U Sports men's soccer

The regular season is eight to nine weeks long, depending on the conference. Teams play between 12 and 16 regular season games, depending on conference or division, with teams typically playing a home and home series with every other team in their conference or division. All regular season games are in-conference. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Player of the Year in U Sports men's soccer.

After the regular season, single elimination playoff games are held between the top teams in each conference to determine conference champions. In the Canada West and RSEQ conferences, the top four teams qualify for the playoffs, with the fourth and first seeded teams playing one match and the third and second seeded teams playing another. The two winning teams then play for the conference championship. Because there are more teams in the Atlantic conference, the top six teams qualify, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye. The sixth and third seeded teams play one match and the fifth and fourth seeded teams play another. The winning teams then go on to play the top two seeded teams, with the lowest remaining seed playing the first seeded team and the highest remaining seed playing the second seeded team. The winners of these two semi-final matches then play for the Atlantic conference championship.

The Ontario playoff system operates much like the Atlantic one, except it functions for both the West and East divisions. The top six teams from each division (twelve total) qualify for the playoffs, with the top two seeds of each division receiving byes. The champions of each division then play for the OUA conference championship. Because the OUA has 12 teams competing, it necessitates a longer post-season schedule. Consequently, the first round of the playoffs in the OUA occurs during the same week that each of the other three conferences are playing their last regular season games. The four conference champions automatically qualify for the U Sports men's soccer championship.

{{Main|U Sports men's soccer championship}}

The U Sports men's soccer championship, first established in 1972, features eight teams in single elimination matches to determine a national champion. The championship hosts 11 games over four days at a predetermined host venue. The host team is automatically qualified for the tournament, as is each of the conference champions. The top team from the host conference (besides the host team) also qualifies. Berths are also awarded to the second-place finisher in each of the other three conferences.{{cite web |title=Playing Regulations |url=https://en.usports.ca/HQ/Playing_Regulations/240820_Playing_Regulations_Soccer_-M-_ENG_FINAL.pdf |website=U SPORTS - English |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=en}}

{{further|Atlantic University Sport}}

{{further|Canada West Universities Athletic Association}}

{{further|Ontario University Athletics}}

{{further|Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec}}

U Sports was previously not geared towards producing professional soccer players, though some U Sports players have turned pro. Top players in high schools and sports academies may opt not to play in U Sports so that they can turn pro directly.{{cite web |url=http://ubyssey.ca/sports/from-the-cis-to-the-mls-the-road-less-travelled56565/ |title=From the CIS to the MLS: The road less travelled | the Ubyssey |website=ubyssey.ca |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419222245/http://ubyssey.ca/sports/from-the-cis-to-the-mls-the-road-less-travelled56565/ |archive-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead}} U Sports players are not eligible for the MLS SuperDraft. Despite this, some U Sports alumni in the pro ranks include Haidar Al-Shaibani (Western), Nana Attakora (York), Gabe Gala (Toronto), and Srdjan Djekanović (UBC).{{cite web |url=http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?598-CIS-pushing-for-MLS-draft-entry-Coach |title=Canadian Soccer News - CIS pushing for MLS draft entry: Coach |website=www.canadiansoccernews.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227191015/http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?598-CIS-pushing-for-MLS-draft-entry-Coach |archive-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Since 2019, U Sports men's soccer players have been eligible for the CPL–U Sports Draft, a draft conducted by the Canadian Premier League.{{cite web |title=CPL to partner with U Sports on sharing talent |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/cpl-partner-u-sports-sharing-talent/ |website=SportsNet |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=en}} This has allowed U Sports players to have a direct route to a professional league after post-secondary school. The creation of the draft has given a pathway to dozens of players since its inception. Not only do professional clubs now focus on drafting these players, but players can be invited to training camps during the university offseason allowing for greater development. Players not drafted or signed can return to school, if eligibility remains.{{cite web |title=U SPORTS Draft FAQ |url=https://canpl.ca/usports_faq/ |website=Canadian Premier League |access-date=3 December 2024}}

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• {{official website}}

{{U Sports soccer}}

{{Soccer in Canada}}

{{Atlantic University Sport}}

{{Canada West Universities Athletic Association}}

{{Ontario University Athletics}}

{{Quebec Student Sport Federation}}

{{College association football}}

Category:University and college soccer in Canada

Category:Soccer leagues in Canada