1997 PDSL season


The 1997 Premier Development Soccer League season was its 3rd. The season began in April 1997 and ended in August 1997.
Central Coast Roadrunners successfully defended the championship, defeating the Cocoa Expos 3-2. Spokane Shadow won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.

Changes from 1996 Season

Name changes

6 teams were added for the season.
TeamAreaLocationPrevious affiliation
Alabama SaintsBirmingham areaBirmingham, ALexpansion
Cascade SurgeWillamette Valley AreaSalem, ORfrom USISL Pro League
Cincinnati RiverhawksGreater Cincinnati areaCincinnati, OHexpansion
San Gabriel Valley HighlandersGreater Los Angeles areaGlendale, CAexpansion
Southwest Florida ManateesSouthwest Florida areaCape Coral, FLexpansion
Yakima RedsYakima areaYakima, WAfrom USISL Pro League

Teams Leaving

The Nashville Metros were promoted to the A League. The Arizona Sahuaros, Austin Lone Stars, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and San Francisco Bay Seals were promoted to the D-3 Pro League.
6 teams folded after the 1996 season:
The Wichita Blue went on hiatus for this year, and the Willamette Valley Firebirds went on hiatus for the next two years.

Standings

Central Conference

Central Division

North Central Division

Eastern Conference

Mid-South Division

Southeast Division

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Southwest Division

Playoffs

Format

Central Coast received a bye to the PDL Semifinals as the defending champion.
The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.

Divisional Brackets

PDSL Finals Brackets