USL Premier Development League

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Current sport event For current news on this topic see:
2007 PDL Season
USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
Sport Soccer
Founded 1995
No. of teams 63
Country Flag of United States United States
Flag of Canada Canada
Current champions Michigan Bucks

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 popular with U.S. college players since they can play in it during the summer months and still maintain their collegiate eligibility. A maximum of eight players on each team's 26-man roster can be over 23 years old, and at least three players on each team's roster must be 18 or younger.

Contents

[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.

[edit] Current events

For 2007, the Toronto Lynx will move down from the USL First Division, the Long Island Rough Riders will move down from the USL Second Division, and expansion teams will be added in Baton Rouge, Fredericksburg, Jackson, Lancaster, Spokane, Springfield and Ventura. Also, the San Jose Frogs will be moving over from the National Premier Soccer League, the first team to do so since the creation of the rival league in 2003.

Ajax Orlando Prospects, Augusta Fireball, California Gold, Colorado Springs Blizzard, Kalamazoo Kingdom and San Diego Gauchos will not be returning for the 2007 season.

[edit] 2007 Teams

[edit] Central Conference

[edit] Great Lakes Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Great Lakes Division
Toyota Park (Chicago Fire Premier) | Coughlin Field (Cleveland Internationals) | Hefner Soccer Complex (Fort Wayne Fever) | Indiana Invaders Soccer Complex (Indiana Invaders) | Hurley Field (Michigan Bucks) | Centennial Park Stadium (Toronto Lynx) | Forest Hills Central HS Stadium (West Michigan Edge)

[edit] Heartland Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Heartland Division
Pleasant View Field (Boulder Rapids Reserve) | Waukee Stadium (Des Moines Menace) | William Jewell College (Kansas City Brass) | McEaneany Field (Sioux Falls Spitfire) | Cooper Sports Complex (Springfield Demize) | Tony Galvin Soccer Complex (St. Louis Lions) | Chapples Park (Thunder Bay Chill)

[edit] Eastern Conference

[edit] Mid Atlantic Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid Atlantic Division
Kirkwood Soccer Complex (Delaware Dynasty) | Fredericksburg Field House (Fredericksburg Gunners) | Gar-Field HS Stadium (Northern Virginia Royals) | Carey Stadium (Ocean City Barons) | Exeter HS Stadium (Reading Rage) | Sports Backers Stadium (Richmond Kickers Future) | Albert-Daly Field (Virginia Legacy) | Virginia Beach Sportsplex (Virginia Beach Submariners) | Schoenbaum Stadium (West Virginia Chaos)

[edit] Northeast Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northeast Division
Union College Field (Albany Admirals) | Aviator Field (Brooklyn Knights) | BHS Stadium Field (Cape Cod Crusaders) | Mitchel Athletic Complex (Long Island Rough Riders) | Keith Harris Stadium (Ottawa Fury) | Pierce Memorial Field (Rhode Island Stingrays) | Collins-Perley Sports Complex (Vermont Voltage) | City Park Stadium (Westchester Flames F.C.)

[edit] Southern Conference

[edit] Mid South Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid South Division
Williamsburg County Reg. Park (Austin Lightning) | Olympia Stadium (Baton Rouge Capitals) | Pennington Field (DFW Tornados) | Patriot Stadium (El Paso Patriots) | Student Activity Center (Laredo Heat) | Robert P. Longbaugh Field (Mississippi Brilla) | Muss Bertolino Stadium (New Orleans Shell Shockers)

[edit] Southeast Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southeast Division
Silverbacks Park (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) | Cocoa Expo Sports Center (Cocoa Expos) | Ezell Park (Nashville Metros) | Palm Beach Intl. Polo Club (Palm Beach Pumas)

[edit] Western Conference

[edit] Northwest Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northwest Division
Bateman Park (Abbotsford Rangers) | BYU South Stadium (BYU Cougars) | McCulloch Stadium (Cascade Surge) | Lindquist Field (Ogden Outlaws) | Spokane Falls Stadium (Spokane Spiders) | Curtis High School Stadium (Tacoma Tide) | Marquette Stadium (Yakima Reds)

[edit] Southwest Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southwest Division
Bakersfield Christian High School Stadium (Bakersfield Brigade) | Chukchansi Park (Fresno Fuego) | Lancaster Soccer Center (Lancaster Rattlers) | Citrus Stadium (Los Angeles Storm) | Orange Coast College (OC Blue Star) | Re/Max Epicenter (SFV Quakes) | Negoesco Stadium (SF Seals) | PAL Stadium (San Jose Frogs) | La Mirada High School Stadium (SoCal Seahorses) | Ventura College Sports-Plex (Ventura County Fusion)

[edit] Champions

[edit] Complete team list

see list of Premier Development League franchises

[edit] Average Attendance

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
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 | Virginia Beach Mariners
2nd Division: Bermuda Hogges | Charlotte Eagles | Cincinnati Kings | Cleveland City Stars | Crystal Palace FC USA | Harrisburg City Islanders
New Hampshire Phantoms | 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

National federation National Team: M, W Venues, (cap) List of clubs
League system SSS Champions History
Competitions in American Soccer
MLS USL First Division USL Second Division PDL
Super-20 MISL NPSL/WPSL PCSL
Open Cup W-League College Soccer Y-League
Soccer in Canada
v  d  e
National Association National Team: M, W 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

[edit] External links

In other languages