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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Through social media, I’ve noticed that there are a few local players who moved to academies outside of DC.

How did they do that? Did they reach out to those clubs when they were not scouted by DCU? Or did they move there from DCU? How would one get into those clubs without triggering interest from DCU? Or is that not possible? That is, those clubs are required to disclose to DCU that a player in their region is being considered at their club?[/quote]

Boys or girls?[/quote]

Boys[/quote]

Re: Boys

Many of these destination academies have paid scouts. Charlotte and NCFC, like DC and Loudon FC have men’s pro teams (MLS and USL Championship leagues). Their scouting is a lot different from those like the Kickers in USL1 because the attached academies have more meaningful contract potential, with obviously DC United and Charlotte greater than London or NCFC. IMG also does this, but their model is a bit different, the ex-placement from youth is more NIL driven than contract / transfer / solidarity fee based.

The pro-clubs also tend to scout and poach from MLS Next clubs. MLS Next clubs still haven’t bridged the gap that MLS Academies have in terms of pathways to professional teams. And the pro-academies are free, vs the paid clubs.

Outside of that, lots of kids move because in another market they can play top team vs 2nd or 3rd team in their original market. That makes a huge difference in looks if the boy wants to play in college. Those moves are largely player driven, not scouting driven.

[/quote]

[b]Just to add on this too, signing with a US Academy (like United, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc) kills US Boy’s chances to play overseas.[/b] So you might get a little FOMO for your kid when you see these “movers and shakers” getting recruited out of market. But you should know that signing / move likely closed 90% of the doors for that athlete.[/quote]

Why would that kill a player’s chances? Wouldn’t it be easier because they’ve been vetted by a pro team?[/quote]

If your kid really and genuinely desires opportunity in Europe then MLS academies hurt this desire for several reasons.

Transfer fees.  If they are in the academy for multiple years, those numbers become more significant. Granted, concacaf is not a cat 1 territory so the fees are much less (it is cat 4) but they add up.  They would need to be an exceptional talent to make the move and being in the US for longer periods just hurts them generally because the level is so much lower than European standards.

Club Motivations.  Pro clubs are about money.  They will protect their interests over yours all day.  Makes it harder to negotiate and they have a say which could be contrary to your own motivations and wants.

Level: the longer you're in a MLS academy the less likely it is you will have the level to make it in Europe and the European clubs know this to be a fact.  Of course there are exceptions but that is a pretty accepted norm in Europe.  Much harder to transfer to Europe from the US at 16 than at 12.  The kids have had 4 years more of superior training.

Now, that doesn't mean Europe is impossible.  What a player would need to do is work the rules and the system to their advantage.  The holy grail of a European transfer under the age of 18 is around u14. Spend u13 season playing at home wherever you are and also trialing in Europe with the intent of the family making a move to Europe for work reasons.  Skip MLS academies altogether or only go for one year when the transfer fee is minimal.  What you don't want is multiple years at a MLS academy because it just complicates your move because of the training competition they will request from the receiving club.

End of day, being in a MLS academy definitely hurts your European ambition if you are there for a long time.  Unless you're an exceptional talent that is undeniable.  In that case, it won't matter. [/quote]

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