There’s nothing like spring break. A time to relax, wake up late, hang out with friends – or to make the most of the unique opportunity that only being a part of the D.C. United Academy can afford.
On Thursday morning, as they have been all week throughout their weeklong vacation from T.C. Williams High School, D.C. United Under-18 teammates Jorge Calix and Eryk Williamson were on the field inside RFK Stadium in lock-step training with the First Team as it made its final preparations for face Orlando City.
“Training today was little light, but earlier this week, it was 100 miles per hour,” said Williamson. “They were making sure that everything was perfect so they could keep winning games.”
It wasn’t the first time for Williamson or Calix to test themselves with the pros, as both players joined United during the First Team’s preseason trip to Bradenton, Fla. But over the course of the last two weeks, a total of 10 current or recently graduated D.C. United Academy players have donned the same practice gear and trained alongside the players they aspire to be.
“It’s cool because we take advantage of the time instead of sitting around at home and watching TV,” Calix said. “We’re out here training with the pros and getting better.”
The professional level forces the academy players to push themselves to new and higher levels of both intensity and commitment.
“Everyone is focused on their first touch, much more intense, and they take it far more seriously,” Calix said. “They want to win, and they are competitive. In every little game, they’re trying to win, even if it’s a possession game, a square game, whatever the case may be. And it’s faster everything.”
Any session with the First Team is another chance to impress Head Coach Ben Olsen and his staff, too. Meanwhile, the First Team players, especially United’s multiple Homegrown products, challenge them and offer words of encouragement. Goalkeeper Bill Hamid helped push Calix and Williamson through some sprints alongside Fabián Espíndola at the end of Thursday’s session.
“It humbles us,” Williamson said. “Of course, these guys are better than us. That’s why they’re professionals. Coming out here is ten times harder than U-18 training. It humbles us to take what we’re learning here back to U-18 practices.”
In some ways, it’ll be easier for them to get back into their school routines next week, too.
“Waking up at 8 a.m. during spring break isn’t ideal, but it’s good,” Williamson said. “Both of us want to become professional players so we’ve got to get used to the lifestyle.”
