US Youth Soccer Competition in PA
OVERVIEW of Youth Soccer Options in Central Pennsylvania
through Keystone.
Within Pennsylvania, there is a West and East
conference; Keystone participates in West.
For PA West, the league levels are described
below. PA West manages the teams from Local Leagues up to including
the Classic League. Keystone is a consistent Classic level club with
a few teams playing in the Colonial League.
There is good opportunity for additional Colonial teams
through this initiative to offer more structure to central PA soccer
player families.
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League
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Qualification Requirements
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Competition
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Premier League
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State Cup champions and/or teams
promoted from previous season’s Colonial League
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16 best teams in Region 1
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Colonial League
(called North-East League for CT, NY-E, MA, ME, NH, VT, RI)
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Top 4 finish in State Cup
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Teams from PA-E, PA-W, MD, NY-W, WV,
DE, NJ, VA.
(NE
League is a parallel league with teams from remaining areas
of Region 1.)
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Classic
League
Division 1=Elite
Division 2=Premier
Division 3a
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Prior success in Div3b is usually
required. There are 3 subdivisions with the top two teams
within each subdivision typically promoted to the next
higher subdivision for the next season.
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Club teams throughout PA-West,
primarily Pittsburgh area, but also Erie, Laurel Highlands
and central PA
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Division 3b
(formerly “Division 1”)
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There is no formal system of
“promotion” from Division 4, but typically teams enter Div3b
after one or more seasons in Div4.
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Sunday travel league – teams throughout
PA-West (mostly Pittsburgh area, but also Erie, Laurel
Highlands and central PA)
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Division 4
(formerly “Division 2”)
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Team tryouts and formal roster
registered with PA-West (also true for all leagues at higher
levels)
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Local travel teams in central PA
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Local Recreational Soccer Clubs
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None
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Local players within each community
(Hollidaysburg, Altoona, State College, Clearfield, etc.)
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