US Youth Soccer Announces Schedule for National League Play

The schedule is now available for the opening weekends of the 2018-19 US Youth Soccer National League season, which features an expanded field of teams.

The 16U through 19U Girls will open the season with games Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 in Wilson, N.C., and Rocky Mount, N.C. The 16U through 19U Boys teams will kick off the following week, Dec. 6-9, in Greensboro, N.C., while all 14U and 15U teams open the season simultaneously with games Dec. 6-9 in Wilson and Rocky Mount.

VIEW SCHEDULE BY AGE GROUP

The two weekends in North Carolina will feature all 172 girls and 176 boys teams, respectively, creating another significant opportunity for the nation’s collegiate, professional and national team coaches to see National League players in an environment of meaningful play.

The games in Wilson and Rocky Mount will be played primarily at the Wilson Gillette Soccer Complex and Rocky Mount Sports Complex, while games in Greensboro will be played at the BB&T Soccer Complex at Bryan Park.

The National League provides a pathway for four teams per gender age group to qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships, sending the top finishers in each division of the 14U through 19U Boys and Girls age groups to compete for the National title. The four National League representatives will join the four regional champions at the 2019 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 23-29 at the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

The 12th year of National League play is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet, as the pool of teams includes the following:

“With each team earning its way into the league, the National League provides the most competitive environment possible with quality play and meaningful games,” said Paul Luchowski, National League commissioner. “In 2018, nine of a possible 10 National Championship titles were won by National League teams. This season, we have 70 teams competing in the league that qualified for last summer’s National Championships.”

After the opening weekends in North Carolina, the National League will continue with each gender playing its second weekend in Florida. Half of the 15U-18U boys teams will compete alongside the Disney Soccer Showcase, Dec. 28-31 in Orlando, Fla. Meanwhile, half of the 15U-18U girls teams will take part in the National League Winter Showcase, Jan. 19-21 at The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Each gender wraps up its season alongside the Player College Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev., as the boys compete March 8-10 and the girls follow with games March 15-17. All teams — no matter the location of their second event — play a seven-game season.

The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development. In addition to recruiting opportunities, National League teams compete for the National League title and one of four slots from each gender age group to the annual US Youth Soccer National Championships. Teams in the 14U-18U age groups are also competing for a chance to re-qualify for the National League’s 2019-20 season.

The reimagined US Youth Soccer Leagues Program also includes a new multi-state tier with a network of 13 high-level competitive conferences throughout the country. In 2018-19, the conferences will provide opportunities for qualification into the 2019 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, as well as the 2019-20 National League.

Since its inception, National League teams have captured a combined 56 of 78 possible National Championships. For a list of past National League champions and history, click here.

Keep up with the National League all season:
National League Home: USYouthSoccer.org/National_League
Schedule and results: USYouthSoccer.org/tournaments/2018-19-National-League/  
Twitter: @NationalLeague
Facebook: Facebook.com/NationalLeagueSoccer
YouTube: YouTube.com/usyouth
Instagram: Instagram.com/NationalLeagueSoccer