Competition Format
The Canadian Soccer League season runs from April/May through October/November annually. There are currently 16 teams in the league that compete in a single table format. Teams play a balanced schedule of 22 games, with the top 8 ranked teams advancing to the playoffs. The playoffs operate as a two-leg quarterfinal home and away series, followed by a one-game semifinal for the four surviving teams and a one-game final to crown the CSL Champions.
The CSL is the top level soccer league wholly within Canada. However four Canadian clubs play in higher leagues that are primarily based in the United States – Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer, and FC Edmonton in the NASL. A new team based in Ottawa will join the NASL in time for the 2014 season.
The CSL has appealed to the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) for its league champion to be added as the 5th team to the Amway Canadian Championship, in which the winner qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League. They have not been permitted to enter as of yet.
Read more about this topic: Canadian Soccer League
Famous quotes containing the word competition:
“Wearing overalls on weekdays, painting somebody else’s house to earn money? You’re working class. Wearing overalls at weekends, painting your own house to save money? You’re middle class.”
—Lawrence Sutton, British prizewinner in competition in Sunday Correspondent (London)