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[[Image:Optimized image 64dc9490.png|thumb|150px|right|The Official USL logo.]]
The '''United Soccer Leagues''' ('''USL''') is the parent organization for the men's lower division leagues of [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canadian]] soccer: [[USL First Division]] (second tier), [[USL Second Division]] (third tier), and [[USL Premier Development League|Premier Development League (PDL)]] (fourth tier). The top tier for U.S. and Canadian men's soccer is [[Major League Soccer|Major League Soccer (MLS)]], with [[Women's Professional Soccer]] being the top tier U.S. women's league. The USL also includes the second-highest women's league, the [[W-League]], and youth league the [[Super Y-League]]. It is directly affiliated with [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]], the [[United States Adult Soccer Association]] and the [[Canadian Soccer Association]].

The USL structure allows for the '''Second Division champion''' to be promoted to the First Division, provided that the team to be promoted meets criteria set by USL and U.S. Soccer, and space exists. A formal [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] process may also be added at a future date. There is no promotion or relegation between MLS and USL.

USL rosters may consist of a maximum of 26 players, with 18 designated for each game. Each team is permitted a maximum of five foreign players on its active game-day roster and a maximum of seven foreign players on its master roster. In the PDL and W-League, at least three players in a full 26-player roster must be under 19, in accordance with guidelines set by the USASA and U.S. Soccer. In the PDL, a maximum of eight players may be over the age of 23, and can retain their [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] eligibility.

The organization was sold by Nike on August 27, 2009 to NuRock Soccer Holdings of Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/359940.html</ref>

==USL First Division==
A premier soccer league for men over eighteen years old, the USL First Division stretches from the U.S. to Canada to the Caribbean. In 2008, each team had a schedule of thirty regular season games: fifteen home and fifteen away. Players have come from more than thirty-five countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Panama and New Zealand. The league has around one million fans viewing matches each season.<ref>[http://www.uslsoccer.com USL Soccer]</ref>


'''First Division Teams:'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club !! Founded !! Colors !! Stadium !! Territory
|-
| {{flagicon|Texas}} '''[[Austin Aztex FC]]''' || 2008 || Red, White, Blue || [[Nelson Field]] || [[Austin, Texas]]
|-
| {{flagicon|North Carolina}} '''[[Carolina RailHawks FC]]''' || 2006 || Blue, Orange || [[WakeMed Soccer Park]] || [[The Triangle (North Carolina)|The Triangle]], [[North Carolina]]
|-
| {{flagicon|South Carolina}} '''[[Charleston Battery]]''' || 1993 || Yellow, Black || [[Blackbaud Stadium]] || [[Charleston, South Carolina]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Ohio}} '''[[Cleveland City Stars]]''' || 2007 || Green, White, Black || [[Krenzler Field]] || [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Florida}} '''[[Miami FC]]''' || 2005 || Blue, Orange || [[Lockhart Stadium]] || [[South Florida]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Minnesota}} '''[[Minnesota Thunder]]''' || 1990 || Navy Blue, Light Blue, Silver, White || [[National Sports Center]] || [[Minneapolis – Saint Paul|Minneapolis-St. Paul]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Quebec}} '''[[Montreal Impact]]''' || 1993 || Blue, White, Black || [[Saputo Stadium]] || [[Quebec]] (whole)
|-
| {{flagicon|Oregon}} '''[[Portland Timbers (USL)|Portland Timbers]]''' || 2001 || Green, White, Yellow || [[PGE Park]] || [[Oregon]] (whole)
|-
| {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} '''[[Puerto Rico Islanders]]''' || 2003 || Orange, White, Green || [[Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium|Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel]] || [[Puerto Rico]] (whole)
|-
| {{flagicon|New York}} ''' [[Rochester Rhinos]]''' || 1996 || Green, Black, Gold || [[Marina Auto Stadium]] || [[Western New York]]
|-
| {{flagicon|British Columbia}} '''[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]''' || 1986 || White, Blue || [[Swangard Stadium]] || [[British Columbia]] (whole)
|}

'''Future Expansion:'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club !! Begins Play !! Colors !! Stadium !! Territory
|-
| {{flagicon|Florida}} '''[[Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]]''' || 2010 || Green, Gold || Rowdies Stadium || [[Tampa Bay Area]]
|-
| {{flagicon|New York}} '''[[F.C. New York]]''' || 2010 || black, blue, yellow || [[Hofstra University]], [[Columbia University]] || [[New York Metropolitan Area]] <ref>[http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/03/new-york-city-will-be-getting-a-professional-soccer-team-to-call-its-own-and-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-major-league-soccers-p.html#more USL-1 club coming to NYC in 2010]</ref>
|}

'''''Note:''' The Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers will leave USL in 2011 due to replacement by the MLS expansion franchises.''

== USL Second Division ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club !! Founded !! Colors !! Stadium !! Territory
|-
| {{flagicon|Bermuda}} [[Bermuda Hogges]] || 2007 || Green, Red || [[Bermuda National Stadium]] || [[Bermuda]] (whole)
|-
| {{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[Charlotte Eagles]] || 1993 ||Orange, Blue, White || [[Charlotte Christian School|Restart Field]] || [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Maryland}} [[Crystal Palace Baltimore]] || 2007 || Red, Blue || [[UMBC Stadium]] || [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} [[Harrisburg City Islanders]] || 2004 || Navy, Sky || [[Skyline Sports Complex]] || [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds]] || 1999 || Black, Blue, White || [[Chartiers Valley High School|Chartiers Valley High School Stadium]] || [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Maryland}} [[Real Maryland Monarchs]] || 2008 || White, Gold || [[Maryland SoccerPlex]] || [[Rockville, Maryland|Rockville]], [[Maryland]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Virginia}} [[Richmond Kickers]] || 1993 || Red, White || [[University of Richmond Stadium]] || [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Massachusetts}} [[Western Mass Pioneers]] || 1998 || Red, Black, White || [[Lusitano Stadium]] || [[Ludlow, Massachusetts|Ludlow]], [[Massachusetts]]
|-
| {{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[Wilmington Hammerheads]] || 1996 || Sky Blue, White, Black || [[Legion Stadium]] || [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina]]
|}

==History==
* 1986 Established as '''Southwest Indoor Soccer League'''
* 1989 Added an outdoor league known as the '''Southwest Outdoor Soccer League'''. This was soon changed to '''Southwest Independent Soccer League''' which included both the indoor and outdoor leagues.
* 1990 Renamed '''Sunbelt Independent Soccer League'''
* 1991 Renamed '''United States Interregional Soccer League'''
* 1995 Renamed '''United States International Soccer League'''
* 1995 Renamed '''United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues''' and formally established professional [[USL Second Division|Pro League]] and amateur [[USL Premier Development League|Amateur Premier League]]
* 1996 Established '''Select League''' consisting of strongest teams from Division 3 Pro League and Amateur Premier League in hopes of gaining Division 2 sanctioning.
* 1997 Select League and the independent Division 2 [[American Professional Soccer League|A-League]] merged to form a new A-League under the USISL umbrella.
* 1999 Umbrella USISL changed its name to the modern United Soccer Leagues.

=== Complete historical team list ===
==== SISL ====
{|
|valign="top"|
* [[Amarillo Challengers]] (Indoor: 1986/87–89/90)
* Arkansas Diamonds (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
* [[Atlanta Express]] (Indoor: 1990/91; Outdoor: 1991)
* [[Austin Lone Stars|Austin Sockadillos]] (Indoor: 1987/88–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91)
* [[Colorado Comets]] (Indoor: 1989/90-90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91)
* [[El Paso Patriots]] (Indoor: 1989/90-90/91; Outdoor: 1991, as ''El Paso Sixshooters'' in 1989/90, as ''El Paso Spurs'' in 1990/91)
* [[DFW Tornados|Fort Worth Kickers]] (Indoor: 1986/87-90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91, as [[DFW Tornados|Garland Genesis]] in 1986/87, as [[DFW Tornados|Addison Arrows]] in 1986/87–89/90, as ''North Texas United'' in 1990, merged with [[Waco Kickers]] after 1990)
* [[Atlanta Quicksilver|Georgia Steamers]] (Indoor: 1990/91)
* [[Houston Express (soccer)|Houston Express]] (Indoor: 1988/89–89/90)
* [[Lubbock Lazers]] (Indoor: 1986/87–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91)
* [[Memphis Jackals|Memphis Rogues]] (Indoor: 1990/91; Outdoor: 1991)
* [[Nashville Metros]] (Indoor: 1990/91; Outdoor: 1991)
|width="50%" valign="top"|
* [[New Mexico Chiles]] (Indoor: 1986/87–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91, as ''Albuquerque Outlaws'' in 1986/87, as ''Albuquerque Gunners'' in 1987/88–1990, as ''New Mexico Roadrunners'' in 1990/91)
* [[Oklahoma City Warriors]] (Indoor: 1986/87–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91)
* [[Permian Basin Shooting Stars]] (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990)
* [[Arizona Sahuaros|Phoenix Hearts]] (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
* [[Dallas Rockets|Richardson Rockets]] (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
* [[San Antonio Pumas|San Antonio Generals]] (Indoor: 1988/89–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91, as ''San Antonio Heat'' in 1988/89–1989)
* [[Tucson Amigos]] (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
* [[Tulsa Renegades]] (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1989–91)
* [[Waco Kickers]] (Indoor: 1989/90; Outdoor: 1990, merged into [[DFW Tornados|North Texas United]] after 1990 season)
* [[Wichita Tornado]] (Indoor: 1988/89)
|}

==== USISL ====
{|
|valign="top"|
* [[Amarillo Challengers]] (Indoor: 1991/92)
* [[Ann Arbor Elite]] (1995)
* [[Arizona Sahuaros|Arizona Cotton]] (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as ''Phoenix Hearts'' in 1991/92)
* [[Arkansas A's]] (1992, 94, Indoor: 1991/92, as ''Arkansas Diamonds'' in 1994)
* [[Atlanta Quicksilver|Atlanta Lightning]] (Indoor: 1991/92)
* [[Atlanta Magic]] (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–95/96, as ''Atlanta Lasers'' in 1993)
* [[Austin Lone Stars]] (1992–94, as ''Austin Sockadillos'' in 1992–93)
* [[Baltimore Bays]] (1993–94, Indoor: 1992/93–97/98)
* [[Birmingham Grasshoppers]] (1993–94)
* [[Boca Raton Sabres]] (1992–94)
* [[Boston Storm]] (1994)
* [[Brandon Braves]] (Indoor: 1994/95–95/96)
* [[Cape Cod Crusaders]] (1994)
* [[Central California Valley Hydra]] (1994)
* [[Charlotte Eagles]] (1993–94)
* [[Charleston Battery]] (1993–94)
* [[Chattanooga Express]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1992/93–95/96, as ''Chattanooga Railroaders'' in 1992–1992/93)
* [[Chico Rooks]] (1993–94)
* [[Cincinnati Cheetahs]] (1994)
* [[Cocoa Expos]] (1994, Indoor: 1993/94)
* [[Colorado Comets]] (Indoor: 1991/92)
* [[Columbia Heat]] (1993–94, as ''Columbia Spirit'' in 1993)
* [[Connecticut Wolves]] (1993–94)
* [[Coral Springs Kicks]] (1993)
* [[Dallas Rockets]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as ''North Texas Mid-Cities Flyers'' in 1991/92)
* [[DFW Tornados|Dallas/Fort Worth Toros]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, 95/96, as ''Dallas Kickers'' in 1991/92, as ''Dallas Americans'' in 1992–1992/93)
* [[Dallas Lightning]] (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94, 95/96, as [[Tyler Lightning]] in 1993, as ''Texas Lightning'' in 1993/94–1994)
* [[Delaware Wizards]] (1993–94)
* [[Des Moines Menace]] (1994)
* [[Detroit Wheels (USISL)|Detroit Wheels]] (1994–95)
* [[East Bay Red Riders]] (1992–93)
* [[East Los Angeles Cobras]] (1993–94)
* [[El Paso Patriots]] (1992–94)
* [[Florida Stars]] (1994)
* [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers|Fort Lauderdale Kicks]] (1994)
* [[Carolina Dynamo|Greensboro Dynamo]] (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94)
* [[Atlanta Express|Gwinnett County Steamers]] (1992)
* [[Virginia Beach Mariners|Hampton Roads Hurricane]] (1994)
* [[Hawaii Tsunami]] (1994)
* [[Jacksonville Fury]] (1994–95)
* [[Jersey Dragons]] (1994)
* [[Kansas City All-Stars]] (Indoor: 1996/97)
* [[Knoxville Impact]] (Indoor: 1992/93–95/96)
* [[Las Vegas Quicksilver (USISL)|Las Vegas Quicksilver]] (1994)
* [[Lexington Bluegrass Bandits]] (1994)
|width="50%" valign="top"|
* [[Lincoln Brigade]] (1997) (Indoor: 1996, 1997)
* [[Long Island Rough Riders]] (1994)
* [[Louisville Thoroughbreds (soccer club)|Louisville Thoroughbreds]] (1994)
* [[Lubbock Lazers]] (Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as ''Lubbock Tornado'' in 1991/92)
* [[Memphis Jackals]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as ''Memphis Survivors'' in 1991/92, as ''Memphis United Express'' in 1992)
* [[Mesquite Kickers]] (Indoor: 1994/95–96/97)
* [[Michigan Madness]] (1996)
* [[Milwaukee Rampage]] (1994)
* [[Minnesota Thunder]] (1994)
* [[Montclair Standard Falcons]] (1993–94)
* [[Myrtle Beach Boyz]] (1995)
* [[Nashville Metros]] (1992-94, Indoor: 1991/92–93/94)
* [[New Mexico Chiles]] (1994)
* [[New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers]] (1994)
* [[New York Centaurs|New York Fever]] (1994)
* [[North Bay Breakers]] (1992–94)
* [[North Jersey Imperials]] (1994)
* [[Ohio Xoggz]] (1994–96, as ''Columbus Xoggz'' in 1994–95)
* [[Oklahoma City Warriors|Oklahoma City Slickers]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–94/95, as ''Oklahoma City Warriors'' in 1993–1994/95)
* [[Oklahoma City Alliance|Oklahoma City Warriors]] (Indoor: 1996/97–97/98, as ''Oklahoma City Alliance'' in 1996/97)
* [[Omaha Flames (soccer)|Omaha Flames]] (1996–1997, Indoor: 1996–98)
* [[Orlando Lions]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1993/94–95/96)
* [[Permian Basin Shooting Stars|Permian Basin Mirage]] (Indoor: 1991/92)
* [[Philadelphia Freedom (soccer)|Philadelphia Freedom]] (1994, Indoor: 1995/96–96/97, as ''Pennsylvania Freedom'' in 1994–1995/96)
* [[Raleigh Flyers]] (1993–94)
* [[Reading Rage]] (Indoor: 1995/96)
* [[Reno Rattlers]] (1994)
* [[Richmond Kickers]] (1993-94, Indoor: 1993/94)
* [[Rockford Raptors]] (1994)
* [[St. Louis Knights]] (1994)
* [[San Antonio Pumas]] (1992–1994, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as ''San Antonio Generals'' in 1991/92-92/93)
* [[San Diego Top Guns]] (1994)
* [[San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles]] (1993–94)
* [[San Francisco United All Blacks]] (1992–94, as ''San Francisco All Blacks'' in 1992)
* [[San Francisco Bay Diablos]] (1993–94)
* [[San Jose Hawks]] (1993)
* [[Santa Cruz Surf]] (1993–94)
* [[Shasta Scorchers]] (1994)
* [[Willamette Valley Firebirds|Silicon Valley Firebirds]] (1992–94, as ''Palo Alto Firebirds'' in 1992)
* [[Sioux City Breeze]] (1994)
* [[South Florida Future|South Florida Flamingos]] (1994)
* [[Texas Arsenal]] (Indoor: 1992/93–93/94, as ''Texas Stampede'' in 1992/93)
* [[Toledo Twisters]] (Indoor: 1993/94)
* [[Tucson Amigos]] (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93)
* [[Tulsa Renegades]] (Indoor: 1991/92, )
* [[Tulsa Roughnecks (USISL)|Tulsa Roughnecks]] (1993–99, Indoor: 1993/94–97/98, as ''Green County Roughnecks'' in 1999)
* [[Virginia Kickers]] (1997/98)
* [[Washington Mustangs]] (1994)
* [[Wichita Blue]] (1995-96, 1999, as ''Wichita Blue Angels'' in 1994)
|}

=== Champions ===
==== SISL ====
* [[1986-87 Southwest Indoor Soccer League|1986/87]]: '''[[Addison Arrows]]''' 7–2* [[Lubbock Lazers]]
* [[1987-88 Southwest Indoor Soccer League|1987/88]]: '''[[Oklahoma City Warriors]]''' 3–0 [[Austin Lone Stars|Austin Sockadillos]]
* [[1988-89 Southwest Indoor Soccer League|1988/89]]: '''[[Lubbock Lazers]]''' 3–2 [[Austin Lone Stars|Austin Sockadillos]]
* [[1989 Southwest Outdoor Soccer League season|1989]]: '''[[Colorado Comets]]''' 3–1* [[DFW Tornados|Addison Arrows]]
* [[1989-1990 Southwest Independent Soccer League#1989-1990 indoor season|1989/90]]: '''[[Addison Arrows]]''' 3–0 [[Arizona Sahuaros|Phoenix Hearts]]
* [[1989-1990 Southwest Independent Soccer League#1990 outdoor season|1990]]: '''[[Colorado Comets]]''' (declared winner after championship game was cancelled)
* [[1990-1991 Sunbelt Independent Soccer League#1990-1991 indoor season|1990/91]]: '''[[Colorado Comets]]''' 3–0 [[Oklahoma City Warriors]]
* [[1990-1991 Sunbelt Independent Soccer League#1991 outdoor season|1991]]: '''[[Dallas Rockets|Richardson Rockets]]''' 3–0* [[New Mexico Chiles]]
- Champions determined by best-of-five-game series, except for 1986/87, 1989 & 1991 seasons which were determined by one-game final.

==== USISL ====
* 1991/92: '''[[Oklahoma City Warriors]]''' 7–2 [[Atlanta Magic]]
* 1992: '''[[Palo Alto Firebirds]]''' 1–0 [[Tucson Amigos]]
* 1992/93: '''[[Atlanta Magic]]''' 11–7 [[Arizona Cotton]]
* 1993: '''[[Greensboro Dynamo]]''' 2–1 [[Orlando Lions]]
* 1993/94: '''[[Atlanta Magic]]''' 8–3 [[Chattanooga Express]]
* 1994: '''[[Greensboro Dynamo]]''' 2–1 (SO) [[Minnesota Thunder]]
* 1994/95: '''[[Atlanta Magic]]''' 6–3 [[Oklahoma City Slickers]]
* 1995/96: '''[[Baltimore Bays]]''' 10–8 [[Atlanta Magic]]
* 1996/97: '''[[Baltimore Bays]]''' 2–0* [[Tulsa Roughnecks (USISL)|Tulsa Roughnecks]]
* 1997/98: '''[[Baltimore Bays]]''' 13–10 [[Tulsa Roughnecks (USISL)|Tulsa Roughnecks]]
- Champions determined by one-game final, except for 1996/97 which was determined by best-of-three game series.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.uslsoccer.com Official USL Website]
* [http://www.usldiscussions.com/ Fan operated discussion forum]
* http://xsorbit25.com/users5/soccertalkcanada/index.php
* [http://www.youtube.com/groups_videos?name=MLSandUSLsupporters USL supporters on YouTube.com]


{{fb start}}
{{United Soccer Leagues}}
{{USL Seasons}}
{{USSoccer}}
{{Canada Soccer}}
{{Football in Puerto Rico}}
{{BermudaFootball}}
{{fb end}}

[[Category:United Soccer Leagues| ]]
[[Category:Soccer leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian soccer competitions]]

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[[pt:United Soccer Leagues]]

Revision as of 14:22, 25 September 2009

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