LEADERSHIP
The EXL will be governed by the board of New York State West Youth Soccer Association, operating under the authority and guidance of US Soccer and USYS. The operational management of the league will be made up of a league commissioner, a league committee made up of regional representatives and NYSWYSA staff members. The EXL represents just one of many positive changes happening within NYSWYSA and deliberate direction coming from US Soccer. NYSWYSA is proud to lead with advancing youth soccer in the region with the launch of The EXL, improving the ODP model, showcasing The State Cup and providing more coaching education opportunities to serve the youth soccer coaching community. The EXL is the product of SERVICE to the youth soccer community of New York State.
TEAM APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND PLACEMENT
- All Accepted Clubs are subject to a $450.00 bond that covers all applicable teams within club
- Acceptance is not automatic and depends on club good standing, suitable competition, roster viability, coach compliance, field capacity, geography, and available division space.
- Placement decisions shall be published before scheduling. A placement review request must be filed by the published date
LEAGUE STRUCTURE
The EXL will offer competition for ages U10-U19. Individual team entry costs for ages U10 is $350.00. U11 to U19 individual team costs are $450.00. U11-U19 will be eligible for The EXL Mid Season Soccer Festival for crossover divisional play, as well as end of season final four playoff opportunities. NYSWYSA will offer special programs for U8-U9 age groups separately, following US Soccer and USYS guidelines for player development. Stay tuned for more information regarding these programs. See the chart below for information regarding U10-U19 age groups.
| Age | Format | Max roster/ Max Game Day | Games | Soccer Festival/Playoffs |
| U10 | 7v7 or annual published format | As published | 8 | No |
| U11-U12 | 9v9 | 18/16 | 10 | Yes |
| U13-U14 | 11v11 | 22/18 | 10 | Yes |
| U15-U16 | 11v11 | 22/18 | 10 | Yes |
| U17-U19 | 11v11 | 22/18 | 10 | Yes |
COMPETITION STRUCTURE
EXL uses Premier, Championship, and First Division tiers where participation supports all three. Geographic Divisions The annual competition notice shall identify each age group’s divisions, schedule format, crossover matches, Festival obligations, postseason qualification, and promotion/relegation positions.
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
- Automatic movement is the default when divisions are viable and comparable.
- A team may move no more than one tier in a seasonal year.
- Promotion requires club and team good standing, facility compliance, coaching compliance, and demonstrated ability to field the team.
- A promoted team that declines or is ineligible may be replaced by the next eligible team in finishing order.
- If a team does not return, its vacancy is filled first by preserving earned promotions, then by offering reprieve to the highest-finishing relegated team, then by competitive placement review.
- Promotion and relegation attach to a club team slot only when reasonable roster and coaching continuity exists. The League may re-place a substantially reconstituted team.
- Where geography, age-group consolidation, withdrawals, or insufficient entries make the standard model impractical, the Competition Committee may recommend a documented exception.
- A team that withdraws after final alignment may be treated as last place. A team that withdraws after starting the season shall be relegated one tier if it returns