The PDL announced its alignment, season structure and schedule for the 2016 season, which will see 67 teams compete for a championship in the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States and Canada. The 469-game regular-season schedule will kick off on the weekend of May 6-8, with the championship game set for the first weekend in August.
2016 PDL SCHEDULE
“We are very excited to unveil the new schedule for the PDL’s fans, and are looking forward to another exciting summer of action across North America,” said PDL Director Todd Eason. “The strong new additions to the league this season will continue to raise the level of competition on the field, and also continue to provide young professional prospects with an ideal venue to continue their development.”
Defending PDL Champion K-W United FC will kick off its title defense on May 17 as it visits TFC Academy, while 2015 Finalists the New York Red Bulls U23 will host the Jersey Express on May 21 to open their second season in the league.
The PDL will again be divided into four conferences and 10 divisions, with both the Eastern and Western Conferences remaining with three divisions apiece.
2016 PDL Alignment
Eastern Conference | Central Conference | Southern Conference | Western Conference |
Northeast Division | Great Lakes Division | Southeast Division | Northwest Division |
AC Connecticut | Cincinnati Dutch Lions | FC Miami City Champions | Calgary Foothills FC |
Boston | Dayton Dutch Lions | Floridians FC | Kitsap Pumas |
FA Euro | Derby City Rovers | IMG Academy | Lane United FC |
GPS Portland Phoenix | K-W United FC | Palm Beach Suns FC | Portland Timbers U-23s |
Long Island Rough Riders | Michigan Bucks | South Florida Surf | Sounders FC U23 |
Seacoast United Phantoms | Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 | SW Florida Adrenaline | Victoria Highlanders FC |
Western Mass Pioneers | TFC Academy | The Villages SC | Washington Crossfire |
Westchester Flames |
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Mid Atlantic Division | Heartland Division | Mid South Division | Central Pacific Division |
Baltimore Bohemians | Chicago Fire U23 | Albuquerque Sol FC | Burlingame Dragons FC |
Evergreen FC | Des Moines Menace | Midland/Odessa Sockers FC | BYU Cougars |
Jersey Express | Kokomo Mantis FC | Mississippi Brilla | Fresno Fuego |
Lehigh Valley United Sonic | St. Louis Lions | OKC Energy FC U23 | Las Vegas Mobsters |
New York Red Bulls U23 | Thunder Bay Chill | Springfield Synergy | San Francisco City FC |
Ocean City Nor’easters | WSA Winnipeg |
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Reading United AC |
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South Atlantic Division |
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| Southwest Division |
Carolina Dynamo |
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| FC Golden State Force |
Charlotte Eagles |
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| FC Tucson |
Peachtree City MOBA |
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| LA Laguna FC |
SC United Bantams |
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| OC Blues U23 |
Southern WV King’s Warriors |
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| Southern California Seahorses |
South Georgia Tormenta FC |
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| Ventura County Fusion |
Tri-Cities Otters |
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| San Diego Zest FC |
West Virginia Chaos |
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The 2016 PDL Regular Season will conclude on Sunday, July 17, with 22 teams advancing to the 2016 PDL Playoffs which will kick off the following week.
2016 PDL Playoff Format
Eastern Conference: The team finishing with the most points in the conference will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, with the second- and third-placed teams from that division also earning berths into the playoff round. The top two teams from the remaining two divisions will also advance to the playoffs, with the Northeast and Mid Atlantic Division competing in an inter-division playoff and the South Atlantic Division’s representatives meeting each other to determine the final three teams to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.
Southern Conference: The top two teams in the Southeast and the first-place team in the Mid South Division will advance to the Southern Conference Championship. The final place in the conference semifinals will be either the second-place side in the Mid South Division, or third-place side in the Southeast Division, to be determined by total points.
Central Conference: The top two teams in the Great Lakes and Heartland Division will advance to the Central Conference Championship.
Western Conference: The team finishing with the most points in the conference will advance to the Western Conference Championship, with the second- and third-placed teams from that division also earning berths into the playoff round. The top two teams from the remaining two divisions will also advance to the playoffs, with in-division playoffs determining the final three teams to advance to the Western Conference Championship.
The PDL Conference Championships will be held on the weekend of July 22-24, with the four conference champions advancing to the PDL Semifinals, to be held on the week of July 24-31. The 2016 PDL Championship Game will be held on the weekend of August 5-7.
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PDL: The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, the 2015 PDL season featured 63 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including 10 teams affiliated with the USL or Major League Soccer clubs. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with 70 percent of all MLS draftees having PDL experience. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.
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