US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League looks to continue steady growth in 2015-16 season
FRISCO, Texas (Via US Youth Soccer) — As the 2014-15 youth soccer season transitions from spring to summer, the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League is concluding another year with record-breaking numbers of Midwest teams competing in the league.
The 2015 Fall Season will feature competition in the Under-13 and Under-14 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 Girls age groups. Registration for the 2016 Spring season will take place July 10-28, with competition slated in the Under-13 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups.
The MRL, which currently consists of 1,266 teams in the Under-13 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups, features three tiers — Premier I, Premier II and First Division — to ensure the highest level of competition in the Midwest. MRL Premier I champions in the Under-13 through Under-17 age groups also earn automatic qualification into the US Youth Soccer National League.
The 2014 Fall season saw continued growth of the league, as 500 teams competing in 59 divisions participated in the MRL — a 23 percent increase in the number of teams from the 2013 Fall season. The 2015 Spring season, which wraps up play this Sunday, has seen a record 766 teams competing in 94 divisions — a 19 percent increase in the number of teams compared to the 2014 Spring Season.
In the 10 years since the 2004-05 season, the MRL has seen its number of total teams more than triple, from 358 to 1,266, and the amount of teams in the league has grown in nine of those seasons. Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the growth of the league, as the MRL experienced a nearly 50 percent increase in the total number of teams from the 2012-13 season to the 2014-15 season. The steady increase of teams continues to create a new set of opportunities for the league and its member teams.
“We are thrilled to see the continued growth of the MRL and will continue to do what is necessary to create the best experience for all of the players,” MRL Commissioner Paul Luchowski said. “While maintaining the high standard of competition at our top Premier I Division tier with no expansion in team numbers for 10 years, we have seen growth in numbers at our third tier (First Division). With another successful season nearly completed, we look forward to an exciting summer that will see some teams pursue their goals of winning US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championships.”
In addition to increase in the number of teams, the MRL recently announced a change in its governing structure that will allow for further influence of club leaders within the league. Subcommittees will allow for technical professionals and club leaders from the State Associations of US Youth Soccer Region II to provide input on various subjects to help guide the league’s long-term vision and maximize the benefits of member clubs.
The MRL, the largest of the US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, provides an outlet for teams in US Youth Soccer Region II to play each other on a regular basis while also competing for placement in the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League.
Regional qualifiers from the 2014-15 MRL season will compete at the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships, which are being held June 20-24 at the USA Youth Sports Complex and Southwest Park in Fox Cities, Wis.
