South Central Premier League
Creating a culture...
What is the SCPL?
Our passion is to grow the game and to promote a thriving soccer culture. Clubs, Communities, and Players will have exclusive access to creating this platform. The South Central Premier League (SCPL) is for those who want to keep playing after they have aged out of their youth clubs.
The SCPL is affiliated with the American Premier Alliance (APA). The APA provides a platform for players and clubs to continue playing in an affordable and competitive soccer league. This is the premier U23 adult amateur league sanctioned by US Club Soccer.
As an SCPL member, your club will have a voice on how to shape this summer playing opportunity for 2023 and beyond!
Join the SCPL!
It takes less than 60 seconds to fill out the membership form. Submit the form and we will contact you soon!
FAQ
Why the South Central Premier League?
The SCPL was created to benefit men and women soccer players that have aged out of their youth club system. Statistics show that US youth soccer participation has declined by nearly 500,000 kids in the last five years. A wide variety of reasons for this decline in participation but the cost of participation and travel are a big reason why people quit playing.
The SCPL brings access and affordability to the adult amateur soccer platform. Anybody can create a team and enter the league. The goal is to keep players playing locally so there is community support. All members of the SCPL can showcase the talent in their community with the potential to represent the region on a national level (if desired).Why US Club Soccer?
The decision for SCPL to go towards US Club Soccer instead of state associations affiliated with USYSA because the decision making and governance goes back towards APA member clubs. All clubs have an opportunity to have a voting member and decision-making ability in how the SCPL operates. Since the SCPL is a multi-state league, the US Club Soccer route allows for player carding on a National level instead of a state-level - this was an important step for the Senior Team league.
The SCPL encourages participation in both USYSA and US Club Soccer events.What is the SCPL governing structure?
As a league, the SCPL is governed by the American Premier Alliance (APA) by co-Executive Director positions (3), Founding Club members, and all other member clubs (1 per club). All member clubs will have an opportunity for feedback on the operations of the APA.
How are players registered in the SCPL?
Players are registered through US Club Soccer. The Executive Directors will register all players within SCPL affiliated leagues unless players or Club is already registered with US Club Soccer.
The SCPL recognizes FIFA governance on all players, so any international players must send a formal request to the relevant Federation for the player's International Transfer Clearance (ITC). The home Federation and SCPL will certify that a player is free to play in the League. In accordance with FIFA, Federations have a maximum of 30 days until USSF and APA can declare provisional clearance which enables a player to play for the Club.
No players are permitted to play in an official League match until they have been cleared.How can my club benefit?
As a member of the US soccer public, we should encourage people of all ages to continue playing. Youth clubs have forever focused on youth players, while the 18+ age group has left the game (unless they play in college). It is important to the SCPL that teams utilize a senior team (U23) to continue playing for those who have graduated out of the youth system.
Additionally, through SCPL competition, teams can qualify for the longest-running tournament in the United States - the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. With a club's involvement in the senior team division, your club could represent your community in the biggest cup in the US.
Studies have shown over the last 10 years; soccer numbers are decreasing in the US. Through the SCPL, we want to engage people of all demographics to grow the game.How can the SCPL help my club go to the US Open Cup?
The SCPL is a qualifying member of US Club Soccer, which is a member of US Soccer Federation, that allows for US Open Cup qualifying. A total of $475m was awarded in US Open Cup awards and prizes. To qualify, here are the criteria for Clubs:
1. Belong to a club or league of any Organization Member of U.S. Soccer2. Compete in a regular (i.e. on-going) league competition with at least four teams, with each team playing at least ten league games during the year3. A refundable performance bond of $1,000 must be paid by each team at the time of submitting the Entry Fee ($200).4. Provide a home field that meets tournament minimum standards for local qualifying (field at least 100 yds. x 65 yds.) for each qualifying round and identify that venue at the time of registration5. Remain as a member in good standing in the same league from the summer of 2023 to the end of the tournament in 2024Rules on Amateurism
The SCPL is sanctioned as an amateur league. It is important for all teams to understand the rules of amateurism. Each member Club should ensure players maintain amateur eligibility, as the Club would be held responsible for jeopardizing amateurism if there is a violation. The United States has two governing bodies on amateurism: FIFA and college (NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/etc.).
College amateurism and eligibility will be put in jeopardy if an athlete:- Receives compensation that exceeds actual and necessary expenses- Receives compensation for media appearances based on your athletic ability or fame- Endorsing commercial products or services- Accepting prize money beyond the actual/necessary expenses- Accepting money from an agent or agency- Participating with a player, on the same team, who is considered a professional player
No amateur teams should ever use the terminology "professional" or "semi-professional" as the term "professional" could jeopardize amateurism. All players must sign a registration form from the Club and APA that reinforces if a player is an amateur or professional. A player who wishes to sign with a professional team must have completed college eligibility or be advised that upon signing as an amateur player on a professional team, the player will lose college eligibility.
A professional player may be reinstated as an amateur only with the permission of that team and the Amateur National State Association or Professional League with which the Club is affiliated. An application for reinstatement to amateur status must be made on the USSF Amateur Reinstatement Form and both the completed form and the applicable fee ($50.00) must be filed with the appropriate Federation. The Federation shall issue approval of the reinstatement to amateur status within fourteen (14) days after receipt, appropriate fees, and compliance with Federation rules. However, the player's reinstatement to amateur status is not effective until the day after the thirty (30) day time period has elapsed from the day that the player competed in his last match with his/her team as a professional player. This is in accordance with FIFA's Regulations Governing the Status and Transfer of Football Players.
A professional player who is not currently registered as a professional player with any professional division team or league, who has not been a party to a professional player contract with a professional division team or league for a period of one year or longer, and who has not applied for reinstatement as an amateur, shall be automatically reinstated to amateur status by the Secretary-General unless the player affirmatively states in writing that he/she does not wish to be reinstated to amateur status.
College Player Eligibility for SCPL
- Any player signed to or enrolled in college on scholarship or as a walk-on qualifies as a collegiate player for that school.- Any Division I, Division II, Division III, or NAIA player, with or without remaining NCAA eligibility, is permitted to play on an SCPL amateur team.- College players are not permitted to train, practice or play with any SCPL amateur teams during their scheduled season.- SCPL amateur teams ARE NOT to promote the respective league as professional or semi-professional.- SCPL amateur teams cannot provide any players more than actual and necessary expenses or they will be considered a professional team.- SCPL amateur teams are permitted to employ college players as camp coaches for summer youth soccer camps, but no amateur or professional players on an SCPL amateur team are permitted to receive any compensation for playing.- College players are also not permitted to receive any complimentary equipment or apparel from SCPL amateur or team sponsors. College players must either turn in all team equipment at the end of the season or purchase it from the team at fair market value.- A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition, provided:- Such participation occurs no earlier than May 1st.- The competition is approved by the institution's director of athletics.- No class time is missed for practice activities or for competition.- A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, the amateur competition during any official vacation period published in the institution's catalog.- NO SCPL clubs may play with more than five (5) student-athletes with eligibility remaining in NCAA DI. There is no limit for NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, or NJCAA.- NO NCAA student-athletes with eligibility remaining may participate with an SCPL team if there is a member of the institution's soccer staff involved in any capacity, at any time with the team.
Exception
Before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, defined as participants with a team or in fall/spring term, an individual may compete on a professional team provided he/she does not receive more than actual necessary expenses on the team.