D3 Division Super Thread

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by thomas19064, Mar 30, 2017.

  1. CenCalFooty

    CenCalFooty Member

    Apr 3, 2013
    Fresno
    Club:
    Fresno Fuego
    well said. Im onboard no matter what. I hope we show how much we love the Fuego this PDL season and they dont want to mess with that.
     
  2. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just going to leave this right here and back away so Kenn doesn't yell at me :)!

    Des Moines Menace‏ @MenaceSoccer Mar 31

    Menace fans, we are planning on making a big-time announcement next week. Big-time. ...Stay Tuned...
     
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  3. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    =======
    HOPEFULLY, the Menace becomes Minnesota United's affiliate. Close by and the Menace have been around a while.....
     
  4. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's not usual that an MLS team has a PDL affiliate, is it?
     
  5. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On the subject of the thread, I wonder is this a final attack on NASL? First USSF approves USL to be same level as NASL. Then USL offers a D3, which means any NASL that wants could find a home in USL 2 or 3. If the USL3 has that many possible owners lined up, that is going to cover many markets that probably don't have teams and that will almost force NASL if they are trying to expand, be in same markets which hurts their chances (see OKC)
    I also think D3 could be filled out by some D2 teams that want to drop a level, but not all the way down to PDL.
    Some stronger PDL teams may want to step up. And for that matter, maybe there are some NPSL teams that will take the leap to USL3. It is just too dam bad USSF doesn't change their charter/rules, gets a backbone and line up the pyramid properly...
    -
    The more I see all these competing leagues and the general power of MLS and the fact they hold the high ground and the big money, I really think the Major League Baseball set is the way we really need to go. MLS shares players, operating knowledge, but the lower teams keep local ownership to stay in touch with the communities..

    D1 MLS 32 TEAMS
    D2 USL 32 TEAMS ****************
    D3 USL 32 TEAMS **************** *** consisting of current USL, NASL, step up PDL or NPSL and expansion
    D4 PDL 32 TEAMS >> Should be the U23 team's -best of remaining USL and stronger NPSL

    ^^ ^ 128 teams would pretty much cover every market worth having a team.
    >to keep travel costs down, D2,D3 &D4 could be composed of West & east

    then Academy teams that should be local, in the city of the MLS parent.

    U18
    U16
    U14
    U12
    U10
    U8 Or however low you want to go
    =====

    If you continue to have a college draft, MLS teams draft and place the players depending on age or skill into D4, D3 or D2 and groom the players.. Obviously movement between the levels and finally reaching D1.
     
  6. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ------I was thinking they may jump from PDL to one of the USL levels......
     
  7. pletch99

    pletch99 Member

    Nov 14, 2007
    Winchester, England
    So the Des Moines "big news" turned out to be a visit to a coaching session by a Barcelona player, not an announcement of going pro.
     
  8. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Union have an affiliation with Reading. Pretty sure any academy kids that go to college need to play there in the summer to maintain HGP eligibility....
     
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  9. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
     
  10. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There are many oft-repeated phrases on Bigsoccer that need to die. This is on the list, though not at the top.

    The stronger PDL teams are stronger because - among other reasons - they don't step up.

    The jump from amateur to professional is a big one, and should not be (and is not) taken lightly.

    The last team to do it was Dayton in 2012 (and it did not go well). Before that, you have to go back to Calgary in 2002, who went from the PDL to the A-League and that really did not go well. (The Westchester Flames and New York Freedoms also went from the PDL to the pro ranks that year, in D3. Neither lasted there.)

    It's just silly to assume that because a PDL team draws well for its handful of home games that they either want to or could turn pro.It's a big leap.
     
  11. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Forget stepping up to the USL. That's an MLS-level performance in the "overhyping a 'major announcement'" category.
     
  12. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I don't think that is the case. The Dynamo have had players that maintained HGP status while in college without playing at any team associated with the Dynamo in the summer.

    Brad Bourgeois is a recent example. He came out of the Dynamo Academy and then went to the University of Tulsa from 2012-2015. He spent summers with the Houston Dutch Lions and the Tulsa Athletics. Neither are connected to the Dynamo in any way. He was signed to a Home Grown contract with the Dynamo in 2016 and then assigned to the RGV Toros in USL. He was released this year and is now playing for the Tulsa Roughnecks.
     
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  13. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Okay, I'm probably wrong... I remember reading something about "not enough time at Reading" for an ineligible HGP or two, but those rules seem so hazy it's hard to make heads or tails out of what they actually are.

    Either way Reading is affiliated with the Union... whatever that means. (I guess they are just the preferred PDL team for Union products)
     
  14. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Hmm. I did find this in an explanation of the HGP program. There is no link to actual MLS rules but I see this in other places now that I've found it.

    That does seem to indicate that HGPs must have some connection to the MLS team while in college. Maybe the Dynamo worked something out to keep Bourgeois attached even if wasn't exactly playing for a Dynamo affiliated team. 30 practices or games over 4 years isn't a lot. That could have been the issue with Philly.

    The Dynamo started the RGV Toros last year in USL and this year are starting a PDL team in College Station, Texas. It looks like they are trying to streamline the process.
     
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  15. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Um, USSF has had standards for the various divisions since 2010.

    And, quiet as it's kept, people have been investing in "this type of environment" like never before for the last handful of years.

    I honestly don't get what your beef is.

    There are different divisions because there are always going to be those who are more ambitious than others and those who are less ambitious than others. The standards and expectations for each are less as you go down the pyramid. I don't know why this is befuddling you.

    You've been shown that your original "I've seen this movie several times before" post was in error, you've been shown that D2 isn't being "split" into D2 and D3, that a new D3 is being created (into which some current D2 teams will surely drop, which is not the same thing).

    Just....I don't know.
     
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  16. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Snippets of a larger interview with Jake Edwards:

    http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/...wards-MLS-NASL-ESPN-promotion-relegation.html

    The USL has an interest in projecting a strong image as it competes with NASL, but I'd bet that a few of the weaker franchises will drop to D3 if/when it launches, assuming the geography makes sense for them.
     
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  17. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ------------------------
    Not saying a jump to D2, now that a D3 is in the works.
    But if D3 starts off as an east coast thing, travel would be too much regardless.
    Would have to see the detailed requirements of D3 and how many other teams/markets they launch in MidWest
    Just thinking from a geographic standpoint, they are dead center of a triangle of MSP-KC-STL (and even in an extended range COL to the west and CHI to the east. Not too bad.
    KC has Swoope Park Rangers, MINN- who/where are their reserves this year ?. If STL makes MLS, where would they put their reserves..
     
  18. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Last ones I've seen from USSF anyway:

    VI. Division III Men’s Outdoor League:

    a. Composition; Play
    i. League must have a minimum of 8 teams to apply.
    ii. U.S.‐based teams must participate in the U.S. Open Cup.

    b. Stadia
    i. All league stadiums must have a minimum seating capacity 1,000.

    c. Financial Viability
    i. League must demonstrate adequate financial viability to ensure continued operation on a season‐by‐season basis either in the form of a performance bond or similar instrument for each team in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand US dollars (US $250,000), or readily‐available league funds representing such amounts. The funds will be used to cover the costs of the teams’ operations (including, without limitation, player and staff salaries and wages, stadium lease commitments and third party vendor obligations in addition to commitments by each team to the league) for a season, should that become necessary. Any team whose performance bond is used during the season will be required to replenish it at least 120 days prior to the next season.
    ii. Each team ownership group must demonstrate the financial capacity to operate the team for three years. As part of the process of demonstrating financial capacity, each ownership group must provide detailed financial history (if applicable) and projections (including a detailed budget) for the team to the Federation in a form satisfactory to the Federation. In addition, each team must have and its governing legal documents must designate one principal owner with a controlling interest who owns at least 35% of the team and has authority to bind the team. Such principal owner must have an individual net worth of at least ten million US dollars (US $10,000,000) exclusive of the value of his/her ownership in the league or team and his/her primary personal residence. Federation shall have the right to require an independent audit to establish that the principal owner’s net worth meets this requirement; the cost of such audit shall be the responsibility of the team or league. The Federation will take reasonable steps to protect from disclosure and limit access to financial information provided under this section.

    That's in addition to the standards for all professional leagues, which include:

    a. Composition; Play
    i. League must determine a champion each year based on seasonal play or by means of a post‐season playoff tournament.
    ii. League playing rules must comply with all relevant FIFA guidelines and Laws of the Game.

    b. Markets; Stadia; and Fields
    i. At least 75 percent of the league’s teams must be based in the United States.
    ii. League stadiums must meet the following parameters:
    1. All stadiums/arenas must have controllable ingress/egress.
    2. All outdoor leagues: Playing surfaces for all teams must be at least 70 yards by 110 yards and be FIFA‐approved.

    c. Coaches; Referees
    i. The coaches of each of the league’s teams must hold a USSF “A” coaching license (or equivalent from the appropriate federation) within two years of their appointment.
    ii. All games played by league teams in the United States must be refereed by Federation‐licensed or approved referees assigned pursuant to league‐specific policies set forth by the Federation, if any.

    d. Financial Viability
    i. As specified for each division, the league must require each team to post with the league or, if so directed, with the Federation, an adequate performance bond or other security to secure the performance of the teams’ obligations (including, without limitation, player and staff salaries and wages, stadium lease commitments and third party vendor obligations in addition to commitments by each team to the league) for the current season. In the case of a single‐entity league, the league must provide, or demonstrate that it has, adequate security to ensure the performance of the league’s obligations for the current season.
    ii. Any new team principal owner must meet with Federation staff regarding the responsibilities of owning a team prior to the team’s participation in the league. In the case of a new league, each team principal owner in the new league and the senior league personnel must meet with Federation staff on an individual or group basis, as required by the Federation.
    iii. The league will furnish to the Federation prompt written notice of the following (and, in any event, within five business days of the league obtaining knowledge thereof):
    1. any violation of these Standards, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;
    2. the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any governmental authority, against the league or one or more teams in the league that could foreseeably result in a Material Adverse Effect.
    3. any development that has resulted in, or could foreseeably result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
    4. “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (a) a material adverse change in or effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets or liabilities of the league and/or its teams, individually or taken as a whole; (b) the ability of the league or its teams to perform any of its obligations under these Standards; or (c) the ability of the league or its teams to meet any of their financial obligations.

    e. League Office
    i. League must have a central office that is open during regular business hours year round.
    ii. League must have a full‐time employee who handles the responsibilities of a chief executive officer or commissioner.
    iii. League must have an active publicity/public relations program.
    iv. League must have an active marketing and sponsorship program.
    v. League must have a director of officials or, with the Federation’s approval, may delegate such function to the Federation.
    vi. League must have a professional registrar.
    vii. League must have a disciplinary body or an executive group to review misconduct.
    viii. League must have an executive committee.

    f. Media
    i. League and each league team must produce an annual media guide.
    ii. League must generate and disseminate weekly statistical reports and regular press releases.
    iii. League or its teams must produce a line‐up card or other similar guide for each individual game.

    g. Team Organization
    i. Each team must have individuals handling responsibilities of the following positions: general manager, director of marketing/sales, director of communications/media relations, director of promotions/community relations, director of game operations, head coach, assistant coach, trainer, ticketing manager, finance director, and clerical staff.
    ii. Each team must demonstrate its on‐going commitment to the promotion of soccer at all levels in its home market.
    iii. The league shall impose limitations on each team, set from time to time by the Federation, regarding the types of players that may be listed on the roster.
    iv. No owner may exercise control over more than one team in a division in such a way that the integrity of any game or competition would be jeopardized or appear to be jeopardized. Effective on December 31, 2014, no owner may exercise control over more than one team in a division. A “single‐entity” league must have separate and distinct individuals or organizations in charge of each team’s management and operations.

    h. Relationship with Federation
    i. League must apply to become a member of the Federation and, once it has done so, thereafter remain in good standing with the Federation. As part of the application process, the league must pay reasonable costs the Federation may incur for any review of the financial viability of the league and its teams.
    ii. Each team in the league must be in good standing with the Federation (if the team is based in the United States) or with the applicable national federation (if the team is based outside of the United States), with CONCACAF and with FIFA.
    iii. League must pay all applicable Federation fees and dues on a timely basis.
    iv. League must submit to the Federation an annual report setting forth, in reasonable detail, the status of its compliance with these Standards, including team and league financial information, steps being taken to increase league awareness, long and short term goals for the league, previous year attendance numbers and gate reports, and a description of how each team in the league is demonstrating its commitment to the promotion of soccer in its home market and the development of players at the youth level.
    v. League and/or its teams must release its U.S. players requested to play on the U.S. national teams and shall actively support the U.S. national team programs.
    vi. League and/or its teams must register all players with the Federation on a timely basis.
    vii. Federation shall have the right to review any financial information, books and records of the league and any of its teams, including any audits conducted by either the league or any of its teams. Federation shall have the right to require an independent audit at its own expense of the league or any of its teams. In the event such an independent audit establishes material irregularities, the cost of the audit shall be paid by the league or team, as applicable.
    viii. League must have a code of conduct that is signed by all teams and players (or in the case of players a Collective Bargaining Agreement that includes a code of conduct that binds all players in the league).
    ix. Teams shall timely provide accurate attendance figures and gross gate reports as requested by the Federation.
    x. A team and the league shall notify the Federation if the team has payables overdue by thirty (30) days or more for any of the team’s players, its stadium authority, the league or any of the team’s key vendors.

    i. Waiver Procedures
    i. League may request a temporary waiver from compliance with a Standard. Any such request must be made in writing to the Federation and explain in detail (a) the Standard for which a waiver is sought; (b) the reasons why a waiver is necessary; and (c) steps being taken to ameliorate the need for the waiver in the future. Waivers are only good for one year.
    ii. Waiver requests will only be granted for good cause shown by the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors.

    j. Amendments
    i. Any existing league shall have three (3) years from the date it receives any amendment to these Standards to come into compliance with any amendments to these Standards unless the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors specifically informs the league that a shorter compliance period is required to protect the viability of the existing league.
     
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  19. CFLRowdiesFan

    CFLRowdiesFan Member

    Sep 22, 2016
    Edwards is the master of spin. Not criticizing, I guess that's the job of a commissioner. I especially loved this quote:

    "I was at the home opener for Tampa against Orlando - they had a couple of first-team players in the Orlando squad. It was a very entertaining game."

    He must have been watching a different game than I was. The Rowdies outshot Orlando City B 21-3, had about 80% of the possession and there were times I was wondering if City was ever going to get out of it's own half.

    Speaking of Orlando City B, there's also this...

    "...they had a little over 4,500 in there for their first game."


    ...the club announced 2741.
     
  20. Owen Thornhill

    Dec 22, 2012
    Club:
    Cork City
    There isn't 96 pro clubs yet, This might be a pipe tream. There are currently 60 of which there are a few who are not being well ran. For the next 2 years I would like to see

    2018
    MLS 23 (LAFC)
    USL/NASL merger 40 (including exspansion teams)
    with 4 conferences of 10 to reduce travel

    2019
    MLS 23
    USL 40-48 (depending on how many expansion teams who are viable)

    2020
    MLS 23
    USL 16 (2 conferences of 8
    USL-2 32 teams (including expansion teams) 4 conferences of 8 with a few inter conference games
     
  21. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
  22. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There will be a lot of discussion between now and 2019 as to what markets D3 are going in to. Wonder if the USL has a goal of how many teams for the first year? I am still convinced there are some teams in D2 that find D3 a better fit. Going to be very interesting and I just hope this works out all well in the end, that we are not over expanding the game. I know its a large country, but we have to make sure that D2 & D3 are solid as possible. We have had too many leagues and too many teams come and go in the past. I hope USL , like MLS appears to have learned, from the past.
     
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  23. artml

    artml Member

    Liverpool FC
    Ukraine
    Jul 11, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    #48 artml, Apr 26, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2017
    They have requirements section there! And they are a bit more tight than ones Kenn posted above:
    • Minimum stadium capacity is 3500 instead of 1000
    • Market population has limits from 150,000 to 1,000,000 (I assume the upper boundary is to avoid clashes with D2)
    There are about 200 markets of that size in the US, depending on the metric one is willing to use. That's a lot of scarves to be designed.
     
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  24. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #49 thomas19064, Apr 26, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2017





    they were in Lexington today, not sure what that really means, but put them on the speculation list I guess... it ticks a lot of the right boxes including the minor league baseball ownership thing. (they have a A ball team, looks like a pic in one of the tweets was taken at a game) KU featured in the picks, and they do have a soccer stadium, but it only holds 3K at a max according to wikipedia, so it would fall short of their 3,500 minimum requirement...

    Owner of the Legends: William Shea / Ivy Walls Management



    Tennessee tomorrow.... Chattanooga is the obvious city everyone will jump to but how about Knoxville?
     
  25. Owen Thornhill

    Dec 22, 2012
    Club:
    Cork City
    I don't know the area but would adding 500 seats be difficult?
     

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