Downtown United Soccer Club

Dear DUSC Families, Friends and Supporters, Creating this year's annual report has once again been an insightful journey of reflection and progress. It is fitting that I acknowledge the driving force behind our accomplishments: YOU, the thriving community that epitomizes the core of DUSC. First off, I am honored to extend my appreciation for the continued dedication demonstrated by our extraordinary team of coaches and staff. Their deep commitment to cultivating the growth of our players stands as the developmental pillar of TheDUSCWay and is foundational in instilling the playing philosophy that resonates throughout the club. They are the real MVPs, bringing passion to the playing fields, no matter the conditions and challenges unique to coaching in NYC. Furthermore, the steadfast support from our devoted volunteers, the DUSC Board, committee members, and Team Parents is nothing short of invaluable. Your time, resources, and expertise in all things NYC help us build an environment of excellence for your children, strengthen our core values, and shape the identity of our club. Whether it be in a committee meeting or when I informally meet parents on the sidelines of Pier 40, I am heartened by your enthusiasm, desire, and insightful support to help the club. As we reflect on the 2022/2023 DUSC campaign, it becomes clear once again that the essence of our mission lies in the purpose and values that guide us daily. DUSC is a thriving club, constantly growing and evolving toward a future defined by inclusivity, community engagement, joy, and fulfillment through soccer. We are privileged to be part of a soccer collective that seeks to make a positive impact on the neighborhoods we call home. This leads me to our donors, whose trust enables us to find safe local spaces to play, highlights the pivotal role you play in fostering accessibility for all and is essential in supporting our inclusive values. DUSC mirrors the pride and diversity reflected by our players, coaches, families, and the people that comprise NYC. In this, we find strength, vibrancy, and a shared spirit that resonates with the very essence of the club and city we proudly call home. Together, we look ahead inspired by the richness of our shared experiences on and off the field, propelled by the unwavering community support that has defined the unique identity of DUSC. Kevin McCarthy View the Annual Report: https://bit.ly/474gJaM

Last week, Cosmopolitan Jr. Soccer League honored DUSC as the recipient for the 2024 Legacy Club award.  CJSL Honored Downtown United Soccer Club as a legacy member club for their exemplary service and contributions to youth soccer in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League since 1982.  On hand to accept the award were our very own, Gustavo Palomino, Dimitrie Draguca, and Max Watson. In addition, our own Max Watson was voted in as 1st Vice President of the CJSL! Congratulations Max!

Following a successful event in the winter, we are excited to announce another opportunity for players wanting to play in college. We will be hosting our 1st Annual Summer College ID Event at Poly Prep Country Day School on June 24 & 26.  College coaches, from all NCAA divisions, will be in-attendance running training sessions, facilitating Q&A's on the college process, evaluating players, and viewing match play! Different from our Winter Event- our Summer Events provide two nights of additional training to high-level players looking to work with College Coaches in a more intimate setting and get recruited! Limited spaces are available & are open to players outside of DUSC. Don't miss this recruiting opportunity! https://bit.ly/4eatx4x

If we champion coaching, we must also champion coach education. At DUSC, we exemplify this belief by offering an annual coaching education stipend to every coach. This investment aims to cultivate richer experience and deeper knowledge, empowering our coaches to guide your children effectively along their developmental journey. Research in sports coaching suggests that athletes under the guidance of coaches with formal training and education experience various benefits (Gearity & Murray, 2011), including reduced anxiety, heightened self-esteem, increased motivation, enhanced camaraderie with teammates and coaches, and decreased likelihood of quitting sports. Simply put, every player at DUSC deserves a coach equipped with the training to nurture their physical, social, and psychological growth.  We currently have multiple staff members progressing through their United Staes Soccer Federation licenses; if you share our dedication to coaching education, we invite you to support our excellent coaches by making a donation in their honor. https://bit.ly/3K12udY #WeAreDUSC #TheDUSCWay #DUSCMayGiving

Today we kickoff #DUSCMayGiving, our fundraising campaign leading up to our end-of-season celebration on June 6th at Governors Island. This year, as we embark on #DUSCMayGiving, we do so following two significant announcements. DUSC has been selected as one of only six youth soccer clubs nationwide to join the MLS NEXT league. DUSC will also be joining the Girls Academy, the nation's premier developmental platform for girls, with close ties to USSF and NWSL. Notably, DUSC is the sole NYC club to receive this distinction. Throughout this month, we'll be highlighting these milestones. However, we understand that the real hard work begins now. It's vital that we uphold our commitment to our mission and the three fundraising pillars that support these values: providing financial aid to ensure access to soccer for all; securing safe, local field space; and offering development funding for our coaches in order to deliver exceptional mentoring, feedback, and guidance to your children. Here's how you can contribute: Donate: We aim for 100% participation from staff, coaches, board, and committee members for our 2023/24 fiscal year. We believe this will motivate you, our DUSC community, to respond to our call to action and donate! Stay Connected! We will have competitions, events and auction items throughout the #DUSCMayGiving. Spread the word: Inform your team parents and share on your social media accounts about #DUSCMayGiving https://lnkd.in/gYqtJb89

Wow, what a phenomenal couple of weeks it's been for DUSC! Last week, we received the exciting news of our admission to the Girls Academy, marking a significant stride forward for girls' and women's soccer in NYC. And now, this week brings even more reason to celebrate as we've been selected to join the MLS Next U13 + U14 divisions for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. At DUSC, our driving force is a passion for unlocking the full potential of every player. With an abundance of talent in Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs, our mission is crystal clear: to foster individual growth and development. To achieve this, we are proud to have assembled an exceptional team of coaches and staff members with extensive coaching experience across all levels. As we enter this new competitive arena, we do so with respect for our opponents and a deep appreciation for the platform we've been granted. But let's set the record straight from the outset: DUSC aims to be a leader in urban youth soccer development nationwide while setting a standard of excellence within NYC.  Being ambitious, bold and creative is consistent with the values of the city we inhabit. The DUSC badge highlights the skyline of downtown NYC: a literal and figurative symbol of ambition for the entire world. On the pitch, this is reflected in a dynamic, fast paced attacking playing style that aims to move forward boldly when in possession and is relentless and aggressive in winning the ball back. However, our vision extends far beyond the soccer pitch. We aspire not only to produce top-tier players but also to nurture well-rounded individuals who positively impact their communities. Through our "Soccer For All" initiative, we're tearing down financial barriers, providing over $500k in financial aid to ensure that every aspiring player, regardless of their financial circumstances, has the opportunity to participate. Our Director of Coaching, Paul O'Donnell, whose leadership secured our invitations to the Girls Academy and MLS NEXT, encapsulates our mission perfectly: "Being part of the premier youth developmental environments in the country, within one of the most talented soccer hubs, is an unparalleled opportunity. We are tremendously excited for this journey and eager to develop top-tier players while continuing to make a positive impact on our community." Paul also gives great credit to DUSC Technical Director's Gustavo Palomino and Jose Luis Rebay as being instrumental in this process and creating the foundation to guide us forward. The rigorous evaluation process we've undergone reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and holistic player development. Our dedication to fostering an inclusive club culture, implementing a defined soccer philosophy, and providing ongoing coaching support and education has truly set us apart. Join us as we embark on this exciting new chapter in NYC soccer!

We are delighted to announce that DUSC has been invited to join the MLS NEXT U13 + U14 divisions for the 2024-2025 season. MLS NEXT will provide the most structured, high-level platform, a professional game-day environment, and a collaborative club experience alongside the nation’s premier clubs. Our invitation to join MLS NEXT marks a pivotal milestone in our club's growth and development. It opens pathways for our Boys Academy players to pursue their development opportunities at the highest level possible. Read the full statement: https://dusc.net/mls-next/

I am incredibly excited to announce that our Downtown United Soccer Club girls teams U13-U19 will be joining the Girls Academy League for the 2024-2025 season! We believe this league aligns perfectly with our organization's values, offering players a superior platform for development and collegiate exposure. Club soccer is ever-evolving, and it's crucial we provide our players with top-notch opportunities for their long-term goals, which the Girls Academy League delivers. This move marks a natural progression in the pathways established by DUSC for girls' and women's soccer in NYC. We anticipate our highly successful WPSL team to continue its success, with a significantly higher proportion of homegrown players. On a personal note, this is a career highlight for me. Three decades ago, I began coaching the Columbia University Women’s team, and I've been deeply committed to advancing the girls' and women's game in NYC ever since. The players I coached at Columbia continue to inspire me, and I'm proud of Coach Tracy Bartholomew's leadership taking the program to new heights. I'm grateful to my colleagues at DUSC, our Board, and our community for their investment in building a robust infrastructure and model for the female game.  Special recognition goes to Academy Director Arman Osooli who has been the architect of our girls program since my tenure at DUSC, Alexandra Keaney, our Girl's Technical Director an extraordinary coach and a wonderful role model for our players and staff, and Leanne Campbell whose hard work and vision as our Co-Director of Operations and DUSC Women General Manager have helped make this possible. I am also overflowing with excitement as Emma Hayes, our new USWNT head coach, prepares to lead the most successful national team in women’s soccer history to even greater achievements. Emma's upbringing in an urban environment, honing her skills on the streets and pitches of London, has equipped her well for this role. She understands that outside the US, the best female players are developing in cities. NYC has played a significant role in Emma’s coaching journey, and I've had the privilege of closely collaborating with her as she began her coaching career in the States. Her immense success with Chelsea, both domestically and globally, is truly inspiring. The future looks bright for DUSC and girls' and women's soccer in NYC. We invite all who share our vision for transforming player development in Manhattan, across the five boroughs, and in the diverse cities across our nation to join us on this journey — players, coaches, managers, and sponsors alike. Let’s Go!

We support the women’s game and continue to provide different resources for our players to find success. Thank you DAZN for being awesome partners and supporting our mission! #WeAreDUSC

This past weekend DUSC hosted our first College ID Camp at SUNY Maritime College. We had over 125 players participate in training sessions held by NCAA coaches. It was a great opportunity for players to create and build relationships with coaches, learn from various coaching styles, and play alongside people they may not usually be with. For DUSC, being able to provide these opportunities for our players and extending it to the larger community is something we hope to continue to deliver. #TheDUSCWay Thank you to all of the coaches who participated and our staff that made this day a success! #WeAreDUSC