The Difference Between USYS and US Club Soccer
Youth soccer in the United States is a tricky landscape to understand. Even if you’ve been involved in youth soccer for years, it’s very easy to become confused (and overwhelmed) by the many leagues and associations throughout the country.
So, we want to break it down for you.
At the very top, you have the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), a.k.a. US Soccer. This is the governing body for soccer in the United States, and it’s recognized by the international governing body for soccer, FIFA. Members of US Soccer include MLS, United States Adult Soccer Association, US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, and more.
The latter two - US Youth Soccer (USYS) and US Club Soccer - are the largest governing bodies specifically for youth soccer. Most leagues in the U.S. belong to one of these organizations. Here are the key differences between USYS and US Club Soccer.
Leagues
In USYS, each state association governs its own state league and hosts a State Cup. The winner advances to the regional league, and from there, teams can advance to the USYS national league, USYS Nationals. At the top of the USYS system is the National League Elite 64, which is a high level of competition and typically with lower costs than ECNL. On the Boys side we often see MLS Next clubs (note: MLS Next is separate from USYS and US Club Soccer) put their first team in the MLS Next Homegrown Division, their second team in MLS Next Academy Division, and their third team into the USYS National League. There are some exceptions (like Texas where MLS Next clubs have built a separate Texas Academy League).
US Club Soccer is the governing body behind ECNL and ECRL for Girls and Boys. Often the teams at a club below the ECNL and ECRL teams operate in the local USYS league.
Structure and Governance
USYS is divided into four regions: East, Midwest, South, and West. Within these regions are 55 state associations. There’s one association in each state, with the exception of California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas, which have two. It’s up to these state associations to form and govern the USYS’s leagues and clubs.
US Club Soccer is very different in that the leagues and clubs essentially govern themselves. This gives clubs more autonomy, allowing them to be more flexible when it comes to their rosters and schedules.
Registration Process
In USYS, players register through their state association, just like each USYS league and club. Each state association has its own rules and fees.
In US Club Soccer, players register directly through US Club Soccer itself, at the national level. That means the registration process and fee structure for each club is exactly the same.
Leagues
In USYS, each state association governs its own state league and hosts a State Cup. The winner advances to the regional league, and from there, teams can advance to the USYS national league, USYS Nationals.
US Club Soccer has local, regional, and multiple national leagues. Examples of US Club Soccer’s national leagues include the National Premier Leagues (NPL), ECNL Girls, and ECNL Boys.
Player Identification and Development
Both organizations have their own systems for identifying and recruiting players.
USYS utilizes the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP), which identifies players and then oversees try-outs at the district, state, regional, and national levels.
In US Club Soccer, clubs and leagues do the scouting themselves. If an elite club in your region is interested in you, you’ll be invited to try out through one of US Club Soccer’s regional Player Development Programs (PDPs). US Club Soccer also has a special program to identify and develop players for inclusion in their national leagues.
Which One Is Right for Your Athlete?
There is no right answer. It depends on your budget for youth soccer, how much travel your family can manage, and what level your athlete is able to play at. Typically, ECNL teams play at a higher level than teams in USYS, but that differs region by region, and many clubs in USYS have teams that play in higher leagues like MLS Next and Girls Academy. ECNL also tends to be more expensive than USYS with more travel.
If you’re having trouble deciding which organization is right for your athlete, we are here to help and answer any questions you may have. As former pros, we harness our up-to-date knowledge of both organizations – and our own experience - to guide young athletes towards the best options for their goals and circumstances. Better yet, let’s set up a mentoring session, since no athlete or parent should have to make this life-changing decision alone.
