DPL Transitioning to Seasonal-Year Age Groups Beginning 2026/27

The Development Player League (DPL) has announced its decision to adopt seasonal-year age groups (August 1 – July 31) starting with the 2026/27 season, joining a rapidly expanding list of major youth soccer organizations embracing this structural change.

This transition aligns DPL with U.S. Soccer’s strategic direction and reflects a coordinated effort across the American youth soccer landscape. Major leagues including Girls Academy and the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) have already implemented seasonal-year age groupings, creating momentum for widespread adoption throughout the sport.

The shift is designed to:

• Align registration more closely with school-year ages
• Improve team structures across clubs
• Maintain a competitive and developmentally focused environment for players
• Create consistency with partner organizations across the soccer ecosystem

The Domino Effect Across Youth Soccer

The movement toward seasonal-year age groups represents one of the most significant structural changes in American youth soccer in recent years. With Girls Academy and ECNL leading the charge, the pressure has mounted on other premier leagues to follow suit or risk creating confusion for families navigating multiple pathways.

This raises an intriguing question: Will MLS NEXT be the next major league to make the transition? As Major League Soccer’s official youth development platform, MLS NEXT’s decision could prove pivotal in completing the shift across elite youth soccer. The league has remained notably silent on the topic, but with mounting pressure from aligned organizations and the practical benefits of unified age groupings, an announcement may be forthcoming.

Smooth Transition Timeline

No disruption is planned for the current 2025/26 season, which will continue under existing age group structures. This measured approach gives DPL a full year to coordinate with clubs and families while observing how other leagues navigate their transitions.

The DPL leadership acknowledges that age group changes can significantly impact team dynamics and long-standing player relationships.

“The league is committed to working directly with clubs to ensure the transition is as smooth and player-centered as possible,” emphasizing their focus on minimizing disruption to the player experience.

Strategic Implications

By announcing the change well in advance, DPL provides crucial planning time for families and clubs while demonstrating alignment with the broader national soccer structure.

This coordinated approach suggests ongoing communication between major youth soccer organizations – a level of cooperation that could benefit player development pathways nationwide.

The seasonal-year model promises to reduce the complexity families face when children participate in multiple leagues or transition between different competitive levels. As more leagues and clubs adopt this system, it creates a more streamlined and logical progression through America’s youth soccer ecosystem.

With DPL’s commitment confirmed, attention now turns to the remaining holdouts among major youth leagues, particularly MLS NEXT, whose decision could mark the final piece in reshaping American youth soccer’s organizational structure.