As part of the continued development of the US Youth Soccer National League, additional information, including applications, playing requirements and schedule of play, is available today regarding the league.

As you know, the league will begin operation in the 2007-2008 seasonal year that goes from September 1, 2007, through August 31, 2008. For this first year, competition will be held for the U-15 and U-16 age groups, girls and boys. Beginning with the 2008-2009 seasonal year, the competition will be expanded to include the U-17 age group, girls and boys.

Please click the Learn More link for more...

Introduction
The US Youth Soccer National League (NL) will begin operation in the 2007-08 seasonal year (September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008). Competition will be held for the Under 15 and Under 16 age groups, boys and girls. Each gender age group will have eight teams.

Teams Eligible to Participate
For the 2007-08 seasonal year, all teams that have played in the top US Youth Soccer Regional League of each region during the 2006-07 seasonal year will be eligible to apply to play in the NL. Team applications will be available at www.USYouthSoccer.org on or around June 4, 2007 and are to filed with the NL Commissioner.

Selection of Teams
Team Applications from teams of a regional league will be reviewed by its Regional Director who will make recommendations to the NL concerning those teams. The NL Committee will select the eight teams in each gender age group. The NL Committee must select at least one team from each region and not more than three teams from any one region in each gender age group.

Timetable

The charter, rules and application form for the US Youth Soccer National League, set to begin play during the 2007-2008 seasonal year, is now available for review on www.USYouthSoccer.org.

 

Competition will be held for the Under-15 and Under-16 age groups, boys and girls. Each gender age group will have eight teams. The deadline for application is July 5, 2007.  The selection of teams will be made on or around July 11, 2007.

Playing Schedule
Each team will play a seven-game schedule facing each team within its age group one time. One scheduling model has NL teams playing three games over two weekends (one game per day) and a single game on a third weekend. The NL is targeting the following weekends/time periods for NL play: Thanksgiving Weekend, Christmas-New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend, Presidents Day Weekend and Easter Weekend. It is expected that the schedule will be tailored for each of the respective divisions based on the teams selected and could include other play dates.

League Rules
The NL Rules are being developed by the NL Committee and are expected to be available for the 2007-08 season on or around June 4, 2007. Such rules will include but not be limited to: general operations procedures, scheduling information, match control information, discipline information, and a protest/appeals process.

Participation in the US Youth Soccer National Championships
The top two teams in each gender age group that are not teams representing their region at the US Youth Soccer National Championships held in North Little Rock, Arkansas in July 2008, shall qualify as additional teams to the US Youth Soccer National Championships (thus a total of six teams will qualify for the National Championships in the Boys and Girls U15 and U16 age groups—four regional champs and two teams from the NL).

Requirements of NL Teams
NL teams will be required to pay a team fee of $500.00. The NL shall cover all costs associated with the conducting of matches including but not limited to field rental costs, referee fees/expenses etc. US Youth Soccer shall not be liable for transportation, lodging, or injury to persons or property sustained during the course of NL events.

Team Rosters
Pending the formalization of the NL Rules, it is expected that teams will be using players listed on their official stamped State Association roster for NL play. No guest players will be allowed.

Administration
The NL is governed by the National League Charter that has established a National League Committee to administer the NL. A Commissioner has been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the NL.

Retaining Slots in the US Youth Soccer National League
The top four finishers in NL play in each age group shall retain their slots in the NL for the 2008-09 season, provided that such teams continue to participate in their respective US Youth Soccer State Cup Competition and US Youth Soccer Regional League.

Future Growth
Beginning with the 2008-09 season year, the Under 17 age group (boys and girls) will be added. The number of teams selected to participate in 2008-09 is yet to be determined. An increase in the number of teams in each gender age group is subject to the approval of the US Youth Soccer Board of Directors.

For more information, please email NationalLeague@usyouthsoccer.org