The National Premier Football League (NPSL) is an American soccer league that is generally recognized as a fourth level league despite being denied an official appointment by US Soccer. Although the league is officially affiliated with the United States Adult Football Association (USASA) and qualified for the US Open Cup through USASA channel, the league is generally considered to be in the fourth level of competition in the United States football pyramid, behind Major League Soccer (MLS) The North American Football League (NASL), and United Soccer League (USL), and more or less the same as the Premier Development League (PDL). This is the successor of the Primary Men Football League , a regional league originally based in the Western United States, which has now been expanded nationwide to include teams from 29 states. The league's motto is "National League with Regional Focus". Some clubs are former USL clubs.
Video National Premier Soccer League
Competition Format
The National Premier Football League is divided into four separate Areas (Northeast, South, Middle West, and West). Each Region is divided into conferences with varying number of teams per conference. The regular season runs from May to July with the exception of the Western Territories that historically began in late March or early April.
The NPSL currently has an automatic berth in the US Open Cup where they are getting eligible for the CONCACAF Champions League.
Maps National Premier Soccer League
History
The National Premier Football League started in 2003 as the Primary Male Football League (MPSL) originally as the Women's Football League branch, and marked the first example of a women's soccer league that produced the men's league. The first two league champions are Arizona Sahuaros, who has defected to MPSL from the USL Pro D-3 League, and Utah Salt Ratz.
The League expanded to the Midwest in 2005 with the addition of several new teams and new conferences, and changed its name to National Premier Soccer League to reflect a new national footprint; team from the expansion conference - Detroit Arsenal - won the league in its first year after its expansion eastwards. The NPSL expanded further in 2007 with the addition of a new Northeast Conference and five new teams from the eastern United States. The first team from the East to win the NPSL national title was Stoners Pennsylvania in 2008. Since then the league has continued to grow, adding more teams across the country.
From the start, the league has managed to put at least one team that is actively playing under its banner into the U.S. Open Cup competition. Although NPSL performances in the US Open Cup play usually only one or two teams in the first six years, the 2009 and 2010 Cups have seen four and three, respectively, NPSL teams in every tournament. The recent NPSL success in USASA qualifiers has driven the movement where the league can have automatic berths in the final tournament. The team furthest from the NPSL has reached in the US Open Cup during the professional era (1997 and beyond after the inclusion of the MLS team) has become the third round. However, the Italians in Brooklyn have won the US Open Cup immediately before the MLS or NPSL.
Status
Officially, the USSF does not recognize the formal level of the football pyramid under level 3 professionals. The USSF does not officially recognize the difference between an amateur football league in the United States. However, USASA sanctions are affiliated, but separately executed, the national league is recognized in practical terms as playing at a higher level than the USASA associate league; for example, they receive automatic berths to the US Open Cup.
The Premier Development League takes place during the summer months, and the player pool is drawn mainly from the NCAA college football players who want to continue playing high level football during their summer vacations, while maintaining their college eligibility. National Premier Soccer League is similar to Premier Development League and also attracts top amateur talents from all over the United States. The NPSL has no age or restrictions, so it combines both college players and former professional players.
Organization
The NPSL is organized into a structure that is largely decentralized and managed as a team-managed league. Each year club members help elect the chairman, treasurer, and secretary and board of directors of eight members. Each team is owned and operated individually, and is responsible for maintaining minimum league standards. New teams seeking membership into the NPSL must be approved by the executive committee of existing team owners. Club members have the right to make local decisions for their markets, conferences and regions based on what they believe is best for their particular region. Each conference is managed by individual member clubs and chooses conference commissions every year.
The current chairman is Joe Barone of the Italian Brooklyn people who was elected in late 2013 after serving as treasurer. Michael Hitchcock from Playbook Management Inc. hired as NPSL commissioner in 2013. With Hitchcock leading the league, plans to expand the reach of leagues and discussions introducing promotions and degradation in the future are made public. Towards the end of the 2014 season, the NPSL terminated Hitchcock and PMI contracts.
The cost to join the league in 2016 is reportedly a one-time $ 15,000 franchise fee and an annual lease fee of $ 5,250. A low entry fee compared to a $ 75,000 PDL has made the league an attractive alternative for teams that want to compete at the highest levels of amateur games.
The league requires all teams to play at the stadium with at least 500 seats, a scoreboard, and a dressing room with rain for both teams and officials. The home team is also responsible for providing water and food for the visiting team, ensuring there is a coach or doctor in place for the match, and paying the referee's fee at the end of each game.
Sponsorship and partnership
Miter Sports International provides the official ball for NPSL starting in 2014, sponsorship agreements taking place during the 2016 season. The league also announced several partnerships for the 2014 season, Global Scarves, Wecando, and Pabian Law. Global Scarves and NPSL are planning to strategically partner to not only outfit any NPSL team with brand name footwear for a particular team but plan to work together to improve and improve the status of the two entities to a higher level. Global Scarves began providing specialized football scarves throughout the league, and worked with NPSL at various events and contests to raise awareness and excitement throughout the 2014 NPSL season. Wecando Print is a full-service branding company specializing in printing, promotional products, embroidery, screen printing , banners, fulfillment services, and corporate stores. The Pabian Law is specialized in legal and immigration services and has experience with international football players.
Team
Expansion
Rivalry
Many NPSL teams have competition considering the close geography of teams across the league. The most prominent rivalry is the Rust Belt Derby contested between Detroit City FC, AFC Cleveland, and FC Buffalo. The name refers to the shared area of ââthe team, Rust Belt.
Another fierce competition takes place between San Diego Flash and San Diego Boca/Force FC, which is a cross-country rival in San Diego. Until 2013 sales and rebranding of Force FC from Boca FC, the ownership group of the two clubs previously partnered with the original San Diego Flash Club A-League that competed between 1998 and 2001.
Recording and champion
Top players with NPSL experience
Board of Directors, officers and management team
Board of Directors
- Joe Barone - Brooklyn Italians - Chairman (2013-present)
- Cindy Spera - Football Program Chief for New York Athletic Club - Treasurer (20 ?? -)
- Barry Dixon - Founder, Jacksonville United - Secretary (2013-present)
Anggota dewan Regional saat ini
- Kenny Farrell - Jesters New Orleans
- Sean McDaniel - Chattanooga FC
- Terry Lawriw - AFC Cleveland
- Cristian Brei - Madison 56ers
- William Forte - Stompers East Bay FC
- Kabba Joof - Rhode Island Reds FC
The Management Team
- TBA - Commissioner
- Jef Thiffault - managing director
- Gary Moody - Media Relations
- Joe Machnik - Director of Officials
Conference Commissioner
- Kabba Joof - Head Coach, Rhode Island Reds FC - Northeast Region - North Atlantic Conference (2013-present)
- TBD - Northeast Region - Keystone Conference
- TBD - Northeast Region - Central Atlantic Conference
- TBD - Southern Region - Southern Atlantic Conference
- TBD - Southern Region - Sunlight Conference
- TBD - Southern Region - Southern Atlantic Conference
- TBD - Southern Region - Southeast-Western Conference
- TBD - Southern Region - East-East Conference
- TBD - Midwest Region - Great Lakes-West Conference
- TBD - Midwest Region - Great Lakes-East Conference
- Cristian Brei - Madison 56ers - Midwest Region - Central Conference (2013-present)
- TBD - Western Region - Southwest Conference
- William Forte - East Bay FC Stompers - Western Region - Golden Gate Conference (2013-present)
- TBD - Western Region - Northwest Conference
See also
- Major League Soccer
- The North American Football League
- USL
- PremierL Premier League Development
Note
References
External links
- The NPSL website
- NPSL YouTube Channels
Source of the article : Wikipedia