A Year-Long Competition
1. Allows teams to play ALL teams in their gender.
Historically we have seen 13-22 teams per gender participate and with holding the competition only in the Spring, there is not enough time to complete a schedule of 13-19 games. This change allows for all teams to have enough time to face each other and games be split between the Fall and Spring season for a year-long competition.
2. Scheduling Flexibility.
By expanding the season, we allow teams more time to play their games as well as the chance to schedule matches long-term to eliminate conflicts for other teams they coach. Coaches can set their schedules for Spring season in August of the Fall season and teams would be allowed to play indoor in the winter on full size fields. By giving the teams their full year-round schedule in August, they can appropriately plan for other competitions they want to play in including tournaments and other LEAGUE divisions. With more time to play their Qualifier games some teams may choose to ALSO compete in league division at 9v9 to optimize playing opportunities for all players while maintaining a deep player pool from within their club. The year-long format would also, allow coaches to work on the transition of 11v11 early in the fall where teams may play 9v9 in the Fall and then jump right into 11v11 in the Spring with minimal preparation.
3. Proper Tryout Planning.
With the competition starting in the Fall. Clubs can properly plan for larger rosters during their Spring tryouts instead of selecting a 12U teams based on 9v9 play in the Fall and then having to adjust for 11v11 in the Spring.
Teams can only enter the competition in the Fall season and cannot enter in the Spring.
How many games to expect:
The final amount of games to be played will be determined by how many teams register. Each team will play all the teams in the division. If there are 23 teams in a gender, then a team would play 22 total teams.
This competition can be played in conjunction with other competitions and leagues as this would be a year-long competition and most teams split games between the Fall and Spring season.
12U MWC Qualifier fees:
Member Illinois Youth Soccer competitive league registration fee (YSSL, SLYSA, LDE, IWSL, CIYSL)
$450 event fee paid to IYSA at application
$80 per game for referees
How promotion into USYS Midwest Conference (MWC):
Between 8-10 teams will be promoted based on the standings at the end of the Spring half of the season.
Placement will be into Premier “Color” Division in the 13U Fall Season earned through the 12U IL MWC Qualifier.
Divisions are broken up geographically into color divisions.
For the aforementioned Fall 13U USYS MWC will serve as a qualifying for Premier I for that following Spring 13U USYS MWC. There would be a Premier I and multiple Premier II divisions within USYS MWC where the teams would then be placed in the Spring 13U season.
Final placement determined by MWC seeding committee.
Teams that do not get placed into Premier “Color” Division following the 12U IL MWC Qualifier can play in the 13U MWC Qualifier.
Teams interested in the Fall 13U USYS MWC that did not participate in the 12U IL MWC Qualifier:
13U teams that did not compete in the competition may still apply for the USYS MWC in the Fall season, but will only be considered for placement into the 13U IL MWC Qualifier and only be placed after the teams that did compete in the 12U IL MWC Qualifier are accepted.
Beyond Fall 2025, MWC application is open to any IYSA member team but spots are filled based on promotion and relegation within the USYS MWC and most new teams start in the Qualifying division.
Field and ball size:
Size 4 ball and a standard 8ft x 24 ft 11v11 goal.
Roster size:
To prepare teams for USYS MWC play, teams can have a roster of up to 30 players for each if the seasons, Spring and Fall. Teams can use any IYSA registered player from within their club but a player can only play on one team per season within a gender. Guest players from another club are not allowed.
Only 18 players are allowed to dress on gameday.
Contact: Vince at vince@illinoisyouthsoccer.org or 847-290-1577 ext. 108