1336909#:~:text=LEESBURG%2C%20Va.,soccer%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Any kid at Virginia Revolution after U13 that is DCU good enough quality is taking a DCU offer if offered

All the other marketing and PR stuff you listed sounds nice but doesn't change that

Unfortunately, you are right. That is why it is disappointing that folks will still drink the kool-aid and ego bump of the badge over the best actual pathway.

"best actual pathway" is only the one that has a proven track record of developing U-littles to significant professional contracts at high level divisions senior clubs

Anything else is speculation

As always, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about what they are talking about.

Past success does not predict future success. DCUs current state as a club and as an academy is not the best of anything. Definitely not the best pathway to pro football for all the reasons stated.

People like you are the reason why football can't progress in this country. You accept the status quo because you dont have the b#lls to.demand better for your kid and you're too scared to do something that isn't accepted by your peers. This attitude almost guarantees your son won't be a pro.

Not the PP but don’t follow the whole “demand better” thing that keeps getting brought up. Unless you are ok with moving or sending your DS to another academy, you are left with DCUA or P2P clubs as “best” options for your DS in this area. Between the 2, my DS would go to DCUA.

DCU ownership will sell when $$ make sense. I can demand till I’m blue in the face. They shouldn’t care because I’m not entitled to anything when it comes their private academy that is not charging me.

This is called apathy. Did you settle for your spouse as well?

Man, I guess I should demand more from my kids next Father’s Day respective to the marketplace. Ya’ll really don’t give a 💩.

If you don’t demand more or believe in your kids, what do you believe in?!

It's a great point and I agree. The majority of parents in the DMV soccer world believe in following the masses and doing what everyone else is doing. This is why the majority of them don't have truly high level.kids. Because high level kids are doing the OPPOSITE of what everyone else is doing because they are trying to distinguish themselves, not fit in.

Sounds like you get it. And because you get it, your kid will have a better chance of achieving his dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU’s academy pathway to pro is suffering by not having an MLS Next Pro team.

Why does dcu not have a team in mlsn pro?

The reason DCU doesn't have a mlsnp team is complicated but it essentially comes down to what plagues the entire club and slows its progress in everything it does from the first team to the academy - MONEY.

DCUs situation in terms of a satellite club is unique. 27 of MLS's 29 clubs own and operate teams in MLS Next Pro, which is classified by U.S. Soccer as a third-division league. D.C. and CF Montréal are the two exceptions, with the Canadian side running an under-23 side in Ligue1 Québec.

DCUs situation is more complicated: The club launched Loudoun United as a USL Championship side in 2018, a period in which MLS satellites were being placed in that league and USL League One depending on the parent organization's preferences.

MLS later announced MLS Next Pro, which Loudoun did not join because the USL wanted to compete with the MLS. That club remains in the USL Championship, though DCU sold their controlling stake in Loudoun to Attain Sports in order to be able to make a move on a mlsnp team.

The owner of DCU has signaled that they have every intention of creating a team and this signal came two years ago. But nothing since. This delay is in large part due to the fact that in order to have the team, the MLS is strongly suggesting that the team build a soccer specific stadium that is of course smaller than Audi field to help foster connections with the local community and build the fan base further. Some MLS clubs operate their mlsnp team out of their first team stadiums but MLS is trying to get away from this model to penetrate new areas of the country and bring in more fans.

For DCU this means Baltimore is the target area for expansion. Because they feel like Baltimore is close enough to Philly for Philly to make consistent attempts to take those local players but also because it has been a traditionally strong area for talent in the DMV. The problem is that the stadium will cost 200m+ and DCU doesn't want to pay that and they are trying to find ways to offset that cost but all efforts have failed. Why we are here today with no mlsnp team.

DCU is one of two teams in all of the MLS to not have a full pathway to the pro team. Why it is almost impossible to reach pro soccer from DCU unless your player is ready at 17 or 18, which most players are not. So, the PP saying DCU is a dead end for pro soccer is absolutely right for this reason alone. If you couple that with how bad the academy is, the chances are even less.

Is it correct that now Loudoun Utd is going to be fully owned by Revolution and the GM is a known extramarital home wrecker?

Loudoun United and Virginia Revolution merged last Spring which was actually a really savvy play. If you really think about it and are paying attention, this merger places this entity in a much stronger position than DCU in terms of potential growth and development of youth players. They have and own the facilities (DCU borrows their facilities, including Raventek fields and Segra), they have a youth setup and a professional pathway in house, they have a strong hold on the NVA talent base and they start the youth pipeline young at the grassroots level (something DCU fails to do). If they can get the coaching and the methodology right and build some partnerships with outside clubs in Europe or abroad, it could be very a very powerful alternative professional pathway for our kids in the DMV. The USL pathway is totally slept on. It is a legit pathway in this country.

DCU just has the MLS badge and that does carry weight because MLS is the highest level of football in this country. But without that badge, DCU would literally be FAR inferior to what Loudoun and Va revolution have and will continue to create.

Can't opine on the GM.. I genuinely don't know and don't care.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1336909#:~:text=LEESBURG%2C%20Va.,soccer%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Any kid at Virginia Revolution after U13 that is DCU good enough quality is taking a DCU offer if offered

All the other marketing and PR stuff you listed sounds nice but doesn't change that

Unfortunately, you are right. That is why it is disappointing that folks will still drink the kool-aid and ego bump of the badge over the best actual pathway.

"best actual pathway" is only the one that has a proven track record of developing U-littles to significant professional contracts at high level divisions senior clubs

Anything else is speculation

As always, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about what they are talking about.

Past success does not predict future success. DCUs current state as a club and as an academy is not the best of anything. Definitely not the best pathway to pro football for all the reasons stated.

People like you are the reason why football can't progress in this country. You accept the status quo because you dont have the b#lls to.demand better for your kid and you're too scared to do something that isn't accepted by your peers. This attitude almost guarantees your son won't be a pro.

Sounds like you should have put more energy and effort into demanding more from yourself and your kid instead of demanding more from others to make your kid successful

Excuses and blaming others is the easy route and true Loser Defeatist mentality

No one is blaming DCU for anyone's failure or success. No one said DCU caused my.kid not to be a pro. Just pointing out that DCU s in fact one of the worst MLS Academies in our country and that it is a shame that for kids in our area that wants to reach a higher level of football, they have to endure an academy that doesn't aim to really help them (like all other academies do). If you're a gatekeeping entity in US soccer, which MLS academies are, then you have a duty and responsibility to the kids because the HAVE to go through you at some point to reach all of their goals. DCU doesn't take this responsibility seriously and for that, I will forever fault them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

GREAT points. If you have European ambition, going to DCU is a negative. Period. Not impossible but a negative because they will.have a say in your move now that they have gotten greedy in the transfer market. P2P allows you to leave to Europe unencumbered which, for European clubs, is gold. A free player that is at the level will be highly sought after. Having to negotiate with DCU, will just be a deterrent and slow your process (which is already complicated).

Players with GENUINE ambition to become professionals leave the DMV market if they have the ability and the means. They do this because DCU cannot develop players with its current setup, methodology, coaching slate and structure. If you're currently at DCU, it doesn't mean that all is lost. It just means that your chances of becoming a pro are just not great for all the reasons already stated....no second, team, no money, no development methodology, no accountability to the players, weak leadership, and a no vision for the future.

[Anonymous]

And if you think DCU is acceptable for.your kid becoming a professional footballer, then you clearly have no perspective on the landscape and what it takes.

Most of these parents will have kids that were shining at 14 years but will.be no where at 18 because they didn't grow, don't have elite athleticism, don't understand the game and/or lacked proper foundational skills because they focused too.much on IG reels and fancy moves and less on game specific skills.

[Anonymous]

And they were primarily practicing with low intensity and no pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

GREAT points. If you have European ambition, going to DCU is a negative. Period. Not impossible but a negative because they will.have a say in your move now that they have gotten greedy in the transfer market. P2P allows you to leave to Europe unencumbered which, for European clubs, is gold. A free player that is at the level will be highly sought after. Having to negotiate with DCU, will just be a deterrent and slow your process (which is already complicated).

Players with GENUINE ambition to become professionals leave the DMV market if they have the ability and the means. They do this because DCU cannot develop players with its current setup, methodology, coaching slate and structure. If you're currently at DCU, it doesn't mean that all is lost. It just means that your chances of becoming a pro are just not great for all the reasons already stated....no second, team, no money, no development methodology, no accountability to the players, weak leadership, and a no vision for the future.

In addition to DCU having a seat at your negotiation in a transfer, if you're in DCUs system for a long time, you won't progress as much as a player because their development methodology is weak and players in better systems will be better than you and progress faster than you over time.

What that means is that if you should actually make it to Europe from DCU, the likelihood of your skills being ready to have immediate impact on a competitive,.high level European roster are very slim. You would have to go to a club that sees your potential and is willing to wait to further develop you. At younger ages this is more.realistic. At older ages, much harder as the clubs don't have time to wait on you. There is talent everywhere...

You will need good advisors around you that know know what they are talking about to make the right moves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

By what process are non Europeans leaving America at 16 and going to Europe to a club or academy and registering with the national federation and association without legally meeting one of the two UEFA, FIFA exceptions?

How does DCU or any academy in America identify a player at 13, 14 that has already committed to going to college as their only goal unless the parents and player announces that?
Who at 13 is at a level that they are good enough for a MLS academy, go through the trouble of getting into an academy, but their only goal and ambition is UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

GREAT points. If you have European ambition, going to DCU is a negative. Period. Not impossible but a negative because they will.have a say in your move now that they have gotten greedy in the transfer market. P2P allows you to leave to Europe unencumbered which, for European clubs, is gold. A free player that is at the level will be highly sought after. Having to negotiate with DCU, will just be a deterrent and slow your process (which is already complicated).

Players with GENUINE ambition to become professionals leave the DMV market if they have the ability and the means. They do this because DCU cannot develop players with its current setup, methodology, coaching slate and structure. If you're currently at DCU, it doesn't mean that all is lost. It just means that your chances of becoming a pro are just not great for all the reasons already stated....no second, team, no money, no development methodology, no accountability to the players, weak leadership, and a no vision for the future.

In addition to DCU having a seat at your negotiation in a transfer, if you're in DCUs system for a long time, you won't progress as much as a player because their development methodology is weak and players in better systems will be better than you and progress faster than you over time.

What that means is that if you should actually make it to Europe from DCU, the likelihood of your skills being ready to have immediate impact on a competitive,.high level European roster are very slim. You would have to go to a club that sees your potential and is willing to wait to further develop you. At younger ages this is more.realistic. At older ages, much harder as the clubs don't have time to wait on you. There is talent everywhere...

You will need good advisors around you that know know what they are talking about to make the right moves.

Explain why a DCU Academy player product is currently on the roster of a Premier League Senior team at 18 years old if DCU academy cannot produce European level players?
Explain why every MLS academy doesn't also currently have academy products in the top league in the World if DCU is the worst?

Just seeking some logical clarification, not an argument

If someone says you can't cross the Bay Bridge in a Honda, then I see a Honda Accord driving over and make it to the other side, I'd ask for an explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU’s academy pathway to pro is suffering by not having an MLS Next Pro team.

Why does dcu not have a team in mlsn pro?

The reason DCU doesn't have a mlsnp team is complicated but it essentially comes down to what plagues the entire club and slows its progress in everything it does from the first team to the academy - MONEY.

DCUs situation in terms of a satellite club is unique. 27 of MLS's 29 clubs own and operate teams in MLS Next Pro, which is classified by U.S. Soccer as a third-division league. D.C. and CF Montréal are the two exceptions, with the Canadian side running an under-23 side in Ligue1 Québec.

DCUs situation is more complicated: The club launched Loudoun United as a USL Championship side in 2018, a period in which MLS satellites were being placed in that league and USL League One depending on the parent organization's preferences.

MLS later announced MLS Next Pro, which Loudoun did not join because the USL wanted to compete with the MLS. That club remains in the USL Championship, though DCU sold their controlling stake in Loudoun to Attain Sports in order to be able to make a move on a mlsnp team.

The owner of DCU has signaled that they have every intention of creating a team and this signal came two years ago. But nothing since. This delay is in large part due to the fact that in order to have the team, the MLS is strongly suggesting that the team build a soccer specific stadium that is of course smaller than Audi field to help foster connections with the local community and build the fan base further. Some MLS clubs operate their mlsnp team out of their first team stadiums but MLS is trying to get away from this model to penetrate new areas of the country and bring in more fans.

For DCU this means Baltimore is the target area for expansion. Because they feel like Baltimore is close enough to Philly for Philly to make consistent attempts to take those local players but also because it has been a traditionally strong area for talent in the DMV. The problem is that the stadium will cost 200m+ and DCU doesn't want to pay that and they are trying to find ways to offset that cost but all efforts have failed. Why we are here today with no mlsnp team.

DCU is one of two teams in all of the MLS to not have a full pathway to the pro team. Why it is almost impossible to reach pro soccer from DCU unless your player is ready at 17 or 18, which most players are not. So, the PP saying DCU is a dead end for pro soccer is absolutely right for this reason alone. If you couple that with how bad the academy is, the chances are even less.

Is it correct that now Loudoun Utd is going to be fully owned by Revolution and the GM is a known extramarital home wrecker?

Loudoun United and Virginia Revolution merged last Spring which was actually a really savvy play. If you really think about it and are paying attention, this merger places this entity in a much stronger position than DCU in terms of potential growth and development of youth players. They have and own the facilities (DCU borrows their facilities, including Raventek fields and Segra), they have a youth setup and a professional pathway in house, they have a strong hold on the NVA talent base and they start the youth pipeline young at the grassroots level (something DCU fails to do). If they can get the coaching and the methodology right and build some partnerships with outside clubs in Europe or abroad, it could be very a very powerful alternative professional pathway for our kids in the DMV. The USL pathway is totally slept on. It is a legit pathway in this country.

DCU just has the MLS badge and that does carry weight because MLS is the highest level of football in this country. But without that badge, DCU would literally be FAR inferior to what Loudoun and Va revolution have and will continue to create.

Can't opine on the GM.. I genuinely don't know and don't care.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1336909#:~:text=LEESBURG%2C%20Va.,soccer%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Any kid at Virginia Revolution after U13 that is DCU good enough quality is taking a DCU offer if offered

All the other marketing and PR stuff you listed sounds nice but doesn't change that

Unfortunately, you are right. That is why it is disappointing that folks will still drink the kool-aid and ego bump of the badge over the best actual pathway.

"best actual pathway" is only the one that has a proven track record of developing U-littles to significant professional contracts at high level divisions senior clubs

Anything else is speculation

As always, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about what they are talking about.

Past success does not predict future success. DCUs current state as a club and as an academy is not the best of anything. Definitely not the best pathway to pro football for all the reasons stated.

People like you are the reason why football can't progress in this country. You accept the status quo because you dont have the b#lls to.demand better for your kid and you're too scared to do something that isn't accepted by your peers. This attitude almost guarantees your son won't be a pro.

Not the PP but don’t follow the whole “demand better” thing that keeps getting brought up. Unless you are ok with moving or sending your DS to another academy, you are left with DCUA or P2P clubs as “best” options for your DS in this area. Between the 2, my DS would go to DCUA.

DCU ownership will sell when $$ make sense. I can demand till I’m blue in the face. They shouldn’t care because I’m not entitled to anything when it comes their private academy that is not charging me.

"Not the PP" 🤣🤣🤣
If you don't know how to demand better for your son in any system, DCU, P2P, school or anything they are involved in, then, no matter what, you don't have the mindset for iit to really matter. Just stick with the status quo, it will.be just fine.

Jeeez! You're right! I don't know how to demand better from DCUA for my son. Let's go with that. Would all of you that know better please tell me how you've demanded better from DCUA and what changes they made to meet your demands? Since you all definitely know how to demand better for your sons?

Again, if relocating or sending your son away IS NOT an option, your best options are DCUA or P2P. Between the 2, we'd go DCUA for level of competition and exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

By what process are non Europeans leaving America at 16 and going to Europe to a club or academy and registering with the national federation and association without legally meeting one of the two UEFA, FIFA exceptions?

How does DCU or any academy in America identify a player at 13, 14 that has already committed to going to college as their only goal unless the parents and player announces that?
Who at 13 is at a level that they are good enough for a MLS academy, go through the trouble of getting into an academy, but their only goal and ambition is UVA?

When the PP mentioned the plan to go to Europe, I kinda am curious about the above question as well. How, unless the exceptions are met.

Also, I made the comment about the player that joined DCU late - ie their final year and already had committed to play at a Big10 school. DCU was well aware of that when he came on board at their academy. So, it wasn't like they were joining the academy as a freshman in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

GREAT points. If you have European ambition, going to DCU is a negative. Period. Not impossible but a negative because they will.have a say in your move now that they have gotten greedy in the transfer market. P2P allows you to leave to Europe unencumbered which, for European clubs, is gold. A free player that is at the level will be highly sought after. Having to negotiate with DCU, will just be a deterrent and slow your process (which is already complicated).

Players with GENUINE ambition to become professionals leave the DMV market if they have the ability and the means. They do this because DCU cannot develop players with its current setup, methodology, coaching slate and structure. If you're currently at DCU, it doesn't mean that all is lost. It just means that your chances of becoming a pro are just not great for all the reasons already stated....no second, team, no money, no development methodology, no accountability to the players, weak leadership, and a no vision for the future.

In addition to DCU having a seat at your negotiation in a transfer, if you're in DCUs system for a long time, you won't progress as much as a player because their development methodology is weak and players in better systems will be better than you and progress faster than you over time.

What that means is that if you should actually make it to Europe from DCU, the likelihood of your skills being ready to have immediate impact on a competitive,.high level European roster are very slim. You would have to go to a club that sees your potential and is willing to wait to further develop you. At younger ages this is more.realistic. At older ages, much harder as the clubs don't have time to wait on you. There is talent everywhere...

You will need good advisors around you that know know what they are talking about to make the right moves.

Explain why a DCU Academy player product is currently on the roster of a Premier League Senior team at 18 years old if DCU academy cannot produce European level players?
Explain why every MLS academy doesn't also currently have academy products in the top league in the World if DCU is the worst?

Just seeking some logical clarification, not an argument

If someone says you can't cross the Bay Bridge in a Honda, then I see a Honda Accord driving over and make it to the other side, I'd ask for an explanation.

Oh god...here we go again with you. How many times do you have to hear the same thing???

His family had connections and had an agent and was trying desperately to get him out of DCU before DCU squandered all of his precious time as a young player. Not a transfer DCU produced for him. He was sitting on the bench not playing in the MLS...He went to Bournemouths SECOND team which is part of their academy so don't try and paint a picture of something that isnt the case. This is not someone playing in the premier league. So essentially went from being on the first team at DCU to an academy team. He went because he has physical traits that are attractive to a club and he had a good agent. Did he come.from.DCU, yes but I would gamble large sums that if you asked him or anyone close to him who developed him it wouldn't be DCU. And in fact, I would also gamble that they would say DCU was a hindrance to his development

But hold on to that one example, because there aren't many others. And there won't be many others any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cheese and Crackers! Wow.

This thread is just bananas. I've posted a bit before when some stuff came up about the DC United online school charges and some other things....

First things first. I do not have a child playing at the academy but do know two past players and a current player. Past player 1 was there, left and came back and is now playing professionally. Player 2 spent most of their later youth career there and is also playing professionally. Both are in the MLS.

Both have said that the experiences there could have been better as many mention. But they made it to where they wanted to be. Was it luck, their hard work, DC United? IDK for sure, but it's great that they did. I do suspect that DCU had less to do with it than anything else.

Current player is new to their program but is at an older age and wanted the experience of playing at an academy level. They are doing online school from their home district and are close enough to be able to commute. FWIW, this player already committed to play college soccer at a Big10 school. So, pro plans weren't in the works before this experience at DCU.

There are local players in my area that have gone to DC United, but there currently 4 kids playing at Union even though DCU is closer. Plus we have others at Columbus, Charlotte, etc. I think that is telling that although DCU isn't the greatest, but if it's an option, it may be better than continuing to play P2P club.

Good luck to all.

Thanks for the neutral data. This is where this conversation goes array. People like me suggest P2P because we are going to Europe by U16. P2P is the most efficient route to effectively managing that move versus giving our rights to DCU. If you don't want to go to Europe, fine. Just don't tell me the DCU academy is a great option for those kids truly looking to go pro with the full support of their parents.

I would not argue that a kid playing D1 soccer, which is not an efficient pro pathway, should stay in P2P versus going to a pro academy for free. He should take that deal 101x out of 100. This conversation has become uneducated because the pro-DCU folks are completely emotional and lack acumen regarding development and simply kiss the DCU ring.

What nobody seems to see is a problem is why would DCU have a spot on an academy team for a player already committed to go to college when the goal should be to produce professionals. Yes, no brainer for the kid, but you mean to tell me they are that limited in the talent pool that they have to accept that kid and they are the only academy covering DC, MD, VA, DE and WV?!? Is nobody curious why Makai Wells is being called up to the U17 USMNT and playing professionally for NE Rev II when he is from DC probably not on the radar when he was here? That is called development and it is crazy that people in DCU don't understand the D word.

By what process are non Europeans leaving America at 16 and going to Europe to a club or academy and registering with the national federation and association without legally meeting one of the two UEFA, FIFA exceptions?

How does DCU or any academy in America identify a player at 13, 14 that has already committed to going to college as their only goal unless the parents and player announces that?
Who at 13 is at a level that they are good enough for a MLS academy, go through the trouble of getting into an academy, but their only goal and ambition is UVA?

When the PP mentioned the plan to go to Europe, I kinda am curious about the above question as well. How, unless the exceptions are met.

Also, I made the comment about the player that joined DCU late - ie their final year and already had committed to play at a Big10 school. DCU was well aware of that when he came on board at their academy. So, it wasn't like they were joining the academy as a freshman in HS.

an exception would have to be met. I don't think anyone is debating that. For s transfer under the age of 16 without a passport you need an exception. Clearly.