Today we unveil our latest update to TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, and we release the initial standings for the U13-U18 age groups for boys and girls. Over the next few weeks, we will cover each age group more in-depth. We will update our National Top 25 of each age group at least once per month.

Here’s a look at the No. 1 teams to start the season in each age group. Click here to see the rest of the rankings.

(scroll down for system details)

Girls

U13 Colorado Rush: Littleton-based Colorado Rush travelled to Honolulu last summer to claim the U12 US Youth Soccer Far West Regional championship crown over San Diego Surf Academy I, and continued its winning ways in the very early days of the new season with a win at the Denver Cup.

U14 Michigan Hawks 00 ECNL: The Hawks finished last season as runner up at the US Youth Soccer National Championships and are looking for a good showing in their first season in the ECNL. They started the season strong with a win at the prestigious Eclipse Select Challenge Cup.

U15 De Anza Force ECNL: Last year’s ECNL champion was led by the offensive power of Luca Deza and Kailee Gifford. These two standouts will look to combine again throughout the ECNL season.

U16 Eclipse Select ECNL: You really can’t top an ECNL Championship and a US Youth Soccer National Championship in the same year. And with 10 goals in two games so far this season, Eclipse still gets the nod as #1.

U17 Sereno White ECNL: Goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins and center back Elizabeth Poblete were standouts at the ECNL Finals last summer. But they will need some extra help from the offense this season if they want to stay No. 1.

U18 PDA ECNL: It will be hard for the squad from New Jersey to top last season’s 23-0-7 record in the ECNL. Christine Munroy, Rachel Corboz, Jessica Vigna and crew will be hard-pressed to finish two seasons in a row without a loss, and these players will have to wait until their final high school season is over in December to begin the quest for a repeat.

Boys

U13 FC Golden State Academy ‘01: Pasadena-based FCGS followed a 2013 Far West Regional Championship at the U-12 age group with a Surf Cup championship run to start the U-13 season, blanking Chivas USA Academy in the final 3-0.

U14 Pateadores Academy: The Pats ended last season with a US Youth Soccer National Championship at the U13 and U14 age groups, and some players from those squads, including goal-scorer Christopher Lopez, will compete for the inaugural U14 US Soccer Development Academy team this fall.

U15 Pateadores San Diego: With many players from clubs at this age group moving on to US Soccer Development Academy squads, it’s hard to predict (remember our standings are for the present season only) who should be No. 1 at the outset, but this southern California club started the 2013-14 year with an impressive win at Surf Cup. We’ll see if they can keep the top spot when competition begins in the Southern California Developmental Soccer League.

U16 Real Salt Lake AZ: The 2013 Development Academy champions look to field another strong team in the U16 age group, but all will depend on how often the coaches opt to put the U16 eligible players on the U18 roster.

U17 Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal: The 2013 US Youth Soccer National and Region I Champion will hope to add a US Youth Soccer National League title to their trophy case when the league begins play in November.

U18 New York Red Bulls: The New York Red Bulls are the popular pick to repeat as Development Academy national champions among TopDrawerSoccer.com staff.

 

Next Thursday: U16, U17 and U18 Boys

TeamRank is the comprehensive team-ranking system devised by TopDrawerSoccer.com to provide an objective and common-sense approach to determining which elite youth soccer teams are the best in the nation.

The rankings, updated monthly, are primarily results-based, with a nod toward the league and championship competitions that emulate how excellence is determined in leading soccer nations around the world.

Tournaments are also included but at a reduced value due to the many mitigating factors involving such events, including attrition and guest players.

A final layer of executive evaluation is provided to account for variables that often impact results, thus ensuring that the monthly lists are not subjective, but are not purely mechanical.