2010 has been a strong year for Academy development in MLS, and on Sunday two of the League's top programs square off against each other to begin their respective seasons. D.C. United is at the fore of the League's youth movement, with recent Academy graduate Andy Najar claiming Major League Soccer's 2010 Rookie of the Year Award. Bill Hamid became the first player in franchise history to make the move from the youth ranks to the first team on September 2, 2009. Najar followed suit on March 22, and 18-year-old Conor Shanosky joined the senior ranks on August 16. 

United's technical staff has high hopes for the current crop of Black-and-Red youth players, and on Sunday, November 14 they will face another strong MLS Academy in Red Bull New York. Recently New York's prized Academy graduate, Juan Agudelo, burst onto the MLS scene in the Red Bulls' postseason matches against San Jose before bowing out of the playoffs. For his energy and poise United States manager Bob Bradley has called on Agudelo to play in the nation's upcoming friendly with South Africa. 

With several strong players in United's U-18 side, including the likes of Jalen Robinson and Marcus Salandy-Defour, the Black-and-Red are set to play against their biggest foe. Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. for the U-18's, and 12:30 p.m. for the U-16's. On Saturday both sides are in action as well against Player Development Academy, with the U-18's playing a 12:00 p.m. and the U-16's at 2:30 p.m. All matches will be played at Prince George's Community College in Upper Marlboro, Md.