(Tampa, Fla.  - May 11, 2004) The Super Y-League, the U.S. and Canada's premier youth soccer league, kicked off its 6th season this year.  117 Clubs with over 690 teams in the U13 to U19 boys and girls age groups will compete to win the highest-level youth soccer league in North America. 

In addition to the league kicking off this season, the success of the Super Y-League Olympic Development Program (ODP) in 2003 has many players focused on this system in 2004.  The Super Y-League is one of two youth ODP programs in the United States. The SYL ODP system is the only system that utilizes the club system through national league play to identify players for U.S. National Team Programs. In 2004, players will be selected to Divisional ODP Teams for the SYL ODP Player Identification Program where they will be evaluated by US Soccer National Staff Coaches, the SYL National ODP Staff for the selection to a SYL National ODP Select Team.  Many of the country's top collegiate programs and professional teams will also be observing players. 

"The SYL ODP system was a tremendous success last year that has opened a new door for player opportunities and identification of players to our U.S. National Team Programs," added Peter Vermes, SYL Technical Director.

This season the SYL is divided up into four conferences; the Northeast, Southern, Central and Western Conference. Teams within the top established youth clubs, youth teams of USL and MLS professional teams and youth teams of the top amateur teams in the PDL and W-League will compete within their division to earn a spot for the SYL North American Finals in November to reach their dream of winning North America's top youth soccer league. 

"It is really amazing how far this league has come," added Matt Weibe, Director of the Super Y-League.  "We have great clubs and people involved with us that are a part of the vision of creating a true soccer structure at the competitive level.  More leaders within clubs now understand that there are alternatives for high-level competition and player identification other than the state associations."

US Club Soccer, a partner of the Super Y-League, has also complemented a clubs competition with their national cup, which will begin its third championship this year.

"There are two main competitions for clubs in the world.  One is the domestic national league and the other is the domestic cup," added Weibe.  "This new structure that we (SYL and USCS) have created will provide clubs, players, coaches and parents a better environment for competition in both the league and the cup."

SUPER Y-LEAGUE
The future of soccer lives in the Super Y-League, a professionalized system that is the first step for developing youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer and partnered with US Club Soccer the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. Through Olympic Development (ODP) status programs such as the SYL North American Finals and Regional Select Team weekends, the nation's top players are selected for U.S. National Team Programs. The league is made up of a series of regional leagues within the framework of a North American League containing the top clubs and players from the United States and Canada.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES
As the largest organization of soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. USL is the leader in player development and is dedicated to growing the game in North America.  USL operates the A-League, second division men's professional; the USL Pro Soccer League, third division men's professional; the Premier Development League, North American U23 amateur league; the W-League, North American women's amateur league; and the Super Y-League, North American youth leagues.