For many years, soccer afficionados in the United States, including the leadership of the United States Soccer Federation, the sports national governing body, have grappled with the issue of player development.

In a country as large as the United States, and with the sport of soccer growing on so many grassroots levels, the task of identifying the best players across America's 50 states has been a problem, which has been confounding the games experts.

In 1999, United Soccer Leagues (USL) - the largest system of national soccer leagues in America - introduced a program to help solve the dilemma of identifying America's top young players. The Super Y-League (SYL), a North American youth soccer league for elite level players, culminated year three in 2001 in an effort to help U.S. Soccer in its quest to put a bead on the top youth players who are best bets to play on the professional level and, possibly, become members of the U.S. National Team.

"This is the final piece to the puzzle of what we have long envisioned as a complete system to help players work their way toward higher levels of play," said Francisco Marcos, president and founder of the United Soccer Leagues for the past 15 years. "The launching of the SYL is in concert with what we are trying to accomplish at all levels of soccer in the United States - that is, make American players better equipped to move into the national arena," Marcos added. "It is in direct support of project 2010 and supports ways in which we can accelerate the development of our players."

Over the past three seasons, the major youth clubs, professional and amateur teams in the United States and Canada have contributed their ideas on providing a league for North America's top youth players. The SYL pilot season in 1999 began with 16 teams in two major regions of the United States and expanded to 75 teams in five major regions in 2000. This past season culminated in September with nearly 180 teams in ten regions of the U.S. and Canada making it the most successful league in the United States.

"A lot of clubs took a wait and see approach to the SYL," said Matt Weibe, Director of the Super Y-League, "Now that they are a part of it and see its capabilities, they want to expand and enhance their individual program. In the past, there has only been one outlet for competition. That has been US Youth Soccer and the state associations. Now that clubs have seen the progress of the SYL, I expect we will nearly complete the national scope this year."

This year 12 professional teams, including Major League Soccer's, MLS, D.C. United and Tampa Bay Mutiny, have initiated youth development programs for the elite level players in their area. The scope of the league stretched from as far as Vancouver, B.C., Canada to Miami, Fla.

"The addition of DC United and the Tampa Bay Mutiny into the league this year opened up new doors for player development," said Weibe. "Youth programs of first division clubs are something that must be established to advance soccer in this country. The only answer to make soccer stronger that will prevail over any other is the direction that professional soccer takes with youth development. The Super Y-League has proved that it is capable of being the catalyst and competitive outlet for these programs."

The 2002 SYL season concluded with teams competing at the National Finals for the league championship. National club powerhouses such as FC DELCO, San Juan SC and CASL met with the new wave of youth soccer such as D.C. United, the Atlanta Silverbacks, Milwaukee Rampage and the Rochester Jr. Rhinos.