The U.S. men have had a formal academy system in place since 2007 and the new women's academy is being created to accelerate the development of top female players. The Girls' Development Academy will begin competition in the fall of 2017, with athletes primarily ranging in age from 14 to 19. The new academy clubs will be expected to train a minimum of four times a week. The academies are slated to help increase the training-to-game ratio, playing fewer but more meaningful games and providing assistance for coaching education and development