TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship and the USL Players Association announced today that they have reached a formal agreement on a return to play for the 2020 season. The two sides are now actively preparing for a July 11 restart to the 2020 Championship season and will resume negotiations on a historic first Collective Bargaining Agreement in the coming weeks.
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USL Academy League – Player Promotion
In 2013, the United Soccer League introduced the USL Academy Contract to the USL Championship’s roster rules, providing the opportunity for the best players from a club’s Academy system to join the Senior Team to train and compete at the professional level. The idea then was if a young player was good enough, they were old enough to try and make their mark in the professional ranks.
Today, the USL Academy League has taken that idea and expanded it fully throughout an organization’s development structure. Players will now have the chance to excel within a club’s youth network and earn a place in the USL Academy League squad of a USL Championship, League One or League Two team. There, they will go up against top players and teams in the next stage of their development, getting the chance to not only help their team to success on the field, but prove their ability to take the next step in the pathway to the pros.
For those elite players, becoming a USL Academy Signing at the professional level will get a direct opportunity to do so, while retaining their college eligibility. And in some cases, it might even lead to signing their first professional contract and continuing their path to the top of the game.
In creating a system where players have the opportunity to consistently prove themselves against increasing levels of competition, the USL Academy League will provide more players across the United States more opportunities to understand what it takes to reach the professional ranks, and maximize their potential. The impact that will have on the game overall in the country – and the potential impact it will have on future U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams and the youth and senior level – is one that could finally see the United States become the soccer nation it has been striving to become.
United Soccer League Expands Agreement with Stats Perform
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced today it had expanded its agreement with Stats Perform, the revolutionary leader in sports AI and data. Through the agreement, Stats Perform will become the long-term official betting data rights-holder for the United Soccer League (USL)’s two professional domestic leagues, USL Championship and USL League One, for distribution to licensed sportsbooks and daily fantasy operators.
The deal with the USL closely follows the announcement in January that Stats Perform had secured the exclusive official data rights to Major League Soccer (MLS) and U.S. Men and Women national team games.
The agreement extends an earlier partnership with the USL for Stats Perform to be the official data distributor of USL competitions to media and broadcasters. As a result of the deal, the official data used to grade and settle bets will be consistent with the data on other official channels and broadcasts, which has been identified as critical to deliver trusted bettor and operator experiences.
“The USL is excited to partner with Stats Perform as we continue to explore the landscape of sports betting,” said USL SVP of Digital & Emerging Technology and Strategy Lizzie Seedhouse. “Though a seemingly ever-changing landscape, the USL’s priority remains quality and integrity of its data, two qualities that Stats Perform carries as a proven leader in this space.”
Official, ultrafast game, team and player data for over 1,000 USL football matches per season will be made available to licensed sportsbooks and odds feed partners through Stats Perform’s RunningBall incident feed and opta player data services. Coverage includes USL Championship Soccer and USL League 1 Soccer, as well as the potential for additional competitions.
“Soccer is the undisputed biggest betting sport in the world, which means hundreds of licensed sportsbooks and millions of bettors trust us to power their entertainment by collecting data with the utmost professionalism and integrity,” said Stats Perform Chief Rights Officer, Alex Rice. “Our data collection team is the best in the world at what they do and we’re delighted to have been selected by the USL to deliver the best possible betting experiences across their competitions.”
The USL official data rights join other competitions in Stats Perform’s official betting data portfolio available to licensed operators such as Spanish La Liga soccer, French Ligue 1 soccer, German Bundesliga soccer, and numerous other soccer leagues together with official cricket data, official basketball data and more.
Stats Perform’s sports data is part of a premium betting content portfolio that also includes live sports video streaming rights distributed to licensed sportsbooks throughout Europe and other global jurisdictions to create exceptional betting experiences online, on mobile and in land-based sportsbooks, while maintaining the highest integrity standards.
USL’s Stewart: Lynn Family Stadium’s Opening ‘Hugely Significant’
It may arrive three months later than scheduled, but USL Championship Director of Communications Scott Stewart believes the official opening of Louisville City FC’s new Lynn Family Stadium when the USL Championship resumes play in the 2020 season in July is still set to provide a landmark moment for both the club, and for the league.
“What Lynn Family Stadium represents to the Championship as a whole, but also the American soccer scene in general is hugely significant,” Stewart told the Fair Weather Podcast last week. “We’re talking about a stadium that technically has more capacity than the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth. Now we’re building stadiums in the second division in this country that can hold near the amount of people that a Premier League stadium can hold – that’s huge.”
LouCity was scheduled to host its home opener on April 11 against Birmingham Legion FC in a game to be nationally televised on ESPNews. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that game was among the hundreds postponed during the suspension of the season that began in March.
Now, however, the league is set to return as the first in the United States to play at its home venues, and LouCity will have the chance to welcome fans to its grand opening. For Stewart, whose career saw him lead LouCity’s Communications department prior to joining the Championship ahead of the 2019 season, the work that has been accomplished by the club’s staff has been admirable.
“I think Louisville did a great job stipulating they’re looking at models for 25, 33 percent capacity,” said Stewart. “I think it was great that Governor Andy Beshear decided that 50 percent was an appropriate number, but it’s on the club, and it’s a credit to the club to do their due diligence to say, ‘hey, 50 percent might be the governmental standard, but we also need to make sure we feel comfortable, that we’re listening to our fans so our fans are comfortable coming back.’”
The opening of LouCity’s new stadium isn’t the only thing Stewart is looking forward to upon Championship’s planned return on July 11. In addition, there are the big potential storylines created by the eight regionalized groups that make up the league’s revised structure as it returns to play. There’s also the chance to see the talent shine on the field once again, with the Championship’s on-field product as good as it has ever been in terms of talent.
But the opening of Lynn Family Stadium may be the biggest indicator of where the Championship is heading over the course of the next five years, with other clubs aiming to join LouCity in their own permanent, soccer-specific venues.
“It is going to be a shining light and a bright, bright example for what we hope the Championship continues to pursue,” said Stewart. “We have great proposals in Indianapolis and New Mexico, we have stadiums with ground broken in Charlotte as well as Colorado Springs, so we’re well on the way there.
“I think what you’ve seen our President Jake Edwards touch on with Sports Illustrated but other outlets as well is that as we approach the 2026 World Cup in North America, we want to be building and implementing as many soccer-specific stadiums as possible because we know that’s going to be the true growth metric of soccer here and it’s only evidenced by what Louisville has done.”
USL Academy – Talent Identification Strategy
One of the keys to player development is ensuring every player is given the opportunity and time to build his or her game at the right level. Through a three-pronged system, the pathway through the USL Academy League and into the professional ranks is set to provide the ideal approach for players nearing the top of the youth game, and those whose pathway will take a long-term approach between the youth ranks and USL Senior Team action.
Through its collaborative youth network, USL clubs will have the ability to work with local youth coaches to not only identify talent that has the potential to reach the professional ranks, but also put them on the appropriate path for their development. For elite players, this would mean being given Part-Time Senior Status, offering the opportunity to train regularly with Championship, League One or League Two squads – and potentially becoming a USL Academy to a club’s roster.
For some players, that path may not be immediately suitable, with the likelihood more development will be needed. That path would see a player take Full Time Academy Status, giving them a chance to compete throughout the full USL Academy League season. The opportunity to compete against the best opposition around the league will further a player’s development and put them on the path to Senior Status.
For younger players, meanwhile, the more long-term pathway of the Part-Time Youth Status will offer the starting point for the road ahead. Players at this level will compete primarily with their current youth clubs, while also having the opportunity to step up to the USL Academy League side during one of the three periods during the Academy League season.
These three pathways will allow – and encourage – further collaboration between local youth coaches and those within the USL club, allowing strong relationships to be formed between a club’s youth network and the senior team. Those partnerships will allow coaches to properly evaluate the right time to move players further up the pathway to the professional ranks.
The United Soccer League and Sportradar Extend Partnership for Integrity Services and AV Content Ahead of 2020 Season
TAMPA, Fla. and NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 29, 2020) – Sportradar, the global provider of sports data, content and integrity services, and the United Soccer League (USL) today announced a strategic partnership extension for Integrity Services and AV content. The USL recently announced that the 2020 USL Championship season will return on July 11 and that the USL League One season will kick off on July 18 after play was suspended in both leagues due to the spread of COVID-19.
Under the terms of the deal, Sportradar will continue monitoring and analyzing global and domestic betting activity on USL competitions via its industry-leading Fraud Detection System, educating USL teams and players on the risks of match manipulation, and supporting USL with the implementation of robust sports betting and integrity policies and procedures. Additionally, Sportradar gains the international rights to disseminate AV content from the USL Championship and League One matches to licensed sportsbook operators.
“In licensing our international rights through Sportradar for sports betting purposes, we can maximize our leagues’ global exposure in the sports betting space,” said USL SVP of Digital, Emerging Technology and Strategy Lizzie Seedhouse. “Through the extension of our partnership, we also protect the integrity of our competition by identifying suspicious betting activity and educating our 1,600 USL players, club and league front office staffs, technical staffs and referees on match fraud; two of the most important priorities for us as we navigate the sports betting scene.”
“We are pleased about deepening our partnership with the USL by acquiring the international rights for AV content,” said Steve Byrd, Head of Global Strategic Partnerships, Sportradar. “With the USL being one of the first U.S. sports leagues to return to live action, the AV component provides a great opportunity to increase fan engagement and expand the reach of the league on a global scale.”
Sportradar’s integrity education support will include live and pre-recorded webinars, delivered in multiple languages, for players, club and league front office staff, technical staff, and referees about the nature and risks of match-fixing and sports manipulation. As part of its Integrity Services, Sportradar will also continue supporting the USL with investigative and due diligence matters through its Intelligence & Investigations Services team.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to extend our partnership with the USL for Integrity Services, and we look forward to the league resuming shortly,” said Andy Cunningham, Head of Integrity Services and League Relations, North America, at Sportradar. “USL has been a strong partner that consistently prioritizes the integrity of its league. By continuing to work with Sportradar, the USL is ensuring that there’s widespread education across the league about the dangers of match-fixing, while maintaining the necessary resources to identify and escalate issues should they arise.”
USL Championship Announces Eastern Conference Groups
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Friday the four groups made up of teams from the Eastern Conference that will battle for a place in the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs when the league returns to play on Saturday, July 11.
Group E: Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC, Saint Louis FC, Sporting Kansas City II
Group F: Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United FC, New York Red Bulls II, Philadelphia Union II, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Group G: Birmingham Legion FC, Charlotte Independence, Memphis 901 FC, North Carolina FC
Group H: Atlanta United 2, Charleston Battery, Miami FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies
As detailed in the Championship’s announcement of the updated season structure, each team in Group E, Group G and Group H will play its fellow group members four times during the regular season. Meanwhile, each team in Group F will play its fellow group members three times. The remaining games will be played against teams that fall within a similar geographic region.
Group Previews
Group E
The Kings’ Cup and Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest come to the fore with Louisville City FC set to take on its two biggest rivals in Indy Eleven and Saint Louis FC in what should be a fierce fight for the two playoff places. But don’t overlook Sporting Kansas City II, which has a strong collection of young talent that could make things interesting as it looks to make its fourth trip to the postseason in five years after missing out last campaign.
CLICK HERE FOR GROUP E TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS
Group F
We’ve yet to see either Hartford Athletic or Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in action this season, but with the Hounds having finished top of the Eastern Conference a year ago they would appear to be the team to beat among these five teams. The Athletic, meanwhile, believe the work put in by new Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi is going to give it a recipe for success, but with perennial playoff contender the New York Red Bulls II also included – and two teams in Loudoun United FC and the Philadelphia Union II aiming high as well – this group could provide some high-level entertainment.
CLICK HERE FOR GROUP F TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS
Group G
Two intriguing rivalries – one between the Charlotte Independence and North Carolina FC, the other between Birmingham Legion FC and Memphis 901 FC – make for what looks like on paper a group that’s going to be hard to pick a winner from before the action begins. The Independence are the lone side with points to their name as the season resumes, with Legion FC having yet to see action, and they’ll be hopeful of not only gaining the upper hand on their in-state rivals, but reaching the postseason for the first time since 2017.
CLICK HERE FOR GROUP G TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS
Group H
The Miami FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies were already scheduled to see plenty of each other this season, but the now-four scheduled meetings between the two teams are feeling like must-see games, and they could prove key to which team advances to the postseason. With the Charleston Battery aiming to keep its record of being the lone side to reach the USL Championship Playoffs in every season of the league’s history, and Atlanta United 2 bringing some top young talent as well, there’s a lot to look forward to here.
USL Academy – Strategic Alignment
It seems a simple idea, but the USL Academy’s alignment with the professional calendar in North America is one of the key innovations to its overall structure. While previously the summer months – primarily June and July – would be considered the offseason. Now, young players will align their seasons with the professionals they are aiming to join.
By beginning preseason in February, USL Academy signings and other potential additions can join teams in the Championship and League One that are beginning preparations for their season. The season then begins in earnest in March, with three-month windows spanning March to May, June to August, and September to November dividing up the remainder of the schedule.
In addition to potentially competing as part of an organization’s First Team in the Championship, League One and League Two, the teams will also be competing in the USL Academy League. And just as the USL Championship Final is traditionally held in November, so too will the USL Academy League Playoffs.
This strategic alignment, which allows players the ability to compete for not only their youth club, but in the USL Academy League, for their high school, and even potentially at the USL Senior Level, will be beneficial to clubs, coaches, and most importantly players as they look to take the next steps in their development path.
Tormenta FC Funds Local Academy Teams, Player Costs Through Ibis Foundation Grant
STATESBORO, Ga. – Since the foundation of South Georgia Tormenta FC in 2015, the club has repeatedly shown a commitment to serving its local community in ways that go far beyond the soccer field. Recently, Tormenta FC and the Sack Company provided 132 meals to local people in need through a charity t-shirt sale. The club donated $2,000 to its local NAACP chapter in an effort to support the Black community in June, and is now making a push to help fans register to vote.
In addition to the initiatives Tormenta promotes away from the game, the club has quickly endeared itself to people in South Georgia and the Low Country of South Carolina thanks to its focus on providing high-level youth soccer to hundreds of local players. Through the Ibis Foundation, the club is greatly reducing and in some cases eliminating pay-to-play barriers.
That dedication hasn’t wavered during the challenging times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 28, the Ibis Foundation announced a grant which will partially fund 26 academy teams in Georgia and South Carolina, and fully fund the first 250 recreation players to register in Savannah. The grant will also cover all 2020 tryout fees for current players.
“Great soccer players can come from anywhere, so why not here?” said Tormenta FC Owner and President Darin Van Tassell. “But this journey has to be less about financial barriers and more about the individual work and organizational culture that is associated with becoming an expert at any level. The Ibis Foundation has sought generous donors so that it can help increase access and reduce hurdles. Our path doesn’t happen without it.”
Following the success of the club’s pilot grant program in 2019, which fully funded three academy teams, the latest grant will allow Tormenta to provide a growing number of players and families with the chance to play soccer.
“The impact of this grant goes beyond the obvious financial portion,” Ibis Foundation Executive Director Mike Panter said. “To offer a program that alleviates that barrier and truly makes it about identifying the talent in our region, that is priceless. Our board is grateful for being able to provide our academy with this opportunity and look forward to growing this program and soccer in the Low Country region.”
As Tormenta’s first team prepares to begin the 2020 USL League One season on July 18, three players in particular on the club’s roster show the benefit of investing in local talent. Goalkeeper Stephen O’Hearn and midfielders Grant Hampton and Tristan DeLoach all came through Tormenta’s youth program before signing USL Academy contracts with the club, and now will have the opportunity to represent the club at the professional level.
Thanks to the efforts of the Ibis Foundation, those three players are likely to be just the first of many local talents to make the leap to professional soccer at Tormenta FC.