CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 2, 2022) – Six leading soccer clubs in Arizona have been announced as the founding members of the newly formed Soccer Alliance of Arizona (SAAZ), which will elevate youth standards in the state by ensuring a more professional experience for families, players, and coaches. 

The six founding clubs are:

• Arizona Arsenal SC
• Arizona SC
• FC Tucson Youth
• Phoenix Premier FC
• Phoenix Rising FC
• RSL Arizona

Leadership from these clubs will form the technical committee, which will oversee all technical aspects of the game. This aligns with US Club Soccer’s guiding principles that soccer people should make soccer decisions, local decisions should be made locally, and the sport deserves professional management.

Beginning in the fall, the SAAZ will offer multiple divisions of league play to accompany all levels of play.

National Premier Leagues (NPL)
The top competitive level is an NPL division with U-13 through U-19 boys and girls teams across three divisions: NPL, NPL 1, and NPL 2. Winners qualify for US Club Soccer’s NPL postseason, where they’ll compete for National Premier Leagues championships.

Arizona Development League (AZDL)
The AZDL’s U-11 through U-19 boys and girls teams focus on competitive play for players or teams that are still looking to develop. Higher divisions for each age group will utilize a hybrid model of centralized field locations to provide an event that is more than just a single game. Lower divisions for each age group will focus on more of a geographical/regional alignment to reduce travel expectations for families. The promotion and relegation process allows teams to move up and down for additional competition. 

Youth Academy
For U-10 players and younger, a series of home and away jamboree-like events will take place in coordination with member clubs. 

In addition to league-based opportunities, SAAZ members have access to US Club Soccer’s cup-based national pathways, player identification and development offerings, and coaching education courses.

New member clubs will be announced soon. Clubs seeking to join the SAAZ may fill out a form here. There are two more rounds of acceptance deadlines and member announcements: May 15 and June 1. For questions, please email info@soccerallianceaz.com. The league is also hiring an Operations Director; interested applicants should review the announcement.

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER:
A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its five pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services. 

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.

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