Recreation League – September 7 – November 3, 2024


Montgomery County, MD

Effective January 1, 2025, clubs will be required to apply to become a member of the MDSL Recreation program. Prior to applying clubs must meet and comply to the following criteria:

  • Must be Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) affiliated.
  • Must register ALL recreational players in MSYSA prior to the start of the season.
  • Must have an established recreational program with supporting documents such as marketing materials and a link to their website promoting their recreation program.
  • Following the application, if accepted, the club director or recreation director must attend an online interview with the MDSL League Directors.
  • If accepted to MDSL Recreation, the club agrees to adhere to the league’s description of a recreational player and recreational teams.

To apply to join MDSL Recreation for the 2025 calendar year click here.

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MDSL Recreation strives to provide a positive environment to support player development. While winning is nice and we all feel great when we do, it is important in MDSL Recreation that winning should not be the main priority. Therefore NO travel level players are allowed to participate in MDSL Recreation.

Our mantra remains “Development over winning” and it is our expectation that when your club joins our league, that they too have a similar mindset. If winning is your sole purpose to joining MDSL Recreation and you choose to bring travel or competitive level players, then we will decline your application, remove your team in season, or at the end of the season not ask your club to return. So do not take the chance. MDSL Recreation is for recreation level players. Period!

There are a handful of other leagues in the DC, MD, VA area that you can join where winning is a priority, but not the MDSL. As a league when you join us, we expect that you will be teaching the kids how to play your club’s style which should include teaching the game. We also expect you to acknowledge the fact that you are teaching kids and they will make mistakes. The game is for the kids, not you or their parents.

Season: September 7 – November 3, 2024

Game Days: Saturdays and Sundays

#of games per team: 8

Game Times (Range): 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

Game Locations (between Sandy Spring and Silver Spring): Sandy Spring Friends School, Northwest Branch Park, Pinecrest Local Park, and White Oak Recreation Center Field.

*Note – the league holds the right to adjust divisions accordingly depending on the number of teams registered.

Cost:

*Note the price increase for U-8 and up from last season. This is due to the cost of the referees as we have had to outsource games to a referee assigning organization and can no longer solely utilize MDSL referees due to the number of games. Despite the increase, we are still among the most affordable league in the Central Maryland regions, and the most affordable in Montgomery County.

Age Group Birth Year FormatMax RosterEntry Fee
U-720184 v 4 12$595
U-8 – U-92017/165 v 5 14 $650
U-9 20167 v 7 14$750
U-1020157 v 7 14$750
U-11 20149 v 9 16$795
U-1220139 v 9 18$795
Guides are assigned to U-7 and referees are assigned to U-8 – U-12 games.

Cost Comparison to other leagues:

LeagueU-8U-9U-10U-11U-12
SAM Rec$160$160$160$160$160
MSI Rec$110$110$110$110$110
MDSL Rec$54$58$58$66$66
Takoma Rec$50$50$50$50$50
Cost is per player and based on 12 players per team.

The major difference between our program and the other three leagues mentioned is that clubs can brand by wearing their own uniforms. Meaning that you do not have to wear MDSL uniforms to play in our league. So if you are a club or an independent team you are free to join. This is also a great way for coaches to build up their clubs by starting at the grassroots level.

In addition we only admit teams, not individual players, therefore teams do not pay a fee per player rather they pay a flat fee per team. However, if you are an individual player then we can help to place you on a team or recommend to one of the leagues mentioned above.

Playing Format:

  • Build-out lines are required for U10 and below.
  • No Heading (U-6 – U-11).
  • One (1) Referee per match.

Block scheduling will be available.  We will also offer double coach scheduling preference to de-conflict games. 

AMAZING BENEFITS. MDSL member clubs and teams will also receive access to Squadra, BowNet, United Soccer Coaches, and partnerships only available to the MDSL.

MDSL Fall 2024 KEY DATES to remember: 

  • Team Registration Deadline: August 15, 2024
  • Division Structure Released: August 23, 2024
  • Tentative Schedule Released to Teams Only: August 25, 2024. On this date teams can de-conflict any games that they may have up until August 26, 2024. After this window, no changes are allowed for the rest of the season.
  • Master Schedule Released: August 27, 2024 
  • Season Starts: September 7, 2024
  • Season Ends: November 3, 2024

Match Day Dates :

Teams will be guaranteed 8 games. Matchdays are as follows:

  • Pre-season: August 24-25 (MDSL Summer Breakout)
  • Week 1: September 7-8, 2024
  • Week 2: September 14-15, 2024
  • Week 3: September 21-22, 2024
  • Week 4: September 28-29, 2024
  • Week 5: October 5-6, 2024
  • Bye Week: October 12-13, 2024 (MDSL Fall Classic)
  • Week 6: October 19-20, 2024
  • Week 7: October 26-27, 2024
  • Week 8: November 3-4, 2024
  • Post-season: November 16-17, 2024 (MDSL Fall Breakout)

Fees include:

  1. 8 League Matches per season. In case of inclement weather games will be made up. This might include playing a game on a day that your team typically doesn’t play or playing a doubleheader in one day.
  2. Standard rules and procedures developed by clubs.
  3. Centralized master scheduling via GotSport. 

Please Note: All scheduling (games and fields) are handled by the MDSL office.

Participating Clubs