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The OVPL | A proud member of US Club Soccer & The Great Lakes Alliance
About The League
The Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) is the premier U23 adult amateur soccer competition throughout the Ohio Valley region (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia).
The Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) was founded to fill the void for the region’s soccer clubs by elevating the player pyramid to continue the U23 player's development pathway. The OVPL is a member of US Club Soccer, open to men’s and women’s teams.
Developing players is a central focus of the OVPL. The league aims to develop the region's footprint at a national level, as well as provide opportunities for soccer players to aspire to the highest levels.
The League was founded in 2019 and is currently made up of 20 teams. The OVPL has built relationships with local colleges, clubs, and adult amateur programs, allowing players to continue their pre-professional development.
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Important League Dates & Events
January 11th - 15th, 2023
United Soccer Coaches Convention [Philadelphia]
February 1st, 2023
OVPL Application Deadline
February 26th, 2023
OVPL Annual General Meeting [TBA]
March 6th, 2023
Team Schedules To Be Released
May 1st, 2023
OVPL Season Opens
July 17th, 2023
Final Regular Season Match
July 22nd, 2023
OVPL Championship [Location TBA]
July 31st, 2023
Final Date For Remaining Matches or Exhibitions.
FAQ
Why the Ohio Valley Premier League?
The OVPL was created to benefit soccer players of all ages and genders. Statistics show that US youth soccer participation has declined by nearly 500,000 kids in the last five years. A wide variety of reasons for this decline in participation but the cost of participation and travel are a big reason why people quit playing.
The OVPL is a low-cost and low-travel league. Anybody can create a team and enter the league. The goal is to keep players playing locally so there is community support. All members of the OVPL can showcase the talent in their community with the potential to represent the region on a national level (if desired).Why US Club Soccer?
The decision for OVPL to go towards US Club Soccer instead of state associations affiliated with USYSA because the decision making and governance goes back towards OVPL member clubs. All clubs have an opportunity to have a voting member and decision-making ability in how the OVPL operates. Since the OVPL is a multi-state league, the US Club Soccer route allows for player carding on a National level instead of a state-level - this was an important step for the Senior Team league.
The OVPL encourages participation in both USYSA and US Club Soccer events.How can my club benefit from a Senior Team?
As a member of the US soccer public, we should encourage people of all ages to continue playing. Youth clubs have forever focused on youth players, while the 18+ age group has left the game (unless they play in college). It is important to the OVPL that teams utilize a senior team to continue playing for those who have graduated out of the youth system.
Additionally, through OVPL competition, teams can qualify for the longest-running tournament in the United States - the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. With a club's involvement in the senior team division, your club could represent your community in the biggest cup in the US.
Studies have shown over the last 10 years; soccer numbers are decreasing in the US. Through the OVPL, we want to engage people of all demographics to grow the game.What is the OVPL governing structure?
As a league, the OVPL is governed by co-Executive Director positions (2), Founding Club members (2), and all other member clubs (1 per club). All member clubs will have an opportunity for feedback on the OVPL operations.
How are the leagues structured?
Men's Division
The Ohio Valley Premier League [OVPL_GLA] is spread across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Members are assigned to divisions based on geographic location. The OVPL Executive Committee will review annually and align teams to provide limited travel distances. The goal for maximum travel to a club is 4 Hours [one-way].
The summer playing experience will be made up of 2 conferences. The River and the Valley. Each conference will be divided into 2 Divisions, with a maximum of 6 teams in each division. Each team will play 10 matches and have the potential to play for the OVPL Championship.
The league will feature a playoff that will take the Top 2 teams of each division to participate in the OVPL Championship. The #1 seed of each division will host the #2 Seed of the opposite division [i.e., #1 River East vs. #2 River West. etc.].
The final four teams that advance will meet during championship weekend at the designated tournament site. There will be a minimum of 24 hours between the semi-final and the final. The teams in the championship weekend may have to secure lodging for the finals weekend.
* Players under 18 but no younger than 16 may be eligible for participation based on the player's ability.** All men's teams will be eligible to apply and participate in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifications rounds.
Women's Division
The Ohio Valley Premier League [OVPL_GLA] is spread across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Members are assigned to divisions based on geographic location. The OVPL Executive Committee will review annually and align teams to provide limited travel distances. The goal for maximum travel to a club is 4 Hours [one-way].
The summer playing experience will be made up of 2 conferences. The River and the Valley. Each conference will be divided into 2 Divisions, with a maximum of 6 teams in each division. Each team will play 6 to 8 matches and have the potential to play for the OVPL Championship.
The league will feature a playoff that will take the Top 2 teams of each division to participate in the OVPL Championship. The #1 seed of each division will host the #2 Seed of the opposite division [i.e., #1 River East vs. #2 River West. etc.].
The final four teams that advance will meet during championship weekend at the designated tournament site. There will be a minimum of 24 hours between the semi-final and the final. The teams in the championship weekend may have to secure lodging for the finals weekend.
* Players under 18 but no younger than 16 may be eligible for participation based on the player's ability.How are players registered?
Players are registered through US Club Soccer through the GotSport Player Carding Process:
Player registrations are $25 and are to be paid by the team prior to a player being eligible for competition. The OVPL is not responsible for registering players for a competition season.
Please contact us if you have any questions about getting started with the registration process.
Please follow the instructions below:
1) Login for the first time using the “Forgot Password” process in video guide #12) Create teams using video guide #23) Register all created teams for carding using video guide #24) Add players and coaches into the system 4a) For import, use video guide #3 (#3a for coaches) 4b) For adding one-by-one, use video guide #45) Players and coaches log in for the first time using the “Forgot Password” process6) Build Rosters using video guide #57) Purchase memberships using video guide #68) Players and coaches complete requirements (this can be done as soon as Step 5 is completed) using video guides #7, #8, and #99) Print cards and rosters using video guide #6 Please use these instructions videos as a guide for completing this process:Video 1: First Time Logging InVideo 2: Creating & Registering TeamsVideo 3: Importing Players 3A: Importing CoachesVideo 4: Manually Adding CoachesVideo 5: Building RostersVideo 6: Purchasing Memberships & Printing Card RostersVideo 7: Upload Birth CertificateVideo 8: Completing Coach RequirementsVideo 9: Upload Picture
If there are any questions regarding the registration of players please contact moc.reccoslpvo%40ofni.
The OVPL recognizes FIFA governance on all players, so any international players must send a formal request to the relevant Federation for the player's International Transfer Clearance (ITC). The home Federation and OVPL will certify that a player is free to play in the League. In accordance with FIFA, Federations have a maximum of 30 days until USSF and OVPL can declare provisional clearance which enables a player to play for the Club.
No players are permitted to play in an official League match until they have been cleared.How can the OVPL help my club go to the US Open Cup?
The OVPL is a qualifying member of US Club Soccer, which is a member of US Soccer Federation, that allows for US Open Cup qualifying. A total of $475m was awarded in US Open Cup awards and prizes. To qualify, here are the criteria for Clubs:
1. Belong to a club or league of any Organization Member of U.S. Soccer2. Compete in a regular (i.e. on-going) league competition with at least four teams, with each team playing at least ten league games during the year3. A refundable performance bond of $1,000 must be paid by each team at the time of submitting the Entry Fee ($200).4. Provide a home field that meets tournament minimum standards for local qualifying (field at least 100 yds. x 65 yds.) for each qualifying round and identify that venue at the time of registration5. Remain as a member in good standing in the same league from the fall of 2020 to the end of the tournament in 2021How can my club apply for the US Open Cup?
The OVPL is a qualifying member of US Club Soccer, which is a member of US Soccer Federation, that allows for US Open Cup qualifying. A total of $475m was awarded in US Open Cup awards and prizes.
Download: 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Open Division Handbook (includes Open Cup Policy)
Download: REGISTER - 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Open Division Local Qualifying
To qualify, here are the criteria for Clubs:
1. Belong to a club or league of any Organization Member of U.S. Soccer2. Compete in a regular (i.e. on-going) league competition with at least four teams, with each team playing at least ten league games during the year3. A refundable performance bond of $1,000 must be paid by each team at the time of submitting the Entry Fee ($200).4. Provide a home field that meets tournament minimum standards for local qualifying (field at least 100 yds. x 65 yds.) for each qualifying round and identify that venue at the time of registration5. Remain as a member in good standing in the same league from the fall of 2020 to the end of the tournament in 2021
KEY DATES:
Aug. 9 (2 p.m. CT) - Team application and entry fee deadline for Local Qualifying track
Aug. 18 - U.S. Soccer announces teams approved for local qualifying and preliminary allocation of First Round slots among Open Division qualifying pools
Aug. 23 - Matchups for first qualifying round announced
Sept. 1 (4 p.m. CT) - Fall roster submission deadline for teams in Local Qualifying track
Sept. 18-19 - First qualifying round
Oct. 16-17 - Second qualifying round
Nov. 20-21 - Third qualifying round
Jan. 6, 2022 - Final allocation of First Round slots among Open Division qualifying pools announced
Open Division Local Qualifying will be conducted on a single-game, knockout basis, with up to four rounds of matches in fall 2021, all scheduled for designated weekend dates.
All Local Qualifying entrants, regardless of level, Organization Member affiliation or other attributes, will start on equal footing and must be able to host games in every qualifying round.Rules on Amateurism
The OVPL is sanctioned as a fully amateur league. It is important for all teams to understand the rules of amateurism. Each member Club should ensure players maintain amateur eligibility, as the Club would be held responsible for jeopardizing amateurism if there is a violation. The United States has two governing bodies on amateurism: FIFA and college (NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/etc.).
College amateurism and eligibility will be put in jeopardy if an athlete:- Receives compensation that exceeds actual and necessary expenses- Receives compensation for media appearances based on your athletic ability or fame- Endorsing commercial products or services- Accepting prize money beyond the actual/necessary expenses- Accepting money from an agent or agency- Participating with a player, on the same team, who is considered a professional player
No amateur teams should ever use the terminology "professional" or "semi-professional" as the term "professional" could jeopardize amateurism. All players must sign a registration form from the Club and OVPL that reinforces if a player is amateur or professional. A player who wishes to sign with a professional team must have completed college eligibility or be advised that upon signing as an amateur player on a professional team, the player will lose college eligibility.
A professional player may be reinstated as an amateur only with the permission of that team and the Amateur National State Association or Professional League with which the Club is affiliated. An application for reinstatement to amateur status must be made on the USSF Amateur Reinstatement Form and both the completed form and the applicable fee ($50.00) must be filed with the appropriate Federation. The Federation shall issue approval of the reinstatement to amateur status within fourteen (14) days after receipt, appropriate fees, and compliance with Federation rules. However, the player's reinstatement to amateur status is not effective until the day after the thirty (30) day time period has elapsed from the day that the player competed in his last match with his/her team as a professional player. This is in accordance with FIFA's Regulations Governing the Status and Transfer of Football Players.
A professional player who is not currently registered as a professional player with any professional division team or league, who has not been a party to a professional player contract with a professional division team or league for a period of one year or longer, and who has not applied for reinstatement as an amateur, shall be automatically reinstated to amateur status by the Secretary-General unless the player affirmatively states in writing that he/she does not wish to be reinstated to amateur status.
College Player Eligibility for OVPL
- Any player signed to or enrolled in college on scholarship or as a walk-on qualifies as a collegiate player for that school.- Any Division I, Division II, Division III, or NAIA player, with or without remaining NCAA eligibility, is permitted to play on an OVPL amateur team.- College players are not permitted to train, practice or play with any OVPL amateur teams during their scheduled season.- OVPL amateur teams ARE NOT to promote the respective league as professional or semi-professional.- OVPL amateur teams cannot provide any players more than actual and necessary expenses or they will be considered a professional team.- OVPL amateur teams are permitted to employ college players as camp coaches for summer youth soccer camps, but no amateur or professional players on an OVPL amateur team are permitted to receive any compensation for playing.- College players are also not permitted to receive any complimentary equipment or apparel from OVPL amateur or team sponsors. College players must either turn in all team equipment at the end of the season or purchase it from the team at fair market value.- A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition, provided:- Such participation occurs no earlier than May 1st.- The competition is approved by the institution's director of athletics.- No class time is missed for practice activities or for competition.- A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period published in the institution's catalog.- NO OVPL clubs may play with more than five (5) student-athletes with eligibility remaining in NCAA DI. There is no limit for NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, or NJCAA.- NO NCAA student-athletes with eligibility remaining may participate with an OVPL team if there is a member of the institution's soccer team involved in any capacity, at any time with the team.
Exception
Before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, defined as participants with a team or in fall/spring term, an individual may compete on a professional team provided he/she does not receive more than actual necessary expenses on the team.