Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, releasing the latest standings for U16, U17 and U18 Boys. Next week, we will update the older age groups on the Girls side. We will update our National Top 25 for each age group at least once per month.

(scroll down for system details)

Clambering for the top at U16

As if following a coach’s truly inspirational half-time pep talk, several Development Academy teams have come to play in the second half of the season.

DC United has won its first four matches since returning from winter break, scoring 20 goals in the process while only giving up one, offering a little redemption for its reputation as a top MLS squad. DCU secured three points each against Baltimore Bays Chelsea and Match Fit Academy, both of whom they lost to at the beginning of the season. Tom Torres’ squad climbs from fifth to third in the Atlantic Division and from No. 22 to No. 20 in our standings.

Kendall SC and Seattle Sounders continue their climb up the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. Both squads have taken over the top spot in their respective conference standings since the spring began, and have continued to hold on to their positions through tough competition. Sounders climb from No. 17 to No. 14, while Kendall climbs from No. 18 to No. 13 with this update.

Golden State of affairs at U17

FC Golden State White may have finished with a 4-3 record in the Cal Regional League’s south division, and sixth in the Coast Soccer League premier division last fall, but none of that hindered its chances for a spot at the US Youth Soccer National Championship at the end of the 2014 season. FCGS finished the USYS National League season in Las Vegas with an undefeated 5-0-2 record and a blue division title, qualifying the southern California squad for a trip to Maryland in July, and a climb to No. 9 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. This should position the club well when it enters the full Development Academy for the 2014-15 season.

New to the Top 25 this month is Arizona’s Valparaiso United Futbol (MT) at No. 22. Coach Milos Tomic’s squad has had an exceptional tournament season in 2014 with finalist runs at the Disney Soccer Showcase, SC Del Sol President’s Day Tournament, followed by a Players Showcase Tournament championship. Valparaiso currently leads the Far West Regional League’s Desert Premier division, and if they can hold on with one game remaining in the season, they will qualify for the 2014 Region IV championships.

Sounders, Pats running at U18

Seattle Sounders Academy have propelled themselves to a current first place hold in the Northwest Division this month, and raised their Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 position to No. 17. The Sounders have been on an 8-0-1 run since the beginning of February with the lone draw coming at the hands of No. 2 Real Salt Lake AZ a couple of weeks ago. Seattle also had two wins last weekend with IMG Academy 150 standout Satoshi Chaffin recognized by TDS as the top scorer in the U18 age group.

Pateadores Academy enters the rankings for the first time this month at No. 25. The Pats started the season with only one win in its first six matches, but had a good showing at the Development Academy Showcase in December, and followed that up with a 4-1-3 run in 2014 to climb to fourth in the Southwest Division.

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Girls

Grande Sports Academy TeamRank is the comprehensive team-ranking system devised by TopDrawerSoccer.com to provide an objective and common-sense approach to determining which elite youth soccer teams are the best in the nation.

The rankings, updated monthly, are primarily results-based, with a nod toward the league and championship competitions that emulate how excellence is determined in leading soccer nations around the world.

Tournaments are also included but at a reduced value due to the many mitigating factors involving such events, including attrition and guest players.

A final layer of executive evaluation is provided to account for variables that often impact results, thus ensuring that the monthly lists are not subjective, but are not purely mechanical.