CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 14, 2011) – US Club Soccer this week launched the National Premier Leagues (NPL), a competitive program linking the top US Club Soccer Leagues in the country, of which the Oregon Premier League is a part. The NPL offers a platform for long-term player development by providing consistent and meaningful games between the region’s top players and also provides opportunities for players to be scouted by U.S. Soccer national staff. Winners of each league within the NPL will qualify for US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues Champions Cup, which will be in Chicago in July 2012.

US Club Soccer recently launched the online home of the organization’s newly-formed NPL, at www.nationalpremierleagues.com, with links and information to all the leagues around the country.

Scheduled to kick off in the fall, the NPL includes many of the nation’s top clubs in geographically-based leagues, with each independently-operated NPL linked with the others under the same technical guidelines, philosophies and structure. Additionally, every NPL will include an integrated Player Development Program within US Club Soccer’s id² Program to provide additional exposure and development opportunities for the top players within the NPL. Most importantly, every NPL is led by a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of the Directors of Coaching from each member club.

Winners of each NPL will advance to the National Premier Leagues Champions Cup, where national champions will be crowned. The inaugural event is scheduled for July 2012.

• Properly-structured youth soccer clubs are the vehicle through which player development does and must occur in the United States.

• Clubs should play in leagues that provide meaningful games, allow establishment of the proper training-to-game ratio, and eliminate calendar congestion.

• National Premier Leagues, as well as the best clubs, should be integrated in US Club Soccer’s id² national identification and development program, include Player Development Programs in select local markets, and work closely with U.S. Soccer staff regarding player identification, and player and coach development. 

A complete presentation on the vision, structure and future of the National Premier Leagues can be found on the NPL website. This presentation also includes an overview of the Player Development Programs created for each National Premier League.

About the Oregon Premier League: 
The Oregon Premier League is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive soccer in Oregon. Sanctioned by US Club Soccer, the OPL offers a wide range of competitive divisions for U11-U18, and partners with our clubs to offer U10 developmental leagues. The OPL hosts the Oregon Premier League State Cup once per year for U12-U18  teams, and a Director’s Cup twice per year (U11-U14, and U15-U18). The OPL is also a founding partner of the Northwest Champions League and the Pacific Coast Super Cup. 

About US Club Soccer:
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id².

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