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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ok, assuming this is sincere let me point out a few things:

1) Visa. You can't just up and move to France because you feel like it. You need a visa to live there (or wherever). Maybe you have an EU Passport and that's easy enough, but if you don't then you need a sponsor who is going to get you a visa and a job with a decent salary.

2) As a professional expat who has lived abroad in a half dozen countries over the last 20 years, I can assure you the price of a travel team in the USA is a hell of a lot cheaper than the cost of any move I have ever made.

3) FIFA Article 19: Transfer of minors. There is a law that is on the books to prevent the transfer of minors across international borders for the purpose of playing football or signing with a club. https://www.thomascooperlaw.com/guide-fifa-rules-international-transfer-minors/

4) I don't think anyone is objectively saying someone from D1 NCSL at age 14 is being watched for a professional career. You would have been scouted already by a DA or at DA's second team (EDP or something). There are 100s of kids in the DMV at a quality level above NCSL D1 right now. 100s.

5) I've seen top DA players go to Europe for visiting camps and have about 3-5 days with an academy before they learn they are not up to the level they need to be. It can be quite jarring for some here who think they rule the roost only to find out there are a couple of dozen kids in Europe who are already way past them.

6) The suggestion about a scholarship is a good one. Many teams have a program to help if needed. DA's are doing identification sessions now. Why don't you try it and see what they say. You can always turn them down over the Summer and head on to Europe if you find a way to get past all the other obstacles. [/quote]

Different poster, chiming in to say that this is a great post--I wish there were more thoughtful people like you on here.

To add a couple of things to the above, the cost of playing DA at DC United or Bethesda (and maybe others) is likely less than what you'd pay for a non-DA travel team in this area, and that's for full pay kids with no scholarships.  You should certainly apply for financial aid if you receive interest from a DA club--we know a lot of kids who received significant scholarships.

A kid who is starting on a tier 1 DA team in our area will have a much greater chance of being identified and moving to the next level than kids not in the DA.  They will play against top notch teams like Philly Union and NYCFC, both of which have produced a large number of pros.  Moving to the DA programs at top clubs like those down the line is an option for kids who are good enough and don't mind relocating.  Playing in DA also increases your likelihood of being seen by youth national team scouts.  If you end up in the youth national team pool, the odds of going pro and/or getting an athletic scholarship to a great school go way up.  National team training camps, travel, and overseas trips are all completely free for players.  I have been following the careers of a number of American youth national team kids who started out in DA and then moved to Germany at 16 (with Euro passports) or 18, and seem to be doing well there.  It's definitely the most straightforward and cost-effective path available to serious American teen boys at this time.

Do not waste your time with ODP or other expensive training programs.  Do take the advice another poster offered and make sure that your kid studies hard and keeps his grades up.  Top boy players with good grades have a lot of excellent college soccer options, contrary to what you hear on DCUM, and that's a nice alternative for kids who don't end up going pro.  [/quote]

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