Founded in 1991, the AMSL consists of two divisions, the Men's Division of eight teams and the Women's Division of eight. Every year since the league's founding, the champions of the league have gone on to compete for the Canadian National Challenge Cup and the Jubilee Shield. The AMSL is operated by the Alberta Soccer Association, the provincial governing body for soccer in Alberta. This has been at times a problematic arrangement, but it has stood up for the time that the league has been in existence. The various district associations in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer fulfill some of the administrative functions that would normally be handled by such a league, and this has led to rules being interpreted differently for different teams in the same league. Districts other than Edmonton and Calgary can use their entire men's or woman's league program as "reserve teams". Calgary and Edmonton clubs are expected to field reserve teams in the local tier 1 senior leagues. The teams to be entered into the AMSL for the following season shall be based on previous season league results and relegation-promotion games, unless accepted as an expansion team. Teams wishing to withdraw or enter the league must notify the ASA in writing before November 15 of each year and attend the fall planning meeting on the last weekend in November.
Mike Traficante Challenge Cup
This is a competition whereby the top 3 teams north and south compete for the League Cup. It has had various formats including south and north group winners advancing to a one-game final and seeded groups with group winners advancing to a 1-game final. The League Cup cannot be challenged for by non-AMSL members even though it designates the Alberta Provincial Champion and Canadian National Challenge Cup representative. With 4 of the most populous of the 18 districts having teams in the AMSL; however, the majority of the soccer players in the province are represented.
Sources: Note: In 1999 and 2000 the Calgary Callies played as Calgary Celtic SFC.
Clubs
There have been a number of changes with the Alberta Soccer Association and also to the AMSL in 2011. With the addition of FC Edmonton to the Alberta soccer system their reserve team will be playing an exhibition schedule with 7 of the 8 AMSL teams. The Calgary Dinosaurs and Edmonton Green and Gold are affiliated with the summer CIS soccer programs for the University of Calgary and University of Alberta respectively. A number of alumni typically play on these teams as well. Clubs that have competed in the Alberta Major Soccer League
