- "Where hometown heroes become tomorrow's stars"

      The United Soccer Leagues (USL) was founded in 1986 as a coalition of national soccer leagues. Comprised of 132 teams in six leagues, the USL is the second largest organization in the nation- second only to Minor League Baseball. Its six leagues are:

A-League		A Division II professional league
D3 Pro League		A Division III league- for many players it's their first step in professional soccer
The Premier Development League (PDL)		A developmental league composed of collegiate, amateur and some professional players
W1-League W2-League		An adult soccer league for women including current and former college players
I-League		A regional indoor league which serves as an outlet for all USL players during the winter season
Super Y-League		USL's newest league, it provides elite competition for youths between the ages of 14 and 18

     In 1996 an official partnership was established between USL and Major League Soccer. This partnership designates USL teams as official affiliates of MLS teams. As affiliates of MLS teams, players can now move from their Division II A-League and Division III Pro-League teams to their affiliated MLS teams. Like wise, a MLS team may decide to move one of its players to its affiliated USL team so that player can gain more practice and experience before being brought back to MLS.

     In 1998, a team of young players were selected by MLS to begin their pro careers at an early age, without attending college, in the A-League. The team is called US Pro-40 and it competes as a traveling team in the A-League allowing its young players to gain knowledge and experience in playing professional soccer.