US Youth Soccer

2023) — The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to introduce an evolved competition format and pathway for its national events, beginning in the 2023-24 seasonal year.

The new national event pathway will allow the very best teams from the National League’s club-based and team-based leagues to come together in a common, unified pathway. Every team attending national events will compete in meaningful games, with the ability to ultimately advance to the USYS National Championships.

“We cannot wait for the players and teams to experience the excitement and competitive atmosphere that will come with the enhanced competition format and pathway provided at our national events,” said Simon Collins, National League Commissioner. “We have listened to feedback from teams and clubs, and we’re confident this will lead to more meaningful games and a great atmosphere that will be even more appealing to all in attendance, including college coaches and scouts.”

Regular season league play — in the National League Conferences and Elite 64 — will provide teams with advancement into the national event pathway, beginning with either the Conference Playoffs or the Elite 64 Playoffs.

Based on performances at either the Conference Playoffs or the Elite 64 Playoffs, teams in the 14U-18/19U age groups will advance to National League P.R.O., where Conference teams and Elite 64 teams will compete against each other for the opportunity to qualify for the USYS National Championships.

Under this new format for national events, National League teams will enjoy several benefits of the evolved competition that enhance their overall experience:

• Every regular season league game, whether in the Conferences or Elite 64, continues to be meaningful, as regular season performances determine qualification and placement into the national events.
• Any time a team travels to a national event, it is guaranteed to play meaningful games with the chance to ultimately advance to the USYS National Championships.
• Based on performance at its respective Playoff event, each advancing team is placed into an appropriate pool at its National League P.R.O. event — increasing the likelihood of all games being competitive and evenly-matched.
• The 18U and 19U age groups will be combined across all National League competitions — creating more flexibility and a higher, more consistent competitive level in a combined 18/19U age group.
• Each national event will feature either group or pool winners and encourage players to compete with a focus on team success.
• A competitive environment with meaningful matches provides an ideal setting for college coaches and scouts to evaluate players.

More information on gameplay formats at the national events will be available later this spring.

All national events will be scheduled to reduce high school soccer conflicts, when possible. The Conference Playoffs will take place in early December, and teams advancing out of the Conference Playoffs will be assigned to one of two National League P.R.O. events — taking place in either late February or early May.

Half of the Elite 64 teams will attend an Elite 64 Playoff event in early November, with advancing teams moving on to the National League P.R.O. event in early May. The other half of Elite 64 teams will attend the Elite 64 Playoff event in mid-to-late January, with advancing teams moving on to the National League P.R.O. event in late February. All dates are subject to change.

Elite 64 teams in the 13U age group will not advance beyond the Elite 64 Playoffs.

In addition to the national events, all teams in the Conferences and Elite 64 will continue to have access to National League Regional Showcases. More Regional Showcase options are expected to be added in the coming season, allowing teams with additional opportunities to play showcase games closer to their home markets and prospective local college programs.

For more information on the Conferences, click here.

For more information on Elite 64, click here.

FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 14, 2023) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) announced today that $100,000 in grants was awarded as part of its support for TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) programs across the country.

Grant funds were allocated to 66 recipient organizations, including 16 USYS State Associations and 50 local clubs. In total, grants were awarded to clubs and organizations within 32 different US Youth Soccer State Associations.

“Our vision is to bring communities together through the power of soccer, making lifelong fans of the sport,” said USYS CEO Skip Gilbert. “This is only effectively done when including every child with a disability that wants to play the game. The grant program is but one step to move TOPSoccer to a position where it fully supports the disabled player — and we’re proud to be able to do so.”

Applications for the grants, which included requests for items such as soccer balls, goals, and more specialized equipment such as parachutes, sound cancelling headphones, and sensory toys, were submitted and reviewed by US Youth Soccer. Recipients were selected and grants were awarded to lower barriers that state and local programs face when bringing the sport to children who are too often left on the sidelines.

“I am very pleased with the work our TOPSoccer Committee has done to award these grants,” said US Youth Soccer Board Secretary Thomas Sowinski. “Providing the grants has a direct and immediate impact on the investment of TOPSoccer at the grassroots level. USYS is committed to providing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities across our 54 State Associations and these grants are a part of that overall effort.”

TOPSoccer is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive.

For more information on US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer, click here.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.