PLAYER RESOURCES
PROFESSIONAL
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy Program - Youth Programming AND Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite REX Program in Partnership with BC Soccer (BC SUPER REX) - Youth Programming
PROFESSIONAL
The Canadian Premier League is a professional soccer league in Canada founded in 2017 and opened its first season in April 2019. At the top of the Canadian soccer league system, it is the country's primary national soccer league competition. The league consists of seven clubs/teams, from five of Canada's ten provinces. In British Columbia, Pacific FC based in Langford on Vancouver Island participates in the Canadian Premier League.
SEMI-PROFESSIONAL
NATIONAL PROGRAMMING
“League1 BC” is the result of journey dating back to BC Soccer’s 2016 Strategic Plan and is intended to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer, targeting “Training to Compete” stage within Long-term Player Development (LTPD).
NATIONAL PROGRAMMING
NATIONAL PROGRAMMING
BCSPL
BCSPL
Levels of play
Levels of League Play
There are four (4) “tiers” or levels of soccer competition in BC and Upper Island Soccer offers players the ability to compete in and move between tiers to play at the level of soccer that best suits them.
Tier 1 - BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL)
For the “elite” player. Players from both Upper Island (UISA) and Lower Island (LISA) are eligible to play in this league and are chosen through an evaluation process.
Ages: U14
Administered by Nanaimo United FC
Registration through: Nanaimo United FC
Ages: U14 to U17.
Administered by: Pacific FC
Registration through: Pacific FC
Season: January 1 to December 31
Travel required: Province-wide. Games played primarily in the lower Mainland, with some in the Victoria area and the Interior. BC Soccer Competitions: Premier Cup Website: Please visit BC Premier League website for more information.
Tier 2 - West Coast Soccer League
Competitive A Cup League (Equivalent to Metro Division)
Combined Island-wide league with clubs selecting and submitting teams to compete
Ages: U14+
Travel required: Island wide with games from Victoria to Comox
Season runs April – July
BC Soccer Competitions: A-Cup
Tier 3 – Pacific Development League
Developmental or B-Cup League. (The Lower Island equivalent is Gold). All nine Upper Island clubs are eligible to submit teams to compete in this league. Players are chosen through an evaluation process within their own club.
Ages: U12 to U18
Administration: Upper Island Soccer Association
Registration: through Local Home Club Season: Coastal – August 1 to July 31
Travel required: District-wide. Games played in Upper Island communities; Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Qualicum/Parksville, Port Alberni and Powell River.
BC Soccer Competitions: B-Cup
Website: uisa.ca
Tier 4 - Club Soccer
Recreational soccer for children ages 3 and up, which focuses on fun, teaching skills and instilling the love of the “beautiful game” to create life-long participants. Each of the Upper Island local home clubs run their own programs. Nanaimo, Oceanside, Gabriola and Mid-Isle participate in an informal regional house league for their older youth players. (The Lower Island equivalent is Silver or Bronze.)
Ages: 3 to 18
Administration: Local Home Clubs. For a listing of Clubs, please see links to our clubs on our Home page
Registration: through Home Club
Season: Coastal – August 1 to July 31
Travel required: No travel in “Pony” leagues or divisions for young children, some travel between Campbell River and the Comox Valley, or between Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Gabriola and Qualicum/Parksville for older youth in those communities. BC Soccer Competitions: none
Websites: please see links on the club logos tab on our home page.