In the Wake of Recent Turmoil from U.S. Soccer Leadership, UPSL is Stepping Up
This article was written by Yan Skwara — Guest OpEd Columnist.
Fast-growing pro development league calls for new player registration system enabling player ownership for pro, youth and amateur clubs.
In light of U.S. Men’s National Team’s monumental World Cup qualifying failure, the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) wants to join the overwhelming call for change in leadership at U.S. Soccer, and an independent review of resources and systems that have affected all levels of the game in this great soccer nation.
Not qualifying for World Cup 2018 in Russia is totally unacceptable and embarrassing considering the number of registered soccer players in the U.S., not to mention the financial resources backing the sport by U.S. Soccer.
Related Article: Soccer in the USA: Do We Want Promotion and Relegation?
Now with more than 100 member teams in 22 states, the UPSL is on the forefront of the movement toward U.S. Soccer adopting a Promotion/Relegation system. The league recently implemented its Pro/Rel model in its Western and Colorado Conferences before the start of the 2017 Season, with the intent to foster the model throughout the country’s fastest-growing Pro Development soccer league.
The UPSL is adamantly recommending a consolidation of all lower leagues.
The NASL, USL, UPSL, NPSL, PDL, USASA Elite & NISA should unite all across America, united by a proper Promotion/Relegation model.
The UPSL vigorously contends that U.S. Soccer needs to enact a new player registration system allowing pro, amateur and youth clubs the opportunity to own respective player passes as a vehicle to generate income via player transfers. This will grow clubs, stimulate investment, and produce better talent for the U.S. National teams, which ultimately gives the U.S. better results on the international stage.
Currently, no amateur clubs or youth teams in the U.S. control or own their own player passes versus the system in place worldwide that is producing tremendous talent and financial results for international clubs and countries both big and small.
Connecting American Soccer
The UPSL wants to be clear and direct that the U.S. Soccer structure needs new leadership willing to make hard decisions now, and initiate a new player registration system that allows clubs to own their own player passes while at the same time initiating a consolidated Pro/Rel system in the lower Pro Development tiers.
Related Article: UPSL Starts Promotion/Relegation in American Soccer
For change to occur, we must consider those who have expressed an interest in campaigning for upcoming the Presidency of U.S. Soccer, as it will take a new vision and new strength to make the necessary changes needed to advance our game.
Eric Wynalda, Paul Lapointe, John Paul Motta and Steven Gans are the names of those who have made their voices heard, and we must be willing to support these dedicated individuals as we seek change from U.S. Soccer.
The league’s motto: “Connecting American Soccer” has never been more crucial than it is today as clubs from coast-to-coast insist upon a united and unified mission to grow the game in the United States of America.
Just so you know … The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 100 teams in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
With this rate of growth, the UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 125-plus teams targeted for 2018 Spring Season.
Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.
The UPSL continues to support the growth of soccer in the USA — at all levels — as the leagues’ expansion plans also include the Women’s United Premier Soccer League (WUPSL).
Photo Credit: UPSL and Diane Scavuzzo
