2025 Spring Recreation League
April 5 – June 8, 2025
Montgomery County, MD
Recreational teams only!
U-7 – U-12 boys and girls teams
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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The MDSL 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 our league that winning should not be the main priority. 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 our league, then we will decline your application or at the end of the season, not ask your club to return. 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 the right way and to acknowledge the fact that they are just kids and will make mistakes.
Season: April 5 – June 8, 2025 (No games 4/19, 4/20, 5/24 or 5/25)
Game Days: Saturdays and Sundays
#of games per team: 8
Game Times (Range): 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Game Locations – Montgomery County, MD
*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 | Format | Max Roster | Entry Fee |
| U-7 | 2018 | 4 v 4 | 12 | $595 |
| U-8 – U-9 | 2017/16 | 5 v 5 | 14 | $650 |
| U-9 | 2016 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $750 |
| U-10 | 2015 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $750 |
| U-11 | 2014 | 9 v 9 | 16 | $795 |
| U-12 | 2013 | 9 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:
| League | U-8 | U-9 | U-10 | U-11 | U-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 |
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 Spring 2025 KEY DATES to remember:
- Team Registration Deadline: March 15, 2025
- Division Structure Released: March 22, 2025
- Master Schedule Released: March 27, 2025
- Season Starts: April 5, 2025
- Season Ends: June 8, 2025
Match Day Dates :
Teams will be guaranteed 8 games. Matchdays are as follows:
- Pre-season: March 23-24, 2025 (Spring Classic) – Recreational Plus teams only.
- Week 1: April 5-6, 2025
- Week 2: April 12-13, 2025
- Bye Week (Due to Easter): April 19-20, 2025
- Week 3: April 26-27, 2025
- Week 4: May 3-4, 2025
- Week 5: May 10-11, 2025
- Week 6: May 17-18, 2025
- Bye Week: May 24-25, 2025 (Memorial Cup) – Recreational Plus teams only.
- Week 7: May 31 – June 1, 2025
- Week 8: June 7 – 8, 2025
- Post-season: June 14 – 15, 2025 (Clash for the Cup) – Recreational teams only.
Fees include:
- 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.
- Standard rules and procedures developed by clubs.
- Centralized master scheduling via GotSport.
Please Note: All scheduling (games and fields) are handled by the MDSL office.