Development Academy: New U-19 tiers set to impact local clubs

Seacoast United and the Boston Bolts face off in a September 2018 game. (Maddie Malhotra/New England Soccer Journal)

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s 2019-20 season will get underway in late August, though a drastic change is set for the U-19 age group.

Rather than all local teams competing in the Northeast Division, the DA has split each conference's oldest age group into Red and Blue divisions. They are essentially top and lower tiers, with widespread impacts set for across New England.

This development, which was first reported by Mike Woitalla of SoccerAmerica, places just the New England Revolution in the Red division. The region’s other four DA clubs – Beachside, Boston Bolts, Oakwood and Seacoast United – are all in the Blue Division.