The United Soccer Leagues (USL) is the parent organization for the men's lower division leagues of U.S. and Canadian soccer: USL First Division (second tier), USL Second Division (third tier), and Premier Development League (PDL) (fourth tier). The top tier for U.S. and Canadian men's soccer is Major League Soccer (MLS), with Women's Professional Soccer being the top tier U.S. women's league. The USL also includes the second-highest women's league, the W-League, and youth league the Super Y-League. It is directly affiliated with U.S. Soccer, the United States Adult Soccer Association and the Canadian Soccer Association. The USL structure allows for the Second Division champion to be promoted to the First Division, provided that the team to be promoted meets criteria set by USL and U.S. Soccer, and space exists. A formal relegation process may also be added at a future date. There is no promotion or relegation between MLS and USL. USL rosters may consist of a maximum of 26 players, with 18 designated for each game. Each team is permitted a maximum of five foreign players on its active game-day roster and a maximum of seven foreign players on its master roster. In the PDL and W-League, at least three players in a full 26-player roster must be under 19, in accordance with guidelines set by the USASA and U.S. Soccer. In the PDL, a maximum of eight players may be over the age of 23, and can retain their NCAA eligibility. The organization was sold by Nike on August 27, 2009 to NuRock Soccer Holdings of Atlanta, Georgia.[1] As a result, several teams in the professional First Division have explored creating a new league and at least some have chosen not to compete in the USL in 2010, including the current champions, Montreal.[2] [edit] USL First Division A premier soccer league for men over eighteen years old, the USL First Division stretches from the U.S. to Canada to the Caribbean. In 2008, each team had a schedule of thirty regular season games: fifteen home and fifteen away. Players have come from more than thirty-five countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Panama and New Zealand. The league has around one million fans viewing matches each season.[3]
First Division Teams:
| Club | Founded | Colors | Stadium | Territory | | Austin Aztex FC | 2008 | Red, White, Blue | Nelson Field | Austin, Texas | | F.C. New York | 2010 | black, blue, yellow | Hofstra University, Columbia University | New York Metropolitan Area | | Portland Timbers | 2001 | Green, White, Yellow | PGE Park | Oregon (whole) | | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2003 | Orange, White, Green | Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel | Puerto Rico (whole) | Note: The Portland Timbers will leave USL in 2011 due to replacement by the MLS expansion franchise. [edit] USL Second Division | Club | Founded | Colors | Stadium | Territory | | Charleston Battery | 1993 | Yellow, Black | Blackbaud Stadium | Charleston, South Carolina | | Charlotte Eagles | 1993 | Orange, Blue, White | Restart Field | Charlotte, North Carolina | | Harrisburg City Islanders | 2004 | Navy, Sky | Skyline Sports Complex | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 1999 | Black, Blue, White | Chartiers Valley High School Stadium | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Real Maryland Monarchs | 2008 | White, Gold | Maryland SoccerPlex | Rockville, Maryland | | Richmond Kickers | 1993 | Red, White | University of Richmond Stadium | Richmond, Virginia | [edit] History - 1986 Established as Southwest Indoor Soccer League
- 1989 Added an outdoor league known as the Southwest Outdoor Soccer League. This was soon changed to Southwest Independent Soccer League which included both the indoor and outdoor leagues.
- 1990 Renamed Sunbelt Independent Soccer League
- 1991 Renamed United States Interregional Soccer League
- 1995 Renamed United States International Soccer League
- 1995 Renamed United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues and formally established professional Pro League and amateur Amateur Premier League
- 1996 Established Select League consisting of strongest teams from Division 3 Pro League and Amateur Premier League in hopes of gaining Division 2 sanctioning.
- 1997 Select League and the former American Professional Soccer League merged to form A-League under the USISL umbrella.
- 1999 Umbrella USISL changed its name to the modern United Soccer Leagues.
- 2009 Nike sells organization. As a result, 9 clubs left the First Division to form the North American Soccer League: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks FC, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and the AC St. Louis expansion group.
[edit] Complete historical team list - Amarillo Challengers (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Ann Arbor Elite (1995)
- Arizona Cotton (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as Phoenix Hearts in 1991/92)
- Arkansas A's (1992, 94, Indoor: 1991/92, as Arkansas Diamonds in 1994)
- Atlanta Lightning (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Atlanta Magic (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–95/96, as Atlanta Lasers in 1993)
- Austin Lone Stars (1992–94, as Austin Sockadillos in 1992–93)
- Baltimore Bays (1993–94, Indoor: 1992/93–97/98)
- Birmingham Grasshoppers (1993–94)
- Boca Raton Sabres (1992–94)
- Boston Storm (1994)
- Brandon Braves (Indoor: 1994/95–95/96)
- Cape Cod Crusaders (1994)
- Central California Valley Hydra (1994)
- Charlotte Eagles (1993–94)
- Charleston Battery (1993–94)
- Chattanooga Express (1992–94, Indoor: 1992/93–95/96, as Chattanooga Railroaders in 1992–1992/93)
- Chico Rooks (1993–94)
- Cincinnati Cheetahs (1994)
- Cocoa Expos (1994, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Colorado Comets (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Columbia Heat (1993–94, as Columbia Spirit in 1993)
- Connecticut Wolves (1993–94)
- Coral Springs Kicks (1993)
- Dallas Rockets (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as North Texas Mid-Cities Flyers in 1991/92)
- Dallas/Fort Worth Toros (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, 95/96, as Dallas Kickers in 1991/92, as Dallas Americans in 1992–1992/93)
- Dallas Lightning (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94, 95/96, as Tyler Lightning in 1993, as Texas Lightning in 1993/94–1994)
- Delaware Wizards (1993–94)
- Des Moines Menace (1994)
- Detroit Wheels (1994–95)
- East Bay Red Riders (1992–93)
- East Los Angeles Cobras (1993–94)
- El Paso Patriots (1992–94)
- Florida Stars (1994)
- Fort Lauderdale Kicks (1994)
- Greensboro Dynamo (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Gwinnett County Steamers (1992)
- Hampton Roads Hurricane (1994)
- Hawaii Tsunami (1994)
- Jacksonville Fury (1994–95)
- Jersey Dragons (1994)
- Kansas City All-Stars (Indoor: 1996/97)
- Knoxville Impact (Indoor: 1992/93–95/96)
- Las Vegas Quicksilver (1994)
- Lexington Bluegrass Bandits (1994)
| - Lincoln Brigade (1997) (Indoor: 1996, 1997)
- Long Island Rough Riders (1994)
- Louisville Thoroughbreds (1994)
- Lubbock Lazers (Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as Lubbock Tornado in 1991/92)
- Memphis Jackals (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as Memphis Survivors in 1991/92, as Memphis United Express in 1992)
- Mesquite Kickers (Indoor: 1994/95–96/97)
- Michigan Madness (1996)
- Milwaukee Rampage (1994)
- Minnesota Thunder (1994)
- Montclair Standard Falcons (1993–94)
- Myrtle Beach Boyz (1995)
- Nashville Metros (1992-94, Indoor: 1991/92–93/94)
- New Mexico Chiles (1994)
- New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (1994)
- New York Fever (1994)
- North Bay Breakers (1992–94)
- North Jersey Imperials (1994)
- Ohio Xoggz (1994–96, as Columbus Xoggz in 1994–95)
- Oklahoma City Slickers (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–94/95, as Oklahoma City Warriors in 1993–1994/95)
- Oklahoma City Warriors (Indoor: 1996/97–97/98, as Oklahoma City Alliance in 1996/97)
- Omaha Flames (1996–1997, Indoor: 1996–98)
- Orlando Lions (1992–94, Indoor: 1993/94–95/96)
- Permian Basin Mirage (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Philadelphia Freedom (1994, Indoor: 1995/96–96/97, as Pennsylvania Freedom in 1994–1995/96)
- Raleigh Flyers (1993–94)
- Reading Rage (Indoor: 1995/96)
- Reno Rattlers (1994)
- Richmond Kickers (1993-94, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Rockford Raptors (1994)
- St. Louis Knights (1994)
- San Antonio Pumas (1992–1994, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as San Antonio Generals in 1991/92-92/93)
- San Diego Top Guns (1994)
- San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles (1993–94)
- San Francisco United All Blacks (1992–94, as San Francisco All Blacks in 1992)
- San Francisco Bay Diablos (1993–94)
- San Jose Hawks (1993)
- Santa Cruz Surf (1993–94)
- Shasta Scorchers (1994)
- Silicon Valley Firebirds (1992–94, as Palo Alto Firebirds in 1992)
- Sioux City Breeze (1994)
- South Florida Flamingos (1994)
- Texas Arsenal (Indoor: 1992/93–93/94, as Texas Stampede in 1992/93)
- Toledo Twisters (Indoor: 1993/94)
- Tucson Amigos (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93)
- Tulsa Renegades (Indoor: 1991/92, )
- Tulsa Roughnecks (1993–99, Indoor: 1993/94–97/98, as Green County Roughnecks in 1999)
- Virginia Kickers (1997/98)
- Washington Mustangs (1994)
- Wichita Blue (1995-96, 1999, as Wichita Blue Angels in 1994)
| [edit] Champions - Champions determined by best-of-five-game series, except for 1986/87, 1989 & 1991 seasons which were determined by one-game final. - Champions determined by one-game final, except for 1996/97 which was determined by best-of-three game series. [edit] References [edit] External links
| | | United Soccer Leagues seasons | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
