Table of Contents
Subject to change as of October 29, 2024
These Operating Procedures shall be an extension of the NL National Tier Rules and may not supersede such rules. When National League Rules are referenced or summarized in these Operating Procedures, they are meant to mirror the NL National Tier Rules in every respect. These Operating Procedures are specific to the USYS National League Quarterfinals (Dec) event.
SECTION 1. REGISTRATION & FEES
1.01 Registration System / Application Process
GotSport shall be the official team registration system of the NL Quarterfinals (Dec). Any eligible team must register their team into the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) using GotSport. No registration will be received or accepted in any other system.
Eligible teams must have a GotSport account in order to register into the NL Quarterfinals (Dec). Team accounts must have accurate information regarding the coach and manager at the time of submission. In completing any registration/application into the NL Quarterfinals (Dec), teams are required to submit accurate information on team accomplishments. Misrepresentation of team accomplishments may result in the team being disqualified from participation.
1.02 Fees and Other Expenses
The Team Entry Fee to participate in the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) is $3,000 per team for 14U and $3,500 per team for 15U and up (paid to US Youth Soccer) and is non-refundable if a team is accepted into the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) and later drops out. The Team Entry Fee includes the cost of participation in the NL Semifinal event should a team qualify. If a team competing in the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) event fails to qualify for the NL Semifinal event, they will receive a $1,000 refund as described in the Agreements portion of the team’s registration.
SECTION 2. STRUCTURE AND QUALIFICATION
2.01 Structure
The 2024-25 NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will include the following Boys and Girls age groups:
- 14 and Under (14U) – for players born on January 1, 2011 or later
- 15 and Under (15U) – for players born on January 1, 2010 or later
- 16 and Under (16U) – for players born on January 1, 2009 or later
- 17 and Under (17U) – for players born on January 1, 2008 or later
- 19 and Under (19U) – for players born on January 1, 2006 or later
The NL Quarterfinals (Dec) include up to forty (40) teams in each 14U-19U gender age group. Each team will be scheduled to play up to (3) group play games in the event. Structure and bracketing will be determined by the National League Management Group.
2.02 Qualification
Each season, qualification for NL Quarterfinals (Dec) criteria will be outlined on the National League website.
SECTION 3. TEAM ROSTERS
3.01 Team Rosters
The official NL Quarterfinals (Dec) event roster shall be in GotSport. Teams are responsible for ensuring that their event roster is accurate and updated ahead of the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) event weekend. Each NL Quarterfinals (Dec) roster must maintain a nine (9) player continuity with the team’s 2024-25 National League Conference/Elite 64 RL roster.
NL Quarterfinals (Dec) teams may add Club Pass players to their event roster in GotSport. Any club pass player should be added to the event roster no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the team’s event weekend in which the club pass players will participate. Any player, once added to a team’s event roster, cannot be removed from their event roster until the completion of the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) event.
SECTION 4. NATIONAL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS QUALIFICATION
4.01 Advancement to National League Semifinals
The NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will qualify teams into the NL Semifinals in each gender age group according to the below criteria:
- In gender age groups with ten (10) groups of four (4) teams (40 total teams), the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will qualify up to thirty (30) teams into the NL Semifinals.
- Of the five (5) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinal – Oceanside event (i.e. BLUE pathway), the top three (3) teams from each group will qualify for NL Semifinals – Oceanside.
- Of the five (5) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Round Rock event (i.e. RED pathway), the top three (3) teams from each group will qualify for NL Semifinals – Round Rock.
- In gender age groups with eight (8) groups of four (4) teams (32 total teams), the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will qualify up to twenty-two (22) teams into the NL Semifinals.
- Of the four (4) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Oceanside event (i.e. BLUE pathway), the top two (2) teams from each group, plus the next highest three (3) teams by points/tiebreakers, will qualify for NL Semifinals – Oceanside.
- Of the four (4) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Round Rock event (i.e. RED pathway), the top two (2) teams from each group, plus the next highest three (3) teams by points/tiebreakers, will qualify for NL Semifinals – Round Rock.
- In gender age groups with six (6) groups of four (4) teams (24 total teams), the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will qualify up to fourteen (14) teams into the NL Semifinals.
- Of the three (3) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Oceanside event (i.e. BLUE pathway), the top two (2) teams from each group, plus the next highest (1) team by points/tiebreakers, will qualify for NL Semifinals – Oceanside.
- Of the three (3) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Round Rock event (i.e. RED pathway), the top two (2) teams from each group, plus the next highest (1) team by points/tiebreakers, will qualify for NL Semifinals – Round Rock.
- In gender age groups with four (4) groups of four (4) teams (16 total teams), the NL Quarterfinals (Dec) will qualify up to twelve (12) teams into the NL Semifinals.
- Of the two (2) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Oceanside event (i.e. BLUE pathway), the top three (3) teams from each group will qualify for NL Semifinals – Oceanside.
- Of the two (2) groups that qualify teams into the NL Semifinals – Round Rock event (i.e. RED pathway), the top three (3) teams from each group will qualify for NL Semifinals – Round Rock.