“The sequels” are like several USL sides in that they serve as a reserve squad for one of the major league teams. They join Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Portland Timbers 2, LA Galaxy 2, and New York Red Bulls 2 in the “secondary team” category. Orlando City B does as well, but changes up their name a little bit. Meanwhile, the Real Monarchs, Swope Park Rangers, Montreal FC, and Bethlehem Steel are affiliates owned by MLS entities, but lack the “2” or “B” nomenclature. They’re marketed more as their own independent identities. Rochester, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Charlotte, Wilmington, St. Louis, Charleston, Rio Grande Valley, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento feature MLS affiliation, but are under their own ownership. Rounding out the league, Orange County, Colorado Springs, Arizona, San Antonio, Tulsa, Louisville, Harrisburg, and our very own FC Cincinnati all operate as independent clubs.

The reserve squad teams are more directly linked with their parent organization, while the affiliated teams provide development as well, they tend to have more control over their roster and can focus more on league competition as opposed to development. Minor league soccer is a completely different animal than say minor league baseball. In baseball, you have leagues comprised of teams at various levels that are directly affiliated with major league development deals. If a team wants to be completely independent, they’re forced to participate in a league with no direct affiliation to the MLB organization (i.e. the local Florence Freedom). This doesn’t prevent players from eventually landing big league deals or rising the ranks, but the independent clubs operate completely outside of the MLB and MiLB structures.

In American soccer, you have a landscape like what we have here in the USL: direct reserve squads, affiliated teams, and independent clubs. There are arguments that go both ways. Some claim the “2” teams can “water down” the league and that they’re not as interested in being competitive, rather they’re more focused on development. However, I’d love to meet the team that doesn’t want to win! Even if the long term focus isn’t on securing a league championship, these “2” teams have proven time and time again that they’re playing to win games. They may lack the identities associated with teams like us and Louisville, but they can make formidable opponents. For example, look at the Red Bulls 2 squad. They’re one point behind Louisville in the standings and opened the season with a strong offensive salvo and LA Galaxy 2 were in last year's championship.

The “Robert Patrick’s” of Toronto that we play this weekend will be an interesting matchup for our local squad. They’re not packing in crowds of 20,000 or even taking headlines from the parent club, but they are ranked 4th in this week's power rankings. FC Cincinnati is looking to rebound from the defeat at the hands of Louisville.

So how does USL fall into the US Soccer Pyramid?: