Tennessee State League
ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE LEAGUE (TSL)
The Tennessee State Soccer Association has hosted the Tennessee State Cup as one of our programs since 1976. The Tennessee State League (TSL) was created to allow our teams a manner in which to qualify for the State Cup by playing and thus seeding each team. The TSL is open to all registered clubs/teams in TSSA ages 12-19. Teams complete an applications and are then placed in proper divisions by the State League Commission. The TSL has competitive levels within 3 Divisions (Division 1, Division 2, and Divisions 3). As a member of the United States Youth Soccer Association our Division 1 Champions have the unique opportunity to then compete at Regional and National level competitions that are within the National Championship Series. The Division 1 competitors are considered to be our highest level of competition within the State. Our next level of competition is Division 2 and the Champions at this level have the opportunity to compete at Regional and National level competitions that are within the President’s Cup. Our final level of competition is Division 3. Many of our teams at the Division 3 level are newly formed teams or coming from a more recreational based environment.
Within TSL only the top 10 teams are able to compete in the TSL Division 1 League. Teams that were State Champions or Finalists may earn a bye from participation in the TSL and thus earn an automatic birth into the State Cup. These teams would have to play in the Regional League to earn this spot. We do have promotion and relegation between our divisions each year. Only the top 8 teams in the final State League standings earn an opportunity to play in the State Cup. The State Cup is completed over 2 weekends and is a single elimination tournament.
Our second division is the TSL Division 2 League. All teams must play one another and there are no automatic qualifying spots within this league. There is no limit to the number of teams that may participate in the Division 2, so at times the TSL Commission may break the groups into East/West or East/Central/West. Similar to TSL Division1, only the top 8 teams in the overall final TSL standings will qualify for the State Cup. The State Cup is completed over 2 weekends and is a single elimination tournament.
Our third division is the TSL Division 3 League. All teams must play one another and there are no automatic qualifying spots within this league. There is no limit to the number of teams that may participate in the Division 3, so at times the TSL Commission may break the groups into East/West or East/Central/West. Within the TSL Division 3 League, only the top 4 teams in the overall final TSL standings will qualify for the State Cup. The State Cup is completed over a single weekend and is a single elimination tournament.
In the Fall our High School aged girls are not allowed to play both competitive soccer and High School soccer per Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) rules. During the Fall, we have a season ending State Cup for High School aged boys aged 15-19. In the Spring our High School aged boys are under the same TSSAA restrictions. Therefore, we have a season ending State Cup for ages 12-19 girls and 12-14 boys. In both seasons, accepted teams to our Tennessee State League (TSL) compete for either 4 or 8 final spots in our State Cup. The State Cup is conducted in a single eliminations tournament over two weekends where teams play a single important advancement game each day.
For more information on our State Cup, contact our team at TSL@tnsoccer.org.