Utah Platform League
Creating a competitive environment for clubs and teams regardless of their national, regional, or state platform.
UPL Details
UPL Objectives
- Create a competitive environment for all teams, regardless of their national, regional, or state platform
- Encourage competition that is based on the changing landscape. This means constantly adapting our objectives and strategies to meet the challenges of a changing soccer landscape
UPL Member Club
· 1 team per club and gender
· U13-U18/19s
· No UYSA State Cup
· No UYSA Gaming League
UPL Qualifying Teams
· State Cup Champion
· State Cup Finalist
· Has the option to play in UYSA State Gaming League
· Plays in UYSA State Cup
UPL Member Club that qualifies through their National Platform League (ECNL, GA and E64) – For Competition purposes UPL Member Clubs are only allowed one (1) team per age group, per gender that qualifies through the identified National Platform Leagues
UPL Qualifying Team is the team that qualifies through the National Championship Series (State Cup)- For Competition purposes UPL Qualifying teams will not be limited to the number of teams participating. This will be based on Results as defined in qualifications.
Designated Player (UPL Member Club ONLY)
· Each UPL Member Club will designate 13 players in the U13-U17 age groups that are ONLY allowed to compete in the UPL Season.
· Designated Player does not apply to the U18/U19 age group
· Any UPL Qualifying Team participating in UPL Competition will not be required to designate players
Advisory Committee
- The league is administered by a UYSA Advisory Committee, which includes one representative for boys and one representative for girls from each member club. For the boys, the clubs represented are La Roca, Sparta, Avalanche, Celtic, and City SC. For the girls, the clubs represented are La Roca, Avalanche, Celtic, Wasatch, and City SC.
Uniform
• Home: Light color
• Away: Dark color
UPL Qualifying Teams may move (with no expectations) players between league competitions, following UYSA league Rules (Club Pass, Multi roster, etc.)
Playing Up: There are no play up restrictions – this will be at the discretion of the member club or team
Late Developer (Playing Down): Member Club or Qualifying Team can submit requests prior to the week of the game with the proper documentation using the below Form for Late Developer Request. Any Late Developer Requests will be sent to other Member Clubs/Teams for full disclosure - Form for Late Developer Request
Movement Between Age Groups: UPL registered Players may participate in any age group of UPL Competition within the club they are registered if they are age eligible and meet all the other eligibility requirements
This includes UPL Member Clubs and UPL Qualifying Teams
Movement Between multiple teams competing in the UPL: Players will not be allowed to be multi-rostered, or club passed between two club/teams competing in UPL competition
Roster Maximums: No maximums
Game Day Roster: 22 players max
A player that is rostered to a UPL Qualifying Team follows the UYSA Gaming League Roster Policies.
Where reasonable UPL Member Clubs will host all UPL Qualifying Teams at one location on a selected day
* This will help with field standards, league logistics, referees, etc.
Match Day Protocols & Minimum Standards: UPL Game Day Minimum Standards are expectations and requirements of hosting UPL Competitions.
Substitutions:
- U13 and U14: Unlimited subs with reentry
- U15-U18/19: 6 moments per game, 3 per half, reentry in the half
- Half time is not considered a moment.
- Re-entry shall be at a normal substitution point (with approval of the referee) or at any point during the game if the referee signals for the player’s re-entry
Concussion Substitutions – If a player is suspected of suffering a head injury, such player may be substituted for evaluation. The substitution for the evaluation of a concussion/head injury will not count toward the team’s total allowed substitutions in a half. However, the team must have at least one substitution available to implement this temporary substitution.
If the player is deemed by the HCP or ATC to not have been diagnosed as having a possible concussion, the player may re-enter the game at any stoppage of play, with approval by the referee, and must replace the original substitute. This head injury evaluation substitution will not count as a used substitution in the half. Furthermore, the temporary substitute will be able to re-enter the game in that half later.
If the player is not cleared to return to play by the HCP or ATC, the replacement player will no longer be considered a temporary substitute and the team will be charged a substitution.
Any discipline issued to the temporary substitute will count for the remainder of the game.
However, the team must have at least one substitution available to implement this temporary substitution.
U13 – 35 min halves – 10 min half time
U14,U15,U16 – 40 min halves – 10 min halftime
U17, U18/19 – 45 min havles – 10 min halftime
Message from Technical Director, Eric Landon
“The UPL was built on the following objectives:
Create a level playing field for all teams, regardless of their national, regional, or state platform.
Encourage competition that is based on the changing landscape. This means constantly adapting our objectives and strategies to meet the challenges of a changing soccer landscape.”
Landon also said that the UPL is “a new way of thinking about youth soccer in Utah.” He believes that the league will “provide a more competitive, challenging and developmental environment for players, coaches, and clubs.”
The UPL is a single-division league that will include teams from ECNL, GA, E64, MLS Next, and USYS. The league will be divided into two age groups: U13-U14 and U15-U19. The regular season will begin in August/September and end in June.
The UPL is a significant development for youth soccer in Utah. It is the first time that all the major youth soccer platforms in the state will be represented in a single league. This will provide players with more opportunities to compete against the best players in the state. It will also help to create a more level playing field for all teams.
The UPL is a bold move by Utah Youth Soccer. It is a sign that the association is committed to providing the best possible experience for its players. The league is sure to be a success and will help to raise the level of youth soccer in Utah.