Main reason cited that the the Battery DA program closed was conflict with HS participation

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/ba...739bbca015.html

From the DA website FAQs (http://www.ussoccerda.com/faq)

"Which teams participate in 10-month programming and do not allow high school participation?

Both the Boys' and Girls’ Development Academy program do not participate in high school programming."

One challenge here in SC and some other states play in the Spring, while most states play in the fall (like college). The issue here then is that kids cam "commit" to DA and then change their minds, drop from the team and play HS. In states where HS soccer is played in the Fall, this isn't an option really.

The high school experience is still important to a lot kids across the country. It is not an easy decision for them to make despite the fact that DA competition is superior overall as is the college and pro scout exposure. But, they are teenagers and it is a very personal decision.

A lot has been written on the topic. An excerpt https://www.socceramerica.com/publicatio...ool-soccer.html from highlights this point:

"The 2017-18 Girls DA season is in its first season and major clubs are already defecting, with the high school issue being a key reason. Those clubs can play in the well-established ECNL, launched in 2009.

Just as Mallory Pugh was emerging as a super talent, with everyone knowing she played high school soccer, in addition to ECNL ball, U.S. Soccer was disparaging high school ball while setting up a league to compete for the nation’s top talent with the ECNL."

There is no doubt the DA has produced a lot of quality players and competition is superior. In fact, in the 2019 MLS "Superdraft", 36 of 75 players selected were from DA clubs (http://www.ussoccerda.com/20190116-NEWS-DA-36-Academy-Alumni-Selected-in-2019-MLS-Superdraft)