The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a national competition platform created to elevate and change the competitive youth soccer landscape by:

• extending developmental principles espoused by U.S. Soccer into more age groups and clubs
• linking competition with player development and identification platforms
• providing meaningful weekly competition culminating in a national postseason

NPLs are leagues unified under one national competition platform and based on a common technical framework. More specifically, the NPL provides a platform:

• focused on long-term player development
• for the country’s top soccer clubs, allowing consistent, meaningful high-level games appropriately scheduled with higher training-to-game ratios and eliminate calendar congestion
• integrated with the id² Program, which includes Player Development Programs (PDPs) in select local markets, and that works closely with U.S. Soccer staff regarding player identification, and player and coach development
• designed and structured by the clubs, based on the needs of the clubs
• that provides an avenue for qualification for the NPL Finals

There have been and will continue to be considerable changes in the competitive league landscape for teams across the country. At TUSC, we have been assessing long term player development platforms and opportunities for our players to be in more meaningful and challenging playing environments. Our intent is to find ways to have a bigger impact across every player in our club. The goal is to continue to create different pathways for success and additional exposure.

There are 18 leagues that make up the National Premier League.  Information on these leagues can be found here.

We are a member of the South Atlantic Premier League (SAPL).

For the inaugural season in 2021-2022, there were 14 games played.  There are 2 games against each team in our division (one home, one away), and 2 games played at a start-of-season NPL showcase against 2 teams from the East Division.

For the 2021-2022 season, there were a total of 14 teams in the league across 2 divisions (East and West).  TUSC was in the West Division.

Given the nature of regional leagues, the travel requirements will slightly increase.  However, over the period of an entire season, we are essentially replacing the high registration fee/expense and the number of games when attending out of town tournaments that we often struggle with appropriate competition both ways. The league also is a fantastic complement to State League or USYS Mid-South league competition, not having the struggle of finding “friendly” games, which are all too often canceled at the last minute to fill up your schedule.

We anticipate the participation in the league will be cost effective for each team due to the fact that these competitions will replace several tournaments throughout the year, which
are more expensive than the league cost. There will be additional costs for coach travel and customary travel out of town expenses

Costs vary depending on the age of the team, predominantly due to variance of referee fees based on age groups. (Ref fees are higher as the age group goes up because of longer game times)

Fees per player for NPL registration are roughly $75/yr.  Other fees added to that will be ref fees and travel, which varies by age group and travel location.  All travel costs are the responsibility of player and family and are NOT built in to any pre-paid fees to the club.

Yes, since the NPL is a national league platform that offers some of the highest level competition in the nation, teams will have an opportunity to qualify for the NPL Post-Season playoffs, depending on their league standings.

• The post season is a two-stage competition for U14 through U17 age groups, while it is a single stage competition for U13 and U19 age group.
• The top 4 teams in each SAPL division qualify for an SAPL Playoff Event that usually takes place in January.
• Qualifying teams from each NPL member league come together to compete for NPL championships.  
• The top 2 teams from each age group U14 through U17 will compete at the NPL East Playoff event, with winners advancing to NPL Finals in July to compete against the top 2 teams advancing from the NPL West Playoff.
• U13 and U19 age groups participate in a single-stage post season. The U13 age group ends their post season at each Playoff location with an East and West Champion. U19 competition is held at the NPL Finals in July where a single champion is crowned. 

NPL is for ages U13-U19.  There is no U18 division, so the U19 team is usually made up of the 2 oldest age groups.

The goal of the league is to schedule all TUSC teams to attend events at the same location.  We also anticipate the leagues will provide more meaningful competition on a regular basis.

• Increased and consistent competition on a regular basis.
• Better player development.
• More exposure to college coaches.
• Larger player pool within age group: 18 person game day roster with the ability to pull from a designated 26 player pool roster.

There are no specific tryouts for NPL teams.  During the club tryout sessions, players will be evaluated as per TUSC standards.

NPL teams expectations are to train up to (3) times per week during the season. Also, given how the season starts the first weekend in August, we will evaluate the possibility of beginning with training sessions mid-July and use our 4-day team camp on July 25-28 as supplementary training, all leading into the August 6-7 event in North Carolina. The
potential early start will be managed at each team level based on fields, players and coach availability.

Yes, if they choose. Each team and age group may be different given their unique on field success at state cup or other leagues. Our DOC in conjunction with each coach will evaluate each team’s competition pathway to ensure the proper  balance. We want to allow the flexibility for teams to participate in the State League as well as any Regional or National league.

TUSC teams will have the same flexibility as before to choose our State League, proper divisions, local and out of town tournaments, friendly games, etc., to best meet the needs of each specific team. Team’s ability to have choices will remain the same.

The larger player pools allow TUSC to take the best available players when absences, conflicts, or injuries occur.