USL Premier Development League

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USL Premier Development League

Sport	Football (soccer)
Founded	1995
No. of teams	63
Country	United States Canada
Current champions	Michigan Bucks

The USL Premier Development League (PDL) is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid. It is popular with U.S. college players since they can play in it during the summer months and still maintain their collegiate eligibility. A maximum of eight players on each team's 26-man roster can be over 23 years old, and at least three players on each team's roster must be 18 or younger.

[edit] History

In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Premier Development Soccer League, more commonly known simply as the Premier League, was formed as an amateur league apart from the professional USISL Pro League teams. Its main purpose was to improve soccer capabilities to many urban areas throughout the USA and Canada and offer current college soccer players experience without losing their college eligibility. In 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues and the Premier League officially became known as the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League or, more commonly, the PDL. Today some of the PDL teams serve as farm teams to United Soccer Leagues and Major League Soccer clubs.

Image:Pdlmap.png

Location of states and provinces with PDL teams

[edit] Current Events

For 2007, the Toronto Lynx will move down from the USL First Division, the Long Island Rough Riders will move down from the USL Second Division, and expansion teams will be added in Baton Rouge, Fredericksburg, Jackson, Lancaster, Spokane, Springfield and Ventura. Also, the San Jose Frogs will be moving over from the National Premier Soccer League, the first team to do so since the creation of the rival league in 2003.

Ajax Orlando Prospects, Augusta Fireball, California Gold, Colorado Springs Blizzard, Kalamazoo Kingdom and San Diego Gauchos will not be returning for the 2007 season.

[edit] 2007 Teams

[edit] Central Conference

[edit] Great Lakes Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Great Lakes Division
Lemont Stadium (Chicago Fire Premier) \| Coughlin Field (Cleveland Internationals) \| Hefner Stadium (Fort Wayne Fever) \| Indiana Invaders Soccer Complex (Indiana Invaders) \| Mayor's Riverfront Park (Kalamazoo Kingdom) \| Stoney Creek HS Stadium (Michigan Bucks) \| Forest Hill Central HS Stadium (West Michigan Edge)

[edit] Heartland Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Heartland Division
Pleasant View Field (Boulder Rapids Reserve) \| Sand Creek Stadium (Colorado Springs Blizzard) \| Waukee Stadium (Des Moines Menace) \| William Jewell College (Kansas City Brass) \| McEaneany Field (Sioux Falls Spitfire) \| Tony Galvin Soccer Complex (St. Louis Lions) \| Chapples Park (Thunder Bay Chill)

[edit] Eastern Conference

[edit] Mid Atlantic Division

Fredericksburg Gunners VA new for 2007
Northern Virginia Royals VA
Richmond Kickers Future VA
Virginia Beach Submariners VA
West Virginia Chaos WV
Williamsburg Legacy VA

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid Atlantic Division
Total Sports Pavilion (NV Royals) \| University of Richmond Stadium (Kickers Future) \| Virginia Beach Sportsplex (VA Beach Submariners) \| Laidley Field (WV Chaos) \| Busch Field (Williamsburg Legacy)

[edit] New England Division

Albany Admirals NY
Cape Cod Crusaders MA
Long Island Rough Riders NY new for 2007
Ottawa Fury ON
Rhode Island Stingrays RI
Toronto Lynx ON new for 2007
Vermont Voltage VT

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL New England Division
Union College Field (Albany Admirals) \| BHS Stadium Field (Cape Cod Crusaders) \| Keith Harris Stadium (Ottawa Fury) \| Pierce Memorial Field (Rhode Island Stingrays) \| BMO Field (Toronto Lynx) \| Collins-Perley Sports Complex (Vermont Voltage)

[edit] Northeast Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northeast Division
Metropolitan Oval (Brooklyn Knights) \| Kirkwood Soccer Complex (Delaware Dynasty) \| Carey Stadium (Ocean City Barons) \| Exeter High School (Reading Rage) \| City Park Stadium (Westchester Flames F.C.)

[edit] Southern Conference

[edit] Mid South Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Mid South Division
Williamsburg County Reg. Park (Austin Lightning) \| Pennington Field (DFW Tornados) \| Patriot Stadium (El Paso Patriots) \| Student Activity Center (Laredo Heat) \| Muss Bertolino Stadium (NO Shellshockers)

[edit] South Atlantic Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL South Atlantic Division
SAS Soccer Park (Raleigh Elite) \| Silverbacks Park (Silverbacks U23's) \| Macpherson Stadium (Carolina Dynamo) \| Ezell Park (Nashville Metros) \| Patriots Park (Augusta FireBall)

[edit] Southeast Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southeast Division
First Academy Stadium (Ajax Orlando) \| IMG Soccer Academy (Bradenton Academics) \| Kraze and Krush Stadium (Central Florida Kraze) \| Cocoa Expo Sports Center (Cocoa Expos) \| Falcon's Field (Palm Beach Pumas)

[edit] Western Conference

[edit] Northwest Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Northwest Division
Bateman Park (Abbotsford Rangers) \| BYU South Stadium (BYU Cougars) \| McCulloch Stadium (Cascade Surge) \| Lindquist Field (Ogden Outlaws) \| Curtis High School Stadium (Tacoma FC) \| Marquette Stadium (Yakima Reds) \| Spokane Shadow (not playing 2006)

[edit] Southwest Division

Current Stadiums in the USL PDL Southwest Division
Bakersfield Christian High School Stadium (Bakersfield Brigade) \| Chukchansi Park (Fresno Fuego) \| Lancaster Soccer Center (Lancaster Rattlers) \| Citrus Stadium (Los Angeles Storm) \| Orange Coast College (OC Blue Star) \| Re/Max Epicenter (SFV Quakes) \| Negoesco Stadium (SF Seals) \| PAL Stadium (San Jose Frogs) \| La Mirada High School Stadium (SoCal Seahorses) \| Ventura College Sports-Plex (Ventura County Fusion)