The MDSL’s approach to small-sided game play for players U-6 - U-12 provides the opportunity for players to get a ton of touches on the ball all while having fun and developing their overall understanding of the game.

Mission

To establish an affordable youth soccer league that offers all year around programming for independent teams and smaller sized clubs of 250 players and under, to thrive in their player development goals on the field and in their business objectives off the field. 

Who are we?

The Maryland Developmental Soccer League (MDSL) was founded by two Montgomery County, MD based youth soccer clubs in the Spring of 2022 with the goal in mind to follow US Youth Soccer guidelines to player development. With the focus on the often-times used word “development” in youth soccer circles, Sandy Spring Soccer Club (SSSC) and Aspen Hill Soccer Club (AHSC) decided that it would be best to work together to shape a league that they felt best suited for the players in the region. It was also important to them to shape a league with ZERO tolerance to recruiting so they formed a pact.

The Directors of the clubs had seen other recreational leagues in the Montgomery County area where players as young as 8 years old were playing 11 v 11 on 8 x 24 goals and the length of the field being endline to endline of a full-sided field, and thought to themselves that enough was enough. They had also placed their recreational level teams in overpriced leagues at the Maryland Sportsplex and decided that they needed to launch an affordable league that limited travel, had good fields, on par competition, and easily accessible to youth soccer clubs and their families.

They also wanted a league where both the coaches and referees could teach players the rules of the game. In the MDSL, no scores are kept (U-8 and under) and the league provides an experience for players to develop and learn how to play soccer the right way. The MDSL is a bridge to travel (competitive) soccer.

To learn more about our league, click here.