Eastern Development Program’s First Division to become National Premier Leagues Division

US Club Soccer has announced that the Eastern Development Program (EDP) has become the newest addition to the organization’s National Premier Leagues (NPL), as the EDP’s First Division will become the NPL Division.

The EDP – NPL Division represents the highest level of the EDP with the age group winners advancing to the inaugural National Premier Leagues Champions Cup, to be held July 27-31 at Waukegan Sports Park in Waukegan, Ill.

The EDP – NPL Division will include the U-13 through U-17 boys age groups. The foundation of the EDP – NPL Division will be the league’s Core Clubs, a group which includes:

“MSSL has a partnership with US Club Soccer that goes back to its inception,” said EDP Executive Director Bohdan Porytko. “US Club Soccer’s innovative thinking has enabled MSSL to provide important programming initiatives that we believe have served our only priority: player progression that promotes the development of the game in the U.S. We consulted with all our Core Club coaching directors and there was overwhelming support for this step.”

Within the EDP, a group of Core Clubs is the driving force for EDP programming. While competing with each other intensely, these clubs have many values that align with US Club Soccer’s Youth Club Standards. Both organizations are committed to “Best Practices” for developing young players to progress into successful careers on and off the field.

“The EDP includes a list of outstanding clubs overseen by some of the most respected youth coaching directors in the area,” said NPL General Manager Chris Baer. “We are excited to add them to the NPL structure and work more closely with them to change the soccer landscape.”