Midwest Developmental League expands for 2012-13 season, adds five clubs
CHARLESTON, S.C. (June 15, 2012) – The Midwest Developmental League, part of US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues (NPL), has announced expansion plans for the 2012-13 season including an increased number of games and five additional clubs.
The NPL has been created to provide a unified, league-based national developmental platform with the highest level of competition in given geographic areas, and to elevate and change the competitive youth soccer landscape based upon fundamental principles outlined in US Club Soccer’s 10-year vision.
The five clubs joining the Midwest Developmental League for the 2012-13 season include:
• Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (Ohio)
• Raiders FC (Ill.)
• River City Rovers (Ky.)
• Springfield SC (Mo.)
• TSC Hurricane (Okla.)
"The Midwest Developmental League will look to build on its very successful first year with the addition of four high-quality clubs in the southern part of the region and another strong club in the Chicago area," said NPL General Manager Chris Baer.
The 2012-13 Midwest Developmental League season will include an increased number of regular season games, with 18-19 contests for U-13 and U-14 teams and 15-16 matches for U-15, U-16 and U-18 squads. Top teams in each age group from each conference will advance to the 2013 Midwest Developmental League Playoffs. Champions at that event will qualify for the 2013 NPL Champions Cup.
For more information on the Midwest Developmental League, please contact NPL General Manager Chris Baer at cbaer@usclubsoccer.org or (614) 783-2237.
| ABOUT THE NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: |
US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues have been created to provide a national competitive developmental platform:
• focused on long-term player development;
• for the country’s top soccer clubs, allowing consistent, meaningful high-level games appropriately scheduled with higher training-to-game ratios;
• that allows players to be scouted and evaluated by U.S. Soccer National Staff and Technical Advisors;
• that is designed and structured by the clubs, based on the needs of the clubs;
• using international rules of competition;
• that provides an avenue for qualification for the NPL Champions Cup.
The NPL is an important component of US Club Soccer’s 10-year vision to refine the landscape for competitive youth soccer. This vision recognizes that:
• properly-structured youth soccer clubs are the vehicle through which player development does and must occur in the United States.
• clubs should play in leagues that provide meaningful games, allow establishment of the proper training-to-game ratio, and eliminate calendar congestion.
• National Premier Leagues, as well as the best clubs, should be integrated in US Club Soccer’s id2 National Identification and Development Program, include Player Development Programs (PDPs) in select local markets, and work closely with U.S. Soccer staff regarding player identification, and player and coach development.
| ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER: |
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs and players in the United States. A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer maximizes flexibility and offers youth and adult player and staff registration, integrated competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Developmen Program-sanctioned id2 National Player Identification and Development Program.
Unique to US Club Soccer is the ability of member clubs to unite youth and adult programs within one organization, creating a “members for life” culture within each club.