Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

They not a top club. Haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2019 or won a championship since 2004. Flows down to the academy. Maybe resources aren't there. That's why it is interesting that Richmond has kids from two different academies on the USYNT. Why didn't DC recruit them in their own backyard. I don't think residential schooling is the main reason.

I don't think that I am spilling the tea here, but perhaps the perceived issues with DC United Academy made there way down to Richmond and there is notion that it's not the best place to grow and develop? One of the best players to come out of the Richmond area in the last few years is Chris Durkin and he went through the DCUA program and signed a homegrown contract with DCU. Currently playing at St. Louis City. Maybe his experiences weren't always the best there and that may have something to do with Richmond's players going elsewhere. Just food for thought.

What are the issues with the DC Academy that didn't stop players from being there then being recruited by top tier clubs in Europe?

How does a player from Richmond not going to DCU counteract players from DCU going Pro and to top colleges?

Anonymous wrote:And how quickly we forget about Kevin Paredes, Griffin Yow, Ku etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

They not a top club. Haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2019 or won a championship since 2004. Flows down to the academy. Maybe resources aren't there. That's why it is interesting that Richmond has kids from two different academies on the USYNT. Why didn't DC recruit them in their own backyard. I don't think residential schooling is the main reason.

I don't think that I am spilling the tea here, but perhaps the perceived issues with DC United Academy made there way down to Richmond and there is notion that it's not the best place to grow and develop? One of the best players to come out of the Richmond area in the last few years is Chris Durkin and he went through the DCUA program and signed a homegrown contract with DCU. Currently playing at St. Louis City. Maybe his experiences weren't always the best there and that may have something to do with Richmond's players going elsewhere. Just food for thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

They not a top club. Haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2019 or won a championship since 2004. Flows down to the academy. Maybe resources aren't there. That's why it is interesting that Richmond has kids from two different academies on the USYNT. Why didn't DC recruit them in their own backyard. I don't think residential schooling is the main reason.

I don't think that I am spilling the tea here, but perhaps the perceived issues with DC United Academy made there way down to Richmond and there is notion that it's not the best place to grow and develop? One of the best players to come out of the Richmond area in the last few years is Chris Durkin and he went through the DCUA program and signed a homegrown contract with DCU. Currently playing at St. Louis City. Maybe his experiences weren't always the best there and that may have something to do with Richmond's players going elsewhere. Just food for thought.

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone from DCU made it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

They not a top club. Haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2019 or won a championship since 2004. Flows down to the academy. Maybe resources aren't there. That's why it is interesting that Richmond has kids from two different academies on the USYNT. Why didn't DC recruit them in their own backyard. I don't think residential schooling is the main reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

And?
Which one is and why?

Do you have the revenue numbers for players sold and can list the top academies players currently playing professional football globally?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

Someone may want to tell the kids from Richmond and Richmond area currently at DCU that they're not actually there

Are there a significant number of DCUA kids from Richmond? If so, I would like to understand why they are having so much success vs DMV kids.

What is this list of successes Richmond kids are having over DMV kids?
Can you post the link or provide the information?

I think the thread was started bc we have kids from RVA on both U15 & U16 teams and no one from DMV or DCUA. The RU teams are on par with most DMV but certainly not better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Correct. DCUA is not a top academy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.

If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs?


There are multiple professional academies in and around London.
They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc

Every academy can't be the top academy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Richmond kid made the team from Kickers/RU. Left to play for another academy, not DCU. Richmond kids going to all other academies accept DCU. Seems like a miss.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/02/u-15-boys-national-team-set-to-face-mexico-on-feb-28-and-march-2-in-arizona

I'm all for informed and constructive criticism of DCUA. But this seems unfair. I'm guessing they went to residential academies? Who could commute from Richmond to Leesburg, daily?

Exactly! I live in DC and don’t want to do that commute. Philly invested in a residential academy and DCUA did not.

DCUA invested in Leesburg making it extremely difficult for the Baltimore folks who can play.

We want our area to be the hotbed that it should be. This is like the the top 10 high school football players in Florida all skipping Florida, Miami and FSU for the Big 10.

At a certain point, folks have to say, “you are right.” We should have been more creative with our decisions and built something that capitalizes on the youth soccer craze here in the area.

As a DC resident, I am embarrassed for DCUA with all of these announcements.

So which academy did your son end up and which USYNT is he on?

My child is too young to be eligible for DCUA or or a national team. WHEN they come calling, myself and several other parents of top kids, are paying attention to see whether to take that call because their develop record is shaky.

You look extremely pathetic defending DCUA when you can literally drive two hours north and see an academy that is producing. They also have a website and that programming is night and day to DCUA.

The hope is that DCUA get their stuff together so we do not have to make these types of decisions. But, you will continue to defend mediocrity.