DA Expansion 2018/19
Development Academy Expansion Welcomes 16 New Clubs for 2018-19 Season
The Academy has expanded its membership, welcoming 16 new clubs that include 32 additional teams, as well as 37 additional teams from existing clubs for the 2018-19 season
ACADEMY CLUBS ADDING AGE-GROUPS FOR 2018-19 SEASON
|
Club |
Gender |
Age Group(s) |
Division |
|
Albion SC |
Boys |
U-18/19 |
Southwest |
|
Arlington Soccer Association |
Boys |
U-15 |
Atlantic |
|
Armada FC Pro Academy |
Boys |
U-18/19 |
Southeast |
|
Ballistic United |
Boys |
U-16/17 |
Northwest |
|
Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen |
Boys |
U-16/17 |
Atlantic |
|
Chula Vista FC |
Boys |
U-13 |
Southwest |
|
Cincinnati United Premier |
Boys |
U-15 |
Mid-America |
|
Davis Legacy Soccer Club |
Boys |
U-12 |
Valley |
|
Discoveries Soccer Club |
Boys |
U-13, U-14 |
South Atlantic |
|
LA Galaxy San Diego |
Boys |
U-15 |
Southwest |
|
Legends FC |
Boys |
U-13, U-14 |
Southwest |
|
Los Angeles Football Club |
Boys |
U-15 |
Southwest |
|
Los Angeles Premier Futbol Club |
Boys |
U-13 |
Southwest |
|
Loudoun Soccer |
Boys |
U-15 |
Atlantic |
|
Metropolitan Oval |
Boys |
U-15, U-16/17 |
Northeast |
|
Minnesota United FC |
Boys |
U-15 |
Mid-America |
|
Murrieta Surf Soccer Club |
Boys |
U-13 |
Southwest |
|
Mustang SC |
Boys |
U-13, U-14 |
NorCal |
|
New York Soccer Club |
Boys |
U-16/17 |
Northeast |
|
San Antonio FC |
Boys |
U-15 |
Frontier |
|
San Diego Soccer Club |
Boys |
U-13, U-14 |
Southwest |
|
San Francisco Elite Academy |
Boys |
U-13 |
NorCal |
|
San Francisco Glens Evolution |
Boys |
U-13 |
NorCal |
|
Star Academy FC |
Boys |
U-13 |
NorCal |
|
Total Futbol Academy |
Boys |
U-13, U-14 |
Southwest |
|
United Futbol Academy |
Boys |
U-18/19 |
Southeast |
|
Virginia Development Academy |
Boys |
U-18/19 |
Atlantic |
New clubs and clubs receiving expansion into new age groups were selected for admission to the Development Academy's 12th season based on:
• Academy leadership and quality of coaching staff
• Desire to embrace Development Academy philosophy and core values
• Infrastructure and investment of resources
• Player production history, player pool depth and geographic location
Four new clubs are being introduced for the second year of Girls' programming, while 12 Academies will be welcomed for Boys' programming. These new clubs will account for 14 and 20 additional teams, respectively, while 27 existing clubs on the Boys' side have been granted additional teams in age groups where they previously did not field a team.
While the number of divisions remains the same for both gender programs, clubs from two new geographical regions are joining the Girls' Development Academy: Oklahoma Energy FC (Oklahoma City, Ok.) and Sporting Omaha (Omaha, Neb.). While a small number of clubs were added for the 2018-19 Girls' Development Academy Season, there was an encouragingly sizeable pool of applicants.
With the addition of Utah Royals FC, eight of nine NWSL clubs will be represented in the Academy. The addition of Toronto FC means that all 23 current MLS clubs are now part of the Development Academy.
In total, the Boys' Development Academy will see 12 new teams added to the U-12 age group, 14 to U-13, eight to U-14, 10 to U-15, six to U-16/17 and six additional new teams added to U-18/19. The 2018-19 Girls' Development Academy season will welcome a total of four new teams to U-14, four to U-15, three to U-16/17 and three to U-18/19.