Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?

Who said they were?

How many academies are on par and can afford to do what Red Bulls are doing?

Red Bulls are taking teams to Austria and Germany to play against other clubs they own, multiple times a year.

Get real.

Chicago Fire sent their kids to a tournament in Dubai, as have Red Bulls. Philly Union sent their kids to Europe for friendlies and a tournament in Portugal. I'm missing other academies but these are a few examples.

Are you saying because they went to Austria for a Red Bull hosted tournament, it doesn't count? That tournament has a bunch of top European academies that participate, including the other Red Bull teams. I'm not understanding your point.

Don't stop. Name all the destinations all the academies have sent teams.

Let's bury the dcu defenders.

Let me Google that for you.

I only know of those academies because they are in DCU's division.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In conclusion after all the experts have weighed in.

DCU Academy is the worst place for your kid
Send them to Philly Union or Red Bulls (open door policy)

What is the Red Bulls open door policy?

If we're all being encouraged to go there, I'm just assuming all DMV ballers can just head up the turnpike and sign-up

They both have webpages where you can sign up and put your info, with highlights and schedule, but I wonder how often they look at that or actually scout that way.

I imagine they screen these submissions and at minimum, look into those who are already coming from another academy or can say they are a baller on an MLSNext/ECNL team. Or your coach/club has connections and reach out to them.

I don’t know and would love to hear what other families have done to be seen by other academies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?

Who said they were?

How many academies are on par and can afford to do what Red Bulls are doing?

Red Bulls are taking teams to Austria and Germany to play against other clubs they own, multiple times a year.

Get real.

Chicago Fire sent their kids to a tournament in Dubai, as have Red Bulls. Philly Union sent their kids to Europe for friendlies and a tournament in Portugal. I'm missing other academies but these are a few examples.

Are you saying because they went to Austria for a Red Bull hosted tournament, it doesn't count? That tournament has a bunch of top European academies that participate, including the other Red Bull teams. I'm not understanding your point.

Don't stop. Name all the destinations all the academies have sent teams.

Let's bury the dcu defenders.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In conclusion after all the experts have weighed in.

DCU Academy is the worst place for your kid
Send them to Philly Union or Red Bulls (open door policy)

What is the Red Bulls open door policy?

If we're all being encouraged to go there, I'm just assuming all DMV ballers can just head up the turnpike and sign-up

Anonymous wrote:In conclusion after all the experts have weighed in.

DCU Academy is the worst place for your kid
Send them to Philly Union or Red Bulls (open door policy)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In conclusion after all the experts have weighed in.

DCU Academy is the worst place for your kid
Send them to Philly Union or Red Bulls (open door policy)

What is the Red Bulls open door policy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?

Who said they were?

How many academies are on par and can afford to do what Red Bulls are doing?

Red Bulls are taking teams to Austria and Germany to play against other clubs they own, multiple times a year.

Get real.

Chicago Fire sent their kids to a tournament in Dubai, as have Red Bulls. Philly Union sent their kids to Europe for friendlies and a tournament in Portugal. I'm missing other academies but these are a few examples.

Are you saying because they went to Austria for a Red Bull hosted tournament, it doesn't count? That tournament has a bunch of top European academies that participate, including the other Red Bull teams. I'm not understanding your point.

Anonymous wrote:In conclusion after all the experts have weighed in.

DCU Academy is the worst place for your kid
Send them to Philly Union or Red Bulls (open door policy)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?

Who said they were?

How many academies are on par and can afford to do what Red Bulls are doing?

Red Bulls are taking teams to Austria and Germany to play against other clubs they own, multiple times a year.

Get real.

Chicago Fire sent their kids to a tournament in Dubai, as have Red Bulls. Philly Union sent their kids to Europe for friendlies and a tournament in Portugal. I'm missing other academies but these are a few examples.

Are you saying because they went to Austria for a Red Bull hosted tournament, it doesn't count? That tournament has a bunch of top European academies that participate, including the other Red Bull teams. I'm not understanding your point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?

Who said they were?

How many academies are on par and can afford to do what Red Bulls are doing?

Red Bulls are taking teams to Austria and Germany to play against other clubs they own, multiple times a year.

Get real.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about things like: how are the coaches? How is the training staff? What is the focus of training? what is the play style? Do they tailor training to a style or concentrate on individual strengths? (e.g. are they looking for kids to fit a system or the most talented players with disparate skills). Are there positive aspects to the academy?

Here are the positives of DCU from my pov:

Speed of play/level: Each training cohort (age group) has some of the best kids in the area and that translates to higher speed of play in practice. As you progress as a player, the speed of play only gets faster and the easier you can adapt to the speed of play the more successful a player will be. Speed of play can't be adapted overnight so the sooner a player is tested at a high speed of play, the sooner they will know their current ceiling. The more a player plays with slow speeds, the harder it will be for the player to make the jump to a higher level as they get older. The body gets too conditioned to that (slower) speed.

Transportation to practice. They do provide a bus system to the kids which helps a lot of parents.

Its free: Parents save money by having their kid at DCU. Free gear and boots. Kids and parents benefit.

Exposure: MLS academies have the most exposure in our youth system to scouts.

Video: They do take video of the kids in training and games and that is helpful for them to see themselves. Coaches do use the video for feedback. This is more common now everywhere so not something differentiating.

Pro Pathway: The only place in the DMV with a pro pathway in house. They can sign a kid to a pro contract at any time.

I can't really think of much else.

Coaches aren't great. Training is just ok. Depends on how you evaluate a training. If touches is important to you in a training, then DCU will disappoint. Focus of training depends on the day and the team. There is some thought into that. But not too sophisticated. Play style is direct football usually teams send the ball to the wings/forwards from the back line, usually in the air and have big and fast kids run with the ball. Literally that. Building up play is very uncommon. Tailoring training to individuals is not something you'll experience. Its a drill based training environment with emphasis on the drills and how to execute the drills, less on how the drills translate to the games of help the players become better players (they just run the drills). They look for kids that fit the system with some exceptions. Usually bigger and more developed kids are favored over the smaller kids. Not in all cases, but most.

I know four sets of parents with kids at dcu

None of them can give details of the training after years of being there, because parents aren't allowed.

Outside your opinion, how do you know details about the training 🤔

You don't know the trainings then. When the trainings were at Segra parents could definitely see the trainings from a far. Not in the stadium. So, your facts are flat out wrong. Could a parent be in the stadium no, but they could see the practices and many did. And I have witnessed them myself.

Please state your soccer credentials for the forum?
Since you're giving expert testimony on not only the training but the attention given to individual kids.

What are your licences and experience as a coach at top tier academy levels?
One who can peep through fences from afar and write a dissertation.

And your credentials are you know 4 sets of parents? Have you ever been there?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about things like: how are the coaches? How is the training staff? What is the focus of training? what is the play style? Do they tailor training to a style or concentrate on individual strengths? (e.g. are they looking for kids to fit a system or the most talented players with disparate skills). Are there positive aspects to the academy?

Here are the positives of DCU from my pov:

Speed of play/level: Each training cohort (age group) has some of the best kids in the area and that translates to higher speed of play in practice. As you progress as a player, the speed of play only gets faster and the easier you can adapt to the speed of play the more successful a player will be. Speed of play can't be adapted overnight so the sooner a player is tested at a high speed of play, the sooner they will know their current ceiling. The more a player plays with slow speeds, the harder it will be for the player to make the jump to a higher level as they get older. The body gets too conditioned to that (slower) speed.

Transportation to practice. They do provide a bus system to the kids which helps a lot of parents.

Its free: Parents save money by having their kid at DCU. Free gear and boots. Kids and parents benefit.

Exposure: MLS academies have the most exposure in our youth system to scouts.

Video: They do take video of the kids in training and games and that is helpful for them to see themselves. Coaches do use the video for feedback. This is more common now everywhere so not something differentiating.

Pro Pathway: The only place in the DMV with a pro pathway in house. They can sign a kid to a pro contract at any time.

I can't really think of much else.

Coaches aren't great. Training is just ok. Depends on how you evaluate a training. If touches is important to you in a training, then DCU will disappoint. Focus of training depends on the day and the team. There is some thought into that. But not too sophisticated. Play style is direct football usually teams send the ball to the wings/forwards from the back line, usually in the air and have big and fast kids run with the ball. Literally that. Building up play is very uncommon. Tailoring training to individuals is not something you'll experience. Its a drill based training environment with emphasis on the drills and how to execute the drills, less on how the drills translate to the games of help the players become better players (they just run the drills). They look for kids that fit the system with some exceptions. Usually bigger and more developed kids are favored over the smaller kids. Not in all cases, but most.

I know four sets of parents with kids at dcu

None of them can give details of the training after years of being there, because parents aren't allowed.

Outside your opinion, how do you know details about the training 🤔

You don't know the trainings then. When the trainings were at Segra parents could definitely see the trainings from a far. Not in the stadium. So, your facts are flat out wrong. Could a parent be in the stadium no, but they could see the practices and many did. And I have witnessed them myself.

Please state your soccer credentials for the forum?
Since you're giving expert testimony on not only the training but the attention given to individual kids.

What are your licences and experience as a coach at top tier academy levels?
One who can peep through fences from afar and write a dissertation.

This is hilarious!! Wow. You don't need any credentials or licenses to know that you've got nothing on the PP about DCU. That poster has owned you. Just give up. That person is honestly, one of the best posters on here with information that I haven't even really fully processed. Good stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about things like: how are the coaches? How is the training staff? What is the focus of training? what is the play style? Do they tailor training to a style or concentrate on individual strengths? (e.g. are they looking for kids to fit a system or the most talented players with disparate skills). Are there positive aspects to the academy?

Here are the positives of DCU from my pov:

Speed of play/level: Each training cohort (age group) has some of the best kids in the area and that translates to higher speed of play in practice. As you progress as a player, the speed of play only gets faster and the easier you can adapt to the speed of play the more successful a player will be. Speed of play can't be adapted overnight so the sooner a player is tested at a high speed of play, the sooner they will know their current ceiling. The more a player plays with slow speeds, the harder it will be for the player to make the jump to a higher level as they get older. The body gets too conditioned to that (slower) speed.

Transportation to practice. They do provide a bus system to the kids which helps a lot of parents.

Its free: Parents save money by having their kid at DCU. Free gear and boots. Kids and parents benefit.

Exposure: MLS academies have the most exposure in our youth system to scouts.

Video: They do take video of the kids in training and games and that is helpful for them to see themselves. Coaches do use the video for feedback. This is more common now everywhere so not something differentiating.

Pro Pathway: The only place in the DMV with a pro pathway in house. They can sign a kid to a pro contract at any time.

I can't really think of much else.

Coaches aren't great. Training is just ok. Depends on how you evaluate a training. If touches is important to you in a training, then DCU will disappoint. Focus of training depends on the day and the team. There is some thought into that. But not too sophisticated. Play style is direct football usually teams send the ball to the wings/forwards from the back line, usually in the air and have big and fast kids run with the ball. Literally that. Building up play is very uncommon. Tailoring training to individuals is not something you'll experience. Its a drill based training environment with emphasis on the drills and how to execute the drills, less on how the drills translate to the games of help the players become better players (they just run the drills). They look for kids that fit the system with some exceptions. Usually bigger and more developed kids are favored over the smaller kids. Not in all cases, but most.

I know four sets of parents with kids at dcu

None of them can give details of the training after years of being there, because parents aren't allowed.

Outside your opinion, how do you know details about the training 🤔

You don't know the trainings then. When the trainings were at Segra parents could definitely see the trainings from a far. Not in the stadium. So, your facts are flat out wrong. Could a parent be in the stadium no, but they could see the practices and many did. And I have witnessed them myself.

Please state your soccer credentials for the forum?
Since you're giving expert testimony on not only the training but the attention given to individual kids.

What are your licences and experience as a coach at top tier academy levels?
One who can peep through fences from afar and write a dissertation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to Pro Academies, DC United is behind the ball. They were the last pay to play program and only changed when MLS Next made them. With that being said they seem like they are trying to change thing. Their past Director didn’t do much to help the program but again things seem to be changing. They are still a ways off from being a top academy. The other problem is from the top, what is the plan with these players. Are they truly trying to develop players to go into their pro team? Who knows, not every pro club has a major focus on youth develop. Why focus on it if you don’t plan on using the players in it. It’s an expensive expense. DC is still a good 10 years out from being considered a top youth academy with other MLS programs

More opinions.

Unless you can definitively produce for example in data and other verifiable facts and measurements how they are 10 years behind other MLS programs.
Thanks

And just like that, the "facts, truths and verifiable evidence" dork checking in.

Own facility. Own field. Residency program. Overseas tournaments. Just a few of what the academy teams that are 10 years ahead have.

Now tell us why DCU is on par? And don't do off tangent asking questions of how those things help develop kids.

You are stating facts about the facilities not being owned by DCU
Not facts that they are 10 years behind.

Stop dancing around the question. How is DCU on par with what RedBulls or Union are doing?