Virginia Premier Soccer League to launch team-based NPL division

CHARLESTON, S.C. (April 7, 2022) – The Virginia Soccer League is launching a new team-based league for U-10 through U-19 boys and girls within the Virginia Premier Soccer League (VPSL) beginning Fall 2022. U-13 through U-19 teams form the newest member league within the National Premier Leagues (NPL), immediately providing national pathways and a plethora of resources available to NPL participants and US Club Soccer members.

Twenty-six clubs from the Virginia Soccer League make up the new VPSL NPL Division:

(UPDATE – April 26: The VPSL has expanded to include the Skyline Club Soccer League.)

The VPSL NPL Division will receive pathways to the annual NPL postseason, in which teams have an opportunity to compete for National Premier Leagues championships. Additionally, participating teams have access to a variety of US Club Soccer resources and programming, including safety and risk-management standards, cup-based competitions through the Virginia State Cup and the National Cup, player identification via id2 and PDP, coaching education through LaLiga Formation Methodology and U.S. Soccer courses, and various Players First-related opportunities. The league will be administered by John Faircloth.

With the addition of the VPSL to the NPL landscape, there are now 19 NPL member leagues throughout the country for the 2022-23 season. Additional growth within the NPL will be announced soon.

“We’re excited to welcome these clubs into the NPL,” said Leo Garcia, US Club Soccer VP of Competitions and NPL General Manager. “Several of them competed in the former Virginia NPL years ago, so we know how formidable they are regionally and nationally. This new league is a fantastic addition to the NPL landscape.

“The NPL has experienced considerable growth over the past 11 seasons, but our guiding principles remain: be player-focused; reduce burdens on families by reducing travel; and offer national pathways, opportunities and exposure.”

“On behalf of the Virginia Soccer League, we are all very excited to be part of this new league moving forward,” said Andy McIntosh, Virginia Soccer League President. “There has always been a commitment to raising the standards within our league, and we all agree that this is the perfect time to make this step. Our board is in full support of raising the level for all the current VSL clubs and cannot wait to get started.”