Take a step back, let me explain:
When the DA was formed for the girls, they created "composite" age groups for the HS girls (U16/U17 and U18/U19), which is consistent with the pyramid structure. But they didn't mirror the current boys DA structure, they shortened it by excluding U12 and U13. Thus, the girls side goes U14, U15 and narrows up to the HS age groups.
DA's U13 Pilot Program
Now, the various clubs said, whoaaaa, we have a some youngers that we would like in the DA. The DA said, no, our National Team doesn't even start until U15, but we will create a SINGLE pilot program within the DA structure to see if its worthwhile. They picked the "Frontier" Division, which is Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, etc., and the USSF created a
U13 pilot program.
The DA's U13 Pilot program IS NOT the same as the DPL's U16 Pilot program. The U13 Frontier Pilot is a USSDA league, anything DPL and NPL is not.
But...but...but what about the DPL press release? Hang on, I'll get to that.
DPL, FPL, etc.
Appreciate that the
DA clubs have got a problem, they have no U12-U13 teams (yet, but let's see how that Frontier Pilot program works out), they have U14 and U15 parents/players that are sold on the DA, but when it comes to the composite age U16/U17, they are going to lose half their money ... err ... players.
What to do? What do do?
The Solution: These SoCal DA Clubs created the DPL and expanded the age groups to U13 and made each year a single age group through U17 with U18/U19 being the only composite age group, which serves 2 purposes. First, it lets them add U13 and park their composite youngers U16 and allows them to send parents a "DA II ... but not DA ... but DA II ... wink, wink) sales pitch (DPL is our DA player pool). Parents loved it, sign my daughter up.
The DPL concept is now being embraced by some other parts of the world and US Youth Soccer is willing to sanction these DPL teams under its umbrella. The Frontier Players League (Texas/Colorado version of the DA) is being embraced and sanctioned by USYS as an actual National League conference. Will the DPL move to the National League? Stay tuned, my money is on "yes."
DPL's U16 Pilot Program
The DPL released this:
http://dpleague.org/docs/pilot_program_release.pdf
Which states in relevant part:
As part of the programming for the DPL U16 age group, those teams will participate as guest teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase and Summer Showcases, to compete against U-16 DA Pilot Program teams from the Frontier Division.
What we can conclude/infer is that the DPL is going to make this years U16 teams (i.e. 2003s) adhere to the same restrictions as the DA 2003/2002 Composite team and they will not only play in the U16 DPL, but will play two DA showcases as guests against the
yet to be publicly acknowledge U-16 DA Pilot Program.
The problem and confusion here is the USSDA has yet to announce any U16 Pilot program for the Frontier Division or the Southwestern Division. The DPL's announcement makes it very clear that their
DPL Pilot Program is not, however, sanctioned by the DA, only that these clubs will play as guests in a showcase (further evidence it IS NOT a DA sanctioned league).
In Conclusion
- The US DA U13 - Frontier division is an actual DA sanctioned gaming circuit.
- The US DA U16 - Frontier division MAY SOON EXIST, but has not been announced. Other than the DPL press release, I have found nothing on this.
- The DPL is not a DA sanctioned gaming circuit, rather, its sanctioned by US Youth Soccer / Cal South.
- The DPL U16 Pilot Program is going to follow the same restrictions as the DA imposes and play in two showcases, but will continue to play in the USYS/Cal South sanctioned leagues (National League, CRL, DPL)
- The Frontier Players League (FPL) is not a DA sanctioned gaming circuit, rather, it is sanctioned by US Youth Soccer / Texas
