(Tampa, FL - November 13, 2006) United Soccer Leagues and US Club Soccer have extended their partnership to foster the growth and development of soccer in the United States.  The new partnership will continue to provide alternatives and opportunities for elite youth soccer clubs to grow and develop their businesses.      

In 2001, USL and US Club Soccer began a partnership to aid each organization’s effort in providing competitive and administrative alternatives to soccer clubs throughout the United States. Since combining these efforts, the USL’s Super Y-League has grown to become the most competitive elite regional and national youth league system in the United States for players that aspire to compete at the professional, international and collegiate soccer levels. 

Over the past six years, US Club Soccer has grown exponentially as a national governing youth soccer organization through the success of its mission to foster the growth and development of clubs with minimum rules and restrictions.  Through programs, such as the US Club Soccer National Cup, and a systematic approach to club administration with player registration, the organization has established itself as a major governing youth soccer organization in the United States.

“What continues to draw US Club Soccer and the Super Y-League together is our common objective to create an environment for clubs, teams and players to pursue excellence in soccer with a minimum of rules and restrictions,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage.  “Through our online player registration system, Super Y-League members are able to quickly and easily receive their pass cards allowing them to concentrate their efforts on the field, while including Super Y-League teams in our annual National Cup not only strengthens the tournament field but also provides their teams with the opportunity and challenge of pursuing a national championship.”

The new partnership will continue to develop the USL Super Y-League, and the Super-20 League as the preeminent competition for elite youth soccer players and clubs.  US Club Soccer will continue to provide registration services and club development initiatives to members of the USL Super Y-League and Super-20 League. In addition, the US Club Soccer National Cup will continue to be the official national cup of the Super Y-League clubs. 

“Both the USL Super Y-League and US Club Soccer have been successful because the leadership and membership of the organizations have focused on doing the right thing for the sport of soccer in the U.S.,” said Matt Weibe, USL Managing Director of Club Development.  “It is our objective to take this to another level within the US Soccer community, and expand each others programs and competitions for the overall development of the sport.”

In 2006, US Club Soccer successfully completed its fifth National Cup, which contained over 1,000 teams coast-to-coast.  The Super Y-League will be culminating its 2006 season with the North American Finals containing 140 of the top teams in the U.S. and Canada over five days next week in Tampa, Fla. 

“Extending our relationship with the Super Y-League is a positive step forward for the continued growth and development of American youth club soccer,” said Philip Wright, Chairman of the US Club Soccer Board of Directors.  “Over the past four years, US Club Soccer has supported the Super Y-League’s endeavors to build and sustain the country’s top youth national league.  We look forward to jointly working to further advance the Super Y-League’s efforts.”

“It is obvious that these two organizations complement each other,” said USL President Francisco Marcos.  “Above all, it is the fact that we are privately run, which allows us to keep being innovative in developing new programs without the encumbrance of rigid rules and regulations that may look good on paper, but do not translate very well to the ‘stuff’ between the four white lines.” 

About United Soccer Leagues
As United Soccer Leagues celebrates its 20th year, soccer at all levels continues to grow in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean. The largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community.  The USL First Division and Second Division (North American men’s professional soccer), the USL Premier Development League (U23 North American men’s amateur), the USL W-League (North American women’s amateur), the USL Super-20 League (U20 North American men’s and women’s amateur) and the USL Super Y-League (North American boy’s and girl’s elite youth amateur) have provided a platform for thousands of players to reach their dreams since 1986.  This vision and commitment to develop a soccer nation by fans, investors, administrators, coaches, and players has created the foundation for the growth of the sport, while presenting affordable, exciting family entertainment in over 100 cities and towns on the continent.  For more information, please visit www.uslsoccer.com .

About the USL Super Y-League
The future of soccer lives in the USL Super Y-League, a professionalized system that is the first step for developing elite youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer and partnered with US Club Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. The league contains the youth academies of USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League, W-League, and Major League Soccer clubs, as well as many of the established premier youth clubs. Through Olympic Development Program status events such as the North American Finals and National ODP Camps, the nation’s top players are identified for selection to US National Team Programs. The 2006 campaign features over 800 teams within the U13 – U17 boys and girls age groups competing within 10 geographic divisions of the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.uslsoccer.com .

About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 1,200 member clubs and league teams in 47 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, for member teams for boys and girls’ U12 to U17.  The 2007 National Cup VI kicks off with regional play Memorial Day weekend and will conclude in late July with the crowning of National Champions.  US Club Soccer also began its own player identification and development program in the summer of 2004, termed id2.  Over the 2007 Easter Weekend, US Club Soccer, in conjunction with Disney’s Wide World of Sports, will hold the second annual Champions Cup to determine the nation’s top boy and girls’ clubs.  US Club Soccer’s growing list of National Corporate Partners include: Nike, 24 Hour Fitness, Accor Hotels, American Airlines, Budget Rent A Car, Etriptix, Major League Soccer, Slammers® Ultimate Milk, SoccerPost.com and TEKK Athletic; as well as a supplier group of six additional corporations. For more information, visit www.usclubsoccer.org.