The Youth Premier Soccer League (YPSL) today announced massive expansion for the 2010 season and beyond, including a U20 age group, and adding regions to provide high quality soccer for elite youth players across many parts of the United States. The US Club Soccer sanctioned summer league, now entering its third year, will run with four regions in 2010, with further additions in 2011. Final details of a play-off weekend between the regional champions are being confirmed.
“We are pleased to extend our relationship with the YPSL,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage. “The league links youth and senior soccer programs in a way that is unique in the United States.” YPSLCommissioner Andy Sones added “this expansion allows us to continue providing players with a path from youth soccer into collegiate competition and beyond, with the same player development model which exists at the leading clubs around the world.”
The YPSL will continue to provide U11 through U16 age groups, but has now added a U20 bracket, specifically designed to allow top youth players to compete with and against their collegiate counterparts. “All YPSL programs are affiliated with Women’s Premier Soccer League or men’s National Premier Soccer League clubs,” explained Sones, “and these are the best amateur teams in the country, consisting mainly of top D1 players, internationals and ex-professionals. Those senior teams carry large rosters, and this gives some of those younger players a chance to keep sharp, also giving college-bound players the chance to learn from older and more experienced players.”
Indeed, the senior league affiliates were quick to recognize the transition of the YPSL beyond a regional league. WPSL Commissioner Jerry Zanelli was quick to praise the league’s development, while putting together the pieces of the jigsaw for his own organization. He noted “the YPSL already provides a youth component for many of our clubs in the East, and this expansion can extend that across more of our clubs. I look forward to seeing more players moving through youth to WPSL senior teams – and beyond.” The sixty-plus team WPSL includes development teams for five of the women’s professional clubs, provided nine of the first twelve players in their inaugural draft, and continues to be the primary proving ground for up and coming professional players and coaches in the women’s game.
NPSL Commissioner Dan Trainor echoed those sentiments, describing “the unique nature of the player development offered in the YPSL,” and noting “with MLS clubs entering development teams in the NPSL, we are really putting in place European style development model as seen in the rest of the world.”
The Youth Premier Soccer League is a high quality league providing top-level competition for elite players across much of the United States. Multiple games are played over competition weekends at central venues through the summer. This format enables more playing opportunities per weekend, without expensive tournament costs. The league offers top quality soccer through the summer season, supporting player development within genuinely regional competition, while minimizing travel and accommodation costs.
