AAYSA - Anne Arundel Youth Soccer Association - Several divisions of play are established (A, 1, 2, and 3+). A is the most competitive with winners of previous season's Division 1 invited to play in. Each division has set rules on the amount of game playing time requirements for every player: 25% or 50% of the game.
BBSL - Baltimore Beltway Soccer League - Headquartered in Bel Air MD, BBSL is the oldest affiliated youth league in the MSYSA having been in existence for over thirty-five years. At present, the league has grown to over 300 youth teams and encompasses the entire state of Maryland. Games are generally played on Saturdays. The U-9 and U-10 age groups will play in a 7 vs. 7 format. The U-11 age group will play in an 8 vs. 8 format. The U-12 age group will have both an 8 vs. 8 and 11 vs. 11 format. The U-13 and older teams will play in an 11 vs. 11 format. Player rosters shall be limited to 14 players for small-sided age groups and 18 players for U-13 at any one time. For teams that are U-14 and older, an expanded roster of 22 players may be used, of which you must designate 18 players for each game. Validated player rosters shall be submitted in accordance to US Club Soccer or MSYSA guidelines prior to a team’s first game
CMSSL - Central Maryland Short-Sided League - CMSSL has been running for over 10 years and provides a well administered, high quality developmental soccer league for U-9, U-10, U-11, and U12 girls and boys. CMSSL plays a combined schedule with the Olney/Bethesda Soccer League (OBSL), and the strength of these two leagues provides an extremely high quality soccer experience for all teams involved. Referee assignments for CMSSL home games will be made by the home team. MSYSA passes required before first game. Generally 8 games per season on fields in and around central Maryland.
EDP - Eastern Development Program - Started by a core group of "elite" clubs in Region 1. The mission is to provide a development-friendly arena of competition where coaches can operate in a collegial and mutually supportive environment to develop players who aspire the to the highest levels of play - College, Pro and International. etc. Flights have grown for Boys and Girls to U11-U18 since 2013. Most EDP Boys First Division teams, and selected Girls teams from both divisons are members of US Club's "NPL" family of premier programs. The program is administered by MSSL - a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of youth soccer.
EPDL - Elite Player Development Limited league.
FIFA - The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is an association governed by Swiss law founded in 1904 and based in Zurich. It has 209 member associations and its goal, enshrined in its Statutes, is the constant improvement of football. FIFA employs some 310 people from over 35 nations and is composed of a Congress (legislative body), Executive Committee (executive body), General Secretariat (administrative body) and committees (assisting the Executive Committee). Mission: 'Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future'. FIFA maintains the official laws of the game.
MSSL - Mid-Atlantic Soccer Showcase League - Player Progression System - Established in 1999, MSSL, Inc. has an annual customer base of over 400,000 athletes and their families from the East Coast. Affiliate leagues include MAPS and EDP.
MSYSA - Maryland State Youth Soccer Association - An affiliate that complies with the authority of the USYS, USSF, and FIFA. The mission of MSYSA is to administer youth soccer throughout the state. MSYSA is dedicated to encouraging sportsmanship and fostering increased knowledge, recognition and understanding of the game. MSYSA is constantly promoting opportunities for players to develop, train and compete while maximizing education and training for coaches. State Cup is organized and administered by MSYSA. Rosters for State Cup and NCSL teams must be submitted to the MSYSA.
NCSL - National Capital Soccer League - Largest league playing in either Maryland or Virginia with over 65 clubs from Fredericksburg to Baltimore. Consists of more than 600 teams from U9 – U19. This very competitive league is run by an executive committee that meets monthly. The league is governed by clubs via their club representative. 65 clubs representatives meet as Board of Directors five times during the seasonal year. U9 and U10 is 7v7 format with scores not being kept. At Fall U11 teams are placed into division randomly and scores begin being kept. U11 and U12 is 8 v 8 format. U13 and up is 11 v 11 format. NCSL informational slideshow.
NPL - National Premier League - The NPL was created to elevate and change the competitive youth soccer landscape by extending developmental principles espoused by USSF into more age groups and clubs, by linking competition with player development and identification platforms, and by providing meaningful weekly competition culminating in the NPL Finals. NPLs are independent leagues, unified under one national competition platform, and based on a common technical framework designed to improve long-term player development. The NPL provides a platform focused on long-term player development, for the country’s top soccer clubs, allowing consistent, meaningful high-level games appropriately scheduled with higher training-to-game ratios, that allows players to be scouted and evaluated by U.S. Soccer National Staff and Technical Advisors, that is designed and structured by the clubs, based on the needs of the clubs, and that provides an avenue for qualification for the NPL Champions Cup. EDP is a member league of NPL.
NSCAA - National Soccer Coaches Association of America - Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has grown into the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization that serves members at every level of the game. Classes for coaches are taught around the country at various levels. Levels 1-3 for beginner coaches, Levels 4-6 for intermediate coaches, and advanced courses include: National, Advanced National, and Premier Diplomas. Members have access to an online library of training sessions. A yearly NSCAA conference is held annually in January.
ODP - Olympic Development Program - USYS/MSYSA affiliate program acting as a national identification and development program for high-level players. The program identifies and develops youth players throughout the country to represent their state and regional associations. At the state association level, pools of players are identified in each eligible age group, and brought together as a team to develop their skill through training and competition. From the state pools and subsequent teams, players are identified for regional and national pools and teams. Maryland State ODP teams are comprised of the best Maryland players in various age groups. Tryouts are typically after Fall season.
PCA - Positive Coaching Alliance - An educational coaching course series. The PCA Double Goal Coaching class teaches principles of honoring the game, mastery of sport over winning, filling player's emotional tanks, and having conversations with players at every practice and game.
Region 1 Champions League - This league replaces the Colonial/Premier system as of 2014 and consists of 3 divisions. Teams can apply if registered with MSYSA. Played in Spring. Division 1 of the Champions League is for the top 32 teams throughout the Region in the U12 through U18 age groups for both girls and boys. The competition is designed to allow the very best teams in Region I to play each other in a league format. Automatic bids to Division 1 will be given to:
- The finalists of the previous year's Regional Championship
- The top two teams in each of the geographical brackets of the division from the previous year's Division 1 League play
- Promotion from Division 2
Division 2 is for those teams that did not qualify for Division 1, chose to play in Division 2, or were relegated out of Division 1.
Division 3 is for those teams that did not qualify for Division 1 or 2 or are new to the Regional League.
STAR - Special Team Assistant Referees - program to promote volunteer referees involvement in games at the U12-U13 levels of NCSL play. Typically one parent STAR from each team assists a head center referee at each NCSL game. More info here.
TSL - Team Sportsmanship Liaison - Some leagues require that a team provide a TSL for every match including WAGS and NCSL. The role is to be the "cooler head" should sideline behavior escalate to inappropriate levels. The TSL should be the first point of contact should the referee feel he/she needs help due to inappropriate sideline behavior.
US Club Soccer - A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer is an organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs in the United States. Among US Club Soccer’s guiding principles are 1.) Clubs are the vehicle through which players are developed, and US Club Soccer should help facilitate club development throughout the country; 2.) Clubs and their leadership should be the primary decision-makers in the structure and organization of soccer; 3.) US Club Soccer should provide leadership and a vehicle for clubs and technical leaders to work together to elevate the game and player development environment. Teams can get US Club cards for rostering teams for most tournaments and EDP.
USSF - United States Soccer Federation / US Soccer - The governing body of soccer in the United States. This is where the Academy system stems from. Coaching licenses are awarded through USSF as well (a parallel course structure is available through NSCAA). MSYSA is affiliated with USSF and provides coaches instructional courses here. All Severna Park Soccer Select coaches are required to obtain a Level E license or equivalent.
USYS - United States Youth Soccer - US Youth Soccer is the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). It is a nationwide body of over 600,000 volunteers and administrators, and over 300,000 dedicated coaches, most of who also are volunteers. US Youth Soccer registers over 3,000,000 youth players between the ages of five and nineteen. US Youth Soccer is made up of 55 member State Associations; one in each state, and two in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. The US Youth Soccer membership is divided into four regions, each with a Director elected to the board. The regions are essentially East (Region I), Midwest (Region II), South (Region III) and West (Region IV). Each State Association has a Board of Directors, elected by delegates from their member leagues, clubs or teams. @USYouthSoccer
WAGS - Washingtion Area Girls Soccer League - A girls select league (U9-U19) in the Washington, DC area, and includes players from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. A very competitive league where games and scores are recorded online.