BRSC Capitals
United States’ Top Regional Premier Leagues Agree To Create National Alliance
The Alliance of Regional Premier League Will Serves to Establish Joint Minimum OperatingStandards and Crown the National Amateur League Champion
NEW ORLEANS, LA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2022) – The Alliance of Regional Premier Leagues, a new coalition of the United States’ top amateur leagues, has convened and agreed to represent its members as one, unified force.
All Alliance members wish to cooperate to maintain and promote high-level amateur soccer, and each believes that forming the Alliance will benefit the leagues and all national amateur soccer competitions.
In accordance with its first objective, the Regional Premier Leagues have sent a letter to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) offering to explore a tournament to determine the National Amateur League Champion.
Leadership from the Atlantic Coast Premier League, Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Premier Soccer League, Gulf Coast Premier League, Midwest Premier League, Mountain Premier League, and Southwest Premier League all signed the Regional Premier Leagues’ founding agreement.
“We want what’s best for amateur players and young players looking to find their way up toward careers in the game. The Alliance of Regional Premier League creates a powerful advocating voice for that athlete,” said Eastern Premier Soccer League President Mo Sheta. “This is a historic moment for the game in the United States. The Alliance creates a bond at the amateur ranks that USASA and U.S. Soccer must recognize.”
Alliance members will retain all current partnerships and sponsorships, and collaborate with USASA to strengthen relationships within the entire amateur structure.
“The Alliance is a vital next step for the regional leagues to achieve a stronger voice within U.S. Soccer and on the national soccer landscape,” said Southwest Premier League President Matt Morse. “Some regional leagues have been around so much longer than the professional leagues, and we want to harness that heritage and history to create a better future for amateur clubs and amateur athletes.”
Each potential new member applicant must be affiliated with an organizational member of US Soccer or sanctioned by US Soccer and will be admitted upon a two-thirds (66.7 percent) affirmative vote.
BRSC Capitals Tryouts
Coach Patrick Bueno is excited to welcome some of Baton Rouge’s best to build upon the Capitals’ appearance in the semifinal last summer. The BRSC Capitals is comprised of top high school, collegiate, and semi-professional players. The Capitals will compete in the Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) in the summer of 2022.
TRYOUT #1
Saturday, April 16
10:00 am – Noon
TRYOUT #2
Saturday, April 30
10:00 am – Noon
REGISTER
BRSC Capitals 2021 Schedule Released
New Orleans, LA (April 7th) – The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) announces the 2021 men’s division schedule for the league’s 5th season. The season’s first match will see Gulf Coast United play host to Pensacola FC on May 8th at Herbert Wilson Stadium in the East Conference.
The BRSC Capitals will open the ten-game season at home on May 15th versus New Orleans United at 7:15 pm at Olympia Stadium. The BRSC Capitals will start with the first three games at home before hitting the road for consecutive weeks. The final home game will take place on July 3rd versus Gulf Coast Rangers and conclude the season on the road with a rematch against New Orleans United on July 9th.
The East Conference will feature nine clubs; BRSC Capitals, Crescent City FC, Gaffa FC, Gulf Coast Rangers, Gulf Coast United, Mobile United, New Orleans United, Northshore United, and Pensacola FC and will play a 10 game schedule. To accommodate the club’s eligibility to participate in the US Open Cup qualifying rounds, the league looked for a creative solution that would offer the minimum games required along with keeping travel respectable during the late stages of quarantine. The East Conference will use a points per game system to determine playoff placement.
Baton Rouge United Rebrands as BRSC Capitals
Baton Rouge, LA (April 5th) – Baton Rouge Soccer Club and former owner of PDL outfit, Baton Rouge Capitals, Mr. James Vilas, have partnered in rebranding the club’s men’s Baton Rouge United brand as BRSC Capitals; representing both the BRSC academy and the Baton Rouge Capitals.
“I’m very excited about this partnership,” said BRSC Capitals newly appointed GM, James Vilas. “Bringing back the essence of the Capitals brand and merging with a strong academy like BRSC will allow us to have the best of what Baton Rouge can offer.”
The Baton Rouge Capitals were formed in 2007, owned by Mr. Vilas, and competed in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), currently USL2. Former Baton Rouge Soccer Club Director of Coaching, Bo Cassidy, was the Capitals’ first appointed coach. The club competed for three seasons under Mr. Vilas before being acquired by a new owner, Dr. John Hamide, in early 2010. Under Dr. Hamide the club competed for two seasons, reaching the national semifinals in 2010, before folding in late 2011. The Capitals were home to many outstanding players such as Joseph Lapira and Patrick Mullins, both Hermann Trophy winners, and others who went on to play professionally, including two current Louisiana native MLS players, Patrick (Toronto FC), and Justin Portillo (Real Salt Lake).
Baton Rouge Soccer Club, joined the GCPL in 2017 under the brand, Baton Rouge United, and has struggled to find their footing in the GCPL. In their latest season (2019), the club would only record one win with a goal differential of (-29).
“The efforts to bring a competitive men’s side to our club has always been an ambition,” said BRSC Executive Director, Louie Smothermon. “Having someone like Mr. Vilas, who has a strong connection with a lot of the high-level local adult players, gives us a chance to build a much deeper player pool.”
In addition to rebranding efforts and bringing in a GM with strong local connections, the club has hired Rafa Amaya Jr. as their newest head coach. Amaya has had a decorated history as both a coach and a player. On the pitch Amaya Jr. was a member of the United States U-17 National Team and went on to earn back-to-back national championships as a midfielder at Tyler Junior College (2009 & 2010). He helped the Apaches post a 41-0-1 record during his two seasons and then he went on to play two seasons at Liberty. While at Liberty, Amaya Jr. helped the Flames to a Big South conference title and NCAA tournament appearance.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” commented Amaya Jr. “I’ve recently moved to the area and have become more acclimated to the culture in Baton Rouge. The sport is more popular in this city than you would think and the local talent is strong.”
Before coming to Baton Rouge Rafa was the Director of Video Analysis for New Mexico United of the USL Pro and was a member of the Region IV OPD Staff. Amaya Jr.’s coaching career includes stints with NCAA programs, Creighton University, and Penn State University, having helped lead Penn State to their 18th Big Ten Championship.
“I think we have done a great job of restructuring this program,” added Smothermon. “We have built a strong team who has some great experience at this level. We expect to field a very competitive team this season.”
BRSC Capitals will play all of their home games out of BREC Olympia Stadium.
Link to the original news release: Baton Rouge United Rebrands as BRSC Capitals
“The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) serves as the leader in amateur soccer along the gulf coast region of the United States, offering a pathway for players pursuing their competitive careers further and assisting our member clubs to organically grow in their communities. The GCPL is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA); a member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
The GCPL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization organized and operated with the ultimate goal of growing soccer and soccer culture in the gulf coast.”