There is quite a bit of confusion among soccer players,
soccer parents and soccer coaches in relation to the rank and order of the
different soccer leagues operating in the US and particularly in our South
Florida area and who is eligible to play in those leagues.
As it is public knowledge soccer in the US is arbitrarily
and drastically divided into youth soccer and adult soccer. Youth soccer under
United States Youth Soccer Association admits players from 8 to 18 years old.
Adult soccer is also separated into professional and amateur levels with no
clearly defined limits between them. According to the by-laws of the USYSA Rule
208 any player can play adult soccer without losing his/her youth eligibility. Such rule reads as follows: “A youth player may play an unlimited number
of adult games without losing his or her youth eligibility. The youth player
must notify his or her youth coach or other authorized team official of the
player’s intention to play adult games. The youth player shall request, in
writing, (1) eligibility clearance from the Youth State Association through
which the player is registered, and (2) permission 9/1/13 - 6 - from the
appropriate Adult State Association. When the clearance and permission have
been granted, the Adult State Association has sole discretion in permitting a
youth player to play adult games and will be responsible for establishing the
procedures under which the youth player will be allowed to play. In the event
of a conflict between an adult game and a youth game, the youth game shall take
precedence”. In Florida players 16 years of age are considered eligible to play
adult soccer with approval from the youth organization (Florida Youth Soccer
association). In California South the minimum age to play adult soccer is just
14 years.
Adult division approved by USSOCCER in 2017
Division 1 Professional MLS
Division 2 Professional NASL USL
Regional Semipro NPSL
Regional Adult PDL
Local Adult (USASA/FSSA) GOLCO; APSL; CASA