The USYS National League Winter Events are a modification to simplify the current structure of quarterfinals and semifinals, and will begin in the 2025-26 seasonal year. As with the current event structure, the winter events will provide teams with an opportunity to earn their place into the summer’s USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life.
Eligible Teams
The winter events are open to only National League teams. Competition is available for boys and girls teams in the 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups.
Within each age group, 40 total teams will compete in the winter events, with the teams split among two events (20 teams per event).
The events
The winter events feature an event in November and an event in January. Each participating team attends ONE event and plays three total games (one per day) for a three-day event.
Format and Advancement opportunities
At each event, teams are split into five groups of four, and each team plays its three group opponents over three days. Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
- Teams that finish in first place in their four-team group will advance to the USYS National Championships as a National League representative.
- Teams that finish in second place in their four-team group at the winter events will earn a spot into The NL Cup at the end of that season.
Team Application PRocess
All teams that play in the winter events are selected through an application process that is completed ahead of each seasonal year.
The winter events are open to only National League teams, and all teams that play in the National League’s team-based divisions or the club-based divisions are welcome to apply. Teams that finish in first place in the National League’s Tier 1 Divisions (club-based or team-based) are guaranteed acceptance.
The remaining open spots are awarded based on the teams’ history of performance.
FAQs
Click on the questions below to view the answers. FAQs will be updated on a rolling basis.
The anticipated event fee for a National League winter event is $2,000-$2,300. This winter event fee covers the entry fee into the USYS National Championships should a team qualify for the National Championships through its winter event.
In that case, the team will retain its winter event qualification slot and advance to the USYS National Championships as a National League representative.
Applications are expected to open in late spring, with acceptances taking place in late June.
No. A team can apply for both events but may only compete in one of the two winter events.