DC Athletics
The Path to Elite performance and Development Academy Soccer Begins with “YOU” and DC Athletics
The young athlete’s growth and actualization includes physical, emotional, physiological, academic, problem solving, conflict resolution, self-discipline, self-confidence, conflict resolution, and work ethic that will transfer to the passions of their youth to the eventual focus of their efforts in young adult hood, becoming a part of their approach to the world and their daily life challanges. The connection between training, commitment, team building and incremental improvement is what we hope to “win”.
September 19, 2017
DC Athletics and DC United Announce Partnership
D.C. United and the DC Athletics Club, Inc. (DCA) are proud to announce they have reached an agreement to formalize their already close working relationship. The clubs have partnered for two years to build structures for promising and elite players predicated on early player identification and modern youth development practices. The experience of the past few years has produced and placed over thirty players in the DC United Academy, 13 of which have progressed to the critical U14 level or beyond. This joint effort since 2015 and its hard learned lessons are a foundation for the formal partnership is possible today. “Pathway to Pro” a joint initiative of the clubs will begin rollout of groundbreaking youth soccer programs and activities. Initiatives that will change the opportunities for potentially elite players to develop in all regards and pave the pathway to US Development Academy and MLS (or college) across the Washington-Baltimore Region.
The DCA mission is to provide the Washington-Baltimore Region and its youth soccer players with resources and experiences to aid the cognitive, physical, and emotional development of the child underlying the player. The clubs aim to collaborate on improving player development and building national and international opportunities for players to train and develop from U5 level up. Beginning with early identification defined and proven pathway for top players to progress into the Development Academy as well as creating a direct connection to the MLS Academy onto their collective alliance partners abroad. The key is to develop young players capable of gifted performance based on habits, attitudes and task commitment and dynamic creativity.
“We’re happy to partner with the DCA and a staff who share the same values and goals in youth development,” Ryan Martin, DC United academy director, said. “We are excited to put a long-term framework on the relationship we’ve already built with DCA. Now we can strategically share resources, responsibilities and efforts that help the players in the DMV reach their full potential and give them a true pathway to the professional level.”
Under this expanded partnership, DCA will continue to transition its top U11 & U12 players to DC United as it did in the 2015/16 and in 2016/2017 seasons where over 10 DCA members have been selected for the DCU Generation Adidas squads and over 18 members have been selected for the DCU teams both U11 and Developmental Academy combined with another 8 selected at U14 and above. DCA offers year round training of 4-9 year olds 2-3 times weekly, supplemental off-day training for its 2003 – 2007 from their elite league clubs in prep for offseason national and international developmental opportunities. The DCA permits players to have the opportunity to participate in elite training sessions, and both MLS and international competitions with D.C. United as it fits their schedule.
In an effort to place the area’s top players on a pathway to professional soccer and encourage development, the clubs will work together to identify and select players through DC Athletics/D.C. United’s Development Academy ID Clinics throughout the year.
“We are thrilled at this opportunity. This partnership is structured the blueprint of what we’ve already done together and guided by what’s needed in the region,” said E. Andre Carter, Founder and President of D.C. Athletics. “Now with the benefit of time, the ability to plan, and strategic cooperation, together we can maintain our acceptance levels in the DC United academy, while improving longevity beyond the U 14 level with DCU and their alliance partners. This means getting more players into the DCA entry point, earlier, armed with a proven path from 4 to 14, complete with metrics, programs, and DC United pro/collegiate partners. All of it, even for those who leave the game for other endeavors, is about helping while empowering our kids to reach more successful ends.”
Upcoming programs include: DCA will host a series of D.C. United Development Academy ID Clinics on October 1st for the 2017/2018 season, which will act as the primary identification opportunity for aspiring youth players from ages 4-10. Also as a part of this partnership DCA will continue to culminate training with the formation of regional teams for national and international training and play opportunities in winter and summer months.
92% of DCA 2004’s & 83% of 2005’s were accepted into 2004 US Development Academy/ECNL 100% acceptance rate of 2004’s and 2005’s that started with our coaches before age 7. It starts with our Summer Coaching….
Ken Kreiger
US Youth Development Academy
Placed 17 players to US National Youth Teams
16 Boys & Girls VYSA State Cup Championships
Two-Time NSCAA #1 Ranked National HighSchool Division 1 Champions 1993 & 1998 -
Daniel Goncalves 
Head Scout, Sporting Portugal
Asst. Coach, Sporting Benefica
UEAFA “A” License
Bruce Murray
86 caps & 22 goals
USMNT National Soccer Hall of Fame