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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]And one of the worst first teams in the league.  Meaning that it should be easier for an academy prospect to break through if they were developing them.  But they aren't developing them.  If you're at DCU, you're in a bad spot.  That is just the reality.  But you have to try and make the best of it.  Which is most likely college soccer, without a scholarship.  Just is what it is...[/quote]

If being at DCU is a bad spot for a youth player, then what about the rest of players in the DMV?
Zero chance?[/quote]

Uh…we have a problem in the DMV in general.  For the size of youth scene, we are just severely lacking in top level production.  Instead of being defensive about it, let’s fix it and have a reason to cheer for Loudoun and DCU with local kids.  We should absolutely be producing more talent.[/quote]

This is right. It comes down to one main thing (money) with three parts: 1.  Pay to pay clubs have diluted quality 2.  Private coaches train for money not for development of game specific skills and 3. DCU doesn't take youth development seriously because it has no money to take it seriously.

Re 1: so many clubs out there with inferior coaching and methodologies and a sole focus on winning means we can't get consistent players through these clubs.  And the ones that do come through aren't skilled enough to be pros. These clubs are about making money only.  Not developing your kid.  Need to cut pay to play clubs in half in the DMV and incentivize them (monetarily) to increase their standards in producing pro players, not college players. This should come from USSF and MLS and they should require minimum player quality standards of these clubs.

Re 2:  most private trainers are literally useless.  Charging crazy hourly rates for very weak training that doesn't prepare kids for live games under pressure.  But everyone is working on cones with their head down thinking their games are progressing. Big misconception fueled by the private trainers who know most parents don't know any better.  Rich parents eat it up and get milked week after week.  Kill the private training culture and focus on and foster a pick up game culture.  Would serve the kids much better over the long term.  Playing one hour of small sided pick up is a thousand times better than running through cones or around the track. Something a private trainer would never tell you because they want your money.

Re 3:  DCU leadership has never believed in its academy and doesn't properly fund it to produce the talent it claims it aspires to produce.  No budget means, lesser paid coaches, less opportunities outside of the normal schedule for the kids to learn in different environments, lesser paid front office (directors etc).  Running the academy on the cheap is why DCU is so bad and until they fund it and give a damn it won't change.  A player makes it through the pay to play system to DCU and finds that DCU isn't any better and in many ways worse than where they came from.  DCU needs to be light years ahead of the pay to play system and it just isn't.  This comes down to how much the club invests in the academy.  Until it makes some substantial investments in the academy DCU will always be substandard and the kids will get substandard coaching and experiences compared to other MLS academies which puts their development path at a disadvantage. Just the way it is.

The last thing that isn't related to money, but kinda is, is the fact that in the DMV, soccer has become dominated by rich, elitist, privileged, well off, manipulative parents that have made it harder for less well off families to break through.  This money culture, which is fueled by people with money, is actually killing the game in our area on two main fronts: 1. The more money you have the more access you have to better training.  Meaning that less well off families don't have access and many talented kids don't get opportunities and 2. Rich, privileged kids usually don't have the inherent grit required to become professional footballers but they dominate the upper echelon of the game in the DMV,  because of number 1.

Soccer isn't a sport of privilege in the rest of the world.  But it is here.  Until this changes, DMV will have a harder time producing the same level mod talent.  Rich parents don't want their kids to be pro footballers.  They want them to go to college.  And that is what soccer has become in the DMV, a vehicle for rich parents to manipulate to get their kids into college.  THIS in addition to everything above, is why our talent pool isn't as good as it used to be. [/quote]

Accurate and great summation.  Now, regarding #2 which I think is entirely accurate, Target built 10 futsal courts in DC, MD and VA which are not being used like “cages” in London. Any ideas on how to create  small sided culture using these  courts and SoFive and any other venues?

Any ideas to help get the culture started would be helpful.[/quote]

For me, anything that requires money to enter is a no go.  So SoFive would be a non starter. The courts Target built is a good idea and the question is how to spark playing there regularly.  This would start at the neighborhood level in my opinion and I subscribe to if you build it they will come philosophy.  Advertise on social media a pick up game three times a week targeted at the neighborhoods where the courts are and see what happens.. the problem is that the soccer establishment is too entrenched in this country a has made the entire system about money.  So players may not come out of it isn't some "elite" training or club thing blah blah.  No one just plays here like the rest of the world.. if you really want the solution it is US soccer investing millions into building 11v11 and small sided pitches all over the country and incentivizing the kids to play there in some way.. scouts there every day, free coaching etc.  investment needs to be made to change a culture that is built in spending money [/quote]

Thanks!  I have a small thing going but the top players are not there yet.  I am going to reach out to In10sity, False8 and Futstars.  Any other club neutral,
Futsal-friendly, ball mastery programs in the DMV that would support a small-sided pickup initiative?

The last step will bring in DCU. They will be key in making it mainstream.  If they decide to come on board, we can create a DMV culture that will not need a heavy investment on their part and could possibly start rivaling NYC, FL, TX and CA. Just a lot of community stakeholders each doing their part to help local players develop a passion for ball mastery and success in tight spaces which is the key to long-term development in 11v11.[/quote]

Interested. How can we get more info on your small-sided pickup initiative?[/quote]

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