Rookies hit a wall, but what is it called when a player’s abilities exceed his competition?

There is a wall there just as well, and it is a more prominent part of a player’s development.

With the USSF Development Academy now in its fifth season, there are players who have been in the league for a large chunk of their golden developmental years. Some of these players were being pushed a couple of years ago when they were 15 or 16 years old and playing in the U18 age group because they fit in at that age.

Now, those same players are in the U18 age group (in their final or penultimate Academy seasons), and perhaps facing a similar height for a few years has created a plateau for these players to hang on.

It is the ongoing conundrum of U.S. youth soccer – development comes in stages and past the upper echelon of youth club soccer, there is a wasteland.

USL PRO announced an opportunity on Wednesday to change that – at least for some clubs. USL PRO is adding additional spots to the professional team’s roster for five academy players to get an opportunity with the first team. Players in USL Academies or MLS Academies that are affiliated with USL teams will have this shot at getting experience in a professional environment.

This additional challenge for the players is coming at just the right time, as MLS academies (or MLS affiliates) currently hold the top spot in seven of the eight U18 divisions in the Development Academy.

New York Red Bulls U18 is leading the charge with a 10-0-3 record, the only undefeated team remaining in the country. Red Bulls take on local rivals BW Gottschee in one of the few fixtures in the East Conference this weekend.

Below is a rundown of the rest of the action in the Development Academy:

West Conference

Real Salt Lake Arizona leads both age groups in the Southwest Division at just past the midway point of the season. RSL-AZ is in action this weekend with a game against Cal Odyssey on Saturday.

Jordan Allen’s departure back to Rochester has not slowed down the RSL-AZ U18 squad, which is 3-0-0 since he left after the winter break. Jose Navarro has been carrying the load offensively with six goals in the last three games.

In Southern California, LA Galaxy takes on Arsenal at the Home Depot Center on Saturday. Galaxy U18 is looking to get back on track after a lackluster return to action following the winter break. The LA MLS Academy is 1-2-2 over the course of the last month after starting the season with an 8-1-1 record.

Real So Cal, the second place team in the U18 age group, is also in action this weekend with a game against Strikers FC. While Galaxy is slumping, Real So Cal is surging. The boys in blue have won four in a row and shut out three of those four opponents.

Also in Southern California, Pateadores take on San Diego Surf and Chivas USA travels down to San Diego for a clash against Nomads SC.

Up north, De Anza Force battles San Jose Earthquakes and San Juan Soccer Club hosts Portland Timbers.

Central Conference

The highlight from the Frontier Division is the tilt between Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas on Sunday. Sporting KC is another team that has not gotten off to a hot start following the winter break. Sporting lost both of its games in January and now sits in seventh in the division.

Striker Eduardo Moreno, who has nine goals on the season, will be looking to get the season back on track this weekend against the stout FC Dallas defense that has only let in 11 goals this season.

Lonestar SC Academy takes on Texans SC Houston and Andromeda FC hosts Houston Dynamo in the other two fixtures in the Central Conference this weekend.

East Conference

The second and third place teams in the U16 Southeast Division are in action this weekend. Georgia United, second place, hosts South Carolina United Battery on Saturday. Georgia United U16 is 4-0-1 at home this season with a plus 10-goal differential. Jad Arslan leads the squad in scoring with nine goals to his name.

CASL Chelsea FC Academy, third place in the U16 Southeast Division, is in the midst of a 270-minute shutout streak. The North Carolina club takes on rival North Carolina Fusion on Sunday.

Virginia Rush takes on Potomac in the other game from the East Conference this weekend.