APL League: How to Join and Compete in the Atlantic Premier League for US Youth Soccer
APL League: A Guide for Soccer Fans
If you are a soccer fan who loves to watch competitive and exciting games, you might want to check out the APL League. The APL League is short for the Australian Professional Leagues or the Atlantic Premier League, depending on which continent you are in. Both leagues are affiliated with US Youth Soccer and offer various levels of play for boys and girls from U9 to U19. In this article, we will give you an overview of both leagues, their history, format, benefits and challenges. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the APL League.
Australian Professional Leagues (APL)
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) are the governing body for the A-League Men, A-League Women, A-League Youth and E-League in Australia. The APL was formed in 2020 as a result of unbundling from Football Australia, the national governing body for soccer in Australia. The APL aims to improve the quality, professionalism and commercial viability of the professional leagues in Australia.
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History of the APL
The APL was officially established on 31 December 2020, after Football Australia announced that it would transfer the operational, commercial and marketing responsibilities of the professional leagues to a new entity owned by the clubs. This was a historic moment for Australian soccer, as it marked the end of a long and contentious process of unbundling that began in 2018. The unbundling was driven by the desire of the clubs to have more autonomy and control over their own destiny, as well as to align with the global best practice of separating the governance and administration of professional leagues from national federations.
Format of the APL
The APL consists of four competitions: the A-League Men, the A-League Women, the A-League Youth and the E-League. The A-League Men and Women are the top-tier professional leagues for men's and women's soccer in Australia. The A-League Youth is a development league for young players aged 16 to 21. The E-League is an esports competition that features FIFA video game players representing each club.
A-League Men
The A-League Men is the premier men's soccer competition in Australia. It was founded in 2004 as a replacement for the National Soccer League (NSL), which was dissolved in 2003 due to financial and governance issues. The A-League Men currently has 12 teams: 11 from Australia and one from New Zealand. The teams play each other in a regular season from October to May, followed by a finals series that culminates in a grand final. The winner of the grand final is crowned as the champion of the A-League Men.
A-League Women
The A-League Women is the premier women's soccer competition in Australia. It was founded in 2008 as a counterpart to the men's league. The A-League Women currently has 10 teams: nine from Australia and one from New Zealand. The teams play each other in a regular season from November to March, followed by a finals series that culminates in a grand final. The winner of the grand final is crowned as the champion of the A-League Women.
A-League Youth
The A-League Youth is a development league for young players aged 16 to 21. It was founded in 2008 as a feeder league for the men's league. The A-League Youth currently has 10 teams: nine from Australia and one from New Zealand. The teams play each other in a regular season from November to March, followed by a finals series that culminates in a grand final. The winner of the grand final is crowned as the champion of the A-League Youth.
E-League
The E-League is an esports competition that features FIFA video game players representing each club in the men's league. It was founded in 2018 as a way to engage with new and existing fans of soccer in Australia. The E-League currently has 12 teams: 11 from Australia and one from New Zealand. The teams compete in a regular season from February to April, followed by a finals series that culminates in a grand final. The winner of the grand final is crowned as the champion of the E-League.
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Benefits of the APL
The APL has several benefits for the professional leagues in Australia, such as:
More autonomy and control for the clubs over their own operations, finances and marketing.
More alignment and collaboration among the clubs to grow the fan base, attract sponsors and broadcasters, and improve the quality of the product.
More innovation and creativity in developing new formats, competitions and initiatives to enhance the fan experience and engagement.
More opportunities and pathways for players, coaches, referees and administrators to develop their skills and careers.
More contribution and influence in the global soccer landscape, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Challenges of the APL
The APL also faces some challenges for the professional leagues in Australia, such as:
More competition and pressure from other sports and entertainment options in the Australian market.
More responsibility and accountability for the clubs to deliver on their promises and expectations.
More complexity and uncertainty in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the health, safety and viability of the leagues.
More regulation and compliance with Football Australia's statutes, regulations and policies, as well as FIFA's rules and standards.
More collaboration and coordination with Football Australia, state federations, grassroots clubs and other stakeholders to ensure the alignment and integration of the soccer ecosystem in Australia.
Atlantic Premier League (APL)
The Atlantic Premier League (APL) is a youth soccer league that operates in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The APL is affiliated with US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in America. The APL offers various levels of play for boys and girls from U9 to U19. The APL aims to provide a competitive and developmental environment for players, coaches and clubs.
History of the APL
The APL was founded in 2010 by eight clubs from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The APL was created to fill a gap in the youth soccer landscape, as there was a lack of regional leagues that offered high-quality competition and exposure for players and teams. The APL has since grown to include more than 20 clubs from four states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Format of the APL
The APL consists of three divisions: the Premier Division, the Championship Division and the Showcase Division. The Premier Division is the highest level of play in the APL, featuring teams that compete at the national level. The Championship Division is the intermediate level of play in the APL, featuring teams that compete at the regional level. The Showcase Division is the lowest level of play in the APL, featuring teams that compete at the local level. The teams play each other in a regular season from September to November (fall season) or March to May (spring season), followed by a postseason tournament that determines the division champions.
Premier Division
The Premier Division is for teams that aspire to play at the national level. The Premier Division currently has 12 teams: six boys teams and six girls teams. The teams are divided into two groups of three based on geography. The teams play each other twice in a home-and-away format within their group, and once against each team from the other group. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, where they play a single-elimination game. The winners of the semifinals advance to the final, where they play a single-elimination game. The winner of the final is crowned as the champion of the Premier Division.
Championship Division
The Championship Division is for teams that aspire to play at the regional level. The Championship Division currently has 24 teams: 12 boys teams and 12 girls teams. The teams are divided into four groups of three based on geography. The teams play each other twice in a home-and-away format within their group, and once against eac