The MI Soccer Landscape
MSPSP
The Michigan State Premier Soccer League (or Michigan State Premier Soccer Program), known as MSPSP or MSPSL and often referred to as ‘Premier‘, is Michigan’s competitive youth statewide soccer league representing over 80 clubs and 12,000 players aged U13-U19 annually.
As a general rule, ‘Premier’ is the highest competitive level of travel soccer for in-state play in Michigan. MSPSP’s purpose is to provide the highest tier of in-state league competition for clubs & teams in Michigan and serve as a qualifying pathway for NLC.
Premier is regarded as a competitive tier above ‘select’ entirely. MSPSP offers a few levels of competition within our competitive pyramid (see below). Select leagues throughout Michigan have teams promoted into MSPSP from their respective leagues. MSPSP is also a pathway for teams to obtain qualification into the US Youth Soccer National League Conferences (regional & national leagues) via success in Premier Qualifying (U13 Fall) or Premier 1.
MSPSP is a member organization of the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association & US Youth Soccer.
80+
Clubs
12000+ Players
MSYSA Leagues
MSYSA State Cup & Jr State Cup
The MSYSA State Cup is the first level of competition for two (2) US Youth Soccer competitions: The US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships and the US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup.
The top division of State Cup (Elite Division) is intended for teams that participate in Elite-64, National League Conferences, and the majority of teams that participate in the Premier 1 Division of MSPSP. Other teams, including teams from MSPSP Premier 2 and other organizations, may be considered to fill open spots in brackets. U13 – U19 teams in the Elite division will be competing to earn spots at the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships and potentially National Championships.
The next division of State Cup is the Premier Division and it is intended for teams that participate in MSPSP (primarily Premier 2 and below) and for teams that participate in select leagues throughout Michigan. Other teams, including teams from MSPSP Premier 1 and other organizations, may be considered in order to fill open spots in brackets. U13 – U18 teams in the Premier Division will be competing to earn spots at the US Youth Soccer Midwest President’s Cup and potentially National President’s Cup.
Ultimately, division placement is at the discretion of the MSYSA State Cup Committee. However, regardless of division placement, each team will play 3 or 4 self-scheduled preliminary games and teams who do well will advance to the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and then eventually the Finals.
U13 – U19 Boys teams participate in the Spring State Cup.
U14 – U19 Girls teams participate in the Fall State Cup and U13 Girls teams participate in the Spring State Cup.
The MSYSA Junior State Cup is designed to provide the highest quality of competition for Michigan teams in the U10 – U12 age groups. Many of these teams aspire to play in the US Youth Soccer National League Conferences (NLC) or the Michigan State Premier Soccer Program (MSPSP) when they are older. In fact, the Junior State Cup provides the U12 Director’s Academy teams one pathway for NLC endorsement at U13.
