United States soccer league system: Difference between revisions
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Pyramid is a term used in [[Football (soccer)]] to discribe the structure of the league system in a country. |
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The '''United States soccer league system''' consists of three leagues, each with a number of regional divisions. |
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Unlike most nations, there is no promotion or relegation in the [[American]] soccer leagues, though it's introduction has been mentioned several times by fans of the game. |
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The league structure in the United States is radically different from that used in almost all the rest of the world, but like most other sports league systems in the United states, in one key respect. There is no effective system of [[promotion]] and [[relegation]] between any two levels of the league. Major League Soccer has a fixed number of franchises (currently 12), with no promotion possible from the USL First Division, which is run by a completely separate entity. The USL First and Second Divisions are both run by the [[United Soccer Leagues]], but there is no system of relegation. A promotion system has been established, but has largely been unused. Several franchises have voluntarily dropped from the First Division to the Second. |
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==Current System== |
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==Men== |
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For each division, its name and number of teams is given: |
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The top league in the United States is [[Major League Soccer]]. Under that would be the [[United Soccer Leagues]] (USL). |
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*1. [[Major League Soccer]] (12 teams, 6 per conference, as of Mar 10, 2005) |
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<table align=center border="1"> |
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*2. [[USL First Division]] (12 teams, single table, as of Mar 10, 2005) |
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*3. [[USL Second Division]] (9 teams, single table, as of Mar 10, 2005) |
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*4. [[USL Premier Development League]] (Several teams aligned in conferences) |
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Another league in the United States is the Pacific Coast Soccer League. Which could be classifyed on level with the USL Second Division. |
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<tr style="background:#efefef;"> |
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<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center"> |
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'''Level''' |
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</td> |
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<td colspan="4" width="96%" align="center"> |
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'''League/Divisions''' |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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==Women== |
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<tr> |
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At the moment, the [[Women's United Soccer Association]] is on hiatus. Leaving the USL's [[W-League]] as the top flight in American women's soccer. |
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<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center"> |
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1 |
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</td> |
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<td colspan="2" width="48%" align="center"> |
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'''[[Major League Soccer]] Western Conference'''<br> |
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''6 teams'' |
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</td> |
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<td colspan="2" width="48%" align="center"> |
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'''[[Major League Soccer]] Eastern Conference'''<br> |
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''6 teams'' |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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| ⚫ | |||
<tr> |
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*2. PCSL: Women's Division |
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<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center"> |
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2 |
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</td> |
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<td colspan="4" width="48%" align="center"> |
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'''[[USL First Division|United Soccer Leagues First Division]]'''<br> |
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''12 teams'' |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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<tr> |
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<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center"> |
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3 |
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</td> |
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<td colspan="4" width="48%" align="center"> |
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'''[[USL Second Division|United Soccer Leagues Second Division]]'''<br> |
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''9 teams'' |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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</table> |
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==See Also== |
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* [[Major League Soccer]] |
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* [[United Soccer Leagues]] |
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* [[List of soccer clubs in the United States]] |
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[[Category:United States soccer competitions]] |
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Revision as of 04:09, 11 March 2005
Pyramid is a term used in Football (soccer) to discribe the structure of the league system in a country.
Unlike most nations, there is no promotion or relegation in the American soccer leagues, though it's introduction has been mentioned several times by fans of the game.
Men
The top league in the United States is Major League Soccer. Under that would be the United Soccer Leagues (USL).
- 1. Major League Soccer (12 teams, 6 per conference, as of Mar 10, 2005)
- 2. USL First Division (12 teams, single table, as of Mar 10, 2005)
- 3. USL Second Division (9 teams, single table, as of Mar 10, 2005)
- 4. USL Premier Development League (Several teams aligned in conferences)
Another league in the United States is the Pacific Coast Soccer League. Which could be classifyed on level with the USL Second Division.
Women
At the moment, the Women's United Soccer Association is on hiatus. Leaving the USL's W-League as the top flight in American women's soccer.
- 1. W-League
- 2. PCSL: Women's Division