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Organized youth soccer affiliated with Major League Soccer began with various MLS academy teams playing in the Super Y-League at its foundation in 1999. In 2007, the United States Soccer Federation created an elite academy league called the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which featured academy teams of MLS teams, along with several non-MLS academies across the United States and Canada. The intention of the USSDA was to create a top division of youth soccer in the United States and Canada.

USSDA's goal was to connect national team coaches at all age levels directly with elite youth players, while also serving as a venue for advanced coaching and referee development.[1] Unlike most professional soccer leagues in the United States and Canada, but much like professional soccer leagues abroad, USSDA ran on a winter-based schedule, with the seasons beginning in late August or early September and ending in June, with a winter break from mid December to mid February.

The league was unique among other professional soccer leagues domestically, as it runs on a winter-based schedule. The season generally begins in September and ends in June or July. There is usually a hiatus in January and February, and players have the summer off. Most of the clubs are associated with professional teams, either in North America through MLS, the NASL or the USL, or with European clubs. The professional teams cover most, if not all of the fees, while the academies offer a pipeline of talent to the professional club.

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