IFA Girls Launch New Chapter with GA Aspire and DPL

The IFA New England girls program will break new ground this weekend with our highest-level teams competing in the opening weekend of the Girls Academy Aspire League and Development Player League (DPL).

GA Aspire is a new addition to the Girls Academy structure and serves as a critical bridge between the GA’s top-tier league and the highly competitive landscape of elite youth soccer, establishing a clear standard for clubs and players. IFA was selected to participate based on achieving the required competitive, operational, and developmental benchmarks. IFA will field teams at U13 and U14 this fall, with U15-U19 teams also competing in the spring following the conclusion of their high school seasons.

“We’re excited to be entering our first season within the Girls Academy Aspire League,” said IFA New England Girls Director Charlotte Phillips. “Our teams are working hard to get themselves prepared for this new level of competition. We’re really looking forward to being tested, to being challenged and to see how our teams perform.”

The U13 and U14 IFA GA Aspire teams will begin their seasons this Sunday at Curry College. Full schedules can be found here.

Across the state, IFA West will also be competing in new surroundings as they begin participation in the Development Player League (DPL). The DPL is an additional national platform providing female athletes the opportunity to compete, develop, and be recognized at the highest levels.

IFA West will now have access to this platform from GU11 to GU19, with U11 through U15 beginning their seasons also on Sunday at the Roots Athletic Complex. 

“We’ve built a strong program here at IFA West, and the players have worked hard to prepare for this new challenge,” said West Girls Director Chris Whalley. “The DPL season is a great opportunity to showcase the growth and strength of our program.”

Both leagues feature regional divisions that provide high-level competition while retaining geographic alignment, as teams from U13 and up compete for National Championships. IFA teams will have the opportunity to compete in regional and national showcases, offering increased exposure to college coaches and scouts.

IFA offers a full slate of teams and programs for aspiring female players. In addition to the GA Aspire and DPL teams, the club fields teams in the National Academy League, New England EDP Division, and New England Club Soccer League.