Regional Leagues qualify two teams per age group to National League
FRISCO, Texas (Jan. 16, 2013) – The
US Youth Soccer National League has added automatic Regional League qualification to the existing National League and Regional Championship slots. Beginning in 2013-2014, teams will automatically qualify for the league through the previous year’s US Youth Soccer National League, Regional Premier Leagues and Regional Championships, further integrating the most competitive US Youth Soccer programs.
"Adding US Youth Soccer Regional League qualification in addition to the National Championships qualifiers mirrors the European UEFA Champions League style format awarding teams with proven success. Bringing together the champions and runners-up from the top Regional and National competitions guarantees the highest quality of play and competition in the country," said US Youth Soccer National League Commissioner Paul Luchowski. "With the addition of Regional League qualification, already a quarter of the teams have qualified for the 2013-2014 National League season, and those teams can now plan ahead for next season knowing they have secured a spot in the National League."
In addition to the eight teams who advanced to the US Youth Soccer National Championships via the National League and Regional Championships, the allocation of National League slots to Regional League finishers will be given as follows. For a list of 2013-2014 National League qualifiers,
click here.
Under-16 through Under-18 Boys and Girls slots for the 2013-2014 National League season:
| |
Team's Origin |
|
Competition Result |
Category |
| 1 |
NL |
# |
2012-2013 First Place Team--Blue Division |
NL |
| 2 |
NL |
# |
2012-2013 Second Place Team--Blue Division |
NL |
| 3 |
NL |
# |
2012-2013 First Place Team--Red Division |
NL |
| 4 |
NL |
# |
2012-2013 Second Place Team--Red Division |
NL |
| 5 |
Region I |
# |
2013 Premier League Champion |
RL |
| 6 |
Region I |
# |
2013 Premier League Playoff Runner-up |
RL |
| 7 |
Region II |
# |
2013 MRL Premier Division Red (Boys) or '12 Fall Champion (Girls) |
RL |
| 8 |
Region II |
# |
2013 MRL Premier Division Blue (Boys)or '13 Spring Champion (Girls) |
RL |
| 9 |
Region III |
# |
Fall 2012 SPL First Place |
RL |
| 10 |
Region III |
# |
Fall 2012 SPL Second Place |
RL |
| 11 |
Region IV |
# |
2012 FWRL Fall Champion |
RL |
| 12 |
Region IV |
# |
2013 FWRL Spring Champion |
RL |
| 13 |
Region I |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 14 |
Region II |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 15 |
Region III |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 16 |
Region IV |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
# if a team opts out of the earned slot, or if a team earns a second guaranteed slot, then the slot becomes an OPEN category slot
Under-15 Boys and Girls slots for the 2013-2014 National League season:
| |
Team's Origin |
|
Competition Result |
Category |
| 1 |
Region I |
# |
2013 Premier League Champion |
RL |
| 2 |
Region I |
# |
2013 Premier League Playoff Runner-up |
RL |
| 3 |
Region II |
# |
2013 Spring MRL Premier Division Red Champion |
RL |
| 4 |
Region II |
# |
2013 Spring MRL Premier Division Blue Champion |
RL |
| 5 |
Region III |
# |
2012-13 RPL Champion |
RL |
| 6 |
Region III |
# |
2012-13 RPL Champion |
RL |
| 7 |
Region IV |
# |
2012 FWRL Fall Champion |
RL |
| 8 |
Region IV |
# |
2013 FWRL Spring Champion |
RL |
| 9 |
Region I |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 10 |
Region II |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 11 |
Region III |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 12 |
Region IV |
# |
Regional Cup Representative to 2013 Nationals |
CUP |
| 13 |
Region I |
|
From Regional League or Regional Cup Semifinalist |
OPEN |
| 14 |
Region II |
|
From Regional League or Regional Cup Semifinalist |
OPEN |
| 15 |
Region III |
|
From Regional League or Regional Cup Semifinalist |
OPEN |
| 16 |
Region IV |
|
From Regional League or Regional Cup Semifinalist |
OPEN |
# if a team opts out of the earned slot, or if a team earns a second guaranteed slot, then the slot becomes an OPEN category slot
Should any team opt out of their earned slot, or if a team earns a second guaranteed slot, then the slot becomes and ‘open’ slot. Due to no returning National League teams in the Under-15 Boys and Girls age groups, those slots will be open. Teams can apply for any open slots, which will be filled by the National League Committee selection. The application period for teams seeking selection for open slots will take place during June, 2013 and conclude in early July.
The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the collegiate, professional and National Team levels. In addition to recruiting opportunities, the top two finishers from each division (Blue and Red) will earn a ticket to the
US Youth Soccer National Championships, making each match valuable and creating an added element of pressure as players compete for a chance play for the National Championship.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships are the oldest and most prestigious youth soccer national championships in the country. Through the first five years of play, National League teams have gone on to claim 20 of 30 possible National Championship titles.
The National League attracts hundreds of college, professional and National Team scouts to each event as every team has earned their place in the league based on previous and continued individual success, regardless of location or club affiliation. Coaches cite the competitive level and importance of every game as teams compete with a bid to the National Championships on the line. Last season, 185 girls, about 16 per team, and 147 boys, about 10 per team, went on to play collegiate soccer. Players found opportunities at some of the top programs in the country, including BYU, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Penn State, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia and Wake Forest on the girls’ side. National League boys moved on to programs such as Creighton, Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia.