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34-456: The Tacoma team was introduced into the league at very short notice in 2006, when it was announced that the now-defunct Spokane Shadow franchise was suspending operations for the season. During their first season, they were simply referred to as Tacoma FC . Under the leadership of Mike Jennings as head coach, Tacoma finished 5th in the Northwest table, 16 points off the leaders. Rory Agu was

68-536: A U23 reserve league, UWS2, in early 2020. After the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup , USL began exploring the idea of creating a professional league to directly compete with NWSL. This effort was scaled back to running an amateur revival of the W-League, which would operate beneath the DII Women's Independent Soccer League (WISL) (operated by NISA ) and a planned DIII league run by UWS. The amateur USL W League

102-448: A change in coaching with former Canadian national team player Gerry Gray replacing Greg Howes. 2010 also saw the team acquire several new players, as well as see some players return from other teams. Chris Sanders joined after a stint with FC Nuremberg and Mark Conrad joined from Kitsap Pumas. Raphael Cox rejoined the team after a year with Real Salt Lake and an MLS Championship. With the two playoff spots locked up by Kitsap and Portland

136-498: A director of marketing/public relations on a year-round basis Ownership requirements Markets and stadia Ownership requirements Markets and stadia Since 1996, Major League Soccer (MLS) has been the only sanctioned USSF Division I men's outdoor soccer league in the United States. MLS has grown from 10 teams in 1996 to 29 teams as of 2023 , with a 30th team set to play in 2025. The USL Championship (USLC)

170-802: A division number nor directly sanction anything below Division 3. What follows is a list of additional notable leagues. Amateur leagues National Premier Soccer League 92 clubs – 4 regions with 14 conferences USL League Two 128 clubs – 4 conferences with 18 divisions NISA Nation 21 clubs – 4 regions United Premier Soccer League Premier Division (Tier 1) – 4 conferences with 25 divisions The League for Clubs 5 clubs USASA Regional Elite Amateur and State Premier Leagues Various Multi-State and State Premier Leagues – 4 regions USASA State Leagues Various, many with multiple tiers – 54 state associations The Women's United Soccer Association started playing in 2001, but suspended operations in 2003. It

204-454: A fall-to-spring season spanning two calendar years but switched to the standard U.S. schedule in 2022. In September 2015, it was reported that the USSF was proposing the addition of eligibility requirements for sanctioned Division I soccer leagues, including that they must have at least 16 teams, stadiums with a capacity of at least 15,000, and at least 75% of the teams must be in cities that have

238-513: A plan on how it would meet the Division II criteria. In response, the NASL filed "a federal antitrust suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation" in an attempt to force USSF to drop all Division designations . Due to the continuing litigation against U.S. Soccer, the NASL postponed its 2018 season to August and then cancelled it entirely. In March 2017, United Soccer League announced following

272-591: A population of at least 2 million. In 2018, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a nationwide amateur league announced the intention to set up a professional division, NPSL Pro. As part of the announcement, NPSL initiated a single season competition, the NPSL Founders Cup , involving 11 teams that will form the new professional league in 2020. As of 2024 this has not materialized and NPSL remains an amateur league. Below

306-488: A separate country by FIFA ) can also compete in these leagues. However, these teams are not eligible for the U.S. Open Cup and cannot represent the United States in the CONCACAF Champions Cup because they are not affiliated with U.S. Soccer. No professional league in any of the major pro sports leagues in the U.S. or Canada uses a system of promotion and relegation . The country's governing body for

340-399: A third time. Tacoma was on the receiving end of a 4–1 final score. Rory Agu and Spencer Schomaker ended the year as Tide's top marksmen, with 11 and 9 goals respectively, with Schomaker also contributing 5 assists. O'Brien was replaced as head coach by former Rochester Rhinos and Seattle Sounders midfielder Greg Howes in 2009, and the change in leadership, combined with the excellence of

374-485: Is a list of the number of teams sanctioned by the USSF in the so-called "modern era" under the division sanctioning scheme described above. The USSF does not officially recognize distinctions beyond the three professional divisions above. Currently, three other national leagues are sanctioned by the US Soccer Federation and one of those, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), is part of USASA which

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408-633: Is a national association member of the USSF and the only member of the Adult Council. USL League Two (USL 2) is a national league run by the USL. Both are recognized in practical terms as playing at a higher level and both since 2020 are considered national leagues earning automatic berths to the US Open Cup first round based on their previous season's league results rather than going through local qualifying. The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)

442-577: Is also recognized by the USSF as a National Affiliate, but does not gain automatic entry to the Open Cup through the National League track, instead going through local qualifiers. Additionally, clubs in USL2, UPSL and NPSL pay some of their players and are more accurately described as semi-professional leagues. USL League Two takes place during the summer months, and has age restrictions. Thus,

476-623: Is an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team competed in the National Premier Soccer League as well as the Evergreen Premier League , one of United States Adult Soccer Association 's elite amateur leagues. From 1996 to 2005, the team played in the United Soccer Leagues ' Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid . The men's team folded when

510-564: Is the only sanctioned Division II men's outdoor soccer league as of 2021. Formed in 2010 as a result of the merger of the former USL First Division and USL Second Division , the USL Championship was sanctioned as Division III league from 2011 to 2016 before becoming provisionally sanctioned as a Division II league for 2017, and receiving full Division II sanctioning in 2018. The USL Championship expanded almost three-fold since its first season in 2011 to include 35 teams in

544-557: The 2017 season, SSC Shadow also fielded a team in NPSL . This article about a soccer club from Washington state is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . American Soccer Pyramid The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid , teams and leagues are not linked by

578-557: The 2020 season, with the league divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western. After that season, held amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic , five teams left the league. The previously Division II North American Soccer League (NASL) was formed in 2009, but did not debut until 2011 following the controversial 2010 season that saw neither the USL First Division nor the NASL receive Division II sanctioning from

612-545: The NWSL once it established its own women's league in 2017. For many years, there were two leagues that acted as an unofficial lower division. The United Soccer Leagues ran the W-League from 1995 to 2015. The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) was founded in 1998. Almost immediately following the demise of the W-League, United Women's Soccer was founded with orphan W-League teams and WPSL breakaways. UWS then formed

646-470: The UPSL does not rely on college players and is the national league with the most diverse participation. The table below shows the current structure of the system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name, number of clubs and conferences/divisions are given. The United States Soccer Federation regulates the standards for a league or division to be recognized as professional, while also determining

680-636: The USASA's "national" leagues, the NPSL and League Two. College soccer in the United States is sanctioned by bodies outside the direct control of the USSF, the most important of which is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). See NCAA Division I women's soccer programs , NCAA Division I men's soccer programs , and NCAA Division II men's soccer programs for a list of college soccer programs in

714-409: The USSF, resulting in the temporary USSF Division 2 Pro League . NASL was sanctioned as a Division II league from 2011 to 2016; when it fielded 8 teams for the 2017 season, U.S. Soccer only granted the league provisional sanctioning as it fell under the 12-team requirement. The USSF rejected the NASL's application to maintain provisional Division II status for the 2018 season as the NASL did not present

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748-440: The USSF. Automatic promotion and relegation between its leagues, as exists in many other national league systems, was considered by United Soccer League, but was never implemented; although voluntary promotion and relegation has occurred. Some amateur leagues sanctioned by the USASA also use promotion and relegation systems within multiple levels of their leagues. However, there has never been a merit-based promotion system offered to

782-422: The United States. The standards for Division I, II and III leagues are set by the USSF. Ownership requirements Market requirements Financial viability Media Team organization League operations In addition to the required positions filled by full-time staff, the league office must have full-time staff performing the functions of a chief operations officer, a chief financial officer and

816-576: The expansion teams in the Northwest, seemed to affect Tacoma on the field. A 4–3 loss to the Kitsap Pumas on the final day of the season left the Tide in seventh place, a full 20 points behind divisional champions Kitsap, and out of the playoffs for the first time in three years. Rory Agu was again Tacoma's top scorer, hitting the net 11 times, while Leighton O'Brien provided 4 assists. 2010 began with

850-661: The franchise was terminated in 2006 by the PDL after the 10-year-old artificial turf at their home ground, Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, Washington was declared unsafe for play. Spokane's place in the Western Conference Northwest Division of the PDL was taken by Tacoma F.C. The team was revived as Spokane Shadow Club Shadow in 2014 as a member of the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) and play at Spokane Falls Community College . Beginning with

884-407: The last game of the season against Kitsap was for pride only. The season was nonetheless an improvement from 2009 with the team finishing third and only narrowly missing out on a playoff spot. In August 2011, ownership of the team was reorganized as the club sought new investors. On January 25, 2012, it was announced that the Tide will re-brand as Seattle Sounders FC U-23 . On January 9, 2020, it

918-549: The level of division for each league. Division I Major League Soccer 29 clubs – 2 conferences II USL Championship 24 clubs – 2 conferences III MLS Next Pro 29 clubs – 2 conferences National Independent Soccer Association 9 clubs USL League One 12 clubs The system is only defined as far as Division 3. Some semi-professional leagues refer to themselves as fourth division, however any tier or division numbers are not recognized for these leagues as U.S. Soccer does not designate

952-598: 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 USL2 and also attracts top amateur talent from around the United States. However, unlike USL2, the NPSL does not have any age limits or restrictions, thus incorporating both college players and former professional players. . The United Premier Soccer League takes place year round with two seasons, one in spring and one in fall. Unlike USL2 and NPSL,

986-674: The sanctioning of the USL Championship as a Division II league it would start a new tier in its professional structure. USL League One received sanctioning in December 2018 and conducted its first season in 2019 with 10 teams. The league expanded to include 12 teams for its second season in 2020 and further expansion had been planned prior to the 2021 season, but was delayed until 2022 or later by COVID-19. A second Division III league, National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) debuted in August 2019 with eight teams. The league initially played

1020-600: The sport, the United States Soccer Federation (also known as the USSF or U.S. Soccer), oversees the league system and is responsible for sanctioning professional leagues. The leagues themselves are responsible for admitting and administering individual teams. Amateur soccer in the United States is regulated by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), the only amateur soccer organization sanctioned by

1054-408: The system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer) defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division. For practical and historical reasons, some teams from Bermuda , Canada , and Puerto Rico (considered

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1088-584: The top scorer with 5 goals, while Spencer Schomaker registered 3 assists. 2007 began with a new official name, the Tacoma Tide . By the end of the regular season, Tacoma sat in second place in the Northwest division. Rory Agu was again one of Tide's top marksmen with 7 goals, while MLS-bound Ciaran O'Brien notched an impressive 7 goals and 5 assists. Tacoma was looking to build on their impressive sophomore season in 2008. The Conference Final saw them face divisional rivals Vancouver Whitecaps Residency for

1122-978: Was announced that the Seattle Sounders FC had decided to terminate its branding agreement with the club. The club then decided to affiliate with youth club Sound FC . On March 13, 2020, it was announced that Sound FC would not be participating in USL League Two for the 2020 season, with Issaquah -based Sounders youth affiliate Eastside FC taking the team's place in the league instead. 16 points 5th, Northwest 32 points 2nd, Northwest 34 points 1st, Northwest 19 points 7th, Northwest 30 points 3rd, Northwest 8 points 8th, Northwest 36 points 1st, Northwest 18 points 4th, Northwest 17 points 5th, Northwest 22 points 3rd, Northwest 24 points 2nd, Northwest 19 points 3rd, Northwest 21 points 2rd, Northwest 25 points 2nd, Northwest Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow

1156-812: Was replaced in 2009 with Women's Professional Soccer . WPS closed after the 2011 season due to a dispute with owners, and the WPSL Elite League was the de facto top tier of women's soccer in 2012. In November 2012 the National Women's Soccer League , sponsored by the United States Soccer Federation , the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation was announced. The league started play in April 2013. Mexico withdrew from sponsorship of

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