About US Youth Soccer National League
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The US Youth Soccer (USYS) National League is one of the most popular youth soccer programs in the United States.
It is a competitive soccer league that provides young players with the opportunity to showcase their skills. The league is open to qualified soccer clubs and players between the ages of 13 and 19.
In this article, weโll provide a more in-depth overview of US Youth Soccer National League programs.
What is the US Youth Soccer National League?
The league was established during the 2007/2008 season and is operated by US Youth Soccer.
Some of the key stats include:
- 6 different age groups
- 95,000+ players in the National League
- 3,500+ total teams across all National League Conferences
- 1,000+ soccer clubs with teams in the National League
- 300 divisions across all National League Conferences
- 20,000+ total games scheduled in a seasonal year
- 15 U.S. national team players who played in the National League
The USYS National League is a highly competitive league that attracts top talent from all over the country. Many of the players who compete in the league go on to play college soccer and some even go on to play professionally.
In addition, the league emphasizes player development and provides opportunities for players to improve their skills and gain exposure to higher levels of play.
Structure of the USYS National League
Age Divisions
The National League is divided into age groups for both boys and girls.
The league has age divisions from Under-13 to Under-19. The age group for each player is determined by their birth year. You can view an up-to-date birth year chart here.
League Competition
The USYS National League consists of the following competitions:
- Elite 64: Top club soccer league format in the National League. The environment offers elite clubs an opportunity to compete against each other while focusing on player development.
- National League P.R.O (Player. Recruitment. Opportunity): IN this league, teams compete for advancement to the annual USYS National Championships. Teams can earn their way into National League P.R.O through their season performance in their respective conference.
- National League Conferences: Team and club-based leagues, offering a pathway to the current seasonโs USYS Regional Championships and/or next seasonโs National League P.R.O.
League Conferences
The US Youth National League is divided into 13 National League Conferences, including:
- Desert
- Frontier
- Great Lakes
- Mid-Atlantic
- Mid South
- Midwest
- New England
- North Atlantic
- Northwest
- Pacific
- Piedmont
- South Atlantic
- Sunshine
Each conference operates its own structure and encompasses team-based and club-based leagues. The top teams in each divisional conference proceed to the National League P.R.O and the USYS Regional Championships.
Written By: Beau Bridges
Beau is the founder of SoccerNovo, dedicated to helping players and parents navigate the youth soccer landscape. As a former youth coach and soccer parent, he shares insights on player development, recruiting, and the ever-evolving soccer scene in the U.S.
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