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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The RDS at DCU, like all other things DCU does us totally garbage. It is a pure money grab plain and simple.  Very few, if any, kids from the RDS are going to make it to the DCU squad.  And to be honest, making the DCU squad is not what it may seem.  It is a half a## academy system with no ambition, no money and even less of an idea in how to develop players for the modern game.  Dont waste your time or money on DCU.  They will disappoint you time and time again and the only one who will be missing out on real development opportunities is your son.  DCU is a badge only academy.  If you want the badge because that makes you feel good inside, do that.  If you want to really progress at the sport to become a pro, DCU is not the place for that.  It is that simple.

To the PP talking about pace...of course European academies look at pace of youth players when bringing them into their systems.  The modern game is built on pace.  But they don't take pace above all else.  The best players have speed of thought/decisions/action and can couple that with pace and strong technique.  But to say European academies don't focus on pace is wrong.  In some positions it is all they focus on at youth ages because they believe they can teach the technical side but you can't teach someone with poor fast twitch muscles and poor genetics for speed how to be fast.  You can't turn a Honda into a Ferrari...[/quote]

So I don’t actually disagree with this but if you don’t have a dual passport (eu or South America for example), DCUA is still really your best bet or is still a really good option. Do keep that in perspective. Note too that to the extent that DCUA has had successes, it also helps to have a dual passport although DCUA isn’t totally great with maximizing that stuff but I think they are working on it?[/quote]

Depends on what your end game is.  Absent a vehicle to enter Europe or South America for a FIFA approved transfer, so you could join a European or South American academy, and if pro soccer is your ambition, DCU is certainly NOT your best option.  First option is to explore other MLS academies and what they could offer your son.  Philly Union and Red Bulls just have better and more recent track records of producing pros from their academy system.  Yes, that requires a move but if you're serious, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken. Second is to look at other proven pathways and avenues...USL Academies, Residential Academies like Barca, Shattuck St Marys,, Benfica has a new residential academy.in the US.  Yes, these are generally pay to play but scholarships are offered for top players and you need to focus on what gives your son the best chance of IMPROVING as a player at the fastest rate and what gives him a platform for exposure.  DCU does none of that.  Outside of GA cup, which ALL MLS academies go to because it is a MLS run event, DCU does nothing for the kids in terms of additional exposure.  Philly Unioms u16 and u18 just came back from a two week trip to Germany playing some solid German academies this summer.  What was going on at DCU???  Absolutely nothing.  It's just not at the level.

If college is your end game, DCU is also not the best option because it doesn't have the relationships that other clubs have in the area AND your son is getting an inferior education and will be on a downward trajectory in terms of learning the game the second he enters their system which in turn lessens his chance of continuing to be a top player in a few years when it Actually mattera.  Education is not the goal at DCU.  It just isn't.  If you're one of the top players in your age group at DCU, MAYBE it could be ok for college.  But to me it is still a maybe because the program is just that bad.  It's only 4 years with DCU.  There are just WAY better ways to invest in your sons development and opportunities than spending those 4 precious years dealing with DCUs bullsh#t.  [/quote]

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