A Couple Notes of the 2010 USL-2 Season

USSF announced today that the USL Second Division has received sanctioning for the 2010 season despite having only six active clubs.

The following clubs will compete in USL-2 this season, playing a 24 game schedule with each team playing each other twice at home and twice on the road: Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Real Maryland Monarchs, Harrsiburg City Islanders and the Richmond Kickers.

USL-2 will keep a postseason playoff structure with the top 3 clubs in the regular season earning a playoff spot. The #2 and #3 will play a semifinal match with the regular season champion hosting the USL-2 Championship match.

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Quickstrike Lady Blues Announce 2010 W-League Schedule

Our friends at Quickstrike FC, along with the rest of the USL W-League have announced their 2010 schedules.


Official Press Release



NEWBURGH, NY – The Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues officially announced its 2010 W-League schedule on Monday. The announcement coincides with the full release of the 2010 USL W-League schedule.

The 2010 schedule will feature 12 games (six home and six away). In 2009, the Lady Blues played 14 games, amassing a record of 12-0-2 on their way to the 2009 W-League Regular Season Championship before falling to eventual champion Pali Blues in the semifinals.

This season features the addition of two New Jersey expansion teams: North Jersey Valkyries and New Jersey Rangers FC. It also does not feature the Connecticut Passion, the Western Mass Pioneers or the Boston Renegades with the 2010 W-League realignment.

Unlike the 2009 schedule, the 2010 slate of games is unbalanced in order to limit traveling. That means that the Washington Freedom Futures only appear once on the Lady Blues’ schedule. That game takes place on Sat., June 19 at Newburgh Free Academy.

Washington won the 2009 W-League Eastern Conference Championship before falling to the Pali Blues in the championship game.

The 2010 Quickstrike Lady Blues schedule features matches on Wednesdays (2), Saturdays (2) and Sundays (2). A promotional schedule for each home date will follow soon.

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You can see the Lady Blues and all the rest of the W-League's schedules HERE.

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USSF Second Division for 2010

The US Soccer Federation announced today it will sanction and run a USSF Second Division in 2010 with 12 teams and two conferences. This agreement is for the 2010 season only and the two groups will continue to negotiate with the USSF to create a permanent solution to the USL/NASL split.

NASL Conference
Carolina Railhawks
Crystal Palace Baltimore
Miami FC
Montreal Impact
AC St. Louis
Vancouver Whitecaps

USL Conference
Austin Aztex
Minnesota
Portland Timbers
Puerto Rico Islanders
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Rochester Rhinos

Jeff DiVeronica of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has a complete rundown of the USSF announcement HERE.


Here is the official press release from the USSF:

DIVISION 2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TO OPERATE IN 2010

U.S. Soccer Will Oversee Two Conference League


CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) have come to an agreement on the formation and operation of a Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season. Under the agreement, U.S. Soccer will oversee the league for the 2010 season, working with both the USL and NASL on the day-to-day league activities.

The agreement pertains only to the 2010 season, and during the next year U.S. Soccer will continue to work with USL and NASL to build a long-term solution for the future. U.S. Soccer will also be developing new standards to govern Division 2 professional league applicants to ensure the long term viability and sustainability of the leagues and teams.

“We are extremely pleased that we were able to come to a solution that ensures we will have Division 2 professional soccer in the United States in 2010,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “This agreement allows us to continue to develop the professional game in many important markets around the country, while at the same time working towards the long-term stability of Division 2 professional soccer. I’d like to thank the representatives from both the USL and NASL for the time spent during our negotiations, especially their efforts in the past seven days.”

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USL's Official Response to US Soccer's Sanctioning Decision

Official Press Release from uslsoccer.com

TAMPA, FL -- Over the past several months, United Soccer Leagues (USL) ownership and management have been in regular communication with senior leadership at the US Soccer Federation (USSF) regarding the newly-implemented re-sanctioning process for professional league members, including the USL First Division (USL-1). Earlier today, USSF issued a media release indicating that its Board of Directors voted not to sanction a league at this time in the Division II Men’s Professional League category where USL-1 has been the member since 1997.

“As a 24-year USSF member that owns and operates national elite soccer leagues for players of both genders, USL and its member teams remain focused on advancing its quarter-century tradition of supporting the growth of soccer in the United States,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis.

“Our unqualified support of USSF at the professional, youth, and adult amateur levels since 1986 is incontrovertible. Although USL is respectful of the need to ensure that decisions being made are in the best interests of soccer and player development in the United States, it has detailed in its recent USL-1 2010 season re-sanctioning presentation that it is both willing and able to meet all published USSF Division II Men’s Professional League standards, including fielding a minimum of eight teams.”

The primary reason USL has so successfully contributed to the growth of soccer in the United States over the past two decades is the connections between and among teams through its system of leagues or "soccer pyramid" involving some of the nation's first true vertically-integrated clubs. Hundreds of players have followed the progression through its Super Y-League (SYL), the nation's first national elite youth soccer league, to compete in the Under-23 based Premier Development League (PDL), and then on to professional soccer in Major League Soccer (MLS), USL-1, and/or USL-2 as well as U.S. National Teams.

In this regard, USL has played an essential role in the development of American professional soccer players. The continuity of USL-1 as the USSF Division II Men’s Professional League is of vital importance for the entire USL system of leagues to continue to provide literally thousands of opportunities for players, coaches, referees, and administrators into the future.

In support of USSF’s efforts to find a resolution for the upcoming season at its Division II Men’s Professional League level, USL very recently agreed to one of the proposals made by USSF requiring USL-1 and the contemplated North American Soccer League (NASL) to come together for 2010. USL remains willing to proceed with this USSF-proposed scenario in order to enable the 2010 season over the course of the next several days.

Meanwhile, USL will continue to move ahead with its preparations for the 2010 USL-1 season in the appropriate membership category.

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US Soccer Refuses to Sanction USL or NASL for 2010, Gives Sides 7 Days to Find Compromise

Official Press Release from ussoccer.com

CHICAGO (Dec. 30, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to not sanction either the USL or the NASL to operate a Division II professional league in 2010.

The decision was made on the recommendation of the Professional League Task Force, which determined that neither organization on its own was able to provide a viable and sustainable operation during the upcoming season. Both organizations were unable to meet U.S. Soccer’s requirement of a minimum of eight viable teams for 2010.

Despite the ruling, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has given both organizations seven days to try to work out an interim solution for the 2010 season.

“After carefully reviewing the findings from the Task Force it was clear there are still too many uncertainties for both organizations, which would be extremely difficult to resolve in a timely fashion that would allow them to prepare for the 2010 season,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “In the best interest of soccer in the United States, we decided to not sanction either league at this point. However, we did encourage both leagues to come together in the next week and attempt to develop another plan which would allow a single league to be approved on a provisional basis. We are committed to finding ways to improve the long-term viability of all leagues and teams and continue the growth of soccer in the United States.”

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USL Sues Rochester, Baltimore and Tampa Bay; Fans Speak Out About USL Lawsuits

The big news of the day came early this morning with Kartik Krishnaiyer broke the news that the United Soccer Leagues have filed the first of what could be many lawsuits against breakaway clubs and the NASL itself.

Here is the LINK to the actual lawsuit filed in the Hillsborough (Florida) County Circuit Court by the United Soccer Leagues, LLC

USL sues Rochester, Tampa Bay and Baltimore for Breach of Contract The Kartik Report

USL Files First of What Could Be Many Lawsuits Inside Minnesota Soccer

USL Files Suit Against NASL Clubs Match Fit USA

Days of reckoning for second-division soccer in America? For those just joining us Triangle Offense


We will continue to add links to stories and update information of this story as it becomes available.


We've also asked fans to speak out about the lawsuits via Twitter and email, we will post the responses we get throughout the day, so check back often.

"USL is a disgrace and is beyond desperate. Even if they win, they wouldn't survive past 2010 - I hope the Islanders jump to NASL" -PasionNaranja (via Twitter)

"USL has proved it's all about $$$ not the betterment of soccer in North America. 3 leagues started because of their tactics wake up" -BigKhrisdogg (via Twitter)

"Well, I lived in Pittsburgh, which was USL-2. I thought USL-2 was safe, but now I wonder. I am excited, either way, about NASL." -wpsdude (via Twitter)

"Here is my opinion: NuRock USL is greedy pathetic company. They are doing harm to USA football and should be called out on that." -MinnesotaKICKS (via Twitter)

"beyond pathetic action by USL" -nationhahn (via Twitter)

"Can you spell Backlash! Here we go..." -MinnesotaSoccer (via Twitter)

"Getcha popcorn ready! It's about to be some furniture moving now..." -blazindw (via Twitter)

"I wonder what NuRock is thinking about the price they paid for the USL now that its down to this?" -inivg (via Twitter)

"If the NASL gets the go ahead I think it is safe to say USL will no longer matter. Excited to see NASL and the players it attracts" -Oranje15 (via Twitter)

"Someone needs to be mature and lay down the law... way to much growth this past year to see it all fall apart now." -whitehall33t (via Twitter)

"When all else fails, sue. I'm hardly surprised; if I were them, that's what I'd do too. It's not morality, it's last-ditch hope. -matchavez (via Twitter)

"lawsuit is a disgrace! USL has finally proved it cares more about it's joke of a reputation than fans, clubs, and US soccer" -nicmcj943 (via Twitter)

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Wilmington Hammerheads out USL-2

The troubles for USL continued today with the report by David Fellerath in the Triangle Offense Blog that the Wilmington Hammerheads were unable to find a buyer for the club.

USL-2 now has eight clubs: Bermuda, Charlotte, Charleston, Harrisburg City, Pittsburgh, Real Maryland, Richmond, and Western Mass.

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