USL Premier Development League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| USL Premier Development League | |
|---|---|
 2007 PDL Season |
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| Sport | Soccer |
| Founded | 1995 |
| No. of teams | 67 |
| Country(ies) |  United States 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, often having been forced into retiring from top flight competition due to age or injury. 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.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] Current Events
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.
Los Angeles Storm changed its name to Los Angeles Legends.
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.
[edit] 2008 Teams
[edit] Central Conference
[edit] Great Lakes Division
- Cincinnati Kings
OH - New for 2008 - Cleveland Internationals OH
- Michigan Bucks
MI - Toronto Lynx
ON - West Virginia Chaos
WV
[edit] Heartland Division
- Colorado Rapids U23's
CO - Des Moines Menace
IA - Kansas City Brass
MO - Springfield Demize MO
- St. Louis Lions MO
- Thunder Bay Chill ON
[edit] Midwest Division
- Chicago Fire Premier
IL - Fort Wayne Fever
IN - Indiana Invaders IN
- Kalamazoo Outrage MI - New for 2008
- West Michigan Edge MI
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Mid Atlantic Division
- Fredericksburg Gunners
VA - Hampton Roads Piranhas VA
- Northern Virginia Royals VA
- Reading Rage
PA - Richmond Kickers Future VA
- Virginia Legacy VA
[edit] New England Division
- Cape Cod Crusaders
MA - New Hampshire Phantoms
NH - New for 2008 - Ottawa Fury ON
- Rhode Island Stingrays
RI - Vermont Voltage
VT
[edit] Northeast Division
- Brooklyn Knights
NY - Long Island Rough Riders NY
- New Jersey Rangers
NJ - New for 2008 - Newark Ironbound Express NJ - New for 2008
- Ocean City Barons NJ
- Westchester Flames NY
[edit] Southern Conference
[edit] Mid South Division
- Austin Aztex U23
TX - New for 2008 - Baton Rouge Capitals
LA - DFW Tornados TX
- El Paso Patriots TX
- Houston Leones TX - New for 2008
- Laredo Heat TX
- Mississippi Brilla
MS - New Orleans Shell Shockers LA
[edit] Southeast Division
- Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
GA - Bradenton Academics
FL - Carolina Dynamo
NC - Cary RailHawks U23's NC
- Central Florida Kraze FL
- Nashville Metros
TN - Palm Beach Pumas FL
- Panama City Pirates FL - New for 2008
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] Northwest Division
- Abbotsford Rangers
BC - BYU Cougars
UT - Cascade Surge
OR - Ogden Outlaws UT
- Spokane Spiders
WA - Tacoma Tide WA
- Vancouver Whitecaps Residency BC - New for 2008
- Yakima Reds WA
- Victoria Highlanders BC - Announced for 2009
[edit] Southwest Division
- Bakersfield Brigade
CA - Fresno Fuego CA
- Lancaster Rattlers CA
- Los Angeles Legends CA
- Orange County Blue Star CA
- San Fernando Valley Quakes CA
- San Francisco Seals CA
- San Jose Frogs CA
- Southern California Seahorses CA
- Ventura County Fusion CA
[edit] Stadia
[edit] Champions
- 2007 PDL - Laredo Heat
- 2006 PDL - Michigan Bucks
- 2005 PDL - Des Moines Menace
- 2004 PDL - Central Florida Kraze
- 2003 PDL - Cape Cod Crusaders
- 2002 PDL - Cape Cod Crusaders
- 2001 PDL - Westchester Flames
- 2000 PDL - Chicago Sockers
- 1999 PDL - Chicago Sockers
- 1998 PDSL - San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
- 1997 PDSL - Central Coast Roadrunners
- 1996 USISL Prem - Central Coast Roadrunners
- 1995 USISL Prem - Richmond Kickers
[edit] Complete team list
see list of Premier Development League franchises
[edit] Notable professional players with PDL experience
- Brian Ching, Spokane Shadow, 1998-99
- Charlie Davies, Westchester Flames, 2006
- Jay DeMerit, Chicago Fire Premier, 2001-02
- Herculez Gomez, San Diego Gauchos, 2003
- Brad Guzan, Chicago Fire Premier, 2003-04
- Kamani Hill, San Fernando Valley Quakes, 2006
- Jürgen Klinsmann, Orange County Blue Star, 2003
- Sacha Kljestan, Orange County Blue Star, 2005
- Pete Marino, Cocoa Expos, 2003-06
- Pat Noonan, Michigan Bucks, 2002
- Michael Parkhurst, Bradenton Academics, 2003
- Heath Pearce, Bradenton Academics, 2004
- Chris Rolfe, Chicago Fire Premier, 2004
- Jonathan Spector, Chicago Fire Premier, 2003
- Jeremiah White, Ocean City Barons, 2003
- Eric Wynalda, Bakersfield Brigade, 2007
[edit] Average Attendance
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Regular season
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Playoffs
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[edit] External links
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USL Premier Development League Seasons
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| Competitions in American Soccer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Cup Competitions in American Soccer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Competitions in Canadian Soccer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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