Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Anonymous wrote:So, many interesting takes on DCU and their lack of success as academy and their overall culture and environment. From this, my takeaway if you have other options, take them.

So, I am not in the DMV, but close enough. The area that I am in has sent players to other academies other than DCU even though it's the closet to our location. Columbus, Charlotte and Philly. Two more heading to Philly next year. That will make around 4 or 5 kids from the local club up there.

I do know a player going to DCU next year, just for their last year, for the experience. They are currently player with another MLS Next club.

Also, if you can make arrangements for other schooling, you are not bound to the $10k cost of DCU. The player I know is able to finish their school in their home district with the online option they offer, for free.

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Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

Shows how unsophisticated you are in the sport. There is no one way to do it. Every player has a different path. A grassroots player has no burdens on their movement as a player to a better situation. Meaning theyare free and cost nothing to a target club. This is powerful in professional soccer.

How many players are on USYNTs and USMNT today who were recruited directly out of a Grassroots club?

I am no fan of Achilles but this year Achilles has had more players in actual youth national team camps than DCU. That is a fact. Regional ID camps don't count. The grassroots players are in those too actually.

I believe PP asked specifically about players going from grassroots clubs directly to current USYNTs and to USMNT

Not about ID camps, which actually Achilles had one player at ID camp (2009)

DCU had several from U14 and U15 for reference btw

There are outliers in every equation

The player from Achilles was at a national team camp. Not a regional ID camp. This is where the DCU kids were just like the grassroots kids.

Depends on how far back you want to go. Before MLS next and before MLS academies became more dominate that is where they were mostly coming from..

The question is how many direct from Grassroots players are on USYNTS and USMNT teams?

Not ID camps

As for DCU kids being just like grassroots, all the MLS Next clubs in the dmv at all ages have players playing on age or older players biobanded.

DCU has several players playing up.

Explain how they're the same on same footing based on that fact?

First and foremost, grassroots clubs in our area have better coaches than DCU. This is how most of the kids got to DCU in the first place. Some of the smallest clubs in the DMV have coaches that can actually teach players how to become better players. They are educators in the sport. DCUs coaching slate is not the best and that has almost always been the case.
Couple that with a robotic and rudimentary style of play being drilled at DCU and no focus on teaching how to actually play the game, from a learning the game perspective, you're better off outside of DCU. It's not equal footing. DCU players are in a much weaker position in this aspect.

Second, playing up means very little if you're not learning anything. At DCU, playing up is a parent appeasement tool, not a real marker of development. If you're playing up and dominating, then you're in the right environment. If not, you're just a tool for optics and the facade of development. DCUs rationale for who plays up and why is so unsophisticated and basic that playing up at DCU is more detrimental to the players. Largely because whether they play up or not, they aren't learning. Playing up can be helpful if done correctly. But DCU doesn't use this tool correctly because they don't care about development. Again, edge to grassroots clubs because playing up is how ALOT of the grassroots clubs actually help develop the kids at younger ages. At DCU playing up doesn't change anything for the player. The learning environment is the same whether you're playing up or on age - weak.

Third, whining about bio banding at grassroots clubs shows a laser focus on winning the games. From a development perspective, playing against bio.banded kids may be better for kids that were playing up anyway before they got to DCU. .it all depends on the player and the situation. A good combination of dominating and challenge is a balance alot of professional academies try to strike. It all comes down to learning environment. I would take being bio banded if I was learning at a higher rate. And you're singling out some of the worst bio banding offenders and painting all clubs with that same brush. End of day, grassroots clubs have the flexibility to do almost whatever they want with their rosters, playing time etc. DCU doesn't have this luxury because the league mandates certain things as does the MLS. DCU just has better players.. Without those players, DCU is no better than local grassroots clubs and, for the reasons posted above, and in many instances, worse. At least at other MLS academies, the academy itself is something to be proud of. Facilities, investment, product. DCU is a joke on all of these fronts.

Fourth, DCU doesn't have a legitimate pro pathway for the players without a second team. Neither do grassroots clubs. Equal.

Fifth, facilities at grassroots clubs are the same as DCUs. Equal footing.

Sixth, grassroots clubs have the same amount of players on youth national teams as DCU. None. But this year a grassroots club put a player in the u16 national team camp over ALL the DCU 2009s. Edge grassroots.

Seventh, DCU has a weaker college track record than grassroots/local clubs. Just not enough history in the game. Edge grassroots.

Could go on and on...bottom line, DCU is not what most think it is. And if you chose to go, you're choosing a medicore at best academy for your son.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

Shows how unsophisticated you are in the sport. There is no one way to do it. Every player has a different path. A grassroots player has no burdens on their movement as a player to a better situation. Meaning theyare free and cost nothing to a target club. This is powerful in professional soccer.

How many players are on USYNTs and USMNT today who were recruited directly out of a Grassroots club?

I am no fan of Achilles but this year Achilles has had more players in actual youth national team camps than DCU. That is a fact. Regional ID camps don't count. The grassroots players are in those too actually.

I believe PP asked specifically about players going from grassroots clubs directly to current USYNTs and to USMNT

Not about ID camps, which actually Achilles had one player at ID camp (2009)

DCU had several from U14 and U15 for reference btw

There are outliers in every equation

The player from Achilles was at a national team camp. Not a regional ID camp. This is where the DCU kids were just like the grassroots kids.

Depends on how far back you want to go. Before MLS next and before MLS academies became more dominate that is where they were mostly coming from..

The question is how many direct from Grassroots players are on USYNTS and USMNT teams?

Not ID camps

As for DCU kids being just like grassroots, all the MLS Next clubs in the dmv at all ages have players playing on age or older players biobanded.

DCU has several players playing up.

Explain how they're the same on same footing based on that fact?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, 14 to 18 year olds. And yes, they were better than players in their regions. Help us understand why that is so hard to believe? Are you saying academy teams spend 10s of thousands of dollars to school/feed/house these kids just for shits and giggles?

When you decide to stop the exaggeration of the number of young kids from the dmv living away from home at MLS academies nationwide people may take you semi seriously

Doesn't matter what you say or do no one takes you or your posts seriously. It's just amusement at this point. You clearly do t know what's up.

At this point that poster is either trolling or ignorant. I think bit of both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, 14 to 18 year olds. And yes, they were better than players in their regions. Help us understand why that is so hard to believe? Are you saying academy teams spend 10s of thousands of dollars to school/feed/house these kids just for shits and giggles?

When you decide to stop the exaggeration of the number of young kids from the dmv living away from home at MLS academies nationwide people may take you semi seriously

Doesn't matter what you say or do no one takes you or your posts seriously. It's just amusement at this point. You clearly do t know what's up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

DCU was not considered an option for many of the kids that move on to other academies or opportunities so there’s that.

It’s a great option for many kids though! I’m sure that’s all you want to hear. Not sure if anyone truly disagrees with that. If it’s the only option for you, then it’s the best one for you!

You must live in a true make-believe world if you think or want others to think there are large amounts of available spaces at the few MLS academies nationwide open for people from the DMV
Even more delusional to think they need dmv players to fill their ranks or dmv has all these top tier players better than what those academies have in their local regions.

This alone tells me you have no clue what's going on. There are dozens of DMV kids at outside academies.

Anonymous wrote:MLS academies can get talent from Florida, Texas, New York, Jersey, Arizona and California without ever looking at the dmv in nationwide search

The difference between those states and the DMV is that those academy teams know what they are doing as far as picking up top talent. In the DMV, they seem to miss picking up some top kids or just overlook them for one reason or another. Outside academy teams know this and they are scooping up many DMV kids to add to their roster. And these aren't some 2nd, 3rd or 4th string players either.

LOL 😆..

Everyone's kids who aren't selected for the top tier is miraculously overlooked
Yet other kids they play with and against are selected haha

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

DCU was not considered an option for many of the kids that move on to other academies or opportunities so there’s that.

It’s a great option for many kids though! I’m sure that’s all you want to hear. Not sure if anyone truly disagrees with that. If it’s the only option for you, then it’s the best one for you!

You must live in a true make-believe world if you think or want others to think there are large amounts of available spaces at the few MLS academies nationwide open for people from the DMV
Even more delusional to think they need dmv players to fill their ranks or dmv has all these top tier players better than what those academies have in their local regions.

This alone tells me you have no clue what's going on. There are dozens of DMV kids at outside academies.

Anonymous wrote:MLS academies can get talent from Florida, Texas, New York, Jersey, Arizona and California without ever looking at the dmv in nationwide search

The difference between those states and the DMV is that those academy teams know what they are doing as far as picking up top talent. In the DMV, they seem to miss picking up some top kids or just overlook them for one reason or another. Outside academy teams know this and they are scooping up many DMV kids to add to their roster. And these aren't some 2nd, 3rd or 4th string players either.

LOL 😆..

Everyone's kids who aren't selected for the top tier is miraculously overlooked
Yet other kids they play with and against are selected haha

LOL 😆..

Go ahead and tell that to the outside academies that scooped them up for residency programs. I guess they invest that much money into them because they're not top tier eh? You're funny...

Yes, the dozens upon dozens of 12, 13, 14, 15 year olds from the dmv whos families have sent them to live with strangers across the country
Because the other academies can't find players in or near their regions haha

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, 14 to 18 year olds. And yes, they were better than players in their regions. Help us understand why that is so hard to believe? Are you saying academy teams spend 10s of thousands of dollars to school/feed/house these kids just for shits and giggles?

When you decide to stop the exaggeration of the number of young kids from the dmv living away from home at MLS academies nationwide people may take you semi seriously

Anonymous wrote:No, 14 to 18 year olds. And yes, they were better than players in their regions. Help us understand why that is so hard to believe? Are you saying academy teams spend 10s of thousands of dollars to school/feed/house these kids just for shits and giggles?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

DCU was not considered an option for many of the kids that move on to other academies or opportunities so there’s that.

It’s a great option for many kids though! I’m sure that’s all you want to hear. Not sure if anyone truly disagrees with that. If it’s the only option for you, then it’s the best one for you!

You must live in a true make-believe world if you think or want others to think there are large amounts of available spaces at the few MLS academies nationwide open for people from the DMV
Even more delusional to think they need dmv players to fill their ranks or dmv has all these top tier players better than what those academies have in their local regions.

This alone tells me you have no clue what's going on. There are dozens of DMV kids at outside academies.

Anonymous wrote:MLS academies can get talent from Florida, Texas, New York, Jersey, Arizona and California without ever looking at the dmv in nationwide search

The difference between those states and the DMV is that those academy teams know what they are doing as far as picking up top talent. In the DMV, they seem to miss picking up some top kids or just overlook them for one reason or another. Outside academy teams know this and they are scooping up many DMV kids to add to their roster. And these aren't some 2nd, 3rd or 4th string players either.

LOL 😆..

Everyone's kids who aren't selected for the top tier is miraculously overlooked
Yet other kids they play with and against are selected haha

LOL 😆..

Go ahead and tell that to the outside academies that scooped them up for residency programs. I guess they invest that much money into them because they're not top tier eh? You're funny...

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is D.C. United's Academy Still Free?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-d-c-uniteds-academy-still-free/id397784823?i=1000707014835

If you're not one of the parents of the very kids few they want, doesn't concern you

If they want your kid and you don't want to go, don't worry about it, not your issue

If they want you and you're okay with the program, go with it

The rest is soap opera drama

How dumb is this. If you're joining an academy, it's pretty sad you can't consider the club in your own area due to how bad it is. That means having to live away from home and family to train in a better environment. We want change.

Who is we?
It's only an extremely small percentage of soccer players in the dmv that can be one of the few at dcua or any other mls academy

We is all of the parents in the DMV that want the best for their kids. We is all of the kids that want a legitimate chance at becoming a top level player. We is the DMV soccer population that sees what a crap academy DCU is and wants better for the kids in this area. We is the player from a low income family that has ability and wants an opportunity but can't get one because DCU doesn't scout well because it is a horrible academy. We is the family that can't pay 10k a year to go to DCU. On and on...the reality is that DCU is a complete failure as an academy and as a club. If you're there, you're just in a dead zone for your development as a player. Is it an accomplishment to make the DCU squad? Yes. Only because DCU does try to select the best kids. They don't always succeed at that but they try. The kids should be proud of that. Unfortunately, being selected for DCU is where being proud stops. Once you're there, you quickly realize it is a complete and utter disgrace and a failing system needing a complete overhaul and that players are much better off in other MLS academies. This is obvious to anyone. Even people that don't know anything about soccer.

Sounds like an obsessed lunatic on a crazed deranged personal crusade trying to recruit members to their cult

Take your kid to the club of your choice.
If other people want their kid to go to DC that's their business

Your fake concern for the well-being of soccer development for the region is Shakespearean

Another totally useless post with nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Just like everything about DCU. Useless.

About as useless as telling people the DC United Club Professional Academy is the worst place for their kid to go because it will kill all hopes and soccer ambitions

So they should go to Paragon or another grassroots club instead if they want a chance of making it to high level soccer in the future

Even more useless is telling people to just go to another MLS Club Academy when there are only a few in the entire country and they only take the best of who they want

Additionally useless is a post ranting about an environment for the special few to people who care more about the Potomac tournament this weekend and the ECNL BY to SY change

More useless is you focusing on other people at a place that has nothing to do with you

Didn’t a couple of kids from paragon go to a euro academy? Quite a few kids have gone through Achilles and Arlington as well to get to non DCU academies. So yes, DCU is definitely not the only option for local kids and smaller, non-MLS academies can help get u there.

When a club states at U15 and I think only has 2 teams, for sure, no expectation that they have any guidance/plan to get to that level.

I think DCU academy and maybe Minnesota are great arguments for getting rid of the protected list or allowing clubs first dibs on kids in ther region.

Where was it written that DCU is the only optional route to high level soccer?

What's the level higher than MLS clubs in the US?

A parent with personal private connections leaving from a grassroots club to another country doesn't mean the grassroots club is the best route for top professional aspirations.

Less than 1% of MLS club academy players from will ever see professional soccer.
Saying grassroots clubs also provides an equal chance is madness

DCU was not considered an option for many of the kids that move on to other academies or opportunities so there’s that.

It’s a great option for many kids though! I’m sure that’s all you want to hear. Not sure if anyone truly disagrees with that. If it’s the only option for you, then it’s the best one for you!

You must live in a true make-believe world if you think or want others to think there are large amounts of available spaces at the few MLS academies nationwide open for people from the DMV
Even more delusional to think they need dmv players to fill their ranks or dmv has all these top tier players better than what those academies have in their local regions.

This alone tells me you have no clue what's going on. There are dozens of DMV kids at outside academies.

Anonymous wrote:MLS academies can get talent from Florida, Texas, New York, Jersey, Arizona and California without ever looking at the dmv in nationwide search

The difference between those states and the DMV is that those academy teams know what they are doing as far as picking up top talent. In the DMV, they seem to miss picking up some top kids or just overlook them for one reason or another. Outside academy teams know this and they are scooping up many DMV kids to add to their roster. And these aren't some 2nd, 3rd or 4th string players either.

LOL 😆..

Everyone's kids who aren't selected for the top tier is miraculously overlooked
Yet other kids they play with and against are selected haha