Cruzado wrote:Interesting to read that Wayne Rooney is still involved with DC United and now part of their DCU Youth program. Hopefully that's a sign of better things to come---DCU's youth involvement has been underwhelming thus far.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. He's the new head coach of DC United, and is throwing a wide net to evaluate the talent that he has to work with. For now, that means that some of the younger home grown/Loudon players are getting more of a look than they normally would.
Has he convinced the owners to put more money/resources into the academy system, which has been gutted over the past few years? That I don't know.

MadridFan wrote:

akindc wrote:DC United just officially announced their academy teams...or at least I just saw their tweet about it.
On the U14 team, 3 are from BSC, 3 from PPA, 3 from Pipeline, 3 from Paragon, 2 from Manassas, 2 from Armor, and one each from Arlington, Cerritos, Achilles, and VDA.

Where do they post the DC United and other MLS Next rosters?

DC United posted it themselves...don't know if MLS Next rosters are posted anywhere in general, especially for the younger ages. Don't feel it's entirely appropriate, which is why I didn't add names here. I mean, once it gets to higher ages, and they start college recruitment, sure...but for U14?

DC United just officially announced their academy teams...or at least I just saw their tweet about it.
On the U14 team, 3 are from BSC, 3 from PPA, 3 from Pipeline, 3 from Paragon, 2 from Manassas, 2 from Armor, and one each from Arlington, Cerritos, Achilles, and VDA.

Cruzado wrote:

akindc wrote:

Cruzado wrote:l.

Honestly, given how young your kids are and the fact that soccer is just one sport among many that they enjoy playing, for me at this age I would focus on what practice locations/times will work best with your schedule.

Entirely true, but I imagine they'll have to commit to a team before they know when/where the practices will be.
Obviously, if you live in Potomac, I'd go with Potomac.
Between the other two, it's a toss up. PPA has rapidly grown and improved over the last few years, but they've become more like Bethesda as well, heavily recruiting from outside the program to improve their top teams instead of promoting from within.
I've had kids in both programs, and we've preferred the coaches and other parents in PPA, but it's really a tossup depending on what team you're on. You'll get good training at both.

Not at all - it's easy enough to call the club and ask where the team will be practicing. It might vary slightly year to year, but generally they can tell you WHERE the practices will be, and usually they can tell you WHEN as well.

As I said, I've had kids in both programs. Not only can coaches/coordinators not tell you when or where practices will be before the season starts with any accuracy (a few times they've known the days of the week), we've also had locations change during the season multiple times.

Cruzado wrote:l.

Honestly, given how young your kids are and the fact that soccer is just one sport among many that they enjoy playing, for me at this age I would focus on what practice locations/times will work best with your schedule.

Entirely true, but I imagine they'll have to commit to a team before they know when/where the practices will be.
Obviously, if you live in Potomac, I'd go with Potomac.
Between the other two, it's a toss up. PPA has rapidly grown and improved over the last few years, but they've become more like Bethesda as well, heavily recruiting from outside the program to improve their top teams instead of promoting from within.
I've had kids in both programs, and we've preferred the coaches and other parents in PPA, but it's really a tossup depending on what team you're on. You'll get good training at both.

Soccer_Newbie wrote:Thank you. Yes, we just want to start learning now so we have time to get it right for when it matters. I don't want to be sending this post out 2 years from now from when it really matters. I think making highlights to just post on YouTube and send to his family is cool for now and hopefully, he masters it by the time it matters. But...I still don't know how to get him started. Still don't know what step 1 is.

Read the above comments?
1) get some video editing software
2) search for tutorials and learn how to use it.

You said that "We get no support on this from our club that I know of."
Have you asked them specifically?
I can't imagine any team/program with players that are capable of playing in college wouldn't have at least some resources, or at least know where to point you.
At this point with you lack of tech knowledge, I'd advise you to hire someone to do this for you.
You certainly can get an editing program...iMovie on a Mac is your simplest solution...and use online resources to learn how to use it, but if you're starting from zero you're going to have to a lot of work to get up to speed.

Bethesda changed their naming structure a few years back, getting rid of most of the colors in an effort to make it sound like your kid was in a higher program than they actually are, and try to retain more people that way.

So instead of Blue being the highest, then Green, etc, they moved to league designations.

For the boys, you have Academy 1, Academy 2, Academy 3, and then Blue is the fourth team.
For girls, you have ECNL 1, ECNL 2, Pre ECNL and again, Blue is the fourth team.

A full chart of the girls teams is here:
www.bethesdasoccer.org/girlsteams/

There is normally one team for each level.

As to placements, if your kid is trying out off the street, and they haven't seen her play, it's really rare to get onto a top team.

And as for "a place for everyone", that's true for most big programs now...they'll form as many teams as they have kids that want to play, even though some of those bottom teams will barely be better than rec teams.

Not picking on Bethesda here...most of what I said here can be applied to most of the top programs.

Ihatedumbsoccerparents wrote:Do the bigger clubs in VA not participate in these tournaments? I mostly recognize MD teams above

Took a quick glance at the VA State cup results...looks like all the big clubs participated, but didn't do great this year.
To be fair, their top kids are in MLS Next, so it's essentially their B teams that are in State Cup.

Pretty good showing for area teams:

Boys:
U12: Bethesda Runner Up
U13: PPA Runner Up, Total Futbol lost in Semis
U15: Potomac Runner Up
U17: Arlington Champs
U19: Baltimore Celtic Champs

Girls:
U12: Bethesda Champs
U13: Coppermine Runner Up
U14:Frederick Runner Up
U15: Coppermine lost in Semis

DCUdad wrote:

akindc wrote:Just looking through the schedules and standings at the MLS Next Cup.
I didn't see the U13 Bethesda team in the showcase, and was wondering why.
Anyone?

At U13, this was just a showcase, not a tournament (so no "cup"). So it's a little less surprising that a team (that parents pay for) might choose not to go to a U13 showcase in Dallas, in the summer. Maybe even more so if a bunch of the better players have already decided to move to DCU, as others have said.

If the poster is correct, and a bunch of BSC kids are moving to DC, it certainly makes sense.
But if not, I can't imagine them staying away from any kind of major showcase.

DCUdad wrote:

akindc wrote:Can't imagine having to drive Pipeline kids to practice in Loudon, assuming that's where the DC United academy kids will practice. Ick.

First, as part of their deal with Loudoun County to build the facility (and defray some of the cost), DCU agreed to make the turf fields available to the county after 5pm -- exactly when the academy would be training..

I find it absolutely hilarious, and not at all surprising, that DC United would be so cheap as to make a deal like this.

Can't imagine having to drive Pipeline kids to practice in Loudon, assuming that's where the DC United academy kids will practice. Ick.

The 2009 age group is really strong around here. Of non-MLS Next teams I'd also expect to see some PPA and Total Futbol kids move to DC United.

rabbithole wrote:

akindc wrote:I noticed that BSC's excellent U13 MLS Next team didn't go to the Cup in Dallas, and asked why in another thread. Another posted said a bunch of their players moved over to DC United's new U14 Academy.
So now I'm curious what programs the other players came from for this new team. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge?

I think it was Pipeline (a very good ECNL team) that sent a lot of players to DCU U14, not Bethesda. Bethesda is already MLS Next. I heard the Bethesda U13(s) didn't go to the showcase because they did a lot of tournaments this year.

Not saying you're wrong, but it would be really weird for them to skip the biggest tournament of the year, far and away. Especially since they were in first place in their region during the regular season of MLS Next.
And yes, BSC is in MLS Next, but DC United has a much, much better path to pro soccer now that there are homegrown player rules in affect.

I noticed that BSC's excellent U13 MLS Next team didn't go to the Cup in Dallas, and asked why in another thread. Another posted said a bunch of their players moved over to DC United's new U14 Academy.
So now I'm curious what programs the other players came from for this new team. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge?