Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did anyone say DCU is the best fit for every player in the DMV?

Comment actually said for personal reasons a family may want to go elsewhere

The point is, as long as you're in America until 18 years old, there is no significant difference in probability of making it to the highest international levels regardless of which MLS Club Academy you're in.

If you're not the elite and exceptional of the 1% in the academies, the MLS academy doesn't make a difference in the long run.

U15, U16, U17 MLS Next championships ain't diddly squat when the goal is Division 1 European league contract.

Homegrown signings say otherwise. The teams with the most kids going pro are teams with better funding. Just because it's not Europe doesn't mean you settle for a lesser environment. You might look down on MLS, but it's the highest league you can play here and I'd say every academy kid strives for a contract.

DCU doesn't have Homegrown signings?

Please provide the metrics that show funding allotment per player and measurable levels of associated attributed professional success for all academies?

Only Homegrown signings end-up playing in MLS?

DCU kids aren't going to good colleges?

If college is the goal, sure, DCU is sufficient... as is any other MLS Next or ECNL team. The players in academies are dreaming of going pro, with college as plan b. The outside academies listed here have almost double the amount of homegrown signings than DCU and they've been around for almost 30 years? Use that as a benchmark for effectiveness in developing pro players. Maybe, just maybe, the other academies have stronger development programs or better talent identification.

And no, I won't spend time digging up impossible metrics and measures. You can plainly see it, those proofs have been listed out in 20 pages.

As it was said in a previous post, football at this level is a margins game. Can you go to college from any MLS, MLS next, ECNL program? Yes you can. But it is about maximizing your child's chances of getting better opportunities. Better training means a better player which means better opportunities. It's the difference between a top tier D1 program and a low tier D1 program. The differences are pretty big in the overall talent in these two programs and the player trajectory at the youth level.

Agree with the homegrown data and using that as a benchmark. DCU is one of the oldest, if not the oldest club in the league. But yet it struggles to produce homegrown players at the same rate as it's younger MLS counterparts. There is only one place to look to understand why DCU can't keep the pace up in the development of its own pros. THE ACADEMY.

This has been said before, if you're trying to be a professional footballer, DCU is a VERY difficult place to achieve that because the academy is just not in the business of producing pros. Remember the MLS is a business first. DCU doesn't believe the academy is a money maker and, they are top 10 in revenue generation in the league so they have a strong sense of how they want to make money (the academy isn't one of those ways). DCU at the academy level is in the business of 1. Satisfying the league by having an academy (remember it was reducing it's commitment to the academy by cutting its younger teams in 2015 despite being pay to play) 2. Spending the least amount of money as possible to keep the academy afloat and credible and 3.Beating the local clubs to maintain its competitive advantage in recruitment (which it is not consistently doing at all age groups and which necessitates win now teams).

And to the PP who said MLS academies aren't close to Europe and you have a very small chance of going to a top tier European club from the MLS, that is a fact. But it is all we have in this country unfortunately. So we have to work with what we have. MLS academies are getting better, but many of them are improving at a rate that is just faster than DCU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did anyone say DCU is the best fit for every player in the DMV?

Comment actually said for personal reasons a family may want to go elsewhere

The point is, as long as you're in America until 18 years old, there is no significant difference in probability of making it to the highest international levels regardless of which MLS Club Academy you're in.

If you're not the elite and exceptional of the 1% in the academies, the MLS academy doesn't make a difference in the long run.

U15, U16, U17 MLS Next championships ain't diddly squat when the goal is Division 1 European league contract.

Homegrown signings say otherwise. The teams with the most kids going pro are teams with better funding. Just because it's not Europe doesn't mean you settle for a lesser environment. You might look down on MLS, but it's the highest league you can play here and I'd say every academy kid strives for a contract.

DCU doesn't have Homegrown signings?

Please provide the metrics that show funding allotment per player and measurable levels of associated attributed professional success for all academies?

Only Homegrown signings end-up playing in MLS?

DCU kids aren't going to good colleges?

If college is the goal, sure, DCU is sufficient... as is any other MLS Next or ECNL team. The players in academies are dreaming of going pro, with college as plan b. The outside academies listed here have almost double the amount of homegrown signings than DCU and they've been around for almost 30 years? Use that as a benchmark for effectiveness in developing pro players. Maybe, just maybe, the other academies have stronger development programs or better talent identification.

And no, I won't spend time digging up impossible metrics and measures. You can plainly see it, those proofs have been listed out in 20 pages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did anyone say DCU is the best fit for every player in the DMV?

Comment actually said for personal reasons a family may want to go elsewhere

The point is, as long as you're in America until 18 years old, there is no significant difference in probability of making it to the highest international levels regardless of which MLS Club Academy you're in.

If you're not the elite and exceptional of the 1% in the academies, the MLS academy doesn't make a difference in the long run.

U15, U16, U17 MLS Next championships ain't diddly squat when the goal is Division 1 European league contract.

Homegrown signings say otherwise. The teams with the most kids going pro are teams with better funding. Just because it's not Europe doesn't mean you settle for a lesser environment. You might look down on MLS, but it's the highest league you can play here and I'd say every academy kid strives for a contract.

DCU doesn't have Homegrown signings?

Please provide the metrics that show funding allotment per player and measurable levels of associated attributed professional success for all academies?

Only Homegrown signings end-up playing in MLS?

DCU kids aren't going to good colleges?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many players started at DCU Academy since MLS Next began, left for another MLS Academy and is now on a USYNT or U21's or Olympic team or the Men's Senior team?

How the heck is anyone supposed to know that. But here's a fact. There are no DCU players on any USYNT. Sure some end up signing with their first team, but not as many as other academies with better funding.

Wait, you come here giving your toxic opinion and drinking the haterade about how much greater Philly, NYRB and LA Galaxy is as an academy and DC kids should run to them but you can't say what successes DCU transfers are having at these much better academies?

So you're full of hot air

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many players started at DCU Academy since MLS Next began, left for another MLS Academy and is now on a USYNT or U21's or Olympic team or the Men's Senior team?

How the heck is anyone supposed to know that. But here's a fact. There are no DCU players on any USYNT. Sure some end up signing with their first team, but not as many as other academies with better funding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did anyone say DCU is the best fit for every player in the DMV?

Comment actually said for personal reasons a family may want to go elsewhere

The point is, as long as you're in America until 18 years old, there is no significant difference in probability of making it to the highest international levels regardless of which MLS Club Academy you're in.

If you're not the elite and exceptional of the 1% in the academies, the MLS academy doesn't make a difference in the long run.

U15, U16, U17 MLS Next championships ain't diddly squat when the goal is Division 1 European league contract.

Homegrown signings say otherwise. The teams with the most kids going pro are teams with better funding. Just because it's not Europe doesn't mean you settle for a lesser environment. You might look down on MLS, but it's the highest league you can play here and I'd say every academy kid strives for a contract.

Anonymous wrote:Where did anyone say DCU is the best fit for every player in the DMV?

Comment actually said for personal reasons a family may want to go elsewhere

The point is, as long as you're in America until 18 years old, there is no significant difference in probability of making it to the highest international levels regardless of which MLS Club Academy you're in.

If you're not the elite and exceptional of the 1% in the academies, the MLS academy doesn't make a difference in the long run.

U15, U16, U17 MLS Next championships ain't diddly squat when the goal is Division 1 European league contract.

Anonymous wrote:How many players started at DCU Academy since MLS Next began, left for another MLS Academy and is now on a USYNT or U21's or Olympic team or the Men's Senior team?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not about the best funded. It's about a system that actually tries to develop the kids in a consistent and proven way. There may be academies that have even less funding than DCU but have a commitment to real development that DCU doesn't have.

This is an opinion and another lie.

Unless you can tell us the Individual Development Plan philosophy and process at all MLS Club Academies.
Then can present side by side comparisons on all the elements involved including metrics and the how, what, when etc.

You throw around the word Development like its magical pixie dust.
Its actually an identified process that qualitative and quantitative with independent markers based on the player.

So which players at DCU does not have an Individual Development Plan?
Where is your proof this doesn’t exist?

Show me evidence that all players at DCU have an individual development plan that is both qualitative and quantitative. Would love to see that.

I know first hand that players have played an entire season with DCU and not received anything in any form of an IDP and barely got written feedback unless requested.

How long have you been president of the DC Academy Parents association?

I know for a fact that every player at DCU receives feedback in form of IDPs
(all you have to do is say "I know for a fact" without evidence or logic)

Why is it a issue for You if the players at an academy where you don't have a player or a financial stake has IDP or not?
What's your purpose?

You have no idea what anyone's stake is in anything. So stay in your lane of offering nothing meaningful to the discussion.

This forum is about giving information and sharing information. The more information people have about something the better decisions they can make for their children. A lot of people on here are having a dialogue and appreciate the opinions. You on the other hand offer nothing other than weak posts defending something with no evidence of anything either.

The biggest problem with youth soccer in this country is that parents don't have great sources of information to make good decisions. Changing that gives all children better opportunities that fit their needs. The pros and cons of DCU have been listed in this thread and pretty thoroughly on each side and if people are considering DCU for their son, they have information to look at to make decisions. You can determine pretty easily on this thread which posts seem credible and which ones don't.

What a pile of sanctimonious manure!

You have one person who has an obvious personal vendetta against the DCU Academy that at every chance jumps on posts to spread vile lies, untruths, toxic negativity and whatever dirty laundry rumors he can find.

This isn't a constructive discussion about DCU Academy or even close.
(and please look at other threads before claiming the sanctity and virtue of DCUM as an intellectual educational vehicle for soccer)

The DC Academy isn't a pay-to-play grassroots club. The membership is exclusive and limited.
Majority of our kids will never be in a position to make a decision if we want to go there or not, because we won't be invited.

What DC United is to its Academy players is known to the DCU Academy families.
It doesn't need to be known to us.

If your kid is talented and exceptional enough to get an invitation, then a gossip forum is definitely not the place for you to get information for making a decision.
I'm pretty sure not a single soccer knowledgeable family at dcua today came here for advice or care what we gripe and whine about with ecnl girls soccer mainly.

I don’t defend DCUA, I'm against the lies and falsehoods and toxicity with misinformation to satisfy some loser's personal war.

No different than the people who bash Bethesda or Achilles or Union saying anything fictional because they get off on it and want others to pile on.

The prospect that the things that are being said here are actually true is upsetting to someone that is fully invested in DCU and hasn't thought about any of the topics and issues raised. The reality is the things being said about DCU aren't all lies. If they are, please offer the forum the truth about DCU as you see it.

other than the owners, how is someone fully invested in a free academy?

It is the only option for a family that does not have the resources to have other options, such as the ability to move to an area with better academies or multiple passports, etc.

Families that turn down or leave DCU academy likely have the financial resources and connections to find a better fit or pathway.

why would a player need to leave dcu academy? I understand because of personal preference a family may want to leave, not need to leave.

what am I missing?

Name the academy in America thats sending high numbers of players to top European leagues after they turn 18?
NONE!

Why are you so angry that there are other academies that may be a better fit for a player? Do you seriously think DCU Academy is the best fit for every promising player in the DMV area?

That’s really hopelessly naive that you don’t think families aren’t planning some other path. DCU has territorial rights and when a youth player joins their academy, that means DCU has a say in every move a player wants to make by naming a price. That’s a lot of control by an entity that is just meh to a lot of people. And nothing you can say will make people think DCU academy is as awesome as you make it out to be.

No doubt it’s the best fit for your player. But give it a rest and don’t try to force it down on others who don’t want to be part of it.

Produce quotes from me to match the accusations you just made.
I'll wait.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not about the best funded. It's about a system that actually tries to develop the kids in a consistent and proven way. There may be academies that have even less funding than DCU but have a commitment to real development that DCU doesn't have.

This is an opinion and another lie.

Unless you can tell us the Individual Development Plan philosophy and process at all MLS Club Academies.
Then can present side by side comparisons on all the elements involved including metrics and the how, what, when etc.

You throw around the word Development like its magical pixie dust.
Its actually an identified process that qualitative and quantitative with independent markers based on the player.

So which players at DCU does not have an Individual Development Plan?
Where is your proof this doesn’t exist?

Show me evidence that all players at DCU have an individual development plan that is both qualitative and quantitative. Would love to see that.

I know first hand that players have played an entire season with DCU and not received anything in any form of an IDP and barely got written feedback unless requested.

How long have you been president of the DC Academy Parents association?

I know for a fact that every player at DCU receives feedback in form of IDPs
(all you have to do is say "I know for a fact" without evidence or logic)

Why is it a issue for You if the players at an academy where you don't have a player or a financial stake has IDP or not?
What's your purpose?

You have no idea what anyone's stake is in anything. So stay in your lane of offering nothing meaningful to the discussion.

This forum is about giving information and sharing information. The more information people have about something the better decisions they can make for their children. A lot of people on here are having a dialogue and appreciate the opinions. You on the other hand offer nothing other than weak posts defending something with no evidence of anything either.

The biggest problem with youth soccer in this country is that parents don't have great sources of information to make good decisions. Changing that gives all children better opportunities that fit their needs. The pros and cons of DCU have been listed in this thread and pretty thoroughly on each side and if people are considering DCU for their son, they have information to look at to make decisions. You can determine pretty easily on this thread which posts seem credible and which ones don't.

What a pile of sanctimonious manure!

You have one person who has an obvious personal vendetta against the DCU Academy that at every chance jumps on posts to spread vile lies, untruths, toxic negativity and whatever dirty laundry rumors he can find.

This isn't a constructive discussion about DCU Academy or even close.
(and please look at other threads before claiming the sanctity and virtue of DCUM as an intellectual educational vehicle for soccer)

The DC Academy isn't a pay-to-play grassroots club. The membership is exclusive and limited.
Majority of our kids will never be in a position to make a decision if we want to go there or not, because we won't be invited.

What DC United is to its Academy players is known to the DCU Academy families.
It doesn't need to be known to us.

If your kid is talented and exceptional enough to get an invitation, then a gossip forum is definitely not the place for you to get information for making a decision.
I'm pretty sure not a single soccer knowledgeable family at dcua today came here for advice or care what we gripe and whine about with ecnl girls soccer mainly.

I don’t defend DCUA, I'm against the lies and falsehoods and toxicity with misinformation to satisfy some loser's personal war.

No different than the people who bash Bethesda or Achilles or Union saying anything fictional because they get off on it and want others to pile on.

The prospect that the things that are being said here are actually true is upsetting to someone that is fully invested in DCU and hasn't thought about any of the topics and issues raised. The reality is the things being said about DCU aren't all lies. If they are, please offer the forum the truth about DCU as you see it.

other than the owners, how is someone fully invested in a free academy?

It is the only option for a family that does not have the resources to have other options, such as the ability to move to an area with better academies or multiple passports, etc.

Families that turn down or leave DCU academy likely have the financial resources and connections to find a better fit or pathway.

why would a player need to leave dcu academy? I understand because of personal preference a family may want to leave, not need to leave.

what am I missing?

Name the academy in America thats sending high numbers of players to top European leagues after they turn 18?
NONE!

Why are you so angry that there are other academies that may be a better fit for a player? Do you seriously think DCU Academy is the best fit for every promising player in the DMV area?

That’s really hopelessly naive that you don’t think families aren’t planning some other path. DCU has territorial rights and when a youth player joins their academy, that means DCU has a say in every move a player wants to make by naming a price. That’s a lot of control by an entity that is just meh to a lot of people. And nothing you can say will make people think DCU academy is as awesome as you make it out to be.

No doubt it’s the best fit for your player. But give it a rest and don’t try to force it down on others who don’t want to be part of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not about the best funded. It's about a system that actually tries to develop the kids in a consistent and proven way. There may be academies that have even less funding than DCU but have a commitment to real development that DCU doesn't have.

This is an opinion and another lie.

Unless you can tell us the Individual Development Plan philosophy and process at all MLS Club Academies.
Then can present side by side comparisons on all the elements involved including metrics and the how, what, when etc.

You throw around the word Development like its magical pixie dust.
Its actually an identified process that qualitative and quantitative with independent markers based on the player.

So which players at DCU does not have an Individual Development Plan?
Where is your proof this doesn’t exist?

Show me evidence that all players at DCU have an individual development plan that is both qualitative and quantitative. Would love to see that.

I know first hand that players have played an entire season with DCU and not received anything in any form of an IDP and barely got written feedback unless requested.

How long have you been president of the DC Academy Parents association?

I know for a fact that every player at DCU receives feedback in form of IDPs
(all you have to do is say "I know for a fact" without evidence or logic)

Why is it a issue for You if the players at an academy where you don't have a player or a financial stake has IDP or not?
What's your purpose?

You have no idea what anyone's stake is in anything. So stay in your lane of offering nothing meaningful to the discussion.

This forum is about giving information and sharing information. The more information people have about something the better decisions they can make for their children. A lot of people on here are having a dialogue and appreciate the opinions. You on the other hand offer nothing other than weak posts defending something with no evidence of anything either.

The biggest problem with youth soccer in this country is that parents don't have great sources of information to make good decisions. Changing that gives all children better opportunities that fit their needs. The pros and cons of DCU have been listed in this thread and pretty thoroughly on each side and if people are considering DCU for their son, they have information to look at to make decisions. You can determine pretty easily on this thread which posts seem credible and which ones don't.

What a pile of sanctimonious manure!

You have one person who has an obvious personal vendetta against the DCU Academy that at every chance jumps on posts to spread vile lies, untruths, toxic negativity and whatever dirty laundry rumors he can find.

This isn't a constructive discussion about DCU Academy or even close.
(and please look at other threads before claiming the sanctity and virtue of DCUM as an intellectual educational vehicle for soccer)

The DC Academy isn't a pay-to-play grassroots club. The membership is exclusive and limited.
Majority of our kids will never be in a position to make a decision if we want to go there or not, because we won't be invited.

What DC United is to its Academy players is known to the DCU Academy families.
It doesn't need to be known to us.

If your kid is talented and exceptional enough to get an invitation, then a gossip forum is definitely not the place for you to get information for making a decision.
I'm pretty sure not a single soccer knowledgeable family at dcua today came here for advice or care what we gripe and whine about with ecnl girls soccer mainly.

I don’t defend DCUA, I'm against the lies and falsehoods and toxicity with misinformation to satisfy some loser's personal war.

No different than the people who bash Bethesda or Achilles or Union saying anything fictional because they get off on it and want others to pile on.

The prospect that the things that are being said here are actually true is upsetting to someone that is fully invested in DCU and hasn't thought about any of the topics and issues raised. The reality is the things being said about DCU aren't all lies. If they are, please offer the forum the truth about DCU as you see it.

other than the owners, how is someone fully invested in a free academy?

It is the only option for a family that does not have the resources to have other options, such as the ability to move to an area with better academies or multiple passports, etc.

Families that turn down or leave DCU academy likely have the financial resources and connections to find a better fit or pathway.

why would a player need to leave dcu academy? I understand because of personal preference a family may want to leave, not need to leave.

what am I missing?

Name the academy in America thats sending high numbers of players to top European leagues after they turn 18?
NONE!