Who We Are

DC Way Academy

DC Way Academy is a Capitol Hill-based travel soccer club that is dedicated to cultivating talent and potential in children through advanced coaching and technical development using high-level gameplay. We aim to grow intelligent, healthy, mentally strong, and creative players! Our club currently offers competitive training for U7/U15 Boys (2019-2011) and U7/U16 Girls (2019-2010). All teams compete in MSI, MDSL, MCL, and EDP for their respective leagues.

DC Way Academy is more than just a soccer club. It’s a community built on a smarter, science-based approach to the game — one that shapes not only skilled athletes but thoughtful teammates, curious learners, and confident young people.

Our Philosophy: A Smarter Way to Learn Soccer

At DC Way Academy, we believe the game is the teacher—and our job is to design meaningful learning experiences within it. We understand that soccer is a complex system: every touch, decision, and movement impacts the next. Our training mirrors this complexity, helping players read the game, recognize patterns, and respond with confidence.

We focus on developing:

  • Tactical Intelligence – Seeing space, timing runs, and understanding team dynamics

  • Decision-Making Skills – Learning through realistic, pressure-filled environments

  • Emotional Resilience – Embracing challenges, learning from failure, and growing through play

  • Creativity and Adaptability – Making bold moves, trying new solutions, and finding what works

From structured match observation to individualized video feedback, our entire system is built to support each child’s journey—not only as a player, but as a person. Click here to learn more about our philosophy and training breakdown.

Behind the Scenes: Data, Development, and Design

What sets DC Way apart is our commitment to continuous learning—on and off the field. Our technical staff carefully analyzes matches using Veo camera footage and custom-built analysis tools. Our team in Italy creates detailed reports, which guide our training sessions. We also maintain a shared library of developmentally targeted exercises to ensure training is always purposeful and personalized. Click here to read more about our video analysis process.

Every step of the way, we’re thinking about the individual player—how they learn, how they grow, and how to get them to the next level.

Join Us This Season

We believe soccer is more than a sport — it’s a vehicle for life lessons, community, and growth. Whether your child is just starting out or ready for high-level competition, DC Way Academy provides the platform, support, and passion to help them thrive.

If you’re ready to join a club that truly understands youth development, we’d love to meet you.


Academy Curriculum

Our academy places the player at the heart of our technical project. We strive to develop individual skills and offer opportunities for growth and improvement. We offer a comprehensive program focusing on technical and tactical development. Our players learn fundamental and advanced skills such as passing, dribbling, and shooting, along with game strategies, off-the-ball movement, and game reading.

Physical fitness is a crucial aspect of our training programs. We design exercises tailored to improve endurance, strength, agility, and speed, considering the specific needs and age of our players.

TGfU-Inspired Methodology: Our teaching methodology, inspired by the concept of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), places a strong emphasis on the importance of gameplay. Through practical experiences in realistic game situations, our players develop a deep understanding of the game and enhance their skills.

Our curriculum focuses on:

  • Technical: Body positioning, first touch, ball control, dribbling, heading (for appropriate ages), tackling, finishing, goalkeeping, shooting, passing/receiving, 1v1 attacking and defending

  • Tactical: Formations, soccer IQ, styles of play, reading and understanding the game, vision, organization, response time, innovation, creativity, ball trajectories, ball distribution, anticipation, insight, set pieces and their positioning, teamwork, spatial awareness, and communication

  • Mental: Concentration, sportsmanship, composure, determination, growth mindset, total commitment, managing emotions, competitiveness, rigorous work ethic, motivation, and the will to succeed

  • Physical: Strength, agility, body mechanics, speed, endurance, lateral agility, flexibility, coordination, power, footwork, aerobic endurance, reaction time, and balance