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MLS D.C. United

D.C. United details Youth Development program

December 28, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


Washington, D.C. (December 28, 2006) - D.C. United announced today details for the club's Youth Development program for 2007. The club will field six teams in five age groups next year. Yesterday, the club named former United player John Maessner as the Youth Development Director.

"I think everyone can be very excited about the future of this program and the future of youth development in this country," said Maessner. "Major League Soccer has made a serious commitment to Youth Development with its new initiative starting in 2007 as all MLS teams are to have at least two youth teams to train and compete year-round. MLS has now created an opportunity for young soccer players to have the ability to develop as a player through their MLS Youth Club team. Eventually, after meeting certain requirements, it would then be possible to sign a professional contract with that club, through the Home Grown Player System, without having to go through the draft. This is a big step forward in youth development for this country and I am very excited to be a part of it.

Major League Soccer last month announced details of its new Youth Development Initiative, a system designed to give young players a chance to train with and play for D.C. United. Starting next season, MLS will require each of its clubs to establish a structured youth amateur program, similar to the system practiced by top European and South American teams. Clubs can have one team of up to 18 players in each of six different age groups, ranging from U-14 to U-25. These youth teams will wear the logos and the colors of the MLS team they represent and be trained by a member of the club's coaching staff.

"This initiative by MLS is exciting news for D.C. United and the youth soccer players in the D.C. metropolitan area," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper. "Our objective will be to simply provide the best training environment possible where players can get elite level training and potentially have the opportunity to one day play for D.C. United's first team. We will look to model our youth program after many of the top club teams in the world."

D.C. United will field boys teams at the U-13, U-14, U-16, and U-20 levels, as well as U-14 and U-15 girls sides. These teams, with the exception of the U-20 boys, will play in the Super Y League, a professional system that has an affiliation with U.S. Soccer. United's U-20 side will play in the similarly affiliated Super-20 League.

While the new Youth Development requirements may mean changes for some MLS teams, D.C. United has had youth teams in place since the 2002 season. This season, each of the Black-and-Red boy's teams qualified for their respective Super-Y League National Championships. In addition, United's U-17 boy's team traveled to Spain this August to take part in the Mundialito de Clubes tournament, taking on some of the world's top youth teams, such as Argentina's Boca Juniors and Spain's Real Madrid.

"While we obviously want to continue to build on what we have done in the past several years, this new initiative by the League brings our youth development program to a much higher level," continued Maessner. "We have some of the most talented young players in the country right here in the DC area and you can already feel the excitement of it all. We will immediately begin scouting and bringing in the best players in the area so that we will have players who are eligible to be a part of the first team as soon as possible."

Among the many players D.C. United's youth system has benefited include Freddy Adu. Adu joined United's U-14 squad when he was twelve, and went on to join United's senior squad as well as the U.S. Men's National Team.

Per the Youth Development Initiative, once a player has been registered for 24 months in an MLS youth program he will become eligible for a professional contract with that club without having to enter the SuperDraft. This system will allow MLS teams to acquire top young players outside of the annual draft, and allow local youth to develop their talent closer to home and represent their hometown team.

"This truly is a very special time for our areas top young players with aspirations of playing professionally," added Maessner. "Talented young players for the first time in this country's history will have some of the same opportunities that the top clubs in the world have. Players will be able to develop locally through D.C. United's Youth Program and through the years, continue to progress through the club, with the ultimate goal of playing for the first team as a professional player."

Tryouts for all United youth teams will likely be held in January. Please continue to check dcunited.com for locations and times. For more information on D.C. United's youth development program, please contact Greg Steininger, United's Youth Development Coordinator, at (202) 587-5468.

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Major League Soccer Stories from December 28, 2006


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