D.C. United Academy
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| Full name | D.C. United Youth and Development Academy | ||
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| Founded | 2005 | ||
| Ground | RFK Auxiliary Fields Washington, D.C. | ||
| League | U.S. Soccer Development Academy Northeast Pre-Academy League | ||
| Website | https://www.dcunited.com/academy | ||
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The D.C. United Academy is the youth and development program for the Major League Soccer club D.C. United. The program consists of teams at four age levels:[1] the under-23 and under-20 teams, as well as the Academy (U-18/17 & U-16/15) and Pre-Academy teams (U-14, U-13).
The D.C. United Academy has been one of the most successful MLS academies.[2] Many players have been signed directly from the Academy to the professional team, or have later played professionally. Notable players to have graduated from the D.C United Academy include Bill Hamid, who has been called up by the U.S. national team and who was the MLS 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year, and Andy Najar, who has been capped for Honduras and who was the MLS 2010 Rookie of the Year.[3][4][5]
History
The D.C. United Academy was created in 2005 in an effort to provide local talent an opportunity to have professional training. D.C. United was one of the first MLS clubs to develop its own academy.[5] The D.C. United Academy gained some press in 2013 when D.C. United Academy graduate Michael Seaton made his league debut with D.C. United; Seaton was the first player to play an MLS game who was born after MLS began play in 1996.[6] D.C. United decided in 2015, however, to reduce its outlays on its academy in part to help defray the expenses associated with the team's new soccer-specific stadium.[7]
Structure
| Level | Type | League |
|---|---|---|
| Senior team | Professional | Major League Soccer |
| Reserve team | Professional | USL Championship |
| U-23 | Amateur | Independent |
| U-18 | Development Academy | USSDA |
| U-16 | Development Academy | USSDA |
| U-15 | Development Academy | USSDA |
| U-14 | Pre-Development Academy | USSDA |
| U-13 | Pre-Development Academy | NE Pre-Academy League |
| U-12 | Pre-Development Academy | NE Pre-Academy League |
Like most Major League Soccer teams, United's academy features youth pre-academy teams that ascend to the ranks of the senior team on the professional level. Starting in 2016, United will field their reserve team in the third-division United Soccer League. Beneath their reserve and senior squads is the under-23 side, whom play in the Premier Development League.
The teenage brackets represent the main academy as well as the pre-academy structure. Players from the under-15 to the under-18 age level play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league, playing against other academy teams around the nation. Unlike most soccer leagues in the U.S., the USSDA academy league runs on a winter-based schedule, with the season going from August until June.
Consisting of players aged from under-12 to under-14, the Pre-Academy is a stepping stone for younger players to adapt to an academy setting. This age group of players participates in Northeast Pre-Academy League.[8]
For players at the U-10 level and below, United offers speciality training camps.
D.C. United, unlike most other MLS team academies, charges fees for its players. Fees are $2,500 per year for the U-14 team, and $1,500 for the U-16 and U-18 teams, although available financial aid reduces these costs.[9] The fees defray costs such as travel, lodging, and uniforms.
Notable alumni
Andy Najar, who transferred from D.C. United to Belgium's Anderlecht for a reported $2 million, was the first player from the D.C. United Academy — and first from any MLS academy — to move to Europe on a permanent contract.[10] The youngest D.C. United Academy signing is Chris Durkin, who signed for D.C. United in 2016 at 16 years old.[11] Furthermore, several D.C. United Academy players have played with U.S. national youth teams.[12]
The following list reflects players who have graduated from the D.C. United Academy and subsequently signed a professional contract.
| Name | Turned Pro | Current Club | National team* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Hamid | 2009 |  D.C. United
|
United States
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| Andy Najar | 2010 |  Anderlecht[13]
|
 Honduras
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| Conor Shanosky | 2010 | Richmond Kickers
|
United States U20
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| Ethan White | 2010 | Retired | United States U20
|
| Michael Seaton | 2013 |  Viktoria Köln
|
 Jamaica
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| Collin Martin | 2013 | San Diego Loyal
|
United States U20
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| Jalen Robinson | 2014 | United States U20
| |
| Romain Gall | 2014 |  Malmö FF
|
United States U20
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| Samir Badr | 2014 | United States U20
| |
| Iyassu Bekele | 2014 |  FC Kaliakra Kavarna
|
 Ethiopia
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| Tyler Rudy | 2015 | Retired | |
| Travis Pittman | 2015 | San Diego Sockers
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| Chris Durkin | 2016 | Sint-Truiden
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United States U20
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| Ian Harkes | 2017 |  Dundee United
|
United States U20
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| Jose Carranza | 2017 | Retired | United States U18
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| Eryk Williamson | 2017 | Portland Timbers
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United States U18
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| Antonio Bustamante | 2019 |  Club Blooming
|
Bolivia U23
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| Donovan Pines | 2019 | D.C. United
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United States U23
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| Griffin Yow | 2019 | D.C. United
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United States U18
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| Moses Nyeman | 2019 | D.C. United
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United States U16
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| Kevin Paredes | 2020 | D.C. United
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United States U16
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Note: Where a player has played with multiple levels of a national team (e.g., men's team, under-20 team, under-18 team), only the highest level is listed.
Source: D.C. United
The Academy
U23 Team
U18/U19 Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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U16/17 Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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U15 Team
U14 Team
U13 Team
U12 Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| U-18/19 Head Coach | Nate Kish |
| U-16/17 Head Coach | Ryan Martin
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| U-15 Head Coach | John Bello
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| U-14 Head Coach | Gus Teren
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| U-13 Head Coach | Dave Sanford
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| U-12 Head Coach | Jason Boxx |
| U-11 Head Coach | Ben Applefield |
Reserves
From 2005 until 2012, D.C. United fielded a reserve team that played in the MLS Reserve Division. The reserve team disbanded when Major League Soccer and USL Pro announced a player development partnership, and United announced Richmond Kickers as their USL Pro affiliate.[21]
Honors
Seasons
| Season | MLS Reserve League | Top goalscorer(s) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Name | Goals | |
| 2005 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 1st | Jamil Walker | 9 |
| 2006 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 11 | 19 | 5th | ||
| 2007 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 5th | ||
| 2008 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 5th | ||
| 2011 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 21 | Eastern Division 2nd |
Joseph Ngwenya | 4 |
See also
References
- General
- Academy alumni sourced to: "Alumni & First Team Signings". D.C. United. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- Academy rosters sourced to: "Academy Teams". D.C. United. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- Footnotes
- ^ "The kids are coming", ESPN, Leander Schaerlaeckens, June 1, 2010.
- ^ "DC United Announces Residential Academy", Vavel, Liam McMahon, February 20, 2015.
- ^ "D.C. United to launch youth academy residency program in Maryland", Washington Post, Steven Goff, February 19, 2015.
- ^ "Orlando City eager to build strong pipeline from developmental academy to MLS level" Archived 2019-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Orlando Sentinel, Paul Tenorio, July 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "D.C. United’s Homegrown talent leads the way in MLS awards", SoccerWire.com, Chris Teale, December 9, 2014.
- ^ "D.C. United Loans Michael Seaton to Örebro SK", Last Word on Sports, Alec Rivera, April 1, 2015.
- ^ "D.C. United’s bizarre approach to development continues apace", Top Drawer Soccer, Will Parchman, August 5, 2015.
- ^ "U–11 & U–13 Training Program: About the Program". D.C. United. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
- ^ "D.C. United has the most expensive MLS Academy", Black and Red United, Ben Bromley, August 5, 2015.
- ^ "D.C. United selling Andy Najar to Anderlecht", Washington Post, Steven Goff, January 30, 2013.
- ^ "Glen Allen native Chris Durkin signs with D.C. United", Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 14, 2016.
- ^ "D.C. United to play in U-13 Concacaf Champions League Tournament", Soccer America, Mike Woitalla, August 3, 2015.
- ^ "Former D.C. United star Andy Najar extends Anderlecht contract through 2018", Sports Illustrated, Avi Creditor, April 29, 2014.
- ^ "D.C. United U-18/U-19". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ "D.C. United U-16/U-17". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United U-15". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United U-14". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United U-13". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United U-12". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. ussoccerda.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United Academy". Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "D.C. United, Richmond Kickers announce landmark affiliation". D.C. United. DCUnited.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
External links
- Pre-Academy
- Alumni
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