USL Premier Development League

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USL Premier Development League
Current season or competition 2007 PDL Season
USL Premier Development League
Sport Soccer
Founded 1995
No. of teams 67
Country(ies) Flag of the United States United States
Flag of Canada Canada
Most recent champion(s) Laredo Heat

The USL Premier Development League (PDL) is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid. It is currently the top level men's amateur competition in the United States, and has 67 teams competing in four conferences, split into ten regional divisions; unofficially, it is considered to be the fourth tier of competition, behind Major League Soccer, the USL First Division and the USL Second Division, and roughly equal with the National Premier Soccer League and the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

While not strictly a "professional" league, the PDL prides itself on its professionalism, and its dedication to developing young soccer players, preparing them for future careers in professional leagues in the United States and elsewhere. As PDL seasons take place during the summer months, the player pool is drawn mainly from elite NCAA college soccer players seeking to continue playing high level soccer during their summer break, which they can do while still maintaining their college eligibility. In addition, PDL squads often also include standout high school and junior club players, as well as former professionals seeking to continue competing at a high level. PDL rules dictate that a maximum of eight players on each team's 26-man roster can be over 23 years old, while at least three players on each team's roster must be 18 or younger.

Increasingly, the PDL is seen as a 'shop window' for professional clubs looking to discover and identify aspiring professional players who may enter the MLS SuperDraft in future years. Many of the players currently playing in Major League Soccer and elsewhere began their careers in the PDL.

Contents

Location of states with PDL teams
Location of states with PDL teams

In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Premier Development Soccer League, more commonly known simply as the Premier League, was formed as an amateur league apart from the professional USISL Pro League teams. Its main purpose was to improve soccer capabilities to many urban areas throughout the USA and Canada and offer current college soccer players experience without losing their college eligibility.

In 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues and the Premier League officially became known as the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League or, more commonly, the PDL.

Today, some of the PDL teams serve as farm teams to United Soccer Leagues and Major League Soccer clubs, notably Chicago Fire Premier, Colorado Rapids U23's, Atlanta Silverbacks U23's, Cary RailHawks U23's and Richmond Kickers Future, and there are increasing reports that more MLS teams will begin fielding U23 teams in the PDL in years to come.

It has been announced that both the Cincinnati Kings and the New Hampshire Phantoms have taken voluntary relegation from the USL Second Division, and will compete in the PDL in 2008.

It has also been announced that expansion teams have been added in Austin, Houston, Kalamazoo, Newark, Panama City, Vancouver and northern New Jersey.

Five 2007 franchises - Albany Admirals, Austin Lightning, Cocoa Expos, Delaware Dynasty and Sioux Falls Spitfire - have been confirmed as having resigned from the league prior to the season.

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Great Lakes Division
v • d • e

Town and Country Sports Club (Cincinnati Kings)  | Coughlin Field (Cleveland Internationals)  | Pontiac Ultimate Soccer Arena (Michigan Bucks) | Centennial Park Stadium (Toronto Lynx) | Schoenbaum Stadium (West Virginia Chaos)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Heartland Division
v • d • e

Pleasant View Field (Colorado Rapids U23’s)  | Waukee Stadium (Des Moines Menace)  | William Jewell College Stadium (Kansas City Brass)  | Cooper Sports Complex (Springfield Demize)  | Tony Glavin Soccer Complex (St. Louis Lions}  | Chapples Park (Thunder Bay Chill)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Midwest Division
v • d • e

Toyota Park (Chicago Fire Premier)  | Hefner Stadium (Fort Wayne Fever)  | Indiana Invaders Soccer Complex (Indiana Invaders)  | TBA (Kalamazoo Outrage)  | Cornerstone University Stadium (West Michigan Edge)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid-Atlantic Division
v • d • e

Fredericksburg Field House (Fredericksburg Gunners)  | Virginia Beach Sportsplex (Hampton Roads Piranhas)  | Gar-Field Senior High School Stadium (Northern Virginia Royals)  | Don Thomas Stadium (Reading Rage)  | Sports Backers Stadium (Richmond Kickers Future}  | Albert-Daly Field (Virginia Legacy)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL New England Division
v • d • e

Barnstable HS Stadium (Cape Cod Crusaders)  | Larkin Field (New Hampshire Phantoms)  | Keith Harris Stadium (Ottawa Fury)  | Pierce Memorial Field (Rhode Island Stingrays)  | Collins-Perley Sports Complex (Vermont Voltage)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL North East Division
v • d • e

Aviator Field (Brooklyn Knights)  | Michael Tully Field (Long Island Rough Riders)  | TBA (New Jersey Rangers)  | TBA (Newark FC)  | Carey Stadium (Ocean City Barons}  | City Park Stadium (Westchester Flames)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid South Division
v • d • e

TBA (Austin Stampede)  | Olympia Stadium (Baton Rouge Capitals)  | Pennington Field (DFW Tornados)  | Patriot Stadium (El Paso Patriots)  | Soccer World Center (Houston Leones}  | The Student Activity Center (Laredo Heat)  | Robert P. Longabaugh Field (Mississippi Brilla)  | Muss Bertolino Stadium (New Orleans Shell Shockers)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southeast Division
v • d • e

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium (Atlanta Silverbacks U23's) | IMG Soccer Academy (Bradenton Academics) | Macpherson Stadium (Carolina Dynamo) | SAS Soccer Park (Cary RailHawks U23's) | Kraze and Krush Stadium (Central Florida Kraze) | Ezell Park (Nashville Metros) | Palm Beach Intl. Polo Club (Palm Beach Pumas) | TBA (Panama City Pirates)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northwest Division
v • d • e

Bateman Park (Abbotsford Rangers)  | South Stadium (BYU Cougars)  | McCulloch Stadium (Cascade Surge)  | Ogden High School Stadium (Ogden Outlaws)  | Spokane Falls Stadium (Spokane Spiders}  | Curtis Senior High School Stadium (Tacoma Tide)  | TBA (Vancouver Whitecaps Residency)  | Marquette Stadium (Yakima Reds)
Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southwest Division
v • d • e

Bakersfield Christian High School Stadium (Bakersfield Brigade)  | Chukchansi Park (Fresno Fuego)  | Palmdale High School Stadium (Lancaster Rattlers)  | Citrus Stadium (Los Angeles Storm)  | Concordia University Stadium (Orange County Blue Star}  | John Elway Stadium (San Fernando Valley Quakes)  | Negoesco Stadium (San Francisco Seals)  | PAL Stadium (San Jose Frogs)  | Goodman Stadium (Southern California Seahorses)  | Bulldog Stadium (Ventura County Fusion)

see list of Premier Development League franchises

Regular season

  • 2006: 561
  • 2005: 503
  • 2004: 455
  • 2003: 492
  • 2002: 463
  • 2001: 410
  • 2000: 423
  • 1999: 385
  • 1998: 317
  • 1997: 304
  • 1996: 256
  • 1995: 290

Playoffs

  • 2006: 895
  • 2005: 912
  • 2004: 877
  • 2003: 703
  • 2002: 560
  • 2001: 530
  • 2000: 481
  • 1999: 407
  • 1998: 416
  • 1997: 397
  • 1996: 218
  • 1995: 182

United Soccer Leagues
v • d • e
1st Division

Atlanta Silverbacks | California Victory | Carolina RailHawks | Charleston Battery | Miami FC | Minnesota Thunder | Montreal Impact | Portland Timbers | Puerto Rico Islanders | Rochester Raging Rhinos | Seattle Sounders | Vancouver Whitecaps
2nd Division

Bermuda Hogges | Charlotte Eagles | Cleveland City Stars | Crystal Palace Baltimore | Harrisburg City Islanders | Richmond Kickers | Western Mass Pioneers | Wilmington Hammerheads

Premier Development League | Super-20 League | Super Y-League | W-League
 v • d • e USL Premier Development League Seasons

1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
 v • d • e 
United Soccer Leagues Seasons

2006 | 2007
Flag of the United States Flag of the United States
USSF Men's team Venues, (cap) List of clubs
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Competitions in American Soccer
MLS USL First Division USL Second Division PDL
USL Super-20 MISL NPSL/WPSL PCSL
Cup Competitions in American Soccer
Open Cup MLS Cup Southwest Cup George F. Donnelly Cup
Soccer in Canada
v • d • e
National Association National Team: M, W, U20 List of coaches List of clubs
Hall of Fame SSS List of venues Pyramid
Competitions in Canadian Soccer
MLS USL First Division USL Second Division PDL Super-20
CSL Rogers Cup PCSL CMISL
Open Cup W-League C-NA ST Y-League
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USL_Premier_Development_League"
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