Sporting Development League

League Overview

The Sporting Development League (SDL) is an independent youth soccer league featuring 12 premier clubs from across the Central Midwest region. The league is designed to provide a high-level, development-focused experience for top U11 and U12 boys’ teams, as well as U12 girls’ teams, within a structured and competitive environment.

Boys Divisions (U11 & U12):

The top-level boy’s teams from each club will compete in a twelve-game season during both the fall and spring. At the end of the spring season, all teams will participate in the Sporting Development League Championship in Kansas City, where the league winners will be crowned.

Girls Division (U12):

The top-level girl’s teams from each club will compete in two festival weekends each fall and spring season. The final festival weekend of each season will crown a league winner.

League Objective

The Sporting Development League (SDL) provides a competitive—yet, more importantly, developmental—environment for players and coaches from each of the selected participating clubs. The league is designed to support long-term growth by offering consistent, high-level match experiences that prioritize individual and collective development.

League Philosophy

The Sporting Development League (SDL) serves as an important platform for players and coaches to engage with Sporting KC Youth Soccer and the Sporting KC Academy, furthering their development within a unified soccer pathway. Our philosophy centers on creating competitive environments where the focus remains entirely on development.

Participating Clubs

Competition Format

FORMAT	LENGTH	BALL SIZE	GOAL SIZE	SUBS
9v9	3 x 20 min	4	16' x 7'	Rolling

League Development Initiatives

The Sporting Development League (SDL) stands apart in the soccer landscape through a distinct set of rules and regulations that emphasize player development at every level. Designed to cultivate talent and promote growth, the SDL prioritizes long-term success over short-term results. A few of the unique elements that differentiates the SDL, including:
All restarts begin with the ball placed on the boundary line and brought back into play either by a pass or a dribble. This encourages quick decision-making and technical execution under pressure.

The SDL eliminates stoppages for substitutions. Instead, players are substituted on the fly, within the natural rhythm of the game. This keeps play continuous and allows for a faster, more dynamic match environment.
Every game will feature a designated build-out and offside line. This promotes constructive play from the back and encourages teams to maintain possession while also creating a more open and fluid attacking game. By redefining traditional offside constraints, the SDL fosters creativity and intelligent movement.
Each game is 3 x 20 min periods instead of the traditional two halves. This allows the coaches to have more chances to give instructions, adjust tactics and substitute players strategically. The shorter play periods can help maintain a higher level of concentration, quality of play, and effort from the players.