National Premier Soccer League
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| File:National Premier Soccer League.png | |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF U.S. Soccer |
| Divisions | 14 conferences in 4 regions |
| Number of teams | 98 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 (unofficial) |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
| Current champions | Miami FC 2 (1st title) |
| Most championships | 16 clubs (1 title each) |
| Website | NPSL website |
| Current: 2018 NPSL season | |
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American soccer league commonly recognized as being a fourth tier league although it has been given no official designation by U.S. Soccer.[1][a] Although the league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup through USASA channels, the league is generally considered to be at the fourth tier of competition in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer (MLS) and the United Soccer League (USL), and roughly equal with USL League Two (USL L2).[1] It is the successor of the Men's Premier Soccer League, a regional league originally based out of the Western United States, which has now expanded nationwide to encompass teams from 29 states. The league's motto is "A National League with a Regional Focus". Some of the clubs are former USL clubs.
Competition format
The National Premier Soccer League's is divided into four separate Regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Each Region is divided into conferences with varying number of teams per conference. The regular season runs from May to July with the exception of the West Region that has historically started in late March or early April.[2]
The NPSL currently has automatic berths in the U.S. Open Cup where they gain eligibility towards the CONCACAF Champions League.
History
The National Premier Soccer League began in 2003 as the Men's Premier Soccer League (MPSL) initially as an offshoot of the Women's Premier Soccer League, and marked the first instance of a women's soccer league spawning a men's league. The league's first two champions were the Arizona Sahuaros, who had defected to the MPSL from the USL D-3 Pro League, and the Utah Salt Ratz.
The league expanded into the Midwest in 2005 with the addition of several new teams and a new conference, and changed its name to National Premier Soccer League to reflect its new national footprint; a team from the expansion conference – Detroit Arsenal – won the league in its first year after its eastward expansion. The NPSL expanded further in 2007 with the addition of a new Northeast Conference and five new teams from the eastern United States. The first team from the East to win the national NPSL title was the Pennsylvania Stoners in 2008. The league has since continued to expand, adding more teams throughout the entirety of the country.
Since its inception the league has managed to place at least one team actively playing under its banner into U.S. Open Cup competition. Though the showing of the NPSL in US Open Cup play was typically only one or two teams in its first six years, the 2009 and 2010 cups have seen four and three, respectively, NPSL teams in each tournament. The recent success of the NPSL in USASA qualifying has encouraged a movement by which the league could have automatic berths in the final tournament.[3] The furthest a team from the NPSL has reached in the US Open Cup during the professional era (1997 and onward after the entry of MLS teams) has been the third round. However, the Brooklyn Italians have won the US Open Cup outright before the existence of either MLS or the NPSL.
Status
Officially the USSF does not recognize formal levels of the soccer pyramid below the professional 3rd tier. The USSF does not officially recognize distinctions between amateur soccer leagues in the United States. However, the USASA sanctions affiliated, but separately run, national leagues that are recognized in practical terms as playing at a higher level than the USASA state association leagues; for example, they receive automatic berths to the US Open Cup.
The Premier Development League takes place during the summer months, and the player pool is drawn mainly from NCAA college soccer players seeking to continue playing high level soccer during their summer break, while still maintaining their college eligibility. The National Premier Soccer League is similar to the Premier Development League and also attracts top amateur talent from around the United States. NPSL does not have any age limits or restrictions, thus incorporating both college players and former professional players alike.
Organization
The NPSL is organized in a mostly decentralized structure and is managed as a team-run league. Each year the member clubs help elect a chairman, treasurer, and secretary and an eight-member board of directors. Each team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining league minimum standards. New teams seeking membership into the NPSL are subject to approval from an executive committee of existing team owners. Member clubs have the right to make localized decisions for their respective markets, conferences, and regions based on what they believe is best for their particular region. Each conference is managed by the individual member clubs and elect a conference commission each year.
The current chairman is Joe Barone of the Brooklyn Italians who was elected in late 2013 after previously serving as treasurer. Michael Hitchcock of Playbook Management Inc. was hired as commissioner of the NPSL in 2013. With Hitchcock leading the league, plans to expand the reach of the league and discussion of introducing promotion and relegation in the future were made public. Near the conclusion of the 2014 season the NPSL terminated the contract of Hitchcock and PMI.
The costs to join the league as of 2016 are reported to be a one-time $15,000 franchise fee and a $5,250 annual league fee.[4] The low entry fee compared to the PDL's of $75,000 has made the league an attractive alternative to teams looking to compete at the highest level of amateur play.
The league requires that all teams play in stadiums with at least 500 seats, a scoreboard, and locker rooms with showers for both teams and officials. The home team is also responsible for providing water and food for the visiting team, ensuring there is a trainer or doctor on-site for the match, and paying the referees fees at the end of each game.
Sponsorship and partnerships
Mitre Sports International provided the official ball for the NPSL starting in 2014, the sponsorship agreement lasted through the 2016 season. The league also announced several partnerships for the 2014 season, Global Scarves, Wecando, and Pabian Law. Global Scarves and the NPSL planned strategically partnering to not only outfit every NPSL team with soccer scarves branded to the specific team, but planned on working together to increase and elevate the status of both entities to a higher level. Global Scarves began providing custom soccer scarves throughout the league, and worked with the NPSL on various events and contests to increase awareness and fervor throughout the 2014 NPSL season. Wecando Print is a full-service branding company that specializes in printing, promotional products, embroidery, screen printing, banners, fulfillment services, and company stores. Pabian Law specific in law and immigration services and has experience with signing international soccer players.
Teams
| Club | City | Founded | Joining | Head coach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planned Expansion Clubs | |||||||
| Los Angeles United FC[27] | Los Angeles, California | 2018 | 2019 | TBD | |||
| Denton Diablos FC[28] | Denton, Texas | 2018 | 2019 | TBD | |||
Expansion
| Year | No. of teams | Teams added | Teams departed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| 2006 | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 22 | 12 | 8 |
| 2008 | 24 | 10 | 8 |
| 2009 | 27 | 10 | 7 |
| 2010 | 31 | 12 | 8 |
| 2011 | 37 | 13 | 7 |
| 2012 | 45 | 14 | 5 |
| 2013 | 57 | 17 | 5+2* |
| 2014 | 78 | 32 | 11 |
| 2015 | 65 | 11 | 24 |
| 2016 | 84 | 19 | 0 |
| 2017 | 97 | 30 | 17 |
Rivalries
Many NPSL teams have rivalries given the close geography of the teams throughout the league. The most notable rivalry is the Rust Belt Derby contested between Detroit City FC, AFC Cleveland, and FC Buffalo. The name refers to the teams' shared region, the Rust Belt.[29]
Another intense rivalry existed between the San Diego Flash and San Diego Boca/Force FC, which were crosstown rivals in San Diego. Until the 2013 sale and rebranding of Force FC from Boca FC, the ownership groups of the two clubs were previously partners in the original San Diego Flash club of the A-League that competed from 1998 to 2001.[30]
Records and champions
|
Notable players with NPSL experience
Directors, officers and management team
Directors
- Joe Barone – Brooklyn Italians – chairman (2013–current)
- Cindy Spera – chairman of soccer programs for New York Athletic Club – managing director (2018–current) formerly treasurer (2013–2016) and director of operations (2016–2018)[35]
- Barry Dixon – founder, Jacksonville United – secretary (2013–present)
Current regional board members
- Kenny Farrell – New Orleans Jesters
- Sean McDaniel – Chattanooga FC
- Terry Lawriw – AFC Cleveland
- Cristian Brei – Madison 56ers
- William Forte – East Bay FC Stompers
- Kabba Joof – Rhode Island Reds FC
Management team
- Cindy Spera – managing director
- Gary Moody – media relations
- Paul Scott – director of officials
- Dina Case – director of membership development[36]
Conference commissioners
- Kabba Joof – head coach, Rhode Island Reds FC – Northeast Region – North Atlantic Conference (2013–present)
- Cristian Brei – Madison 56ers – Midwest Region – Central Conference (2013–present)
- William Forte – East Bay FC Stompers – West Region – Golden Gate Conference (2013–present)
See also
Notes
- ^ The United States soccer league system currently does not have a third-tier league, effectively making the NPSL part of the third-tier, along with the Premier Development League.
References
- ^ a b "The Unruly Soccer Pyramids of America by Mike Firpo". SoccerNewsday.com. February 10, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ^ "National Premier Soccer League". Nationalpremiersoccerleague.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived March 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "How to start a franchise in the NPSL". PennLive.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- ^ NPSL (January 9, 2017). "Elm City Express Joins the NPSL". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ a b NPSL (December 15, 2016). "Greater Lowell NPSL FC Launches Rebranding Initiative". Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ a b c d NPSL (January 18, 2017). "West Chester United Soccer Club Joins the NPSL". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "FC Baltimore Announces CCBC Essex as Stadium for 2018 Home Games - FC Baltimore 1729 - Member of National Premier Soccer League". February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ NPSL (January 23, 2017). "Ozark FC Joins the NPSL". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "tulsaathletic". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ FC WICHITA (April 20, 2017). "FC Wichita Introduces New Head Coach - Steve Ralos 4.20.17". Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "sockersfc.org: Coaches". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Tyler FC Kings Seals The Deal With Brook Hill Guards!". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ NPSL (January 25, 2017). "Beaches FC Joins the NPSL". Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ Tsujimoto, Ben (February 13, 2017). "FC Buffalo hires new manager, two assistants". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ NPSL (February 8, 2017). "Syracuse FC Joins the NPSL". Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ "OnMilwaukee.com Sports: Torrent joins National Premier Soccer League, owner calls it 'best fit'". OnMilwaukee.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ NPSL (December 20, 2016). "Sioux Falls Thunder FC Joins the NPSL". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Academica Soccer Club Joins The NPSL". National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Football Club Davis Joins The NPSL". National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). November 13, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ "El Farolito Joins The NPSL". National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ NPSL (January 18, 2017). "Napa Valley 1839 FC Brand Unveiled". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ https://twitter.com/NapaValley1839/status/1040124762725351425
- ^ NSPL (February 13, 2017). "PDX FC Joins the NPSL". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ NPSL (January 19, 2017). "Spokane Soccer Club Shadow Joins the NPSL". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Spokane native Chad Brown named head coach of Shadow EPLWA team - Spokane Shadow Youth SC". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ "Los Angeles United Football Club Joins the NPSL". NPSL. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "Denton Diablos FC joins NPSL as 2019 expansion team". Dallas News. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ Casey, Daniel. "The Rust Belt Derby". Soccer News Day. Soccer News Day. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
- ^ "NPSL Soccer Weekend Recap, SD Flash Wins SD Derby, FC Hasental, OC Pateadores, Sacramento Gold and Real San Jose Gets Wins too". Soccer Nation. Soccer Nation. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
- ^ Thomas Hodul. "Alameda County Derby: NPSL's Newest Intra-County Rivalry". Midfield Press. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ "Rivalry Week in the NPSL Golden Gate Conference". Midfield Press. April 20, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ "The Rust Belt Derby by Daniel Casey - SoccerNewsday.com". www.soccernewsday.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ "Vaqueros Surrender Trinity Cup to Dallas City FC". fortworthvaqueros.com. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "Cindy Spera Named Managing Director of the NPSL". National Premier Soccer League. April 14, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ "Los Angeles United Football Club Joins the NPSL". National Premier Soccer League. July 10, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
External links
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