United Soccer Leagues and US Club Soccer Extend Partnership for Development of Soccer in the US
November 13, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
(Tampa, FL - November 13, 2006) United Soccer Leagues and US Club Soccer have extended their partnership to foster the growth and development of soccer in the United States. The new partnership will continue to provide alternatives and opportunities for elite youth soccer clubs to grow and develop their businesses.
In 2001, USL and US Club Soccer began a partnership to aid each organization's effort in providing competitive and administrative alternatives to soccer clubs throughout the United States. Since combining these efforts, the USL's Super Y- League has grown to become the most competitive elite regional and national youth league system in the United States for players that aspire to compete at the professional, international and collegiate soccer levels.
Over the past six years, US Club Soccer has grown exponentially as a national governing youth soccer organization through the success of its mission to foster the growth and development of clubs with minimum rules and restrictions. Through programs, such as the US Club Soccer National Cup, and a systematic approach to club administration with player registration, the organization has established itself as a major governing youth soccer organization in the United States.
"What continues to draw US Club Soccer and the Super Y-League together is our common objective to create an environment for clubs, teams and players to pursue excellence in soccer with a minimum of rules and restrictions," said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage. "Through our online player registration system, Super Y-League members are able to quickly and easily receive their pass cards allowing them to concentrate their efforts on the field, while including Super Y-League teams in our annual National Cup not only strengthens the tournament field but also provides their teams with the opportunity and challenge of pursuing a national championship."
The new partnership will continue to develop the USL Super Y-League, and the Super-20 League as the preeminent competition for elite youth soccer players and clubs. US Club Soccer will continue to provide registration services and club development initiatives to members of the USL Super Y-League and Super-20 League. In addition, the US Club Soccer National Cup will continue to be the official national cup of the Super Y-League clubs.
"Both the USL Super Y-League and US Club Soccer have been successful because the leadership and membership of the organizations have focused on doing the right thing for the sport of soccer in the U.S.," said Matt Weibe, USL Managing Director of Club Development. "It is our objective to take this to another level within the US Soccer community, and expand each others programs and competitions for the overall development of the sport."
In 2006, US Club Soccer successfully completed its fifth National Cup, which contained over 1,000 teams coast-to-coast. The Super Y-League will be culminating its 2006 season with the North American Finals containing 140 of the top teams in the U.S. and Canada over five days next week in Tampa, Fla.
"Extending our relationship with the Super Y-League is a positive step forward for the continued growth and development of American youth club soccer," said Philip Wright, Chairman of the US Club Soccer Board of Directors. "Over the past four years, US Club Soccer has supported the Super Y-League's endeavors to build and sustain the country's top youth national league. We look forward to jointly working to further advance the Super Y-League's efforts."
"It is obvious that these two organizations complement each other," said USL President Francisco Marcos. "Above all, it is the fact that we are privately run, which allows us to keep being innovative in developing new programs without the encumbrance of rigid rules and regulations that may look good on paper, but do not translate very well to the 'stuff' between the four white lines."
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USL First Division Stories from November 13, 2006
- United Soccer Leagues and US Club Soccer Extend Partnership for Development of Soccer in the US - USL-1
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