A (mostly) Unneeded and Unasked for USL2 Revamp, Part II - The Changes

The Fixes and Their Reasons

Part II.A - The Nomenclature Changes

To start, the first thing we will do is change the nomenclature of the league. USL2 Divisions will now be called Conferences to conform with the rest of the similar leagues. USL2 Conferences will now be called Regions, once again, to conform with the rest of the similar leagues. This means that the USL2 naming convention will now go Conference -> Region -> National/League. This will match exactly to NPSL and UPSL and match mostly with TLFC and WPSL. (Green fill means that cell is changed)

These changes are in an effort to align all the nomenclature of League 2 with that of all the similar leagues. The fact that USL2/W are the only leagues to call their smallest group “Divisions” and the grouped divisions “Conference” is confusing for old and new fans alike. I understand that USL2 is the oldest of these leagues, but the small difference has caused large misunderstandings and miscommunications.

Part II.B - The Playoffs Changes

The radical part of this thought process is doubling the number of Regions from 4 to 8. I am also suggesting a formula of some kind be made in the allocation of playoff bids and creation of playoff wildcards. This is to eliminate human bias and human input in the handling of wildcards in USL2. This new playoff format would limit playoffs bids to 4 per Region. Except in Regions deemed “large,” where an additional 5th seeded wildcard team would be added. The determination of what constitutes a “large” number of teams would be a predetermined, non-changing amount. (Green fill means that cell is changed)

These changes are to limit the possible human bias involved in bracket building and bid handling. The changes will also limit the possible travel for everyone involved in the earlier rounds. No more will a team travel past one pod to get to their assigned pod. No more holding out hope as a fan group that your pod for rounds 1 and 2 aren’t essentially cross country.

Part.II.C - The Changes Explained

The initial question is, of course, why have 8 Regions? Well, USL2 already unofficially, mostly further regionalizes the first two rounds of playoffs ie. the first pods of playoffs. The Eastern Conference is usually a pod of Northeast and Metropolitan, plus one, and a pod of South Atlantic and Chesapeake, plus some. The Southern Conference is usually a pod of the two Florida divisions, plus one, and a pod of Mid South and Lone Star, plus one. The Central Conference is usually one pod of Great Plains/Deep North and Heartland, and one pod of Great Lakes and Valley, adding in Great Forest now. Lastly, the Western Conference is usually a pod of Northwest and Mountain, and a pod of NorCal and Southwest.

Instead of having these pods be informal, this restructure will formalize the pods into Regions. It will eliminate any possibility of a team potentially passing one pod on the trip to their assigned pod. In 2023, Western Mass Pioneers were sent to Newport News, VA and had to drive past Ocean City, NJ, who were hosting the other pod. In 2024, Western Mass Pioneers were once again sent to Newport News, VA, this time having to drive past Long Island, NY, who were hosting the other pod. In 2025, Laredo Heat was sent to Florida and had to drive past Dothan, AL, who were hosting the other pod. etc.

In splitting the league into 8 Regions it means that each Region will only have 2 or 3 Conferences assigned. Thus, allowing a simplification of playoffs and the formation of the previously mentioned formula to take the human element out of wildcard berths and bracket building. I will get into this formula in a future part. The playoffs themselves can still be a bid process to host. A simplification of the playoff format should be done in order to allow a new fan to understand not only the format itself, but the thought process behind the format.

The split will also allow fans knowledge, at the beginning of the year, what the farthest that their team could travel in the opening rounds of the playoffs. This will allow more fans, and fan groups, to travel to playoffs. Not only because there is a limited number of locations, but also because the possible locations will all be closer. No more of having a Texas team play on the East Coast. No more having a team from New England go down past the Maison-Dixon. No more having a team from eastern Great Lakes go past Chicago.

Next time I will go over the exact details of my thought experiment going over the specifics of the new Regions. The boundaries, the names, and the reasons.