U.S Youth Soccer Leagues: A Full Guide
US youth soccer in the modern day is a mess and it is a very confusing topic because it’s split across multiple organizations, leagues, and governing bodies, each with their own rules, age groups, and player development models. From U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) and U.S. Club Soccer to AYSO, ECNL, MLS NEXT, and more, parents and players are often left overwhelmed trying to figure out which path is best.
Youth soccer in the United States has no centralized system like in many other countries, making it hard to navigate the landscape, understand the amount of money it costs, and determine what level of competition or exposure each league provides. This complexity usually leads to confusion about how to move up the ranks, get scouted, or even just find a local team that fits a player’s goals.
In this blog, I will break down the different leagues and tiers of the U.S youth soccer league system.
The Landscape of U.S. Youth Soccer
U.S. youth soccer has seen a lot of changes over the years, and now it is now a huge part of many young athletes’ lives. In the United States, the beautiful game has grown so much due to hosting large major tournaments, higher participation rates, and better developmental programs, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.
With so much competition in the sport and with new leagues and teams being formed every year, it is important to understand where each team ranks and how the different youth leagues compare with each other.
MLS Next
In the United States, the best youth league is MLS Next, which is made up of top teams and academies around the country. This league was created in 2020 by the MLS and it replaced the Developmental Academy (DA) league.
MLS Next is made up of MLS youth academies as well as top rated non-MLS affiliated clubs and it is basically an upgraded version of the Developmental Academy and the highest level of Youth Soccer in America.
Elite Clubs National League (ECNL)
The next best youth soccer league is the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) which is made up of the top rated youth teams that did not make it into the MLS next. The ECNL league is made up of 79 teams and in 2009 it was created as an elite girl’s soccer league, but in 2017 the ECNL introduced boys leagues as well.
Boy’s Elite Academy League
The Boy’s Elite Academy League, is a high-level youth soccer league established in the 2020-21 season. This league is made up of two divisions, the Northeast Division and the Southwest division with 10 and 12 teams respectively, but the league just keeps on growing and will most likely continue to do so.
National Academy League
The National Academy League is one of the newest leagues on this list and it is another top youth soccer league. The National Academy League is made up of 70 teams competing in the boys U13 to U19 age groups.
The National Academy League is expected to act as a pathway for players to reach MLS Next teams and its first season began in September 2023.
ECNL Regional League
The ECNL Regional League is part of the ECNL leagues, but the main difference is that this league only plays teams within the same region, while the higher level ECNL league plays teams nationally. With that being said this is still a high level youth soccer league.
Northeast Academy League
The Northeast Academy league is a high level youth soccer league operated by USYS for players in the age groups between U11 and U19. This league has a strategic relationship with the MLS next, although they are not operated by the same organization, making it a great developmental league for players who wish to be seen by MLS next coaches and scouts.
U.S Youth Soccer National League 64
The U.S youth soccer national league 64 was created in Fall 2022 and it is a 10 month long competition. It is made up of 64 elite youth soccer boys and girls teams from the age groups of U13 through U19.
National Premier Leagues (NPL)
Established by U.S club soccer in 2011, the National Premier League is the top rated local/regional league in U.S youth soccer that allows the best teams from one NPL league to play the top teams from another NPL league.
Coast Soccer League
The Coast Soccer League “operates an “open” system to ensure every team competes at the level they have earned. From the first entry into competitive play, up to elite level soccer, CSL provides each team with the opportunity to succeed.”
This is one of the first forms of competitive soccer for many players in the United States.
American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)
AYSO is the oldest national youth soccer program in the country. The main goal of AYSO is to allow everyone to have the opportunity to play the beautiful game.
AYSO is also usually a type of recreational soccer league, but some of the highest level teams in this league may be more competitive than others. This is one of the first forms of any type of soccer for many players in the United States.
Summary
To summarize, the U.S youth soccer system has changed and developed a lot throughout the years, which is why it is important for soccer players, parents, and coaches to understand the youth soccer pyramid system.
In this blog, I covered all of the basic information you need to know about U.S youth soccer and the different leagues and organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible, analyze high level games as much as you can, as well as your own games by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews, and watch soccer documentaries, movies, tv shows, and anime.
What is the best youth soccer training equipment?
The best youth soccer training equipment includes soccer balls, smart soccer balls, soccer ball pumps, cleats, shin guards, shin guard sleeves, soccer shorts, soccer goals, soccer rebounders, and soccer cameras.
Where to find coaching and educational resources for U.S Youth soccer?
To learn more about U.S youth soccer, and U.S soccer in general, check out these website:
What is the Best Way to Reward Young Players in Soccer Matches?
The best way to reward young players depends on their age and level of competition. Medals can be a great motivational tool when used intentionally—such as recognizing a top scorer, MVP, or most improved player. Custom medals with the team name, year, or special category help celebrate individual effort and meaningful progress throughout the season.
