I started with the girls in yesterday's blog and today I will discuss the opportunities that CASL has for the boys classic players. Some of this blog will be very similar to yesterday's blog but some will be quite different. The vast majority of the players are playing in the NCYSA (North Carolina Youth Soccer Assn.) leagues. NCYSA has a statewide Premier Division and then regional first and second divisions. The Premier Division starts forming after the players begin playing 11 v 11 at age 14. There is a promotion and relegation component to reward teams for great play and to keep all teams at their competitive level. The Under 13 and 14 age brackets play in the fall and spring and the Under 15-18 only play in the spring allowing the high school age players to play for their respective high school teams. NCYSA puts on two State Cups for ages Under 13 and older. The top division teams play in the USYS (United States Youth Soccer) tournament that leads to Regionals (CASL hosted the 184 team/6 day event in 2008 along with Wilson, NC) and Nationals at age Under 14 and older. The winner of that national competition is considered the USYS national champion at that age bracket. Also, the Kepner Cup (named after long time NCYSA president, Bob Kepner, who continues to do great things for soccer in NC at the adult level and on the NC Soccer Hall of Fame level) is for the teams that are not in the top level. The Kepner Cup winners advance to the USYS Presidents Cup Regionals and then Nationals (CASL hosted the President's Cup Nationals in 2009).
Through USYS, there is also the Region III Premier League. The top teams in each Region III (11 states and 12 state associations (Texas has two a North and a South)) state send representatives to play in this league. CASL has teams that compete in this league and have been playing against the other Region III eastern states of FL, GA, SC and NC. The Under 15-18 play this competition in the fall and the Under 14's play in the spring. The top teams in this league get automatic advancement to the Region III Regional tournament. This league will be changing its format, soon, so stayed tuned to see what those changes will be. Top teams in the Regional Leagues can also be selected to play in an even higher league, the USYS National League (CASL has hosted many events for the National League). This league sends its winners straight to the USYS National championships.
Also, CASL has teams playing in the United States Soccer Federation Developmental Academy. The USSF Developmental Academy has two age brackets, the Under 16 and Under 18 group. This league's ages are determined by using January 1 as the cutoff birthdate instead of August 1 (the birthdate used by USYS and therefore NCYSA). The Academy is based on Regional Leagues, cross regional play, showcases and a national tournament. At the end, there are eight teams invited to the national championship at both age brackets. In the first three years of the tournament, CASL has been the benchmark for qualifying teams for the all expenses-paid (by US Soccer) finals. Out of a possible 6 opportunities to qualify, CASL has qualified 5 times with only one team missing out. The next best club has only qualified their teams 3 times out of the possible six opportunities. CASL is very proud of their success in this great national league. The Academy system has many rules, as dictated by USSF, that affect how the development of the players should be accomplished. There are rules about practice opportunities, rules to eliminate the playing of too many games, substitution rules, etc. USSF Developmental Academy players are restricted to play only at that level with the exception of up to 10 designated developmental players. Those players, however, can play in only six Academy games throughout the year.
This year will mark the advent of the Under 14 Pre-Academy League governed by US Club Soccer. The inaugural year will be a regional based concept. This will include conference games, cross conference games, showcase events and a national championship. Players are allowed to play in this Pre-Academy League and also in USYS leagues and competitions, however, North Carolina teams have decided that their top 16 players would only participate in the Pre-Academy. Play begins this fall for a 10 month season.
As you can see, there is a great deal to keep up with in this level of soccer. It is, also, an ever changing landscape. Therefore, the CASL staff must keep up with the changes and make decisions as to what leagues and competitions to compete in on a yearly basis. Discussions occur weekly as to this topic amongst the CASL staff. It is the goal of the CASL staff to do what is best for the development of all players. Hence, the multiple leagues and competitions that CASL participates in.
Charlie Slagle
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