DME Academy

★Adam C

As an athlete, a coach, and a father, I need to address something I’m seeing too often in youth sports. We all love to win. Competition drives us — it’s part of what makes sports so powerful. But the “win-at-all-costs” mentality that some organizations are pushing is quietly damaging kids. Children under 15 shouldn’t be defined by their record — they should be developing their foundation. Function. Form. Fundamentals. These are the building blocks that shape athletes into confident, capable competitors later on. More and more, I see clubs focused on their brand, their reputation, and their record instead of actual development. But a 10- or 11-year-old losing a game means nothing. What matters is whether they’re learning effort, consistency, resilience, and love for the process. That’s what builds real winners — on and off the field. When a child begins to see their self-worth only through wins and losses, we’re creating a fragile mindset — one that breaks the moment adversity hits. Everyone loses. What defines true athletes and strong people is what they do after the loss. There will be a time when winning matters — but that time isn’t youth sports. If the pursuit of a trophy comes at the expense of a child’s confidence, joy, or sense of belonging, that’s not coaching. That’s ego. As coaches, mentors, and parents, we have a higher responsibility. We’re not just shaping athletes — we’re shaping people. And any organization that forgets that doesn’t belong anywhere near kids.

★★★★★Claudine Morales

My son just completed the Flag Football camp at DME Academy and absolutely loved it. He’s passionate about football, so this camp was a perfect fit. Coach Joe Rodriguez was fantastic with the kids—his program was incredibly well-organized and thoughtfully run. We’re already looking forward to the next session. My son came away inspired, excited about the school, and eager to apply when the time comes.

★Carolina Olavarrieta

My child was a victim of bullying at this school, and we never received a clear response or meaningful support. Sadly, it felt as though the school chose to protect the bully rather than the student who was suffering. The emotional well-being and safety of all students should be a priority - unfortunately, that was not our experience. I sincerely hope no other family has to go through the same.

★An Rodriguez

Stay away from this school. They may seem welcoming and supportive at first, but that changes quickly once your child is enrolled.I usually prefer to resolve concerns through direct conversation rather than writing formal complaints, but unfortunately, the way this situation was handled by Principal Stacy Atkinson and the staff has left me with no other choice. When I was considering enrolling my son, Principal Stacy Atkinson gave me a full hour of her time, answering every question and reassuring me he’d be well supported. But when my son truly needed help, she was suddenly too busy to take my calls or respond to my emails — despite multiple follow-ups. Honestly, it became clear she simply doesn’t care. My 12-year-old son was placed on a baseball team and had to practice alongside 14-year-olds. He was bullied, physically hurt, and subjected to repeated racist remarks by these older kids. He was deeply affected by the experience I reported the incident immediately. The principal told me she was concerned and would call me the next day at 12 p.m. That call never came. I followed up by phone and email, and again — no response. Three days later, I was referred to the Dean of Students, who didn’t reach out until a full week after the incident. To his credit, the Dean was the only person who showed genuine care and made an effort to understand the situation. He apologized directly to my son, and I appreciated that. But when I asked why the principal never returned my messages, he told me, “she was busy.” That excuse was incredibly frustrating, especially when she made plenty of time for me before enrollment. Once my son became a student, she vanished along with any sign of responsibility. We withdrew our son from DME. I never received any follow-up about a refund, and despite repeated requests, I was never sent his grades. I don’t regret the money I lost , I regret trusting this school with my son’s well-being. The experience was harmful, and the lack of care and professionalism from the school’s leadership made it even worse.

★★★★★Breakers Lacrosse Club

We recently sent our son to a lacrosse camp at DME and wow. The facilities were incredible, the people were amazing. They had everything he needed there: meals, dorms, spa, trainers, fun activities. Will definitely be back next year. Please get lax!!