Kicking It Into Gear Area Teams in the Lower Tiers of the U.S. Soccer System

Team	League	Home
Real Maryland	USL2	Md. SoccerPlex, Boyds
Crystal Palace USA	USL2	UMBC, Catonsville, Md.
Northern Virginia Royals	PDL	Hellwig Park, Manassas
Fredericksburg Gunners	PDL	Fredericksburg Academy
Washington Freedom	W-League	Md. SoccerPlex, Boyds
Northern Virginia Majestics	W-League	Hellwig Park, Manassas
Fredericksburg Lady Gunners	W-League	Fredericksburg Academy

The Heirarchy

Men

1. MLS (14 teams)

2. USL1 (11 teams)

3. USL2 (10 teams)

4. PDL (amateur, 67 teams in 10 divisions)

Women

1. W-League (semipro and amateur, 41 teams in five divisions)

*Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), a seven-team, national pro league, will launch next spring featuring many U.S. and international stars and become the country's top-tier circuit. The Freedom will upgrade operations and serve as the Washington franchise.

Note: USL1, USL2, PDL and W-League are all run by the United Soccer Leagues