Article on DC United Youth Development [Archive]

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Lowecifer

16 Jan 2006, 10:03 AM

Nice piece by Jill Beauchesne. She has interviewed John Harkes (http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/504049.html) and got some interesting insight to his thoughts on Youth Development.

soccerkitty

16 Jan 2006, 11:39 AM

Thanks for sharing!!! It's always good to hear John's take on things.

sckrmom

16 Jan 2006, 07:12 PM

Stan Collins

16 Jan 2006, 11:51 PM

True enough. At age 14, they usually get by letting the truly talented kids play 'on scholarship' while the wealthy but more ordinary ones pay the dough. A lot harder to do at 8, though.

soccerkitty

17 Jan 2006, 10:51 AM

Not disagreeing on the train of thought, but even for someone in the decidedly middle class bracket, the camps that the DC United Youth development puts on are out of reach monetarily for most. I definitely agree with getting to the kids at an early age with solid, qualified coaches. Unfortunately, unless those coaches happen to have kids the same age as yours, finding them is few and far between.

I actually thought thier pricing was very reasonable. Perhaps even a bargain for what my child was able to bring out of it. Having coached myself, I pay a great deal of attention to how the the coaches work with the kids, the level of apporpriateness per age group... and I will say this, I had no compaints. Which says a great deal in itself. I would however prefer a better selection of locations, and I know they are working on it. *** A child brings out of a camp what a child puts into that camp and even the best coaches should not be expected to be miracle workers ***

MattMathai

17 Jan 2006, 11:09 AM

What are the prices? What are the prices for other camps?

kingsuperbee

17 Jan 2006, 11:19 AM

Lowecifer

17 Jan 2006, 11:20 AM

What are the prices? What are the prices for other camps?
Youth Academy Brochure (http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/dcu/pdf/academy_brochure.pdf)

From the DC United website:

TYPES OF CAMPS (http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/MLS/dcu/load.jsp?section=camps&content=summeracademy)

Elite Academy
For the potential or serious Division 1 soccer player 10-17 years old with competitive playing experience at the club, ODP, Y-League or high school level. Unlike other Academy programs, the Elite Academy will offer students top-class instruction from John Harkes and United's Technical Staff and players, including an opportunity to observe United practice and an evaluation for DC United's Super Y-League teams. The academy will be Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. with a one hour lunch break. Tuition is $275 per player.

Elite Academy II
For the potential or serious soccer player 9-17 years of age with competitive playing experience at the club, ODP and Y-League level. Students will be put in a challenging environment that demands good training habits and guarantees a fun and rewarding experience. Unlike other Academy programs, the Elite Academy will offer students top-class instruction from John Harkes and United's Technical Staff and players, including an opportunity to observe United practice and an evaluation for D.C. United's Super Y-League teams. The academy will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with a one hour lunch break. Tuition is $275 per player.

Full-Day Academy
For the competitive and recreational soccer player aged 8-16. This comprehensive program will focus on age-appropriate technical, tactical and physical aspects of the game. The Academy is Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm with a one-hour lunch break. Tuition is $245 per player.

Half-Day Academy
For the recreational soccer player 8-16 years old. The focus of the program will be teaching the necessary individual techniques and tactics of soccer through a fun and challenging curriculum. The Academy is Monday through Friday for 3 hours. Tuition is $155 per player.

High School Preseason Academy
Specifically designed to maximize preparation for the 2005-06 high school seasons. Group and Team tactics will be the focus along with elements of technical training and fitness components. The Academy is Monday through Friday for 3 hours. Tuition is $165 per player.

MattMathai

17 Jan 2006, 11:25 AM

Youth Academy Brochure (http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/dcu/pdf/academy_brochure.pdf)

From the DC United website:

TYPES OF CAMPS (http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/MLS/dcu/load.jsp?section=camps&content=summeracademy)

Elite Academy
For the potential or serious Division 1 soccer player 10-17 years old with competitive playing experience at the club, ODP, Y-League or high school level. Unlike other Academy programs, the Elite Academy will offer students top-class instruction from John Harkes and United's Technical Staff and players, including an opportunity to observe United practice and an evaluation for DC United's Super Y-League teams. The academy will be Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. with a one hour lunch break. Tuition is $275 per player.

Elite Academy II
For the potential or serious soccer player 9-17 years of age with competitive playing experience at the club, ODP and Y-League level. Students will be put in a challenging environment that demands good training habits and guarantees a fun and rewarding experience. Unlike other Academy programs, the Elite Academy will offer students top-class instruction from John Harkes and United's Technical Staff and players, including an opportunity to observe United practice and an evaluation for D.C. United's Super Y-League teams. The academy will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with a one hour lunch break. Tuition is $275 per player.

Full-Day Academy
For the competitive and recreational soccer player aged 8-16. This comprehensive program will focus on age-appropriate technical, tactical and physical aspects of the game. The Academy is Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm with a one-hour lunch break. Tuition is $245 per player.

Half-Day Academy
For the recreational soccer player 8-16 years old. The focus of the program will be teaching the necessary individual techniques and tactics of soccer through a fun and challenging curriculum. The Academy is Monday through Friday for 3 hours. Tuition is $155 per player.

High School Preseason Academy
Specifically designed to maximize preparation for the 2005-06 high school seasons. Group and Team tactics will be the focus along with elements of technical training and fitness components. The Academy is Monday through Friday for 3 hours. Tuition is $165 per player.

Thanks. I guess the value comes from the the ostensibly better coaching and personalized attention. That judgement has to be made by each family.

Colonial717

17 Jan 2006, 11:28 AM

when money is no longer an issue, then US soccer will really take off. In Holland, Italy, England it is a game for everyone. The cost of thease "camps " rule out the parents with out money. Why dosnt DC United sponsor the camps and bring in the best kids, no , because its just another camp

DC dosn't do that because they have no right to any kids that they develop in thier youth system, unlike thier European counterparts. They would have to use a discovery on a player that they had molded, not discovered. And there is always the possiblity that the player might be wisked away or enter the draft before DC United could even get the rights to him. It is too muddled right now for youth development to be a good investment to find players for the team.

Yes it is expensive, but it has to be for it to be profitable (or at least close to the break even point). And as I think somebody said but I don't know if they do, they can offer scholarships to some of the more promising players in the area. This is how they straddle the fence with the problem above.

I think DC is doing the right thing by setting up the program and working out some of the kinks so they can hit the ground running when everything does get worked out (2 to 4 years). Getting in on the ground floor and hoping to get a name for itself in MLS as an organization that develops players.

Lowecifer

17 Jan 2006, 11:33 AM

VAsoccermom

17 Jan 2006, 01:23 PM

Compare those prices to these in Baltimore:

Elite 300 (http://www.elite300.com/register/register.html) - $545.00
Metrick School (Loyola College) (http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/locl/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/MettrickSchool.pdf) - $395-$495
Pete Caringi (http://www.all-maryland.org/info.htm) - $115
TetraBrazil (http://www.tetrabrazil.com/camp_schedule.htm#Baltimore) - $180

The DC United camps seem to be in line with these. Squarely in the middle, I'd say.

I wouldn't say it was the price so much, but rather the locations. With the nightmare issues relating to traffic, its almost impossible to find an accessible location. DC is easy enough to get to for me, but factor in the used car lot that occupies the Beltway between 7-9 am and 4-6 pm everyday, it all of a sudden makes it a lot harder. The 9-3 hours are not convienent either for those of us who work. You would in a sense have to take the entire week off in order to drive you kid back and forth to camp. Not feasable for most of us. I live and work in VA, so DC is totally out of the way for me. In a nut shell, the camp locations need to be revised somewhat so that a larger number of kids can participate. With that said, I do still plan on signing my kid up for DCU's Youth development camp this summer at RFK... I'll just have to make a sacrifice to the GODs or something to get him there... :cool: :)

Lowecifer

17 Jan 2006, 01:26 PM

I wouldn't say it was the price so much, but rather the locations. With the nightmare issues relating to traffic, its almost impossible to find an accessible location. DC is easy enough to get to for me, but factor in the used car lot that occupies the Beltway between 7-9 am and 4-6 pm everyday, it all of a sudden makes it a lot harder. The 9-3 hours are not convienent either for those of us who work. You would in a sense have to take the entire week off in order to drive you kid back and forth to camp. Not feasable for most of us. I live and work in VA, so DC is totally out of the way for me. In a nut shell, the camp locations need to be revised somewhat so that a larger number of kids can participate. With that said, I do still plan on signing my kid up for DCU's Youth development camp this summer at RFK... I'll just have to make a sacrifice to the GODs or something to get him there... :cool: :)

I can see where that would be real pain for the suburban populace, which seems to be where most of the soccer players come from unfortunately. Is your child old enough to ride Metro confidently? That would seem to be a pretty good solution.

VAsoccermom

17 Jan 2006, 01:37 PM

I can see where that would be real pain for the suburban populace, which seems to be where most of the soccer players come from unfortunately. Is your child old enough to ride Metro confidently? That would seem to be a pretty good solution.

No, not even close. He would do it, but mom and dad wouldn't allow it for obvious reasons. He's only 7. He turns 8 in March, but he is very mature for his age, but not that mature. He thinks he can do alot of things, but they all do I guess. I just realized that the Elite II Academy is for ages 9-17, for some reason I was under the impression they started at 8. My son and nephew have started attending camps together, but my nephew just got accepted into the ODP program up in NY (where he lives - he is 10) so they may have to attend separate camps this summer. He was going to come down and do the DCU camp with my son and then my son was going to go up and do the Metrostars camp or another soccer camp with him. Dunno now. DCU has a camp in Fredericksburg that my son could do, but it may be a waste for my nephew.... we'll see... Does anyone know if they make age acceptions at the Elite II camp?

Lowecifer

17 Jan 2006, 01:41 PM

...then my son was going to go up and do the Metrostars camp...
That's CHILD ABUSE!

;)

...and yeah, 8 is awfully young to start riding METRO alone for someone not accustomed to public transportation

VAsoccermom

17 Jan 2006, 02:11 PM

That's CHILD ABUSE!

;)

...and yeah, 8 is awfully young to start riding METRO alone for someone not accustomed to public transportation

Yeah I know, I'm sending him in incognito. It kind of helps to know what your enemy is thinking so that you can turn it around and use it against them later. A reverse psyhcology tactic. :D Hopefully they won't screw him up by rubbing off any crappy playing habits on him. My brother and his family are Metroscum fans not by choice, but rather by location. My nephew likes Freddy Adu, so he is also a DCU fan of sorts.