In Maryland, soccer is played by all age groups, and at varying skill levels. The Maryland State Soccer Association oversees six amateur leagues throughout the State, and is an affiliate of the United State Soccer Federation (USSF), the United States Adult Soccer Association, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Additional levels of skill, ranging from amateur to professional, are included within other USSF affiliates.
At the college level, soccer is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and is available at most colleges and universities in Maryland. College soccer is classified as a fall sport, played from August through December. Maryland colleges have won the NCAA championship on a number of occassions, most recently in 2008, when the University of Maryland, College Park men's team defeated the University of North Carolina.
Division I (men's)
Division III (men's)
Division I (women's)
Division III (women's)
TEAM USA (men's soccer)
Soccer was first played at the summer Olympics in 1900, with women's soccer added in 1996. Since its first olympic competition, the women's Olympic team has won gold medals three times (1996, 2004, 2008).
The next summer Olympics/Paralympics will be held at London in 2012.
NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
The primary athletic organizer of collegiate Sports, the NCAA structures colleges into three divisions, with schools further organized by conferences.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic East Conference
Colonial Conference
Metro Atlantic Conference
Northeast Conference
Patriot Conference
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
Capital Athletic Conference
Centennial Conference
Landmark Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic East Conference
Colonial Conference
Metro Atlantic Conference
Northeast Conference
Patriot Conference
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
Capital Athletic Conference
Centennial Conference
Colonial States Athletic Conference
Landmark Conference
UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION (USSF)
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of all soccer leagues and teams in the United States. In this capacity, the Federation publishes rules and authorizes the creation and expansion of national leagues. Affiliated leagues include the National Premier Soccer League, the United Soccer Leagues, and the Women's Premier Soccer League. The USSF also organizes and maintains Team USA for the US Olympic Committee.
TEAM USA (women's soccer)
TEAM USA (paralympic soccer)
U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
The U.S. Olympic Committee is the governing body of all Olympic sports in the United States, and is responsible for the creation and funding of Team USA, which represents the United States in all international soccer competitions, including the World Cup, and is the nation's representative to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
CHARM CITY FUTBOL CLUB, Gambrillis
DIVISION 2
CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE, Baltimore
REAL MARYLAND MONARCHS, Silver SpringWOMEN’S LEAGUE
WASHINGTON FREEDOM, Boyds
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
USL W-League Eastern Conference champs, 2008
USL W-League champs (North American Champion), 2007
WUSA Founders Cup champs, 2003SUPER Y & SUPER-20 LEAGUE
REAL MARYLAND MONARCHS, Silver Spring
SOUTHERN MARYLAND FUTBOL CLUB, Severna ParkMARYLAND PRIDE
, Columbia
© Copyright August 26, 2010 Maryland State Archives