The league the Battery plays in actually promotes this structure. The USL (United Soccer Leagues) has leagues starting with youth (Super Y), older youth (Super 20), amateur men (PDL), amateur women (W-league) and 2 pro leagues (USL1 & USL2). A club could have teams in all leagues, thus, their own pyramid. Atlanta Silverbacks just dropped out of USL1 but I believe they fielded teams in almost all those leagues. The Richmond Kickers and I believe the Rochester Rhinos are close too. Here's a page from the USL website on all their leagues: http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72011+L2/+E+ABO

When the Super Y started several years ago, the Battery fielded one or 2 teams, (girls I believe) but after one year they dropped them. I asked Tony Bakker, the owner, why they dropped and he basically said the same thing as fristtouch, that he was afraid that ticket buying parents might not buy Battery tickets if their kid didn't make the Battery youth team. Sad state of affairs but I can't say he'd be wrong in thinking that....

Last edited by Soccer Watcher; 05/27/09 05:38 PM.