After a very
successful first year, the
US Youth Soccer has expanded the National
League by adding U17 age group to the U15-16
age group. Eight teams will qualify in each
group with teams earning slots from play in
their respective US Youth Soccer Regional
Leagues (i.e. US Youth Soccer Region I
Premier League, US Youth Soccer Midwest
Regional League, US Youth Soccer Region III
Premier League and the US Youth Soccer Far
West Regional League) or through previous
National League qualification.
The top four
finishers of the 2007-08 National League
season have earned the opportunity to retain
their slots for the 2008-09 season,
providing the teams meet all eligibility
requirements. It is expected that one team
from each of the four Regional Leagues will
join the top four to complete the eight
teams per age group. If any eligible
returning team does not participate in the
08-09 season, the National League Committee
will select an additional eligible team to
participate.
The Under-15 age
group will consist of all new teams to the
National League. It is expected that two
teams from each Regional League will be
selected.
Team
applications will be reviewed by its US
Youth Soccer Regional Director who will make
recommendations to the National League
concerning those teams. The National League
Committee will select the eight teams in
each gender age group.
National League
teams will play a seven-game schedule facing
each team within its age group one
time. Teams will participate in two play
weekends during the season with all teams
competing in National League play during an
early December play weekend seeing each team
play four games. The second play weekend
will take place later in the season and
feature three games for each team.
The top two
teams from each age group will earn a slot
to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National
Championships along with the four US Youth
Soccer Regional Champions. The top four
finishers in the Under-15 and Under-16 age
groups in 08-09 National League play will
also retain their slots in the loop for the
2009-10 season.
(Note:
Started in 2007, the RBNL will no longer be in existence
following the 2009 season. The league has
morphed into the ECNL. )
