USSF Development Academy Championships

About USSF Development Academy Championships

USSF Development Academy Championships History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The USSF Development Academy Championships are USA soccer leagues comprised of youth academies and youth clubs from several organizations – this includes the MLS and USL. They were formed with the goal of producing world-class players by educating the youth and developing the club environment to help aspiring footballers strive.

These competitions were founded in 2007 and follow a winter-based schedule, kicking off in September and wrapping up in June or July, which is uncommon in the United States. The Development Academy consists of five age groups: U-12, U-13, U-14, U15/16, and U-17/18. The majority of the participating teams are associated with professional clubs, both in North America and in Europe. As a result, the league acts as a pipeline for pro teams and has produced notable names such as Christian Pulisic and DeAndre Yedlin.