The American Soccer League (ASL) announces its NCAA-compliant division, ASL2, which kicks off next month. ASL2 will begin play on the East Coast and has confirmed 2016 summer expansion to the Midwest.
“ASL2 is a pivotal component of ASL’s powerful business and player development models,” said ASL CEO, Matt Driver. “It’s important for us, as a League, to facilitate the transition from youth-team and collegiate levels to the professional ranks for American players.”
ASL2 begins play featuring five teams with 2014/2015 ASL counter-parts such as the Philadelphia Fury, AC Crusaders, RI Oceaneers, Mass United FC, and Evergreen Diplomats, in addition to teams new to ASL – including Lancaster Lions and New Hampshire and Long Island.
“Our long-term vision is to have clubs provide players a vertically-integrated model encompassing youth-level, amateur, and professional teams,” said ASL Commissioner Dan Trainor. “ASL2 enables our ASL teams to create a pool of players that they can train and monitor their progression.”
Expansion for ASL2 is already underway as the Midwest has confirmed the Milwaukee Torrent, FC Fargo, and a team yet to be named in St. Paul, MN all set to kick off in 2016.
“The ASL and ASL2’s model and my experience working with Dan [Trainor] and Matt [Driver] were what attracted us to the League,” said Milwaukee Torrent Owner and ASL2 Midwest Manager, Andreas Davi. “The Midwest has so many teams with the ambition to play Pro Soccer but until now, there was no cost-effective league available. There is a void in Professional Soccer and we are one step closer to filling the void with the launch of ASL2 in the Midwest.”
Each ASL2 Region features its own Regional Manager who is responsible for the administrative duties of the League including scheduling, registration, and enforcing minimum standards.
“The ASL provides a platform for talented players after college and ASL2 allows players to receive top-level coaching and play at a high standard while maintaining their amateur status” said ASL2 East Coast Manager, Joel Needham. “ASL2 also allows players a chance to build a relationship with the Club’s Front Office thanks to the vertically-integrated model.”
Matt Driver and Dan Trainor are also available for comment upon request and may be reached at matt@aslsoccer.us and commissioner@aslsoccer.us respectively.
Ludwig Media 
Leave a Reply