EDP Soccer
Overview
Eastern Development Program. Acquired by 3Step Sports in December 2023. Serves 130,000+ youth soccer players ages 5-22 across New England, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio, Florida, and Eastern Canada. Core geography: NJ, PA, DE, MD and bordering states — NJ is the epicenter.
Structure
- EDP League: 11U-19U Boys & Girls, Premier Divisions
- Teams placed by geography and competitive level
- Top divisions at 13U-18U serve as pathway into National League Conferences (USYS)
- Seasons: Fall (registration deadline ~July 15), Spring (~January 10), Mini-Fall (15U-19U, ~5-6 games, late October)
Club Requirements
100+ NJ clubs participate. Clubs pay league fees to enter teams. Division placement is controlled by EDP staff.
Economics
| Division | Fee/Team |
|---|---|
| 11U-15U Full Year | $950 |
| 15U-19U Spring | $725 |
| Mini-Fall 15U-19U | $275 |
| Late application surcharge | $100 |
Player Pathway
Sits below ECNL and MLS NEXT in the competitive pyramid but serves as the primary competitive league for the majority of NJ clubs. Top EDP divisions feed into USYS National League Conferences.
Current Trajectory
Under 3Step ownership since Dec 2023. 3Step also acquired US Officials (referee supply, June 2023) and operates the expanded MLS NEXT competition tier (Jan 2025). This gives 3Step/EDP remarkable vertical integration: leagues + tournaments + referees + MLS NEXT tier. 3Step exploring sale (Goldman Sachs engaged, 2026).
Key People
- Steve Shilling — Founder/President
- Bohdan Porytko — Programming Director; also CJYSA President, NJYS and US Adult Soccer board
- John Tait — Regional Manager (NY/New England)