How to join D.C United Academy: tryouts in 2021, cost, location and information about the Talent Centre.

 

DC United Academy is the development department of Major League Soccer outfit DC United for the sole purpose of developing young players from scratch.

 

The Academy is owned and controlled by DC United through its youth and development section and has been operational and effective over the years.

 

 

The DC United Academy consist of various age-grade levels including U-17, U-16, and U-15).

 

The club’s development team has been regarded as one of the most successful in the United States over the years as a result of performance and contributed the youth section has done for the professional team in the MLS.

 

 

The team plays in the new youth development league known as the MLS Next.

 

Cool facts

How much does DC United Academy cost? Unlike other teams, the cost of joining DC United Academy varies as per the age grade.

 

DC United Academy price are as follows, U-14s cost $2,500, U-16 and U-18s pay $1,500.

 

What does the DC United Academy cost or price and payment cover? The fees you pay cover team coaches, teams transportation, your meals, athletic trainer fees, training equipment, the cost for lodging, and youth soccer events.

 

How can I join DC United Academy today or participate in nationwide tryouts? This is by invitation, simply sign up for the Player Questionnaire section via the Academy website, they’ll review it and contact your family to discuss your potential inclusion.

 

The club makes it even easier for prospective young players to join its youth development team through the creation of tryouts.

 

The Academy was founded in 2005 and has been in full operation as well as producing players who have gone on to represent the professional team.

 

Important information to know about D.C United Academy recruitments, scouting and how to apply for it

 

The club has made it easier for every young player out there to be part of the club’s youth development department.

 

Unlike some other Academies, you’ll have to undergo a test before you’ll be admitted.

 

The DC United player recruitments for its Academy

There had always been the interest and desire by the club’s top hierarchy to improve on the level playing ground as well as the overall state of Soccer in the country.

 

This desire has further increased the need to set up youth program to help young players move up with their dreams of becoming professional soccer players in the nearest future.

 

DC United States Academy includes U-14s, U-16 and U-18s and each year, players move from one level to the other, creating space for others to key in.

 

As of June 2021, the club stated on its official website it is running a recruitment program for players into the U15 department and more announcement are expected to be made for other levels.

 

 

The age limit for the U15 department is for players within the age of 10 to 15 years.

 

If your current age is within this age range, you can quickly apply for a place in the Academy.

 

How DC United Academy Scouts for players or the scouting process utilized by the club

 

Players are scouted for the DC United Academy during the tryouts session held at the DC United Talent Centre.

 

What the club does is to use its professional coaches and scouts to identify the best performing Players during the tryouts session at the Training Centre.

 

You on your part has to work hard to be considered for inclusion.

 

The players picked during the tryouts will have the chance to participate in a player tryouts session or could still be given direct entry into the respective age-grade level.

 

This is mainly dependent on your level of performance and how the coaches and scouts evaluate your ability on the field of play.

 

You must know that there’s a strict policy enforced by the club to ensure the best performing players are picked for the Academy in a bid to boost Competitions and produced players that would fit into the professional team.

 

As a result, you may not have the opportunity to speak to any coach or scouts which leads to the aspect is a good performance that would encourage them to consider you as one of the candidates for the Academy.

 

 

How to apply for DC United Academy today

The clubs makes it easier for everyone to apply for the Academy and you have to make use of it optimally.

 

Step 1: Visit the Academy website and read the terms

 

Step 2: Study the requirements

 

Step 4: Sign up for the Academy by visiting the club’s online Player Questionnaire section

 

Step 5: Fill in your correct details so you could be contacted easily

 

Step 6: Speak to your parents/ guardian about it

 

Step 7: Follow the given instructions if a call is placed across to you by a staff of the DC United Academy.

 

Your chances are 50/50 which is a result of the high volume of application they receive daily.

 

You could get a call from a representative about your inclusion in the Academy.

 

If you are lucky, you will be invited for a tryouts session.

 

What to expect if you are invited

You will be given an opportunity to the team during a scouting match which would be used to select players.

 

You will also have the chance to join the main Academy team and also participate in Talent Centre Tryouts.

 

Your chances increases as a call are placed through to you.

 

Benefits of DC United Academy

1. Working with industry Standard coaches

 

2. Covered cost for transportation for events

3. Expense paid meals and lodging.

4. Provision of athletic trainer and kits, training equipment, and you get to play in major youth soccer events like the MLS Next.

 

 

DC United Academy location

Location: Segra Field – 42095 Loudoun United Drive, I Leesburg, VA 20175

 

How to contact them today: send a mail indicating interest regarding trials or any other ways of getting admitted into the Academy. Send your inquiries to

academyscouting@dcunited.com

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DC United Academy tryouts

Once a call is placed across to you after you have finished submitting your details confirming your interest to join the Academy through the Player Questionaire, you’ll be handed a place in the tryouts.

 

Remember, you would have to pay the necessary fees the moment you are selected for any of the age-grade levels.

 

As you set out for the tryouts, do well to make necessary provisions for yourself including taxi fare, lodging, airfare, transportation, food, kits, etc.

 

As you may not be provided with the aforementioned.

 

Other things to note about the tryouts

1. It is Part of the Northeast Pre-Academy League.

 

2. Players are divided into groups or different teams according to age and position.

 

The teams would train for selected days to every week for the entire year.

 

3. Players will be trained by USSF Licensed Coaches

 

4. The teams will play other MLS Next League.

 

Teams are age-grade levels available at DC United Academy

 

Under-17 Team

Under-16 Team

Under-15 Team

 

U-15 Academy Team

D.C. United U-15 Academy Team participates in the Northeast Pre-Academy League.

 

How to get scouted by DC United Academy without applying

The club sends its Academy Scouts to Identify young players during Soccer events regionally or across the country.

 

Soccer events including matches, tournaments, etc.

 

The scouting team observes your performance during these events and report back to D.C. United’s Head Scout.

 

The report brought forward to the Head of Scout is worked on and steps are taken to ensure next plans in terms of following up with the player’s progress.

 

Once you are identified as a major target, the club would either your current local team or an invitation would be placed across to you regarding age-appropriate Academy Team training session.

 

 

Also Read: How to join LA Galaxy Academy, tryouts, location, cost and requirements.

 

After initial contacts are made, you will not be immediately inducted into the team, but necessary steps will be taken to ensure the right contacts are made.

 

As a result, you could be admitted to the Academy at the start of the new season.

 

How to become successful during tryouts

 

Know what scouts are looking for

The most important aspect here is to know what scouts want from players.

 

Some of the basic things they look out for is your ability to control balls, make decisions and overall individual performance.

 

There’s a long list of scouts would like to see in you and it would be in your best interest to work towards it.

 

One of the main reasons people fail to make the cut during important trials is their inability to satisfy these scouts.

 

This is because, they fail to put in the necessary actions.

 

Before you set out for any soccer tryouts or trials, you should know scouts would like to get from you.

 

Some of the important areas scouts do look out for is your ability to make good use of the ball whenever you are in control of it.

 

Also, your level of contributed plays a major role. If you are a good team player, you will be tagged intelligent and important tool.

 

There are thousand and one expectations scouts would like to get from you and it is impossible quite impossible to them all.

 

Rather what should be your goal is to perform the most basic areas that makes you qualify to be a soccer player that would be considered for selection.

 

To get a tip off on how to impress a scout, you can begin with your local team coach who will give you proper insight on what to expect and how to go about.

 

Tryouts are very important aspect of a young soccer player out there, and you must give it high priority.

 

This is because there are millions out there looking for an opportunity like this which is hard to come by.

 

Whenever you get the opportunity to showcase your talent, always do your best to impress so that your inclusion will be much more faster.

 

Ensure you can handle a particular role

 

There are several roles in soccer you can choose from. But always play to your strength and not necessarily for passion.

 

Seek advice from your coach or training on what role you can easily handle.

 

The moment you’ve identified the perfect role, continue to work with it and improve on yourself daily to become perfect with it.

 

This is not the time to become a utility soccer player, rather you should focus on perfecting your preferred position.

 

During the trials sessions, scouts would placed more priority on you the moment you are spotted as one of the best on the day.

 

So how can you achieve this? You must perfect your preferred position so that your chances of succeeding with it becomes much more higher.

 

At the youth development age, what they are always looking out for us your ability to handle the role you choose.

 

Be consistent with the role you’ve chosen to play and always look for ways to improve on it.

 

You can learn from already established players or from your coach.

 

To learn from top soccer players, there’s an abundance of videos on the internet you can choose from that can teach you how to become perfect.

 

 

Train regularly

What makes you a better player and stand out amongst your peers is your ability to train regularly.

 

As you train regularly, you learn more ideas, skills, patterns and techniques that would make you a better player.

 

Training is the key to becoming a successful soccer player.

 

You don’t expect to stop playing for a long time and at the same time expect to perform at the highest level whenever you are called to do so.

 

To be among the best, you must train regularly.

 

If you find it difficult to do so, you can create a personal training schedule and work with it. I believe it is the second best strategy you should follow.

 

Creating a personal training schedule gives you the time and space to work on your personal activities as well as time for your soccer development.

 

Eat right

Eat the right type of food that would enhance your performance on the field of play.

 

Look for the best foods for athletes and ensure you follow them.

 

You can look speak to sports expert that deals with professional or amateur athletes like you to know more about the best food to eat as an upcoming athlete.

 

Note that in some cases, the type of food you eat tends to influence your performance.

 

To avoid this, you should try to eat the right set of food meant for athletes that would enhance their productivity level.

 

About DC United Academy

It is the youth development department saddled with the responsibility of developing young players into world class standard.

 

The aim is to produce players for the club’s professional team.

 

How the club achieved this is by employing qualified coaches and scouts to teach young players about the standard practice in soccer.

 

Players begin from the lowest which starts around the U15 up to the U23 professional development squad before they eventually promoted to the professional team.

 

The levels of teams in the Academy includes Under 15, Under 16, Under 17, Under -20 and Under 23 teams respectively.

 

Levels of teams and there participation

Level 1: Senior Team

League: Major League Soccer

This is the main professional soccer team of DC United that competes in the MLS as a franchise team.

 

It is one of early winners of the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield.

 

In the history of the MLS, DC United is one of the most successful teams haven won more titles most especially during the early years of the league.

Level 2: Reserve Team

League: USL Championship

The reserve team competes in the USL Championship.

Level 3: U-23 Team

This is the professional development squad of the club.

Level 4: U15, U16, U17

 

These are the various teams were players are graduated from one level to the other.

 

The teams play in the MLS Next, the youth development league for Major League Soccer franchise teams.

 

Final Thoughts

Your chances of succeeding are always open and is also dependent on your efforts.

 

To join DC United Academy, you would benefit immensely looking the club’s pedigree and level of exposure in the country.

 

You get the chance to train under good coaches and also stand a chance to meet with United States Soccer Federation representatives.

 

To join, follow the necessary steps and pay the necessary fees.

 

Conclusion

This article highlights how to join DC United Academy, tryouts, Academy location, cost, all price and other information.