Non-DC academies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why hasnt fletcher moved to Europe? He has a Uk passport. Do u think DCU wants too much for him and no Europe club wants to pay that?

That is more of a DC United problem. United’s management have historically done a terrible job at selling their HG players when they are at their peak value . Yow, Hamid, Najar, Nyeman, Harkes to some extent, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grind your axe with these guys.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-iOETRvNdU/?igsh=MTY0ZGprc3N2OWtlZg==

You're following a youth soccer Instagram hype page for kids?

So what if in their opinion DCU is not in their top 10? What does that mean in reality?

Did they list the objective scientific methodology used to reach their conclusions based on multiple applicable data points collected over years?

More importantly, what did DC Academy do to you and your child? 😂🤣

Why, do those hype pages make things up?

It's not about what DCUA did to my kid, it's more about what DCUA HASN'T done for the DMV kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As this thread talks.about player transfer fee, does anyone know if a player from Vienna that gets recruited by Fairfax Union u13 because of the "union" does a Vienna (or bryc) get any monetary compensation for that transfer? Just trying to understand what is in it for the club feeding players to an ECNL alliance versus trying to retain a player for ECNL rl so their.RL team is stronger. Seems like a loss of talent and revenue for the feeding club. Sorry to switch from MLSN to ECNL.

Same reasoning applies to VDA and Herndon for example. What is in for Herndon?

That is a good question. But no, there is no kickback to the origin partner club for taking players to their partner ECNL team. The clubs with ECNL partnerships combine high level coaching resources in order to make stronger teams that can compete at the ECNL level that each club would not be able to create otherwise. Often, the ECNL RL clubs that do have high level players, know they will lose those players regardless. Look at LMVSC for example. They had Andi Sullivan come through their program for a short amount of time. The Sullivan family left to a club with that could offer more than playing in EDP or NAL. They went to Bethesda. So, just having those partnerships and a pathway to ECNL is enough of a draw for more players to come to your club, which is kind of a monetary reward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through social media, I’ve noticed that there are a few local players who moved to academies outside of DC.

How did they do that? Did they reach out to those clubs when they were not scouted by DCU? Or did they move there from DCU? How would one get into those clubs without triggering interest from DCU? Or is that not possible? That is, those clubs are required to disclose to DCU that a player in their region is being considered at their club?

Boys or girls?

Boys

Re: Boys

Many of these destination academies have paid scouts. Charlotte and NCFC, like DC and Loudon FC have men’s pro teams (MLS and USL Championship leagues). Their scouting is a lot different from those like the Kickers in USL1 because the attached academies have more meaningful contract potential, with obviously DC United and Charlotte greater than London or NCFC. IMG also does this, but their model is a bit different, the ex-placement from youth is more NIL driven than contract / transfer / solidarity fee based.

The pro-clubs also tend to scout and poach from MLS Next clubs. MLS Next clubs still haven’t bridged the gap that MLS Academies have in terms of pathways to professional teams. And the pro-academies are free, vs the paid clubs.

Outside of that, lots of kids move because in another market they can play top team vs 2nd or 3rd team in their original market. That makes a huge difference in looks if the boy wants to play in college. Those moves are largely player driven, not scouting driven.

Just to add on this too, signing with a US Academy (like United, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc) kills US Boy’s chances to play overseas. So you might get a little FOMO for your kid when you see these “movers and shakers” getting recruited out of market. But you should know that signing / move likely closed 90% of the doors for that athlete.

Why would that kill a player’s chances? Wouldn’t it be easier because they’ve been vetted by a pro team?

If your kid really and genuinely desires opportunity in Europe then MLS academies hurt this desire for several reasons.

Transfer fees. If they are in the academy for multiple years, those numbers become more significant. Granted, concacaf is not a cat 1 territory so the fees are much less (it is cat 4) but they add up. They would need to be an exceptional talent to make the move and being in the US for longer periods just hurts them generally because the level is so much lower than European standards.

Club Motivations. Pro clubs are about money. They will protect their interests over yours all day. Makes it harder to negotiate and they have a say which could be contrary to your own motivations and wants.

Level: the longer you're in a MLS academy the less likely it is you will have the level to make it in Europe and the European clubs know this to be a fact. Of course there are exceptions but that is a pretty accepted norm in Europe. Much harder to transfer to Europe from the US at 16 than at 12. The kids have had 4 years more of superior training.

Now, that doesn't mean Europe is impossible. What a player would need to do is work the rules and the system to their advantage. The holy grail of a European transfer under the age of 18 is around u14. Spend u13 season playing at home wherever you are and also trialing in Europe with the intent of the family making a move to Europe for work reasons. Skip MLS academies altogether or only go for one year when the transfer fee is minimal. What you don't want is multiple years at a MLS academy because it just complicates your move because of the training competition they will request from the receiving club.

End of day, being in a MLS academy definitely hurts your European ambition if you are there for a long time. Unless you're an exceptional talent that is undeniable. In that case, it won't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through social media, I’ve noticed that there are a few local players who moved to academies outside of DC.

How did they do that? Did they reach out to those clubs when they were not scouted by DCU? Or did they move there from DCU? How would one get into those clubs without triggering interest from DCU? Or is that not possible? That is, those clubs are required to disclose to DCU that a player in their region is being considered at their club?

Boys or girls?

Boys

Re: Boys

Many of these destination academies have paid scouts. Charlotte and NCFC, like DC and Loudon FC have men’s pro teams (MLS and USL Championship leagues). Their scouting is a lot different from those like the Kickers in USL1 because the attached academies have more meaningful contract potential, with obviously DC United and Charlotte greater than London or NCFC. IMG also does this, but their model is a bit different, the ex-placement from youth is more NIL driven than contract / transfer / solidarity fee based.

The pro-clubs also tend to scout and poach from MLS Next clubs. MLS Next clubs still haven’t bridged the gap that MLS Academies have in terms of pathways to professional teams. And the pro-academies are free, vs the paid clubs.

Outside of that, lots of kids move because in another market they can play top team vs 2nd or 3rd team in their original market. That makes a huge difference in looks if the boy wants to play in college. Those moves are largely player driven, not scouting driven.

Just to add on this too, signing with a US Academy (like United, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc) kills US Boy’s chances to play overseas. So you might get a little FOMO for your kid when you see these “movers and shakers” getting recruited out of market. But you should know that signing / move likely closed 90% of the doors for that athlete.

Why would that kill a player’s chances? Wouldn’t it be easier because they’ve been vetted by a pro team?

If your kid really and genuinely desires opportunity in Europe then MLS academies hurt this desire for several reasons.

Transfer fees. If they are in the academy for multiple years, those numbers become more significant. Granted, concacaf is not a cat 1 territory so the fees are much less (it is cat 4) but they add up. They would need to be an exceptional talent to make the move and being in the US for longer periods just hurts them generally because the level is so much lower than European standards.

Club Motivations. Pro clubs are about money. They will protect their interests over yours all day. Makes it harder to negotiate and they have a say which could be contrary to your own motivations and wants.

Level: the longer you're in a MLS academy the less likely it is you will have the level to make it in Europe and the European clubs know this to be a fact. Of course there are exceptions but that is a pretty accepted norm in Europe. Much harder to transfer to Europe from the US at 16 than at 12. The kids have had 4 years more of superior training.

Now, that doesn't mean Europe is impossible. What a player would need to do is work the rules and the system to their advantage. The holy grail of a European transfer under the age of 18 is around u14. Spend u13 season playing at home wherever you are and also trialing in Europe with the intent of the family making a move to Europe for work reasons. Skip MLS academies altogether or only go for one year when the transfer fee is minimal. What you don't want is multiple years at a MLS academy because it just complicates your move because of the training competition they will request from the receiving club.

End of day, being in a MLS academy definitely hurts your European ambition if you are there for a long time. Unless you're an exceptional talent that is undeniable. In that case, it won't matter.

Explain how you can legitimately transfer under the age of 18 to Europe and get legitimately registered with a Player Card?

[Anonymous]

Taken from another thread but spot on analysis...

FIFA transfer rules is an area where most American parents just don't have the knowledge or experience and the rules are pretty clear. Under 18, an international transfer is not allowed unless the player qualifies for one of 4 exceptions:

1. The parents of the player move to the new country for reasons that are not related to football

2. The player is over 16 years old and is moving within the EU or within EEA territory, in which case the new club has to (a) provide the player with adequate football education, (b) provide him with academic/school education in addition to his football education, (c) look after the player in the best possible way, and (d) provide the relevant association with proof that the aforementioned requirements are met. (This is basically boarding and schooling requirement)

3. Both the player and the club are within 50km of their shared border and the distance between player and club is less than 100km

4. Five year rule: The player is registering for the first time in another country after having lived in said country for the last five consecutive years

Unless a player is within one of those exceptions, you won't see an international transfer under the age of 18. When I hear people talking about my kid is going to x academy overseas thinking they will sign with them when their kid is under 18, I literally cringe.

International experiences are great and if a player can get them that is awesome. But there are realities of football and FIFA that most people just don't understand because they don't have the knowledge or even the reason to acquire the knowledge.

[Anonymous]

And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

This is a post clearly written by someone that has done this or been a part of the process in some way. All makes a ton of sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

And this post was written by someone who will never be at a European club.

[Anonymous]

For whoever doubts TMS process. This is only a available to FIFA clubs.

https://prod.fifatms.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

And this post was written by someone who will never be at a European club.

More nonsense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

And this post was written by someone who will never be at a European club.

More nonsense

What is written is 100 percent accurate about the transfer process. We have friends who have actually done this and explained the exact same process. Our understanding is that these rules are in place and were developed by FIFA to protect minors post tons of abuses of transfer rules of very young children from third world countries and abandonment of these children when they didn't work out at whatever clubs they went to. When you start talking about international football, you're talking at a different level than the US. It's big business and much more sophisticated than our system. To just dismiss this as nonsense is probably one of the weirdest posts I've seen on here to be honest because it is so far from the truth. The complexity of the unknown is scary to people I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And your player card will be worked out by the USSF and the receiving federation in what is called the Transfer Matching System (TMS) which is managed by FIFA. It requires the transferring club and receiving club to submit documents and verifications into one system. This is separate from immigration which is what a lot of people mix up. Of course the things are related because immigration forms will need to support your transfer and your qualifications for one of the exceptions if under 18. Unless TMS approves the transfer, you will not get your player card. It is that simple. This process also takes some time. For instance, you can't apply (and by that I mean the receiving club not you individually) in say September and realistically expect to get your card in September. 2-3 months is about the average but it all depends on the federation, the clubs, the workload at FIFA etc. this means that if you do transfer, you have to be smart about when you start the process. If you want to suit up in the fall, you need to start the process in late spring or very early summer (may). This timing element is where many Americans make their mistakes in Europe. Not just timing of the application but also the timing of their trials. For instance, you can't start your trials in the summer expecting to be in the roster in fall. The TMS application needs to start in the spring but you will have needed to solidify your club and offer way before then which will require trials in the winter through early spring because clubs have to sort their squads and the needs for the teams and whether you fit. And your will need your immigration forms to prove why you're in the target country which also takes time.
And whether you fit in a roster will mean that you are a top 3 or 4 player on the team you want to be on. The reason for this is simple, there are too many local talents to give a spot to you on the bottom of the roster. There are tons of kids who can just make the roster locally. You have to be exceptional to make the roster from America to surpass the local talents.

Bag of nonsense

Please explain how this is a bag of nonsense when it is in fact the truth. Easy to just talk trash about something you don't know about. So back up your statement. If you don't, your post is the real nonsense.