Scout
Youth & DevelopmentA talent evaluator employed by a professional club or college to identify promising youth players.
Related Terms in Youth & Development
Academy
A youth development program run by professional clubs to train young players with the aim of promoting them to the senior team.
Development Academy (DA)
A now-defunct top-tier youth league in the USA run by US Soccer. It was replaced by MLS NEXT and Girls Academy.
Golden Age of Learning
The age range of roughly 9 to 12 years old, considered the optimal window for players to acquire technical skills.
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Latest Youth Soccer News and Articles
The U.S. Girls Youth Soccer Pyramid: A Parent's Guide to League Tiers in 2025/2026
November 6, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
A parent's guide to understanding the tiered leagues in U.S. girls' youth soccer, from ECNL to recreational leagues.
Guide to the New MLS Next Divisions: MLS Next Homegrown and MLS Next Academy Divisions Explained
August 2, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
A clear breakdown of the different divisions within MLS NEXT, explaining the homegrown player rule and the academy structure.
Youth Soccer Birth Year vs School Year Change Explained
August 1, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
The age group cut-off date is moving from a January 1st birth year to an August 1st school year system.