What ages and program levels does D.C. United Youth Programs offer?The Regional Development School serves advanced supplemental training for ages 8–14 after tryouts. Futsal centers enroll ages 5–12 on a subscription basis. RDS summer camps target ages 8–14. Summer Camps, Powered by Headfirst cover rising kindergarten through rising eighth grade (ages 5–13 in DC and Maryland, ages 6–13 for Virginia weeks).
D.C. United Youth Programs
Washington, District of Columbia
About
D.C. United Youth Programs bring professional-staff training and camps to families around Washington, D.C. and the broader DMV. Offerings range from entry-level futsal and broad-audience summer day camps to the tryout-based Regional Development School (RDS), a supplemental pre-Academy pathway for advanced players who stay registered with their home clubs.
Regional Development School (RDS)
The Regional Development School is a tryout-based, supplemental program for competitive players ages 8 to 14. Boys and girls train weekly with D.C. United coaching staff alongside their club commitments; team training is expected to take priority when schedules conflict. The curriculum emphasizes individual technique that grows into group and tactical ideas, and players must try out each season to keep training groups competitive. RDS does not currently run goalkeeper-specific training. Satellite training runs at multiple DMV sites—examples include SoFive Soccer Centers in Rockville, Fredericksburg Fieldhouse, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Liberty Sports Park in Upper Marlboro, the Inova Performance Complex in Leesburg, Landon School in Bethesda, and George Mason University in Fairfax—with placement tied to the location where a player tries out and enrolls.
RDS All Star and Academy consideration
Standout RDS players can be invited to an RDS All Star evening that brings top performers from across locations together for recognition and higher-level competition. Coaches evaluate players throughout the season and may recommend exceptional talents to D.C. United Futures and Academy staff; Academy trial consideration remains a selective, staff-driven process rather than an automatic next step.
RDS summer camps
RDS summer camps target advanced players ages 8 to 14 with full-day, game-based training and D.C. United professional coaches. Sessions rotate through facilities such as SoFive Soccer Centers (Rockville), Fredericksburg Fieldhouse, Inova Performance Complex (Leesburg), Episcopal High School (Alexandria), and Liberty Sports Park (Upper Marlboro); some weeks are four-day blocks. Registration includes an RDS training jersey and D.C. United first-team tickets as part of the camp package.
Futsal centers
D.C. United Futsal Centers use a hybrid of futsal and technical work so players ages 5 to 12 maximize touches in small-sided play. Capacity is limited at each center, and enrollment is subscription-based so a roster spot continues until a family cancels or the player ages out. Annandale trains Saturday nights at Oakwood School; Rockville trains Sunday nights at SoFive Soccer Centers.
Summer camps powered by Headfirst
Partner-run Summer Camps, Powered by Headfirst welcome rising kindergarten through rising eighth grade in DC and Maryland (ages 5–13) and ages 6–13 for Virginia weeks, with campers grouped by rising grade. Camp runs 8:45 AM–2:45 PM with optional extended supervision mornings and through 6:00 PM. Weekly sessions in summer 2026 are scheduled across Washington, DC (National Cathedral School, Catholic University), Bethesda, MD (Mater Dei School), and Oakton, VA (Flint Hill School). The Virginia weeks require campers to be at least six years old by the start of their camp week. The program is nut-free with allergy protocols, provides a camp jersey on day one, and bundles small-group add-ons such as passing/dribbling, finishing, and goalkeeping (goalkeeping add-ons at DC and Virginia sites only).
RDS Free Play
Current RDS participants may join seasonal RDS Free Play sessions that gather players from every RDS site for unstructured, coach-free small-sided play focused on creativity and informal competition.
How to sign up
Regional Development School, RDS summer camps, and futsal enrollment flow through PlayMetrics. Summer Camps, Powered by Headfirst register through LeagueApps. Registration for RDS often opens about a month before the program start, and the club newsletter is the first place seasonal announcements land.
Explore more teams
Compare D.C. United Youth Programs with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader District of Columbia programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where do RDS, futsal, and camps take place?RDS trains at multiple DMV satellites such as Rockville (SoFive), Fredericksburg Fieldhouse, Alexandria (Episcopal High School), Upper Marlboro (Liberty Sports Park), Leesburg (Inova Performance Complex), Bethesda (Landon School), and Fairfax (George Mason University). Futsal meets Saturday nights at Oakwood School in Annandale and Sunday nights at SoFive in Rockville. RDS camps rotate through Rockville, Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Alexandria, and Upper Marlboro venues. Headfirst-branded summer camps for 2026 are scheduled at National Cathedral School and Catholic University in Washington, DC, Mater Dei School in Bethesda, MD, and Flint Hill School in Oakton, VA.
When are RDS tryouts and how does registration work?Players must try out every season for RDS, and tryouts are organized by location—you cannot use one site’s tryout to earn a roster spot at another. Families who plan to train at more than one location may attend multiple tryouts; billing processes automatically after acceptance. Registration often opens about a month before the program starts. If a tryout night conflicts with your schedule, choose another RDS location for that season or plan for the next cycle.
What does the July 4 holiday week cost at Summer Camps, Powered by Headfirst?When a camp week includes the July 4 holiday and runs four days instead of five, that session is priced at $455. Standard weekly tuition varies by session, location, and add-ons; use the LeagueApps enrollment flow for current rates, sibling discounts, and team discount inquiries via info@dcunitedsummercamps.com.
What is the club’s player-development approach?Youth programming stresses hands-on coaching from D.C. United staff, competitive training environments for RDS, high-repetition technical work in futsal, and inclusive camp days for younger players. RDS is explicitly supplemental—players keep their club registration—while the competitive track feeds evaluation toward D.C. United Futures and Academy opportunities for players who earn staff recommendations.
How can families register or get help?Use PlayMetrics for Regional Development School, RDS summer camps, and futsal. Use LeagueApps for Summer Camps, Powered by Headfirst. Subscribe to the D.C. United newsletter for early seasonal updates. For Headfirst camp questions, email info@dcunitedsummercamps.com or call (202) 313-7386.
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