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**Unregistered** · 10-30-2017, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Well if the only options for non DA players are PDP or ODP I think most would agree which is the better option. It's the one that comes first when placed in alphabetical order

. This is the point that the previous post which I agree with.

If you have Academy kids taking spots during the developmental years your Id2 program becomes watered down since they can't be part of the id2 program which starts at U13.

The id2 Program is an Olympic Development Program (ODP) approved by the United States Olympic Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

NOTE: U.S. Soccer Development Academy full-time Academy players are not eligible to participate in the id2 Program. This is due to U.S. Soccer rules that prohibit full-time Academy players from participating in outside soccer leagues and events. Developmental players in the Academy, however, are still eligible to participate in the id2 Program.

**Unregistered** · 10-30-2017, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Where could all of this money go? Even paying players' travel expenses for the year, you would be hard-pressed to spend $12,500 per player. I would be the average MLS soccer clubs owns their own facilities and charges themselves for the rental of said-facilities. Smoke and mirrors people. The largest cost for teams is field rentals for the year and that money goes right back into their own pockets.

From DC United's page: https://www.dcunited.com/academy/faq
What are the costs for D.C. United Academy players? 
Costs vary according to age division for the Academy. The U-14s pay $2,500 and the U-16 and U-18s pay $1,500. These fees cover coaches and athletic trainer fees, training and travel gear, transportation, meals and lodging costs for league, regional and national events. Full and partial scholarships are available on an as need basis for any player who applies and provides supporting documents.

This basically means that U14 team pays most of their own travel. U16 and U18 definitely get some subsidies for travel, but it is only 2 teams. How could you possibly spend $1.5M on 3 (let alone 2) teams, even if they do practice 4x per week (and many do not)? Coaches fees and gear are paid for and the field rentals are a wash. Sorry, companies of all sorts make their books look far more philanthropic than they really are. Please provide itemized details to account for the $1.5M average spent by DC United (or any club) on their academy program. Please don't forget to include any player cost-sharing revenues in your analysis (such as fees, travel expenses, bakes sales, dances, "volunteer" mandates, coaches expenses, kit costs ......).

Still crickets!