SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP CPL expands to add a Central League for Columbia

Looks like the CPL has expanded to their offering in Columbia.
Augusta Arsenal
GPS Lexington
SC United
GA Bulls
Charlotte Independence.

I have no idea how they will schedule, but it seems like that makes for some really good competition at the u8-u12 ages.

https://www.usclubsoccer.org/news_article/show/1017429

Thats not expansion. Thats the ame teams from last year, just cpl splitting off the coastal area teams

Before, I think some of those clubs still had teams in the sandlapper league. Now I think they have moved all their teams into the CPL. Which theoretically should help the cpl grow. Im not sure what that means for the sandlapper league.

For clarity for readers and for what I know.
This development includes lower level U8 - U12 in a local setting (CPL Central in Columbia) - (similar to CPL South in Charleston).

Recall that CPL has two tiers in U8-U12 (local/south in our case and statewide at u11/12). At U11/12 you can have up to 5 tiers, whereas U8-U10 is limited to 3.

123D is correct in that most of these clubs participated in the statewide divisions (U11/12) of CPL last year, but not the CPL south local divisions. This is what is expanding.

Somewhat related, these clubs will send their top teams to the CPL Super Cup for age groups U8-U12 this weekend in Columbia. We are sending 13 teams to face new competition from these clubs, many of which we would not have faced in CPL South.

David, thanks for the clarity and explanation. Makes sense

Don't the top teams, at least for u11 and u12, play in the state-wide league? If not, why? If so, aren't they simply playing the same teams at those ages they play all year?

Some do and others not.

There is not a hard promotion/relegation policy at these young age groups and so clubs/teams can select level of competition.
In some cases, some may not want to travel statewide at 10 years old and choose CPL South div I. This Super Cup competition is club based and in some cases teams can be adjusted, such that a particular team playing lower level in CPL South can be made more competitive through adjustments to rosters (akin to guest players).

But you are correct, there will be some teams at U11/12 who will face some teams they see in league play. In that regard (at upper age/talent level) I would consider this more like the SCYS State Cup format at U14 where top teams move forward to play each other again.

I know our teams are very excited about this opportunity and event

Just looking at the numbers,, it seems their will be far more teams playing US Club soccer than for scysa.

They are not mutually exclusive.

Or they weren't maybe they will be next year?

Not sure,,, I think it will be tough from a scheduling standpoint to play in 2 different leagues. I dont know if that helps. Just looking at the Spring Challenge league.. Of the 19 teams that played in the spring, 18 of those teams will be npl or associated with the new league. PMSL has more than half their teams associated with the new league. I dont have a clue were they will end up though.

Some of these teams are aligned/will align to USL teams, so I wonder if this league will wind up being for the top teams without USL alignment and the lowest teams with USL alignment. I'm thinking SC United, Discoveries and others. Maybe a Greenville youth club will align with the Greenville Triumph?

Also noted that one CPL/SCCL club has multiple coaches with three teams. That will lead to continued scheduling nightmares for the leagues.

It won’t wind up as you described beyond what it as already. SCUFC, DSC, USA/MP, GPS top teams are not in the league beyond U12. A future USL academy surely isn’t going to have competition at u9, u10 & u11. If so, that will be a mistake, no reason for those age groups to be traveling outside the state.

It is my understanding that the CPL & SCCL league are using a club approach to their scheduling. Ie all of GPS Junior Girls play on the same date at the same park vs the same club. This approach supports club unity, allows directors to interact with all teams and facilities an environment where coaches can coach multiple teams.

Happy to keep correcting any attempts to disparage the CPL/SCCL league. Clearly the lack of being accepted is driving these attempts.