Starting with the 2026–27 season, every Pitch Gladiators team will compete in the EDP League (North Atlantic). One academy. One pathway. One future.
This is the biggest step in our club’s journey since we were founded in 2022, and we want every family — current and future — to understand exactly what it means for your player.
What is the EDP League?
EDP is one of the largest competitive youth soccer platforms on the East Coast, organizing league play for clubs from New England through the Mid-Atlantic. Teams are placed in divisions by age and level, which means every weekend our players face opponents that challenge them at the right level — and earn their way up as they grow.
For our families, it means structured schedules, quality referees and facilities, and competition that prepares players for what comes next: high school soccer, showcases, and college recruitment.
Why we made this move
Until now, our teams competed across different leagues. Moving the entire club into EDP gives every Pitch Gladiators player the same thing: one clear, connected pathway from their first touch to their next chapter.
We made this decision for three reasons:
1. Higher-level competition, every weekend. Development happens when players are challenged. EDP’s division structure guarantees meaningful games all season long.
2. One unified club. Every team now trains, competes, and progresses inside the same system — no more splitting our club identity across leagues.
3. A real path forward. EDP connects to the levels our most ambitious players dream about: National League 1, MLS Next, ECNL, and college soccer. When a Pitch Gladiators player is ready for the next level, the road is already in front of them.
We’re grateful to the leagues and clubs we’ve competed with until now — our teams grew through that competition, and we leave with nothing but respect.
The new Player Pathway
Every age group now has a defined place in one system:
Pre-EDP Foundation
- U7 — born 2019/2020
- U8 — born 2018/2019
- Building strong skills, confidence, and love for the game.
EDP Competitive Pathway
- U9 — born 2017/2018
- U10 — born 2016/2017
- U11 — born 2015/2016
- U12 — born 2014/2015
- U13 — born 2013/2014
- U14 — born 2012/2013
- Developing talent through higher-level competition.
Future — Next Chapter
- U15 — to be announced. Born Aug 2011 – Jul 2012? Join the U15 interest list so you’re first to know.
- Preparing players for National League 1, MLS Next, ECNL, high school, college, and beyond.
What changes — and what doesn’t
What changes: your player’s league. Match days will bring new opponents from across the Tri-State region, with schedules published through EDP.
What doesn’t change: everything that makes PG home. Same coaches. Same three training locations — Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Stamford. Same bilingual communication with our families. Same player-first philosophy: we don’t just train players, we build better people.
Want to be part of it?
Tryouts for the 2026–27 season are open now, with priority openings at U9, U11, and U12. Here’s how it works: contact the academy first, and your player can join any of our training sessions — Port Chester, Rye Brook, or Stamford — during the current summer program and through the first two weeks of the fall program. Players born 2017–2020 are always welcome, and our youngest players start in the foundation groups with no tryout needed.
Get started here or register directly through the Pitch Gladiators App.
Questions? Call or text us at 914-671-8471, message us on WhatsApp, or email admin@pitchgladiators.us. Hablamos español.
Frequently asked questions
What does this mean for my child’s current team? All teams move into the EDP structure together for 2026–27. Your coach will share your team’s division placement and schedule as EDP publishes them.
Will we travel more? EDP matches take place across the Tri-State area. Home matches stay local in our community, and we always balance the schedule with development in mind.
My child has never played club soccer. Can they still join? Yes — that’s exactly what the Pre-EDP Foundation is for. Players born 2017–2020 start with skills, confidence, and fun, and grow into the competitive pathway when they’re ready.
What ages does Pitch Gladiators serve? Ages 6–15 across all programs, from the Pre-EDP Foundation through the EDP Competitive Pathway.
