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FRISCO, Texas (Aug. 5, 2013)– US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the 160 teams that have qualified to compete in the 2013-2014 US Youth Soccer National League season. The league, entering into its seventh season, is for the nation’s top Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls club soccer teams, with each team having an individual proven track record of continued success in US Youth Soccer programs.

New to 2013-2014, the National League has added the Under-14 Boys and Girls age groups and automatic qualification was given to the champions/top finishers of the US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues.  Each gender age group will field 16 teams divided into two divisions, and the top two finishers from each division receive an automatic berth to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, the oldest and most prestigious youth soccer national championship competition.  The four National League representatives will join the four Regional Champions for a total of eight qualifiers per age group at the National Championships in the U-14 through U-18 divisions.

The 2013-2014 National League field includes 50 of the 56 teams that qualified for the 2013 National Championships, 14 of the 16 finalists and six of eight champions.  

Last season, 27 National League players were invited into youth National Team camps, and the majority of U-17 and U-18 players have committed to play collegiate soccer at some of the top programs in the country.

"The US Youth Soccer National League continues to provide the top competition for boys and girls in the country as each team must prove itself to gain entry into the league," said Paul Luchowski, National League commissioner.  "National League teams have claimed 13 of 16 National Championships in the past two years, which speaks to the quality of the teams in the league and the value of the competition.  Hundreds of collegiate, professional and national team scouts attend each National League date for just that reason."

2013-2014 US Youth Soccer National League Teams [link]

The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues [Region I (East) Premier League, Region II Midwest Regional League, Region III Southern Premier League and Region IV Far West Regional League] in which the top teams are eligible to continue the path of success into the National League where the ultimate prize is qualifying for the prestigious US Youth Soccer National Championships.

The 2013-2014 National League will consist of 32 of the 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, from Region I (East): Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania West, New Jersey, New York West and Virginia; from Region II (Midwest): Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio North, Ohio South and Wisconsin; from Region III (South): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Texas and Tennessee; from Region IV (West): Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Idaho and Washington.

The seven game season will begin in Wilson, N.C., alongside the CASL Showcase with the boys playing Nov. 21-24 and girls Dec. 5-8.  Under-15 through Under-18 teams will participate in one of two other locations, the first being in Orlando, Fla., alongside the Disney Soccer Showcase, Dec. 27-29 for the boys and Dec. 31-Jan. 2 for the girls.  The final play date will be held in Las Vegas, March 14-16 for the boys and March 21-23 for the girls, and be held in conjunction with the Player's College Showcase.  All Under-14 teams will complete their seasons in Las Vegas.  In 2012-2013, just five of the 16 division titles were clinched and 16 of 32 automatic slots to the National Championships had been claimed prior to the final weekend of play.  The complete schedule will be announced in mid-September.

 

Since its inception, National League teams have captured a combined 26 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 and Girls, as well as Under-16 Boys and Under-17 Girls. At the 2010 National Championships, League participants took home titles in the Under-15 Boys and Under-17 Girls age groups. In 2011, eight National League teams advanced to the National Championship game and claimed three more national titles. In 2012, 16 league teams qualified for the national final, with seven taking home national championships.  And in 2013, 14 of 16 finalists were league participants, with six claiming the national title.  For a list of past National League champions and history, click here.

 

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.