[excerpt taken from the MYSA Policies & Rules Manual]

5.0 Midwest Regional League

Midwest teams, boys and girls U-14 through U-18, will be invited to enter the Midwest Regional Leagues (MRL) based upon guidelines set down by the MRL Commission or governing body. The MRL is comprised of highly competitive teams from all states in US Youth Soccer Region II.

There may be instances where teams compete in the MRL, but do not participate in another MYSA state run league. In the event these teams wish inclusion into MYSA state run leagues, the District Operating Committee (DOC) will determine league placement. The team roster playing in MRL must match at least 75% of the MYSA league team roster or the club gives up their MYSA slot/status. Competing at the MRL level does not in itself dictate placement into the MYSA Premier Leagues.

Note: MRL consists of two levels, Premier and Division I. Team placement will be decided by the Region II MRL Technical Committee after receiving all applications from each National State Association.

General Overview

The Midwest Regional League (MRL) mission is to provide the highest standard of competitive play for youth teams in US Youth Soccer Region II (the Midwest Region) and to assure the continued growth and development of elite level players. The MRL features competition in five Age Groups (U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18) for both Boys and Girls. Two seasons are offered—Fall and Spring. Based on the number of teams in an Age Group, Premier and First Divisions are offered. Teams earn spots in the Premier Division by qualifying through their play in MRL competition. Within the Premier and First Division, sub-divisions may also be formed. A promotion and relegation system has been adopted ensuring that success on the field results in teams participating at the highest levels of the MRL. Teams in the Premier Division compete for the two Wild Card slots that are available in each age group at the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships. Each year, more than 100 MRL teams participate in the Midwest Regional Championships as either state cup champions or as MRL wild card entries. In essence, the MRL is an extension of elite team competition for US Youth Soccer affiliated teams in Region II situated between the US Youth Soccer National League and the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Premier League.

The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association does not have any specific guidelines, policies, or rules that state who can apply for application to participate in the Midwest Regional League (MRL). Per MRL rules, any team affiliated with a US Youth Soccer State Association may request entry to the MRL.  Since the start of the MRL a majority of the Minnesota teams have been MYSA Premier League teams and/or Minnesota State Cup semifinalists.

Minnesota teams interested in participating in the MRL can contact Ranae Orr at the MYSA office for a login and password to register on-line. A Minnesota team registers via the MRL website using the online application. 2008 Spring team registration begins on 15 September and closes on 9 November 2007. 2008 Fall team registration begins on 21 May and closes on 30 June 2008. The Minnesota Representative to the MRL reviews the application to ensure that the information provided online is accurate and correct. The representative will either approve the application or contact the team administrator to make the appropriate corrections. The MRL representative only approves the application for information accuracy, thus if a Minnesota team's application is complete and accurate the registration will be approved and passed on to the MRL Technical Committee. Once the registration deadline closes, each state director of coaching will rank order the teams based on the performance of the team and the caliber of players on the roster, this is done by Minnesota State Director of Coaching.  The MRL Technical Committee (a select group of state coaching directors) will determine which teams will play in the Premier Division and First Division.  Per MRL rules, a maximum of eight (8) teams per age group per gender may be recommended by each state association to the MRL for each season of play. A total of four (4) teams per age group per gender are guaranteed acceptance into the MRL for each season of play from each state association. The MRL Commissioner may determine if additional teams may be accepted above the four team state limit.

Tom Moriarty is the Minnesota Representative to the Midwest Regional League. If you have any questions you can contact him at mysatd@mnyouthsoccer.org or Ranae Orr at ranaeorr@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952-933-2384.

For more information regarding the league, please go to www.midwestregionalleague.com

2008 Midwest Regional League Teams

Note: Highlighted teams are in the Premer Division, all others are in the First Division.

^ Back to Top