USSF Development Academy Championships

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.