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[quote=Anonymous]I just found this thread and thought it might be worth adding my perspective as a parent of a boy who plays for Arlington DA, and has been offered a spot on DC United next year along wth several of his team-mates.

Arlington was awarded the U17 expansion, and will likely get U19 in two years.

Since Oscar Feliu took over as director of the boys DA, the Arlington DA coaching program and philosophy is the best in the area hands down.  This is evident in the way that all the teams play, especially the younger teams up to the 06 team.  Under Oscar, Arlingon focuses on finding and developing kids into talented ball players, rather than just the best athletes.  He also believes very firmly in playing every game the right way, and is perfectly willing to lose games while the kids learn.

Baltimore teams also play good soccer and usually appear well coached.

DC United on the other hand, despite having some very talented kids, seem inclined to select athletes ahead of soccer players - and then do not do a good job of developing either in terms of their indivdual talent, or in terms of their ability to understand the game, control the ball and make good decisions.  It's very interesting that a poster earlier called out the Arlington 06 right winger as a talented player.  He is an exceptionally talented player, quite possibly the most dangerous player with the ball at his feet and within thirty yards of goal between Philadelphia and Richmond.  Last year he played for DC United, who first put him in goal and then cut him as they felt he was too slow.  Playing for Arlington this year he scored more goals than any DC united player supposedly playing for a better team.

Somebody else mentioned the DC United Arlington 06 game played at the end of the last half season.  The game ended up as 2-2 all draw.  But the difference in style of playing was stark.  DC United played almost the entire game with their whole team behind the ball, and trying to counter attack with quick, long balls whenever they managed to get possession.  It's true that DC United had a player sent off in the first half, but they were playing the same way before that hapened too.  DC United's goals came from a 35 yard attempt where Arlington's goalkeeper was out of position (likely because he was not used to facing strikers with enough power to pose any kind of threat from that range - credit to the DC stiker though he struck the ball very well), and a very questionable penalty.  Arlington controlled the ball for the entire game, and created several opportunities through really nice passing - slicing the defense open as they had been doing since the third or fouth game of the season.

I believe DC United are keeping the younger teams practicing in DC - at least for next year - although they will eventually move to Arlington.

Will my son decide to move to DC?  I'm not sure; it's a difficult decision.  There are opportunities that come from palying for an MLS team which he won't get at Arlington.  On the other hand, the coaching at Arlington is head and shoulders above that at DC.[/quote]

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