The Metro Women’s Soccer League (MWSL) operates a Promotion Relegation system .This is to ensure that teams continue to play at a level at which they are competitive each season. Teams that perform at or near the top of the Division they are in will move up to the next level of competition. Teams that do poorly at their current level of play will move down to a lower level.
The levels of play currently in the League going from most competitive to least competitive are:
Premier
Selects
Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The MWSL also operates a U-21 and 30+Classics Divisions.
Premier Division
This is no direct promotion to or from Premier. Teams in Premier may be relegated to Selects at the the request of a Premier team or if in the opinion of the Board of Directors a team cannot compete at that level. Teams in Premier will be given every opportunity to demonstrate they can compete at the highest level of play in the MWSL.
Teams playing in Selects can be promoted to Premier by request or by dominating the Selects division for 2 successive seasons. The decision to move a Selects team to Premier will be made by the MWSL..Directors.
Selects Division
The top 3 teams from the three (3) Division 1 groups are promoted to Selects each season. The 2 last place teams in each Selects group will be relegated plus the next team with the worst record. A total of 3 teams will be relegated to Division 1. Currently there is no promotion to Premier. However a Selects team that dominates this group for 2 seasons will be asked to take a spot in Premier. The final decision on whether a team moves up will be up to the Board of Directors.
Divisions 1 through 3
Teams winning one of the groups in the above divisions will be promoted to the next group up. Teams in last place in a group in each division will be relegated to the division below them. In addition any team that has done poorly may also be relegated to the division below where they currently are playing even though they may not be in last place. A cutoff for considering a team for relegation is less than 10 points based on a 14 game Schedule.
Division 4
This division has been broken down into two (2) levels of play within the division – Gold and Silver. Teams in Gold that win one of the 3 Gold groups will be promoted to Division 3 plus the next 3 strongest teams from the Gold divisions. Teams at the bottom of the 3 Gold groups will be relegated to one of the Silver groups within the division.
Teams that win their group in the Silver divisions will be promoted to Gold. There is no relegation from Division 4 Silver.
30+Classics
This division is restricted to players who will be 30 years of age and older by December 31 of the current playing season. It is broken down into Gold and Silver groups within the division. There is no promotion from the Gold group. The bottom team in Gold will be relegated to Silver. The top team(s) in Silver will be promoted to Gold. There is no relegation from the Silver group.
Under 21
This division is restricted to players who are under 21 years of play as of December 31 of the current playing season. The exception is that a U-21 team may carry 3 players who are over 21. Teams in U-21 are expected to play 2 seasons in U-21 before being considered to be moved to Divisional play (Div. 1 to 4). U-21 is divided into 2 groups, Gold and Silver. Stronger teams will go in Gold, the remainder in Silver.
The bottom place team in Gold after 1 season will be moved down to Silver. The top team in Silver after 1 season will be moved to Gold.
After a 2nd season in U-21 teams will be moved to Divisional play. Teams will then be placed in a division, where in the opinion of the Board of Directors, they will be competitive. Teams who wish to stay in U21 after 2 years MUST advise the MWSL.
General
The foregoing is considered to be a guideline for teams. Where there is a difference of opinion as to whether a team is promoted or relegated, the final decision rests with the Board of Directors.
Before making a final decision the Board looks at a team’s performance over several years and what is in the best interest of the League. This decision is not taken lightly.