	North American Chinese Soccer League 北美华人足联		1 Cronssan Ct, Landenberg, PA19350 (302)-831-0625
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2007 national champions: Chicago Wan Xiang

2006 national champions: New York Wild Wolves!

[Number of visitors since 09/01/2001:
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Brief Introduction of NACSL - North American Chinese Soccer League
 
Since 1983, each year, about ten thousands Chinese students 
come to study in USA , and settle down after graduation.  Among 
these students, many love to play soccer and many are excellent 
soccer players.  Most were good players in their school teams 
in China when they were undergraduate students.  Hundreds, if 
not thousands of teams were formed by these students from China 
on many campuses since 1985.  As NACSL records show, since 1986 
many friendly soccer games were played between Chinese student
soccer teams of nearby campuses.  By 1990, regional soccer 
tournaments were organized which were participated by four to 
six teams within driving distance -- around 300 miles.  By 1995,
as recorded in NACSL history, about 10 regional soccer tournaments
were played each year.

By 1996,  Chinese soccer players were not satisfied by local
tournaments any more.  A strong demand appeared -- "a national
championship!"

North American Chinese Soccer League -- NACSL were formed in 
1996. The first grand tournament were held that year at Columbus,
Ohio, and 12 teams participated the 1996 finals.  Surprisingly 
a newly formed team -- Tsinghua Alumni Team won the first ever
national title for Chinese students soccer teams. Tsinghua 
University is one of the very best universities in China.  It
was told that out of 11 starters of this champion Tsinghua alumni
team, 4 were the former captains of Tsinghua University Soccer
Team between 1979 and 1991 and 10 were former school team members! 
It was truly a strong team.  Its players were gathered all over
the country, and some were called from Canada and England.

Since 1996, six grand tournaments were played, once every year,
organized by NACSL.  So far, other than the above mentioned
Tsinghua alumni team, when the grand tournament was held in East
or Midwest, an east regional team won the national title, or else
a west regional team won the title when the Grand was held in
California.
 
Though about 12 teams in each year's finals, the national 
championship title did represent the highest level of the soccer
sport within the Chinese American society.  There are about 50
well organized Chinese American soccer teams in the country
fighting for this title.  Among the teams in the grand tournament
finals, many had called their former alumni players back, and
many were united teams from several regional teams. It is
estimated that players from 50 teams played each national title
finals.  Since 1999, the event also drew best teams from China
towns of big cities.  These teams were formed mostly by America
Born Chinese Americans, who are younger (age 22 in average
probably) than the players from the "traditional teams" (China
Born Chinese Americans -- average age 30.)  Each year, the event
was covered by news media in Chinese, Chinese newspapers, TV
programs, on-line Chinese journals, etc, in USA.  The event
is interested to at least 200 soccer teams.  For example, in
the NACSL branch at NJ, 12 teams play two seasons of league games
each year, but only two of the NJ league teams played the national
finals last year. Other than Tsinghua alumni team, the alumni from
the other two best universities in China, Peking University and
the University of Science and Technology of China, also played
the Grands before.  These alumni teams are not regional teams in
USA.  Many alumni of other schools also tried but could not form
a strong enough team, for example, Fudan University alumni.  So
the grand tournament is under attention of many more people.
For example, the University of Science and Technology of China 
Alumni Foundation sponsored its alumni soccer team,  and it
covered the grand tournament in their newsletter which was
read by more than ten thousands alumni.

How did NACSL organize the event?  NACSL is a non-profit
organization and all officials must be unpaid for the work, and
even expenses.  The (almost only one) mission of NACSL is to
ensure and to organize the grand tournament every year.  So far
NACSL has no sponsor.  In all these grand tournaments, all final
teams paid registration fee of $500 or more to cover rental,
referees, trophies and other expenses.  Teams were on their own
to cover their airfare and lodgings.  Many teams did find their
own sponsors though.

It is the time now to organize the 2002 Grand.  As usual, it will
be at the Labor Day weekend.  But the location will be determined
around July.

NACSL would seek sponsorships so that student players can be
supported partially, and that the registration fee can be lowered.
NACSL would happily name the national champion cup after a sponsor
if $4000 or more sponsorship is provided.  In particular, NACSL
wishes to find a long term sponsor for five or ten years.

For more information,  please visit http://www.nacsl.com

Drafted on 4/12/2002 by 
Shangyou Scott Zhang
Acting President, NACSL
302-831-0625
szhang@udel.edu