2012-2013 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League play kicks off
The Fall season of the 2012 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League (MRL) for girls teams in the Under-14 through Under-18 and boys teams in the Under-14 age groups is underway with the first league hosted event taking place this weekend in Rockford, Ill.
The MRL provides an opportunity for the most competitive teams in Region II (Midwest) to play each other on a scheduled basis while also competing for placement in the prestigious US Youth Soccer Region II Championships. The MRL operates both Fall and Spring seasons with teams competing in their respective season to avoid high school soccer conflicts.
During Fall play, 272 teams will compete in the Under-14 through Under-18 Girls and Under-14 Boys. Girls Under-15 through Under-18 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri compete in Fall MRL play while teams from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio North, Ohio South, Kentucky and Indiana will play in Spring competition. The Under-15 through Under-18 Boys from all 14 of Region II’s State Associations play in the Spring. Nearly 600 teams are expected to compete in the Spring MRL season, which will also see the introduction of the Under-13 age group for both Boys and Girls.
The MRL consists of two levels of competition; premier divisions and first divisions, with first divisions divided into regionally-based subdivisions for advancement into the premier division the following year. Each team earns their placement in the premier or regional subdivision through their performance from the prior year of play.
Champions of the MRL premier division in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls will advance to the Region II Championships, the regional stage of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and the oldest and most prestigious national championship competition in the country. Under-14 Boys and Girls teams compete for advancement into the premier division next Spring with a ticket to the Regional Championships on the line.
The MRL will host four weekends of play this Fall, first bringing together 143 teams from all Fall age groups at Sportscore II this weekend in Rockford, Ill.
Midwest Regional League Hosted Weekends:
Rockford, Ill. | Sept. 8-9
Sportscore II
143 teams
Muscatine, Iowa | Sept. 15-16
Muscatine Soccer Complex
54 teams
Muscatine, Iowa | Sept. 22-23
Muscatine Soccer Complex
62 teams
Overland Park, Kan. | Oct. 6-7
Overland Park Soccer Complex
53 teams
