As part of its mission to impact everyday environments to develop world-class players, the U.S. Soccer Boys' Development Academy will expand its membership for the 2019-20 season with the addition of four new clubs and the introduction of new age-group teams at 14 clubs, bringing the Boys' Academy to 150 total clubs that field 535 teams.

Two MLS clubs, Inter Miami CF and Austin FC, highlight the new additions. Both Academies will be fully-funded, offering cost-free opportunities for elite players. These two Academies will lay a foundation for their clubs' first teams before they begin play in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Already a member of the Girls' Academy, SC del Sol will expand its programming to the Boys' Academy at the U-13 and U-14 levels, while Real Salt Lake - Arizona will join the Academy as an affiliate of Real Salt Lake's successful Academy in Herriman, Utah.

2019-20 BOYS' DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY CLUB ADDITIONS 

Club	Location	Age Group(s)	Conference
Austin FC	Austin, Texas	U-14	Central
Inter Miami CF	Miami, Fla.	U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, U-18/19	East
Real Salt Lake - Arizona	Tempe, Ariz.	U-13, U-14	West
SC del Sol	Phoenix, Ariz.	U-13, U-14	West

ACADEMY CLUBS ADDING AGE GROUPS FOR 2019-20 SEASON

Club	Location	New Age Group(s)	Conference
Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen	Carlstadt, N.J.	U-18/19	East
LA Galaxy San Diego	Carlsbad, Calif.	U-16/17	West
Los Angeles Football Club	Los Angeles, Calif.	U-16/17	West
Los Angeles Premier Futbol Club	La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.	U-14	West
Met Oval	Queens, N.Y.	U-18/19	East
Minnesota United FC	Minneapolis, Minn.	U-16/17	Central
Murrieta Surf	Murrieta, Calif.	U-14	West
New York Soccer Club	Purchase, N.Y.	U-18/19	East
Queen City Mutiny	Charlotte, N.C.	U-15	East
San Antonio FC	San Antonio, Texas	U-16/17	Central
Tampa Bay Rowdies	Tampa Bay, Fla.	U-16/17	East
Total Futbol Academy	Los Angeles, Calif.	U-15	West
Valeo FC	Newton, Mass.	U-13 & U-14	East
Ventura County Fusion	Ventura County, Calif.	U-13 & U-14	West

New clubs and new age-group teams were selected for admission to the Academy following a thorough review process by U.S. Soccer based on a number of factors, including:

• 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
• Market analysis

"The opportunity for the current Academy clubs to expand their pathway for players is a result of the daily work of leaders and staff to create optimal environments," said Jared Micklos, U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams Director. "The addition of a new market in Phoenix, Ariz. and two new cost-free MLS Academies will drive development at the highest level and create more opportunities for top talents." 

In addition to the new clubs, 14 current Academies will add new age-group teams for the 2019-20 season. After fielding teams up to the U-16/17 level last year, Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen, Met Oval, and New York Soccer Club will expand to U-18/19 and offer Academy programming at all age groups.Los Angeles Football Club and Minnesota United FC began their Academies at younger age groups, built them up year-by-year, and will expand to U-16/17 in the coming season. Similarly,LA Galaxy San Diego, San Antonio FC and theTampa Bay Rowdies will field U-16/17 teams in 2019-20.Queen City Mutiny and Total Futbol Academy will add U-15 teams after competing at the U-13 and U-14 levels this season, whileLos Angeles Premier Futbol Club andMurrieta Surf will add U-14 teams. Valeo FC and Ventura County Fusion only had teams at the U-12 age group this year but will expand to the U-13 and U-14 levels for the coming season. 

BOYS' DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY BY THE NUMBERS

At the start of the 2019-20 Boys' Academy season, the following age eligibility dates will be in effect:

• U-18/19: Players born Jan. 1, 2001 or later
• U-16/17: Players born Jan. 1, 2003 or later
• U-15: Players born Jan. 1, 2005 or later
• U-14: Players born Jan. 1, 2006 or later
• U-13: Players born Jan. 1, 2007 or later

The expansion of the Girls' Academy to 71 clubs that encompass 342 teams was announced last month. The 2019-20 regular season and event schedule will be released by June 1, 2019.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007, subsequently growing the program year over year. In Fall 2017, the Academy expanded its programming to include a Girls' Development Academy.

The Academy focuses on positively impacting everyday club environments to maximize youth player development across the country. The Academy's philosophy is based on increased training and fewer but more meaningful games using international rules of competition.

Entering its 13th year in 2019-20, the Academy season will be comprised of teams across five age groups in the Boys' program: U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19, and five age groups in the Girls' program: U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18/19.