It seems US Soccer has decided not to renew the Academy program with Potomac Soccer (MD). With that loss as well as the Baltimore Bays there leaves just 1 Academy team in the area: DC United. Explain to me how or why this is a good thing.
Why what is a good thing--only having one academy in the area in general, or Potomac losing theirs in particular? I don't know anything about their academy, I'm curious about the reasons for this.
No idea This. I cant see how having only 1 academy in the area will be a good thing. DC United seems to screw over their players.
USSF have certain standards and criteria they require clubs to meet. Maybe these clubs weren't meeting them.
Bethesda Soccer Club has been given the Academy status and Bethesda will now merge with Olney Soccer Club. The new club name will be Olney Bethesda Soccer Club. Starts this Fall. SAC was given U13 and U14 Academy status as well.
What about McLean? McLean are firmly stuck in the "middle of the pack" of the DA and very much entrenched in the DC area.
Also, the Baltimore Bays have always had a number of "DC Area" players. The DC area has plenty of representation in the DA. I watch a lot of Potomac's matches. I don't think that having them dropped from the DA is unfair.
This I didn't know. This addresses some of my concerns but SAC? Yes I know they have deep pockets but most of the better players leave SAC when they are about 12 (before HS).
http://ussda.demosphere.com/teams/47158256/47187419-47158344/TEAM.html As you can see from this link, the Bays are doing very well this year in the Development Academy. Are you talking about next year? I have watched them play several times in the DA this year. Also, you can see from this link that Potomac are at the bottom of the league. I assumed that you meant for next year. Do you have a link or is this just a rumor? I am sure that a program that is always last every year would always have rumors circulating that they are being dropped. Both the under 18s and the under 16s for Potomac are poor although the under 16s have managed to stay out of the bottom of their division this year with, what is for Potomac, an amazing 6-9-2 record so far. Last year they were at the bottom of their division also with only one win the entire season. The kids really are not that bad, but the coaching is horrible and the Development Academy is about developing elite players. That just has not happened at Potomac. The deal with the academy is supposed to be that, if you do not show that you are developing elite players, or at least making progress toward doing so, you are out. But to be honest, I am not sure that this is happening now. Please share your source.
On the other hand, why is it a bad thing? If clubs do not meet the necessary requirements to be part of the DA system, then they deserve to be kicked out of it. In addition, others who are not in yet, maybe need to be looked at and see if they could be included in place of those kicked out. But if you ask me, there shouldn't be a DA place for any non-MLS clubs or the MLS clubs in the DA need to separate themselves into their own division - one or the other.