While the vast majority of NorCal divisions are formed through a combination of self-placement (teams choosing their own level) and a history of performance, at the top of the pyramid teams earn spots based solely on their performance on the field.

The starting point for teams seeking to earn their way to the top of the pyramid is the NorCal State Premier League.

That level just wrapped up its fall season, with teams earning spots in spring leagues based on where they finished in the standings.

For some, that means claiming a place in the State Premier Championship, for which the top two teams in the spring will earn NPL berths, while others will remain in their regionalized divisions next season, hoping to piece together enough good results to continue rising up the pyramid.

“We had a great season of play in State Premier, in which several teams stood out and picked up enough points to continue their quest towards reaching the NPL,” said State Premier League Coordinator Jason Drury. “The structure of our league system not only allows for plenty of unheralded teams to advance up the ranks, but also for teams to always play a relatively equal level of competition.

While each State Premier division’s promotion and relegation process differs slightly, for the most part, teams play in their regionalized fall divisions before the top few qualify for either the State Premier Championship East or West in the spring.

From there, the winners of both State Premier Championship divisions will qualify for the NPL in the fall.

The entire promotion/relegation process can be found here.

“The regionalized fall divisions were just the start of the journey for those clubs hoping to earn NPL promotion,” Drury said. “We’re looking forward to what the spring has to offer from these teams and by the end of the season, we’ll have two deserving teams, in each age group, promoted into the NPL for the next season.”

For more information on the State Premier leagues, click here.