Courtesy of www.usyouthsoccer.org
FRISCO, Texas (Aug. 9, 2010) – US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the 88 teams chosen to compete in the 2010-2011 US Youth Soccer National League season. The league, entering into its fourth season, is for Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls elite club soccer teams with an individual proven track record of success in US Youth Soccer programs.
"The 2010-2011 US Youth Soccer National League marks a significant shift as the League almost doubles in size, challenging more teams to raise their level of play above and beyond their already elite level status to compete for a top spot in the National League standings and a coveted ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships," said Paul Luchowski, National League commissioner. "Now in its fourth season, the League continues to provide a truly national competition for even more players to develop and test themselves in meaningful matches and everyone is looking forward to another great season."
The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues [US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Premier League, Midwest Regional League, Region III (South) Premier League and Far West Regional League] in which the top teams are eligible to continue the path of succession into the National League where the ultimate prize is qualifying for the prestigious national championships.
2010-2011 increases the National League’s reach with 29 of the 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, from Region I (East): Connecticut, Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York West and Virginia; from Region II (Midwest): Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio North and Ohio South; from Region III (South): Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, North Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Texas and Tennessee; from Region IV (West): Arizona, California South, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington.
Each gender age group is split into two eight-team divisions, with each division featuring teams from each of US Youth Soccer’s four regions competing in round robin play within each division. The Under-15 Girls age group will continue with the traditional eight teams for 2010-2011 season.
The seven game season will begin in Wilson, N.C., where all boys’ teams will compete Nov. 18-21 and all girls’ will compete Dec. 2-5, followed by participation in one of two other locations per gender consisting of girls’ Dec. 31-Jan 2 in Orlando, Fla., and boys’ competition Feb. 19-21 in Florida. The final play date will combine boys and girls in Las Vegas March 18-20 and be held in conjunction with the Player’s Soccer Showcase. The complete schedule will be announced on USYouthSoccer.org in mid-September.
The first place team from each division age group will earn a spot to the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships along with the four US Youth Soccer Regional Champions.
The national championships are the culmination of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series where the nation’s champions are crowned in six age groups for boys and girls.
Since its inception, National League teams have captured a combined 10 National Championships. In 2008, seven of the eight championship finals slots in the Under-15 and 16 age groups were won by National League teams, which resulted in the League’s first four National Championships. The League notched four more National Championship titles in 2009 including the Under-15 Boys (Baltimore Casa Mia Bays) and Girls (San Diego Surf) as well as Under-16 Boys (Dallas Texans 93 Red) and Under-17 Girls (Eclipse Select). At the 2010 national championships, League participants took home titles in the Under-15 Boys (Baltimore Bays Chelsea) and Under-17 Girls (So Cal Blues Dodge) age groups.
As is the case with the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series events and the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program the National League creates another significant opportunity for the nation’s collegiate, professional and national team staffs to see players in an environment of meaningful play.
US Youth Soccer U-15 Girls National League Teams | 2010-2011 Season
Team (State) - Region - Hometown
BRYC 95 Elite (VA) - Region I - Springfield, Va.
Match Fit Chelsea Beat (NJ) - Region I - Bayonne, N.J.
SAC United Premier (MD) - Region I - Columbia, Md.
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (MI) - Region II - Grand Rapids, Mich.
Internationals Red (OH-N) - Region II - Cleveland, Ohio
AFC Lightning ’96 Elite (GA) - Region III - Fayetteville, Ga.
Arsenal Elite (FL) - Region III - Tarpon Springs, Fla.
So Cal Blues-Pearson (CA-S) - Region IV - San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
