The exploits of D.C. United’s U-14 team point to an exciting development in American youth soccer.
Quick: What championship did D.C. United win this fall?
No, that’s not a misprint. United captured the Super Y-League U-14 national finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks. And if you think that’s a minor footnote to American soccer, you have not spoken to officials of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), who are striving mightily to stitch together a sprawling network of professional and amateur soccer clubs spanning all levels of competitive soccer.
The United-Silverbacks boys U-14 match epitomized their goal. Play was superb, but even better, it pitted two youth-development teams sponsored by pro clubs. D.C. United is, of course, the franchise that helped legitimize MLS in its early years. The Silverbacks are an A-League (Division II) club.
“In an ideal world, that’s exactly the type of final you’d want to see,” said Matt Weibe, director of operations and development for the 180-team Super Y-League. “We’ve always believed that when pro teams sponsor youth clubs, the result will be a more professional structure and atmosphere. That leads to better soccer.”
More than 250 players attended D.C. United U-14 tryouts last spring at multiple locations. The final session was held at the pro team’s auxiliary RFK Stadium field. Members of the MLS coaching staff were in attendance.
Three of the youth team’s 19 matches were played at RFK, immediately prior to MLS games. Each time, pro coach Thomas Rongen spent 15-20 minutes on the bench, talking with players and intently watching the action. MLS assistant coach Curt Onalfo served as the youth club’s technical director and mentor. He consulted with Super Y-League head coach Brian Casey on personnel decisions and helped the youth team play the same style as the pros.
“We created the developmental team in part to get the name and image of D.C. United out in the community,” said club spokesman Jeff Nesbit. “We wanted to expand our fan base and recognition, and we accomplished that. We had players from 12 different clubs.”
In addition, Nesbit said, “We wanted the top players in the area to get involved with a professional club at an early age. That’s exactly what [national team coach] Bruce Arena says American soccer lacks: a professional-training environment that aspires to the highest level possible.
“This is almost like the English Premier League model: high-quality training sessions, games in a great environment, all the tools good players need to develop.”
Casey noted that D.C. United’s developmental philosophy is echoed throughout the Super Y-League: “Wherever we played, we saw top facilities and high-quality referees. That’s so much better than traveling five hours to play in a tournament where you squeeze in five games on a weekend, with no guarantee of the quality of fields or referees.”
D.C. United offers perhaps the best atmosphere of all Super Y-League teams. After the first match of the season, Casey noted, parents from opposing FC Delco said that playing at RFK was their most exciting youth soccer experience ever.
As proud as Casey is of the title, he’s equally pleased that the entire season – 19 games, 30 training sessions, travel and uniforms – cost his players not one penny. American Eagle Outfitters picked up most fees; adidas donated the full uniform.
Midfielder Ryan Russell, whose sparkling play in the final set up D.C. United’s second and third goals and earned him MVP honors, exemplifies the club’s goals. His ambition is to join MLS with United by the time he is 17.
“I can play. I can be Bobby Convey,” he told Weibe, who added, “Ryan feels that connection. At 14, he is already a part of D.C. United.”
In the 2001 season, only two MLS teams – United and the Tampa Bay Mutiny – sponsored Super Y-League sides, along with 10 A-League clubs.
Weibe is particularly excited about the Richmond Kickers’ model. They offer programs beginning at age 5, advancing through the local and state level to the Super Y-League, then on through the amateur Premier Development League (PDL) before culminating with the A-League.
D.C. United plans to field one team in all four Super Y-League boys age groups next summer, along with the one U-14 girls division. And, D.C. United spokesman Nesbit promises, as soon as the MLS club develops its own training facility, there will be even more interaction between the pros and youth development players.
That’s bad news for the Atlanta Silverbacks, and every other club hoping to win a league crown, but good news for Super Y-League visionaries like CEO Francisco Marcos.
He hopes to see the day when “every MLS and A-League team, and as many teams as possible below that, have youth development teams. Every year, I want to see Y-League championship games between – oh, I don’t know, just say the MetroStars and El Paso Patriots.”
by Youth Soccer Letter Editor Dan Woog