USL Premier Development League

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USL Premier Development League
2008 PDL Season
Founded
1995
Nations
United States  Canada
Higher Division
USL Second Division
Lower Division
United States Adult Soccer Association
Number of Teams
67
Cups
US Open Cup
Current Champions
Laredo Heat
Website
Official site

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 in the sense that players do not receive payment, the PDL prides itself on its professionalism in terms of organization and the way the league is run, 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 to retire 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Current Events 3 2008 Teams 3.1 Central Conference 3.1.1 Great Lakes Division 3.1.2 Heartland Division 3.1.3 Midwest Division 3.2 Eastern Conference 3.2.1 Mid Atlantic Division 3.2.2 New England Division 3.2.3 Northeast Division 3.3 Southern Conference 3.3.1 Mid South Division 3.3.2 Southeast Division 3.4 Western Conference 3.4.1 Northwest Division 3.4.2 Southwest Division 3.5 Announced 2009 Expansion Teams 4 Stadia 5 Champions 6 Complete team list 7 Notable professional players with PDL experience 8 Average Attendance 9 External links

[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. Abbotsford Rangers changed its name to Abbotsford Mariners.

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 Mariners  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

[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] Announced 2009 Expansion Teams

• Real Colorado Foxes  CO
• Victoria Highlanders  BC

[edit] Stadia

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

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Heartland Division Pleasant View Field (Colorado Rapids U23's) • Valley Stadium (Des Moines Menace) • Greene Stadium (Kansas City Brass) • Cooper Sports Complex (Springfield Demize) • Tony Glavin Soccer Complex (St. Louis Lions) • Chapples Park (Thunder Bay Chill)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Midwest Division Toyota Park (Chicago Fire Premier) • Hefner Stadium (Fort Wayne Fever) • Indiana Invaders Soccer Complex (Indiana Invaders) • Mayors Riverfront Stadium (Kalamazoo Outrage) • EK Stadium (West Michigan Edge)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid-Atlantic Division Fredericksburg Field House (Fredericksburg Gunners) • Foster Field (Hampton Roads Piranhas) • Hellwig Memorial Field Stadium (Northern Virginia Royals) • Don Thomas Stadium (Reading Rage) • Sports Backers Stadium (Richmond Kickers Future) • James City County Stadium (Virginia Legacy)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid South Division Dragon Stadium (Austin Aztex U23) • Olympia Stadium (Baton Rouge Capitals) • Pennington Field (DFW Tornados) • Patriot Stadium (El Paso Patriots) • Soccer World Center (Houston Leones) • Texas A&M International University (Laredo Heat) • Robert P. Longabaugh Field (Mississippi Brilla) • Tad Gormley Stadium (New Orleans Shell Shockers)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL New England Division Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Cape Cod Crusaders) • Clement Lemire Stadium (New Hampshire Phantoms) • Keith Harris Stadium (Ottawa Fury) • Pierce Memorial Field (Rhode Island Stingrays) • Collins-Perley Sports Complex (Vermont Voltage)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northeast Division Aviator Field (Brooklyn Knights) • Michael Tully Park (Long Island Rough Riders) • Morris Catholic HS Stadium (New Jersey Rangers) • Lubetkin Field (Newark Ironbound Express) • Carey Stadium (Ocean City Barons) • City Park Stadium (Westchester Flames F.C.)

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northwest Division Bateman Park (Abbotsford Mariners) • South Stadium (BYU Cougars) • McCulloch Stadium (Cascade Surge) • Ogden HS Stadium (Ogden Outlaws) • Spokane Falls Stadium (Spokane Spiders) • Viking Field (Tacoma Tide) • Terry Fox Field (Vancouver Whitecaps Residency) • Marquette Stadium (Yakima Reds)

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

v • d • e Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southwest Division Bakersfield Christian HS Stadium (Bakersfield Brigade) • Chukchansi Park (Fresno Fuego) • Pete Knight HS Stadium (Lancaster Rattlers) • Cougar Stadium (Los Angeles Legends) • Orange Coast College Stadium (Orange County Blue Star) • Keith Ritchie Field (San Fernando Valley Quakes) • Negoesco Stadium (San Francisco Seals) • James Lick Memorial Stadium (San Jose Frogs) • Goodman Stadium (Southern California Seahorses) • Bulldog Stadium (Ventura County Fusion)

[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
• Robbie Findley, Boulder Rapids Reserve, 2005-06
• 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
• Drew Moor, Chicago Fire Premier, 2004
• Pat Noonan, Michigan Bucks, 2002
• Michael Parkhurst, Bradenton Academics, 2003
• Heath Pearce, Bradenton Academics, 2004
• Troy Perkins, Cape Cod Crusaders, 2002-03
• Robbie Rogers, Orange County Blue Star, 2005
• Chris Rolfe, Chicago Fire Premier, 2004
• Jonathan Spector, Chicago Fire Premier, 2003
• Jeremiah White, Ocean City Barons, 2003
• Eric Wynalda, Bakersfield Brigade, 2007-08

[edit] Average Attendance

Regular season 2007: 516 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

[edit] External links

• Official PDL site

United Soccer Leagues v • d • e
1st Division Atlanta Silverbacks | Carolina RailHawks | Charleston Battery | Miami FC | Minnesota Thunder | Montreal Impact | Portland Timbers | Puerto Rico Islanders | Rochester Rhinos | Seattle Sounders | Vancouver Whitecaps 2nd Division Bermuda Hogges | Charlotte Eagles | Cleveland City Stars | Crystal Palace Baltimore | Harrisburg City Islanders | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Real Maryland Monarchs | Richmond Kickers | Western Mass Pioneers | Wilmington Hammerheads Premier Development League | Super-20 League | Super Y-League | W-League
USL Premier Development League Seasons v • d • e
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
United Soccer Leagues v • d • e
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
Soccer in the United States v • d • e
USSF Men's team Venues, (cap) List of clubs Men's U20 team Men's U23 team Women's team MNT Stats League system SSS Champions History
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
Canadian Soccer Competitions
Canadian Championship MLS USL First Division CSL CSL Cup PDL Super-20 PCSL CMISL Open Cup W-League C-NA ST Y-League