Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

But whoever that one person is sure does know a hell of a lot about the soccer scene and DCU. Can't really deny that

That one knowledgeable person is educating this novice parent so we know there are at least 2 of us and the snarky commenter which makes at least 3.

Athletic Bilbao can maintain a 1st team in La Liga that has never been relegated from a population of 2m.

Croatia can create a World Cup team from a population of 3m.

Is it too much to ask for DCU to develop 3-4 home grown talents from a population of 6m?

Can you imagine what Audi field would look like if we had 3-4 home grown talents that went onto top 5 European academies when they are 22-23 after 4-5 years on 1st team? We would all be invested with season tickets as there would be a genuine pathway of local talent that we would perpetually root for whether our kids are still involved or not. Nobody at DCU currently has that vision and apparently none of the parents or else this fight would not exist.

I assume the current DCU academy players are the best players in the DMV. I do not know enough to know about recruiting, etc. Kudos to those players and those parents. No one should degrade that accomplishment. That is a major accomplishment.

Is it okay to ask whether our youth systems are not producing a high enough product for DCU to choose from or that DCU is getting a good product and then not developing them? All of these are fair questions that people who care about the game can ask without all of this excess emotion.

Our local ABC affiliate just posted a clip on IG about of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan ripping DCU and their lack of investment in the team. Are two of our best USMNT players crazy too?

And what is your response to yourself? Cmon don't be scared!

DCU Academy isn't good...got it. Still the best place in the DMV for a kid to land if they can. Move on and go visit your mirror. You can actually see yourself talking to yourself there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

But whoever that one person is sure does know a hell of a lot about the soccer scene and DCU. Can't really deny that

That one knowledgeable person is educating this novice parent so we know there are at least 2 of us and the snarky commenter which makes at least 3.

Athletic Bilbao can maintain a 1st team in La Liga that has never been relegated from a population of 2m.

Croatia can create a World Cup team from a population of 3m.

Is it too much to ask for DCU to develop 3-4 home grown talents from a population of 6m?

Can you imagine what Audi field would look like if we had 3-4 home grown talents that went onto top 5 European academies when they are 22-23 after 4-5 years on 1st team? We would all be invested with season tickets as there would be a genuine pathway of local talent that we would perpetually root for whether our kids are still involved or not. Nobody at DCU currently has that vision and apparently none of the parents or else this fight would not exist.

I assume the current DCU academy players are the best players in the DMV. I do not know enough to know about recruiting, etc. Kudos to those players and those parents. No one should degrade that accomplishment. That is a major accomplishment.

Is it okay to ask whether our youth systems are not producing a high enough product for DCU to choose from or that DCU is getting a good product and then not developing them? All of these are fair questions that people who care about the game can ask without all of this excess emotion.

Our local ABC affiliate just posted a clip on IG about of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan ripping DCU and their lack of investment in the team. Are two of our best USMNT players crazy too?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

But whoever that one person is sure does know a hell of a lot about the soccer scene and DCU. Can't really deny that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for proving my point to our new listeners...

He responded 3X's in a row to himself 😂🤣

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for proving my point to our new listeners...

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

Anonymous wrote:One person just pretending to be multiple people...this is the best thread here. Watching a psycho do their thing live...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Just a word of caution ..As soon as you bring in commercial money making operations it will be over. Including all of the clubs you list. AND, The last and I mean LAST thing you want to do is get DCU involved. .They will take whatever you have built and destroy it for themselves because that is what the organization is about. Greed, money and shortcuts.

My advice would be to start your own thing and build it on your own as best you can. Don't involve any other entities that are focused on making money and not youth development. There is no one that owns the pick up market per se. Own it and let everyone else follow you. The more cooks you have in the kitchen the less you will control. To the previous posters point, it is hard to build a pick up culture. But maybe that is unrealistic in the US given where we are. Maybe it is more of building opportunities for unstructured play in a systematic and thoughtful way that enables children to be creative with football and love the game before they start playing in a structured environment. I would focus on the ages 9-13. after that free play always helps but so many kids worldwide are in systems at that point you would be behind if that is all you did.

One avenue to seriously explore is the USS Foundation. The foundation is the charitable arm of US Soccer and it funds initiatives like this and has built pitches, started programs etc etc on their own as well. It is focused on underserved communities but I think they are always looking for ideas to build the game. Brand your initiative and pitch it to them. Maybe starting with the DMV market with plans to expand nation wide. "Free Play For Everyday" or something like that. Because the foundation isn't about making money, it would be an amazing partner to land for something like this and it would keep your initiative pure and away from the full soccer establishment in the DMV. Like was said before, as soon as the DMV soccer establishment gets involved, your initiative is toast because of pure greed, jealousy or an unrelenting desire to maintain the status quo. The last point isn't to be underestimated. Just remember, the Bethesdas of the world dont want a pick up culture because they want all of those kids playing on their teams. You have no idea how hard they will fight to protect their position in the market. Same with all of the other clubs in the area. Disruption is needed in the soccer market in the DMV. That is certain. You just need to be smart about how you do it and involve the right entities at the outset. https://ussoccerfoundation.org/

I sift through all of the snarky comments on these pages to find gems like this. I truly appreciate it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Just a word of caution ..As soon as you bring in commercial money making operations it will be over. Including all of the clubs you list. AND, The last and I mean LAST thing you want to do is get DCU involved. .They will take whatever you have built and destroy it for themselves because that is what the organization is about. Greed, money and shortcuts.

My advice would be to start your own thing and build it on your own as best you can. Don't involve any other entities that are focused on making money and not youth development. There is no one that owns the pick up market per se. Own it and let everyone else follow you. The more cooks you have in the kitchen the less you will control. To the previous posters point, it is hard to build a pick up culture. But maybe that is unrealistic in the US given where we are. Maybe it is more of building opportunities for unstructured play in a systematic and thoughtful way that enables children to be creative with football and love the game before they start playing in a structured environment. I would focus on the ages 9-13. after that free play always helps but so many kids worldwide are in systems at that point you would be behind if that is all you did.

One avenue to seriously explore is the USS Foundation. The foundation is the charitable arm of US Soccer and it funds initiatives like this and has built pitches, started programs etc etc on their own as well. It is focused on underserved communities but I think they are always looking for ideas to build the game. Brand your initiative and pitch it to them. Maybe starting with the DMV market with plans to expand nation wide. "Free Play For Everyday" or something like that. Because the foundation isn't about making money, it would be an amazing partner to land for something like this and it would keep your initiative pure and away from the full soccer establishment in the DMV. Like was said before, as soon as the DMV soccer establishment gets involved, your initiative is toast because of pure greed, jealousy or an unrelenting desire to maintain the status quo. The last point isn't to be underestimated. Just remember, the Bethesdas of the world dont want a pick up culture because they want all of those kids playing on their teams. You have no idea how hard they will fight to protect their position in the market. Same with all of the other clubs in the area. Disruption is needed in the soccer market in the DMV. That is certain. You just need to be smart about how you do it and involve the right entities at the outset. https://ussoccerfoundation.org/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.