Localized competition will offer area teams the ability to advance further into the Midwest Conference
FRISCO, Texas (May 26, 2022) — The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to announce additional team-based pathways into the Midwest Conference are being established. Beginning in the 2022-23 season, new Conference Qualifier divisions will be established in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas to operate localized competition that provides a pathway into the Midwest Conference Premier II Divisions.
The formation of these new Conference Qualifier divisions is the byproduct of collaboration between the National League and three USYS State Associations — Illinois Youth Soccer, Kansas Youth Soccer and Missouri Youth Soccer.
The Conference Qualifier in the Kansas City metro area will feature teams from both the Kansas and Missouri sides of the state line, while Conference Qualifier in the St. Louis metro area will feature teams from both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the state line.
“It’s great to see three State Associations working together with the National League in a collaboration that leads to more opportunities for players in these two metro areas,” said Simon Collins, National League Commissioner. “The St. Louis and Kansas City areas both have rich soccer histories, and it’s exciting to know more young players from around those cities will have a platform to play locally and potentially earn their place to further opportunities within the National League pathway.”
Like the Midwest Conference, the metro area Conference Qualifier divisions will provide competition for boys and girls teams in the 13U through 19U age groups. Top finishers in the Conference Qualifier divisions can earn promotion into the Midwest Conference Premier II Divisions for the following seasonal year. The Premier II Divisions offer promotion opportunities into the Premier I Divisions — the top team-based divisions in the National League Conferences that offer qualification opportunities for National League P.R.O. and the USYS Regional Championships.
“Missouri Youth Soccer is excited at seeing another entry point for the National League Midwest Conference that is readily accessible, economical, and available for all teams regardless of club size or structure,” said Nik Bushell, Executive Director of Missouri Youth Soccer. “We would like to thank the State Associations of Kansas and Illinois to offer these cross-border opportunities to our combined USYS membership.”
For more information on the Midwest Conference, click here.