Some have arrived bearing international resumes, high expectations and guaranteed contracts. Others are unheralded trialists just trying to snag a precious roster spot.
But one common bond inevitably links every D.C. United rookie: manual (and menial) labor. Tradition dictates that young newcomers bear responsibility for hauling gear bags, shepherding equipment, gathering balls and cones, and many of the other chores associated with the team's daily practice routine.
Such daily drudgery is only one of many adjustments facing MLS rookies, many of whom are just a few months past college careers that made them "big men on campus," both on and off the field. The unique league has made even experienced World Cup veterans look distinctly ordinary on arrival, and for United's incoming crop the past month has been a blur of new faces, unfamiliar places and fast-track learning as they cope with the demands of the pro game.
"I didn't expect it to be this hard," admitted Chris Pontius, one of D.C.'s two first-round 2009 SuperDraft picks. "I expected it to be kind of like from high school to college, which wasn't too bad of a transition. But this one is a lot more difficult. It's more than just the pace of the game, it's the decision-making and everything like that, too."
The University of California-Santa Barbara product was touted as one of the most polished players in the draft and has largely held his own during United's preseason workouts, earning significant playing time in scrimmages, including a well-taken goal against the Columbus Crew in Bradenton, Florida on Feb. 10. But he's regularly found himself stretched to his limits, both physically and mentally, by the daily grind of a season which demands constant commitment from now until November.
"The body starts to get tired a couple days in, especially with two-a-days," he said. "I'm just trying to remain positive, because at times it's frustrating, getting used to the pace of the game. But all the older guys are very understanding of that and they don't beat up on you -- they just want the best out of you so they're very encouraging, which is nice."
Andrew Jacobson, D.C.'s top pick in 2008, has joined the side after a year in Ligue 1, France's top flight -- and he, too, quickly found himself on a steep learning curve.
"It's a good level," he said last week. "Every training is really intense, every player plays with heart and pride and I think it [shows] the American mentality -- no one ever gives up, go to the end, take it to the wire."
Perhaps no one faces a tougher adaptation than rookie goalkeepers, however. Serbian Milos Kocic represented his country at the youth international level before proving himself one of the top netminders in NCAA soccer over the past two seasons, but has nonetheless found his United transition awkward at times, especially in terms of organizing his defense.
"I was kind of a leader in college, I was free to tell my players [what to do]," he said. "Now it comes to an older group of players and I still feel like a leader, but I just need time to meet the guys and hang out, socialize with them, so I can feel free to communicate with them."
United has featured a veteran-heavy squad in recent seasons: last year's campaign opened with a starting lineup whose average age was 28 years old -- a grizzled group given the athletic environs of MLS. By midseason, a torrent of injuries amid the club's demanding schedule had pushed that number down considerably, and head coach Tom Soehn was left with little choice but to blood a host of youngsters.
Results suffered at the time, but he and his staff hope that those struggles will pay off in 2009. The influx of talented youth led by Pontius, Jacobson and Generation adidas member Rodney Wallace has given Black-and-Red fans reason to believe that this year's team can blend vigor and experience more smoothly.
"You can see a lot of quality in the young kids we drafted," said Soehn. "There's always that transition of adjusting to the pace of play, which everybody has to go through, but overall I've been pretty pleased. ... The squad is a really tight group. There's a really good core of guys that make everybody feel welcome, but yet hold them accountable."
So while United's distinguished old hands make sure the rookies quite literally do the heavy lifting, they're also quick to provide guidance when needed.
"It's a different environment, but it's fun," said Wallace of his own acclimation to the pros. "The players here at D.C. are all really close, it's kind of like a big family. They're all very welcoming. We do everything together and it makes things a little bit easier when it comes to the soccer part of things. ... The veterans, they're very good at letting you know what to do on the ball, off the ball. It's a fast adjustment but it's working out right now."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
