Who is DC Way Academy?
Welcome back to our newest blog where we will be diving into defining who we are, our mission, our values, and what we are about. Continue reading to learn more!
Who We Are
DC Way Academy is a Capitol Hill-based travel soccer club dedicated to cultivating talent and potential in children through advanced coaching and technical development by using high-level gameplay. Our ultimate objective is to produce players who are creative, intelligent, and mentally strong both on and off the field! Our club offers competitive training for U8/U14 Boys (2016-2010) and U9/U14 Girls (2015-2010.) All teams compete in EDP, MCL, MSI, and EDP Futures for their respective leagues.
Our Mission
Our mission is to positively impact the development of youth in our community by providing soccer and life-enriching opportunities to young players of all ages and playing abilities, to create a lifelong passion for the sport of soccer, and to help raise the level of soccer in our city.
Our goal is to foster a welcoming, enjoyable, safe, and competitive environment that will assist in the social and physical development of children of all skill levels. As a club, we support, inspire, and empower each player and coach to achieve their full potential within the game and in life, while also developing leaders and individuals who will inspire others to do the same.
Our values include being family-oriented, affordability, injury prevention, sportsmanship, growing individuals before the team, community, developing young coaches with a focus on the local community, and a balanced life off of the soccer field.
What We Are About
At DC Way Academy, coaches focus on developing technical skills, ABCS (agility, balance, coordination, speed), and game intelligence in all of our players. Concentrating on these skills are crucial because, at this age, bodies and minds are rapidly growing and developing. "You can't control the game if you can't control the ball, and you can't control the ball if you are not able to control your body!" We are also fortunate to provide players with physical education based on the FIFA 11+ program to promote injury prevention and safe play.
Our training curriculum is intentionally diverse and entertaining to engage and excite our young players, fostering an enjoyable and safe environment that has our players looking forward to attending every practice and game. At the end of each season, players receive a detailed, personal evaluation from their coach to give them the tools to continue developing their skills for the long term.
Parents are also an essential part of the players and our club’s success. DC Way Academy promotes positive parental support through education on the sport and its rules, proper sideline etiquette, and best practices to aid in the growth and continued enjoyment of their developing players.
DC Way Academy’s curriculum focuses on four main components:
Technical: Body positioning, ball handling, diving, movement, closing angles, footwork, flexibility, coordination, set-piece positioning, and more.
Tactical: Positioning (in-goal and on-field), reading the game, ball trajectories, ball distribution, and communication.
Mental: Concentration, total commitment, managing emotions, competitive mindset, rigorous work ethic, and the will to succeed.
Physical: Strength and agility, speed, gestures, coordination, power, and balance.
Why Join Us?
We believe there are many reasons to join us here at DC Way Academy if you or your player(s) are interested in taking their game to the next level. With the care and immense consideration shown by our dedicated, professional coaches as well as our belief that soccer is everyone’s game to enjoy and cherish, there are few better places where individual player development and a love for the game can grow so quickly! Join us next week as we discuss the different sizes of a soccer ball and why different age groups have to use the appropriate sized soccer ball!
