US Club Soccer has announced a re-alignment of the Midwest Development League NPL for the 2014-2015 season, creating two conferences within the league.  Beginning in the fall of 2014, FC Wisconsin will be  a member of the NPL Academy Division. The Academy Division will include solely clubs that are members of the US Soccer Development Academy.  Clubs that are not in the US Soccer Development Academy will participate in the Independent Division of the Midwest Development League NPL. Teams in the Academy Division will play each other home and away in the regular season, with top teams qualifying for the MDL Playoffs to determine who receives the bid to the 2015 NPL Finals.

The Academy Division will consist of the following clubs:

• Chicago Magic
• Crew Soccer Academy
• FC Wisconsin Nationals
• Internationals
• Minnesota thunder
• Sockers FC -Chicago
• St Louis Scott Gallagher - Illinois
• St Louis Scott Gallagher – Missouri
• Vardar SC

The U13 and U14 age groups will play in the fall and spring, while the U15 – U18 age groups will compete in the spring season only.  (An optional fall competition schedule for the U16 age group will be available for interested clubs in the Academy Division.) 

Competitions for the Academy Division of the NPL will mirror the schedule of the US Soccer Development Academy games for each club, meaning all teams within the NPL and USSDA will travel on the same dates to the same venue for games.

“This move will enhance and increase competition for all of our boys teams, and will help enhance a true club culture between the NPL and US Soccer Development Academy programs”, commented USSDA Director Ben Shepherd. “We are excited to offer all of our players the highest possible levels of youth soccer in the country, and look forward to being a part of the new Midwest Development League NPL Academy Division.”

“It is a great step forward for our NPL and US Soccer Development Academy teams to be on the same competition schedule, and to travel and compete together,” said FC Wisconsin Co-Director of Coaching Bill Solberg.  “This will allow the staff from both programs to work together even more closely, and will help us insure that every player in the club finds the best match competitively, and maximizes their ability over the long-term.”

Look for more information on the 2014-2015 FC Wisconsin NPL Program and coaching staff in the upcoming weeks.