What is Region 1 Soccer?
US Youth Soccer is split into four areas across the country. Each area runs an Olympic Development Program (ODP). Massachusetts Youth Soccer is part of the first area, called Region 1. In Region 1, there’s a special camp for teams from different states based on the players’ ages. These camps give players a chance to train hard and play against strong teams. The best players from these camps might be picked to try out for the US National Soccer Team.
Each Region has a state association/organization (Massachusetts is Massachusetts Youth Soccer) and each Region has between 12 and 15 states as “members”.
Region 1 is comprised of 15 states associations:
- Connecticut Junior Soccer Association
- Delaware Youth Soccer Association
- Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
- Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association
- Soccer Maine
- Maryland State Youth Soccer Association
- Massachusetts Youth Soccer
- New Hampshire Soccer Association
- New Jersey Youth Soccer Association
- New York State West Youth Soccer Association
- Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association
- Soccer Rhode Island
- Vermont Soccer Association
- Virginia Youth Soccer Association
- West Virginia Soccer Association
And, in Massachusetts, there are two Region 1 leagues:
The Premier League – included here would be state champion teams, regional semi-finalists and other miscellaneous teams.
There can be no more than sixteen teams in the Premier League.
Northeast Regional League – s step below the Premier League; usually reserved for teams in state cup finalists/semi-finalists, etc.