Question 1

Why the First Flight League?

Accepted Answer

The FFL was created to provide a pathway for everyone involved in the beautiful game in North Carolina to develop and take the steps to the next stage of their careers.

The FFL prides itself on being low travel with club friendly dues. Anyone is able to create a club and enter the league. Our goal is to keep players playing locally with community support. All members of the FFL can showcase the talent in their community with the potential to represent the state of North Carolina on a national level.

Question 2

Why NC Adult Soccer Assoication?

Accepted Answer

The FFL recieves its sanctioning through the NC Adult Soccer Association. Through this process the FFL aims to connect all of the local leagues state-wide to create mutual partnerships that grow the beautiful game together.

All member clubs will recieve field and player insurance through NCASA and are encouraged to participate in NCASA events and trounaments throughout the year.

Question 3

How does a youth club benefit from a senior team?

Accepted Answer

As a league we want to encourage people of all ages to continue playing into adulthood. While youth clubs have focused on youth players, the 18+ age group has been largely undersupported (unless continuing to play in college). It is important to the FFL to provide an opportunity for those players to continue their development.   Additionally, through the FFL, clubs can qualify for the longest-running tournament in the United States - the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. With a club's involvement in the adult game, your club could represent your community in the biggest cup in the US.

The FFL wants to engage people of all demographics to grow the game.

Question 4

What is the FFL governing structure?

Accepted Answer

The FFL is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Each club will select a representative to the league's General Commitee. Each off-season a board of five (5) members will be elected from those club representatives on a rotating basis.

Question 5

How is the league structured?

Accepted Answer

Currently the league operates one state-wide conference for a single open division table. As the FFL grows it will be broken off into smaller conferences to keep travel distances low.   Our long-term goal is to have a depth of members to launch a higher division that is state-wide that will use promotion/relegation from the current open division.

Question 6

How are players registered?

Accepted Answer

Players are registered directly through NC Adult Soccer Association. NCASA registration is good for one calendar year and is valid for any NCASA league or tournament.   The FFL recognizes FIFA governance on all players, so any international players must send a formal request to the relevant Federation for the player's International Transfer Clearance (ITC). The home federation and FFL will certify that a player is free to play in the league. In accordance with FIFA, Federations have a maximum of 30 days until USSF and FFL can declare provisional clearance which enables a player to play for the club.    All players must be 18+ and have paid their registration dues before playing any league match with a FFL club.

Question 7

How does FFL help a club qualify for the US Open Cup?

Accepted Answer

The FFL provides two paths to the US Open Cup:   1) As a qualifying member of NC Adult Soccer Association, which is a member of the US Soccer Federation through the US Adult Soccer Association, that allows for US Open Cup qualifying. A toal of $475m was awarded in US Open Cup awards and prizes. To qualify, here are the club criteria:

A. Belong to a club or league of any Organization Member of U.S. Soccer

B. Compete in a regular (i.e. on-going) league competition with at least four teams, with each team playing at least ten league games during the year

C. A refundable performance bond of $1,000 must be paid by each team at the time of submitting the Entry Fee ($200).

D. Provide a home field that meets tournament minimum standards for local qualifying (field at least 100 yds. x 65 yds.) for each qualifying round and identify that venue at the time of registration

E. Remain as a member in good standing in the same league from the fall to the end of the tournament.

2) FFL clubs are eligable to participate in the Carolina's Cup through NCASA held each December. Winning the Gold Division awards the club with an invite to the USASA Region III tournament in the summer. Winners of the regional tournament will go on to play in the USASA National Tournament. The overall winner earns a guaranteed berth in the following year's US Open Cup.

Question 8

Rules for Amateurism

Accepted Answer

The FFL is sanctioned as a fully amateur league. It is important for all teams to understand the rules of amateurism. Each member club should ensure players maintain amateur eligibility, as the club would be held responsible for jeopardizing amateurism if there is a violation. The United States has two governing bodies on amateurism: FIFA and college (NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/etc.).

College amateurism and eligibility will be put in jeopardy if an athlete:
- Receives compensation that exceeds actual and necessary expenses
- Receives compensation for media appearances based on your athletic ability or fame
- Endorsing commercial products or services
- Accepting prize money beyond the actual/necessary expenses
- Accepting money from an agent or agency
- Participating with a player, on the same team, who is considered a professional player

No amateur teams should ever use the terminology "professional" or "semi-professional" as the term "professional" could jeopardize amateurism. All players must sign a registration form from the club and FFL that reinforces if a player is amateur or professional. A player who wishes to sign with a professional team must have completed college eligibility or be advised that upon signing as an amateur player on a professional team, the player will lose college eligibility.

A professional player may be reinstated as an amateur only with the permission of that team and the Amateur National State Association or Professional League with which the club is affiliated. An application for reinstatement to amateur status must be made on the USSF Amateur Reinstatement Form and both the completed form and the applicable fee ($50.00) must be filed with the appropriate federation. The federation shall issue approval of the reinstatement to amateur status within fourteen (14) days after receipt, appropriate fees, and compliance with federation rules. However, the player's reinstatement to amateur status is not effective until the day after the thirty (30) day time period has elapsed from the day that the player competed in his last match with his/her team as a professional player. This is in accordance with FIFA's Regulations Governing the Status and Transfer of Football Players.

A professional player who is not currently registered as a professional player with any professional division team or league, who has not been a party to a professional player contract with a professional division team or league for a period of one year or longer, and who has not applied for reinstatement as an amateur, shall be automatically reinstated to amateur status by the Secretary-General unless the player affirmatively states in writing that he/she does not wish to be reinstated to amateur status.

Team	Pts	GP	W	T	L	GF	GA	GD
Goldsboro Strike Eagles FC	10	4	3	1	0	11	5	6
Greenville United	7	4	2	1	1	9	5	4
Bragg FC	6	4	1	3	0	7	5	2
Le Riverry FC	4	5	1	1	3	7	13	0
NC United FC	3	5	1	0	4	7	13	-6

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