Over the last two days I shared some thoughts on ways that soccer in the US and greater North America can be fixed (click for part one or part two). Today I hope to make things more clear by outlining the changes I propose.
I. League Structure
A. MLS
1. First tier; top level professional league
2. 22 teams
3. Nationwide single table (includes all participating countries)
4. Champion determined based on season results (no play-offs)
5. Promotion & Relegation
a. No Promotion
b. Last place team relegated
c. Play-off between second and third lowest teams to stay in league
6. US Open Cup
a. Top four US-based teams qualify automatically
b. Remaining US-based teams
1.) Compete for two remaining spots
2.) Pre-determined early season league matches versus US-based teams
7. Champion qualifies for CONCACAF Champions League (all countries)
8. Four best teams not qualified for CCL qualify for SuperLiga (all countries)
9. Teams compete in League Cup
B. USL-1
1. Second tier; second level professional league
2. 22 teams
3. Nationwide single table (includes all participating countries)
4. Champion determined based on season results (no play-offs)
5. Promotion & Relegation
a. Champion is promoted
b. Play-off between second and third place for promotion
c. Last place team relegated
d. Play-off between second and third lowest teams to stay in league
e. Since promotion from USL-2 is optional, there may be no relegation
6. US Open Cup
a. Top four non promoted US-based teams qualify automatically
b. Remaining US-based teams
1.) Compete for two remaining spots
2.) Pre-determined early season league matches versus US-based teams
7. Teams compete in League Cup
C. USL-2
1. Third tier; bottom level professional league
2. Number of teams
a. Can change yearly
b. Entry level league
c. Four regional conferences
d. Regional conference can be subdivided
e. May be professional reserve teams
1.) For USL-1 or MLS teams
2.) Not eligible for promotion
3. Multiple tables (includes all participating countries)
a. Regional mini-leagues
b. Assigned for travel purposes
4. Champion determined based play-offs
a. Each regional conference determines its own champion
b. Regional champions are randomly paired off
c. Two game play-off series
d. Game for third place and game for league champion
5. Promotion & Relegation
a. Champion has the option to be promoted
b. Runner-up has the option to be promoted
c. Third place is an alternate candidate for promotion
d. Relegation to semi-professional or amateur soccer is by choice
6. US Open Cup
a. Non-promoted conference winning US-based teams qualify automatically
b. Remaining US-based teams
1.) Compete for remaining spots
2.) Pre-determined early season league matches versus US-based teams
3.) Participants are chosen regardless of conference
7. Teams compete in League Cup
D. USL-3
1. Fourth tier; semi-professional league
2. Number of teams
a. Can change yearly
b. Entry level league
c. Four regional conferences
d. Regional conferences can be subdivided
e. May be semi-professional reserve teams
1.) For USL-1, USL-2 or MLS teams
2.) Not eligible for promotion
3. Multiple tables (includes all participating countries)
a. Regional mini-leagues
b. Assigned for travel purposes
4. Champion determined based play-offs
a. Each regional conference determines its own champion
b. Regional champions are randomly paired off
c. Two game play-off series
d. Game for third place and game for league champion
5. Promotion & Relegation
a. Promotion to professional is by choice
b. Relegation to amateur soccer is by choice
6. US Open Cup
a. Non-promoted conference winning US-based teams qualify automatically
b. Remaining US-based teams
1.) Compete for remaining spots
2.) Pre-determined early season league matches versus US-based teams
3.) Participants are chosen regardless of conference
7. Teams compete in League Trophy
D. PDL
1. Fifth tier; amateur league
2. Number of teams
a. Can change yearly
b. Entry level league
c. Four regional conferences
d. Regional conferences can be subdivided
e. May be amateur reserve teams
1.) For USL-1, USL-2, USL-3 or MLS teams
2.) Not eligible for promotion
3. Multiple tables (includes all participating countries)
a. Regional mini-leagues
b. Assigned for travel purposes
4. Champion determined based play-offs
a. Each regional conference determines its own champion
b. Regional champions are randomly paired off
c. Two game play-off series
d. Game for third place and game for league champion
5. Promotion & Relegation
a. Promotion to professional soccer is by choice
b. No relegation possible; only suspension of operations
6. US Open Cup
a. Non-promoted conference winning US-based teams qualify automatically
b. Remaining US-based teams
1.) Compete for remaining spots
2.) Pre-determined early season league matches versus US-based teams
3.) Participants are chosen regardless of conference
7. Teams compete in League Trophy
II. Non League Structures
A. NPSL
1. Fifth tier; amateur league
2. Number of teams
a. Can change yearly
b. Entry level league
c. May be amateur reserve teams at league discretion
3. Multiple tables (includes all participating countries)
4. Champion determined based play-offs based on league structure
5. Promotion to professional soccer is by choice
6. US Open Cup - 6 teams qualify
7. Not eligible for League Cup or League Trophy
B. USASA
1. Sixth tier; amateur association
2. Number of teams
a. Can change yearly
b. Entry level league
c. Four regional divisions
d. Regional divisions are subdivided by state associations
e. May not be amateur reserve teams
3. Multiple tables based on state associations
a. Local leagues
b. Controlled for cost purposes
c. Independent leagues run by a national governing body
4. Champion determined via National Cups
5. US Open Cup - 6 teams qualify
6. Not eligible for League Cup or League Trophy
Continue to Part 4
