United Premier Soccer League Announces Youth Division Expansion in Partnership with U.S. Club Soccer

LOS ANGELES - Sept. 13, 2018 - PRLog -- The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is proud to announce its partnership with U.S. Club Soccer to form the new UPSL Youth Academy Division. This new division will serve as a feeder to the UPSL's existing Pro Premier, Championship and League 1 tiers.

The newly-formed UPSL Youth Academy Division will begin with the upcoming 2019 Spring Season.

United Premier Soccer League Executive Director Derek Barraza said, "I'm very excited to be working with U.S. Club Soccer. Together we will push our players to reach their highest level within the U.S. Soccer umbrella."

The UPSL Youth Academy Division aims to be an elite youth competition. Utilizing its affiliation with U.S. Club Soccer, the United Premier Soccer League will provide a pathway for players wanting to achieve higher levels of competition within the UPSL Tier System and beyond.

"We will provide development opportunities for players to reach their highest potential," Barraza said. "We are well aligned with U.S. Club Soccer's 'Players First' program and believe in its five pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. We are excited to a partner in U.S. Club Soccer that is committed to changing the youth soccer landscape."

Sanctioning from U.S. Club Soccer will provide UPSL Youth Academy Division clubs access to an exclusive network of events, tournaments and cup competitions that will further advance opportunities for players.

Gabe Rood is the Napa Soccer Academy Director of Coaching and is the West Region Coordinator for U.S. Club Soccer.

U.S. Club Soccer West Region Coordinator Gabe Rood said, "U.S. Club Soccer looks forward to working with the UPSL to continue to improve the soccer landscape in the United States. The UPSL has done a tremendous job growing the game and we look forward to working with the league to reach into new markets and to integrate these teams and players into the U.S. Club Soccer family."

Teams and age-groups (Under-18s, Under-17s and Under-16s) will continue to be added to the UPSL Youth Division in the coming weeks and months.

United Premier Soccer League

The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 200 teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 300-plus teams targeted for 2018 Fall Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.

UPSL teams are all eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the leagues affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

More information about UPSL can be found at www.upslsoccer.com or by following the league on Facebook (www.facebook.com/upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer).

Contact UPSL:
info@upslsoccer.com
Direct: 310-415-5691

Media Relations:
Dennis Pope
dennis@upslsoccer.com
upslcommunications@gmail.com
Direct: 951-675-3963
www.upslsoccer.com
www.facebook.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague
www.twitter.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague