2026 Spring League
April 11 – June 7, 2026
Application deadline: March 11th
The MDSL Championship continues to grow season by season, and we are excited to kickoff another year.
The Championship league is the top of the MDSL pyramid and caters to Entry level travel teams. Teams have the option to host games or play at an MDSL field.
While it is a challenge to determine if the league is a good fit for your team or not, if you are new to the league, one of the ways that you can gauge is by looking at previous results. Teams who usually play in the MDSL Championship are teams who typically have combined the better players on the recreational side of their clubs to form teams. The league consists of teams who are looking for more of a challenge and would like to play on level of the competition.
Teams who also join our league tend to be the 2nd or 3rd tier teams of a smaller club, or the 4th and 5th tier teams of a bigger club. A 1st tier team can join the MDSL Championship, however, they will be required to play up a year to help even the playing field.
The MDSL Championship begins at the U-9 level and unlike other leagues who may not categorize the U-9 and U-10 age groups by divisions, we feel as though this is important at this age to ensure meaningful games. The Championship strives to provide a positive environment to support player development. This league is competitive and encourages clubs to find a balance between player development and winning.
Across all leagues the MDSL’s mantra remains “Development over winning” and it is our expectation that when your club joins any of our leagues that you too must have a similar mindset. Clubs and their teams are to conduct themselves in a professional manner. We expect teams to show up 45 minutes prior to their games, have proper warm-ups, and during the games, coaches to be professional and conduct themselves positively all while enforcing the same principles in their families and players.
Season: April 11 – June 6, 2026
Game Days: Saturdays and Sundays
#of games per team: 8
Game Times (Range): 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Game Locations: If your club is based in Montgomery County, then we will provide fields if you are the home team. For those teams based outside of Montgomery County, you can provide fields or exercise the option to play all home games at an MDSL field in Montgomery.
Cost: Soccer leagues in Maryland have become extremely expensive, and have priced out a number of clubs with smaller budgets. The expensive leagues across the state will see a 60-70% profit margin at the end of the season, while you are left using funds for the following season, to pay off the current season.
Other leagues will stick you with all of the responsibility/expenses such as scheduling ALL of your own games, renting/fixing, acquiring/paying for referees, etc. while they sit back and watch their $ flow.
While we do offer a self-scheduling option and teams can obtain their own fields, after that, we take it from there. We work for you, and our price point allows the smaller clubs to survive. At the end of the season, our margins are 5-10%, so we pass the savings onto you and allow you to put money back into your clubs/teams.
We are about the sport! A player’s youth soccer lifespan may last 10 years, if that, therefore, we strive to make the experience about the players. We want your fees to be affordable because you are the ones providing the experience to the children. If the kids are happy, the club is happy, then we are happy!
See below a chart of what we charge compared to some of the other leagues:
*Cost includes referees, game fields, and league administration.
Note that ALL players must be carded through USYS to be eligible to participate in the MDSL Championship league. If you are an independent team then you may be carded through Maryland State Youth Soccer Association.
| Age Group | Birth Year | Format | Max Roster | Entry Fee |
| U-8 | 2018 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $750 |
| U-9 | 2017 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $750 |
| U-10 | 2016 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $750 |
| U-11 | 2015 | 9 v 9 | 16 | $850 |
| U-12 | 2014 | 9 v 9 | 16 | $850 |
| U-13 | 2013 | 11 v 11 | 18 | $950 |
| U-14 | 2012 | 11 v 11 | 18 | $950 |
| U-15 | 2011 | 11 v 11 | 18 | $950 |
| U-16 | 2010 | 11 v 11 | 22 | $950 |
| U-17 | 2009 | 11 v 11 | 22 | $950 |
| U-18/19 | 2008/2007 | 11 V 11 | 22 | $950 |
Refund Policy:
A $75 administration fee will be deducted for any refund request:
- 100% – Refund amount before team acceptance. Keep in mind that we have to accept the team first inorder for funds to be deducted. If the team is not accepted in GotSport then no fee will be deducted.
- 75% – Refund amount after the team has been accepted.
- 50% – Refund amount after the schedule is complete.
- 0% – `Refund amount after the schedule has been posted.
U-8 (2018s) – U-11 (2015s) – Games are 30 minute halves.
U-12 (2014s) – U-14 (2012s) – Games are 35 minute halves.
U-15 (2011s) – U-16 (2010`s) – Games are 40 minute halves.
U-17 (2009s) – U-19 (2007s) – Games are 45 minute halves.
*Note – Referee fees are included in the cost and all teams are required to be USYS and US Club Soccer carded.
League Rules
- Build-out lines are required for U9 and below.
- No Heading (U-9 – U-11)
- Slide tackling is allowed for all ages.
- One (1) Referee per match for U12 and under. 3 refs for U13 and up.
For more detailed information the league’s rules you can click here.
Block scheduling will be available. We will also offer double coach scheduling preference to de-conflict games.
MDSL Spring 2026 KEY DATES to remember:
- Team Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
- Division Structure Released: March 15, 2026
- Tentative Schedule Released to Teams Only: March 18, 2026. On this date teams can de-conflict any games that they may have up until March 20th. After this window, no changes are allowed for the rest of the season.
- Master Schedule Released: March 20, 2026
- Season Starts: April 11, 2026
- Season Ends: June 7, 2026
Match Day Dates :
Teams will play 7-9 games including play-offs. Matchdays are as follows:
- Pre-season: March 21-22, 2026 (Spring Classic)
- Week 1: April 11-12, 2026
- Week 2: April 18-19, 2026
- Week 3: April 25-26, 2026
- Week 4: May 2-3, 2026
- Week 5: May 9-10, 2026
- Week 6: May 16-17, 2026
- Bye Week: May 23-24, 2026 (Memorial Cup)
- Week 7: May 30-31, 2026
- Week 8: June 6-7, 2026
- Post-season: June 19-21, 2026 (DC Cup)
Fees include:
- 7-9 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.