April 18 - Ryan DiNunzio

Digesting the Alphabet Soup of US Youth Soccer

The US Youth Soccer league landscape is often referred to as an “alphabet soup” due to the variety of acronyms and initials used to brand and represent myriad platforms both nationally and regionally. While there is much to unpack, I thought it would be helpful to provide a brief synopsis of some (not all) of the league options available in our region.

So let me welcome you to the alphabet soup of youth soccer leagues! You're likely familiar with the myriad of acronyms: USL, MLS Next, ECNL, and more. We'll dive into the flavorful world of youth soccer leagues in the United States. From the well-established to the up-and-coming, we'll explore the differences, benefits, drawbacks, and notable alumni of leagues such as USL Academy, Girls DA, EDP, and beyond. So grab your spoon and join us as we navigate the alphabet soup of youth soccer.

USL Academy:
Founded: 2020

USL Academy provides elite-level competition and exposure to professional clubs within the USL system. It offers high-quality coaching, competition, and opportunities for advancement within the USL system. Their aim is to create more traditional pathways to the professional levels of the USL Championship and Super League. By integrating an Academy-driven system, they are working to introduce young, quality players into a professional environment sooner.

Strengths:

  • Exposure to professional club environments domestically and internationally.

  • High-quality coaching and competition.

  • Opportunities for advancement within the USL system.

Challenges:

  • Somewhat regional in nature.

  • Shorter competitive season.

Notable Alum: Cade Cowell (CD Guadalajara)

USL-Y:
Staying in the USL, USL-Y (replacing the Super Y-League) focuses on grassroots development, nurturing young talent through regional and national competitions. It provides a platform for young players to develop their skills and passion for the game. It is structured to minimize travel for teams to find elevated competition.

Strengths:

  • Grassroots development pathway.

  • Regional and national competitions.

  • Emphasis on player development.

  • Integration into the USL Academy system.

Challenges:

  • Lack of an established, national reputation.

MLS Next:
Founded: 2020 (replaced the US Development Academy program)
MLS Next seeks to set the standard as the premier boys' development platform in North America, offering top-tier coaching, competition, and pathways to professional opportunities. Participants benefit from elite training environments and exposure to professional scouting networks.

Strengths:

  • Direct pathway to MLS clubs and professional opportunities.

  • High level of competition against top youth academies.

  • Access to MLS resources and coaching expertise.

Challenges:

  • Intense competition may lead to limited playing time for some players.

  • There is a growing gap between true MLS Academies and independent MLS Next Academies due to resources and funding.

  • Ineligibility for high school soccer.

  • Geographic limitations for clubs outside of MLS markets.

  • Closed membership system.

Notable Alum: Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/Nottingham Forest/NYCFC)

ECNL (Elite Clubs National League):
Founded: 2009
Initially established as a girls' development league opposite the US Development Academy (boys program), the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) is known for its promotion of player placement at collegiate levels, particularly for female athletes. It offers elite competition and exposure to college coaches. As the DA (boys) unfolded, the ECNL was able to create a strong collection of clubs to create a national brand for both girls and boys. The ECNL has since spun off to create the ECNL-RL level as well, which is a home for clubs aspiring for full ECNL status or second-level teams at full ECNL member clubs.

Strengths:

  • Elite competition tailored to female players.

  • National playoff structure.

  • Regionalized showcase events.

Challenges:

  • Geographic disparity may require extensive travel for some teams.

  • Limited connectivity to professional systems/pathways.

  • Closed membership system in some areas.

Notable Alum: Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars)

Girls Academy League:
Founded: 2017
Girls DA provides a high-quality development environment for elite female youth soccer players in the U.S. Created by many clubs that had MLS Next programs, Girls DA offers top-tier coaching, competition, and exposure to college recruiters and national team scouts.

Strengths:

  • Focus on elite female player development.

  • Integration with U.S. Soccer's development pathway.

  • Exposure to college recruiters and national team scouts.

Challenges:

  • Intensive schedule may require significant time commitment.

  • Limited geographic coverage compared to other leagues and has seen several clubs migrate to the ECNL in recent years.

Notable Alum: Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC)

National Academy League:
Founded: 2023
The National Academy League (NAL) is the newest of the “national” leagues. In an effort to regionalize competition and create more opportunities for clubs to have both girls and boys teams in one competitive structure, the NAL was primarily founded by clubs that were MLS Next independents or locked out of local ECNL memberships.

Strengths:

  • Collaboration among clubs.

  • Emphasis on holistic player growth.

Challenges:

  • Limited history and track record compared to established leagues.

  • Availability may be restricted to select regions.

Notable Alum: N/A

EDP (Elite Development Program):
Founded: 1999
EDP offers diverse leagues and tournaments nationwide, catering to players of all skill levels. It provides opportunities for national exposure and competition, fostering player growth and development across various age groups.

Strengths:

  • Range of leagues and tournaments.

  • National exposure and competition.

  • Pathway for players of all skill levels.

Challenges:

  • Geographic dispersion may result in extensive travel for some teams.

  • Varying levels of competition quality across different regions.

Notable Alum: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/PA Classics)

E64 (Elite 64):
Founded: 2007
The US Youth Soccer National League has provided league play for the top USYS boys and girls teams since its inaugural campaign during the 2007-08 youth soccer season. The National League grew from 30 teams in two age groups in its first season to providing an annual platform for more than 350 teams to earn their place into the league and challenge themselves against top competition on a national stage.

Strengths:

  • Opportunities for high competition regionalized and college exposure

Challenges:

  • Limited availability and national visibility compared to larger leagues.

Notable Alum: Walker Zimmerman & Sam Mewis

Great Lakes Alliance (NPL):
The Great Lakes Alliance (NPL) provides a competitive platform for youth soccer players in the Great Lakes region. It offers high-quality coaching, competition, and exposure to college recruiters, with a focus on player development and advancement. A key regional member of US Club Soccer, the GLA is a member of the NPL (National Premier League) and provided oversight to the ECNL-RL and Pre-ECNL Ohio Valley Division. The aim of the NPL is to create a national competition that minimizes travel.

Strengths:

  • Regional competition with neighboring clubs.

  • Pathway to collegiate soccer programs.

Challenges:

  • Limited geographic coverage outside of Ohio, placing WNY on the outer
    fringe of the league, requiring more travel.

  • The level of teams in the NPL can vary dramatically from region to region.

Thruway League:
The Thruway League offers regional competition for youth soccer clubs in New York State. It provides a supportive environment for young athletes to thrive while minimizing travel demands. It was originally created as a home for premier clubs in WNY that could not play in their local leagues (BWNYSJL/RDJRSL). As clubs have grown and evolved and moved into other platforms, the Thruway League has established a 10-club membership system that provides oversight to the league. Each age group can vary in the number of teams, standards, and quality.

Strengths:

  • Regional competition with neighboring clubs.

  • Accessible pathway for New York State players.

Challenges:

  • Limited exposure to competition outside of New York State.

  • Relatively localized, may lack diversity in competition.

  • No state or national oversight.

  • Disparity in club diversity in the region.

NYSW Champions Conference:

The NYSW Champions Conference provides a platform for youth soccer clubs in the New York State West (NYSW) region that may have outgrown their local leagues. This has been known as a step-up for travel teams to reach beyond their district leagues.

Strengths:

  • Accessible pathway for NYSW players.

Challenges:

  • Limited exposure to competition outside of New York State.

  • Relatively localized, may lack diversity in competition.

  • Drop in participation in recent years has limited availability and age group.

In the vibrant world of youth soccer, the alphabet soup of leagues offers a diverse array of opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, pursue their passions, and chase their dreams. From USL Academy to NYSW Champions Conference, each league has its own flavor, strengths, and challenges. They each offer their own platform and pathway; but ultimately, a player’s development is dictated and determined far more by a combination of what they do at home coupled with their club environment than it is by the league they play in. There are distinguished players across many of the leagues, each who have excelled in their own journeys.