Marcos: Membership in the SYL will not be restricted to USL-affiliated teams or teams in states where USL franchises are located. We look at the SYL as a process for not only helping the youth game, but also helping our own efforts to boost playing opportunities for senior teams, both men and women, at the amateur and professional levels. The SYL will reach out to all top-level teams in all states. It will be possible for a SYL team to develop the same group of players until they are ready to enter the USL's Premier Development League as amateurs, or, is the case with selected other USL clubs, move through the amateur rank as a club, and on up to the professional level.

Weibe: It is not a requirement to be affiliated or sponsored by a USL team. We will not make this a requirement. In 2004, we hope to develop an affiliation and networking program so major clubs that do not have a senior USL team can build relationships with organizations at the various amateur and professional levels. This will be part of the stepping ladder for youth players that are exceptional talented that will move on in their youth to higher levels and for those players that want to further their careers after their youth.