Ratlea Championship Soccer

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RCS_Shield.jpg


At the urging of Prince Culenkari VII, Ratlea Championship Soccer was formed by interested clubs throughout the Island. As an adjunct to the Soccer Association of Ratlea, the RCS governs domestic play in Ratlea, including the administration of professional domestic soccer, the Culenkari Cup, and the post-season Tiki Trophy.

Regional Play

Before a full professional league could be established, it was determined by the clubs in the RCS to play regionally in the early years. So, in the first season, the clubs were divided into four regional conferences. The winner of each conference was then invited to Aldinn City, where they played for the Tiki Trophy.

After two seasons of play, it was determined which teams were of a quality to play professionally, and were thus entered into the RCS Major and RCS Minor accordingly.

RCS System

RCS Major

The RCS runs a three-tiered professional system. The top level is the RCS Major, which originated in 214 AC with 15 teams. Each side plays the others twice, for a total of 28 matches. The top team in the tables is awarded the Championship Shield. The bottom three teams, however, will face potential relegation (see below)

Championship Shield Winners
214: currently being contested

RCS Minor

The second division of play in Ratlea is the RCS Minor. The 20-team RCS Minor is divided into two conferences, respectively the North-Eastern and South-Western, based on geographical considerations. Each side plays their conference opponents twice, and each member of the other conference once, for a total of 28 matches. The top team in each conference advances to the RCS Minor Championship, taking each other on in a home-and-home series. The winner of the series is declared the RCS Minor Champion, and will be automatically promoted to the RCS Major. In addition, the top two teams in each conference will be eligible for promotion (see below). However, the bottom two teams in each conference will also be up for removal from the RCS.

RCS Minor Winners/Conference Champions
214: Currently being contested

The Semipro Leagues

While there is not a single third division league in Ratlea, there are three semiprofessional leagues that have been approved for potential promotion into the RCS Minor. Each, based off of their geographical location, was started by the clubs that participated in regional play, yet did not receive entry into the RCS Major or Minor. These leagues, known as Soccer East, the Capital Soccer Alliance, and the Western Soccer League, each annoint a champion and runner-up, who are then each eligible for promotion via the Semipro Summit, hosted on a rotating geographical basis. The winner of the Championship division at the summit shall advance directly to the RCS Minor, while the remaining champions, as well as the winner of the Runner-up division, shall then play off against chosen RCS Minor teams (see below).

SE/CSA/WSL Champions
214: Currently being contested

Promotion/Relegation

In the RCS Major, the bottom three teams shall be placed up for demotion, while they shall take on the RCS Minor losing Finalist, as well as the runner-ups in each conference. The RCS Major teams shall host the matches, which will be a one-game series. The autopromotion of the RCS Minor Winner shall cause an expansion of the RCS Major to 16 teams for 215, 17 for 216, and 18 for 217. After the RCS Major hits 18 teams, expansion is not likely, leading to a possibility of the last place becoming an autodemotion place.

Meanwhile, in addition to the potential promotion of up to four teams from the RCS Minor, four teams will also be potentially up for demotion. To accomodate for the expansion of the RCS Major, the RCS Minor shall promote one more team than they relegate. As such, the winner of the Semipro Summit's Championship Division shall receive an autopromotion during the years of RCS Major expansion. Meanwhile, the second-to-last sides in each conference shall face off in a home-and-home, with the winner retaining their spot in the RCS Minor. The losing side of that matchup, as well as the bottom sides in each conference, shall then host one-match playoffs against the other two Semipro champions, as well as the winner of the Semipro Summit's runner-up division.

Culenkari Cup

Started during the 213 regional play season, the Culenkari Cup is a single-elimination knockout tournament, open to all Ratlean clubs that register. The clubs in RCS Major and Minor are required to compete, or face sanctions from the RCS, giving the lower-round competitors from the semipro and amateur levels a chance to rise up, and pull an upset. The RCS Major teams will be the last sides to enter the cup, with the lower rounds filled with lower-level matches. The hosts are randomly chosen in the early rounds, a consequence of the intial draw, with the final taking place in Aldinn City, before Prince Culenkari.

Culenkari Cup Winners
213: Ugentis United
214: Currently being contested

Tiki Trophy

During the 212 and 213 seasons of regional play, the winners of each conference were invited to Aldinn City, where they would face off in a round-robin tournament for the Tiki Trophy, and the title of National Professional Club Champion. While the true National Champions can now be said to be the RCS Major Champion and the Culenkari Cup Winner, the Tiki Trophy remains as an inter-season playoff for the sides who excelled in the RCS Major and Minor. The round-robin format has been retained, with the invitees now being the top two RCS Major sides, as well as the RCS Minor champion, and the Champion of the Semipro Summit.

Tiki Trophy Winners
212: Drizzleford
213: Locharay
214: To be contested

First division soccer leagues
Allied States Premiership (The Lowland Clans) | Apex League (Bettia) | Bureaucratic States 1st Division (Oglethorpia) | Casaran First Division (Casari) | Cafundeu First Division (Cafundeu]) | C4 Champions League (Unified Capitalizt States) | CMSC (Candelaria And Marquez) | H1SR (Rejistania | Hockey Canada Soccer League (Hockey Canada) | Jabonga Çwego Ligī (Unified Capitalizt States) | KLF Overleague (Krytenia) | Kzuu Maian Football League (Gigaleague) (Kzuu Mai) | Leaguealese (Legalese) | Liga Starblaydia (Starblaydia) | Liverpool England High League (Liverpool England) | Milchama Football League (Milchama) | Naleloospalakintula Football (Division 1) | National Football League (Daehanjeiguk) | Nedalia Premier League (Nedalia) | Nojikan Premiere League (Nojika) | PopularFreedom Extreme Soccer League (PopularFreedom) | Première Ligue Pepsioli (Oliverry) | Qazox Football League (Qazox) | Qutari Premier League (The Islands of Qutar) | Ratlea Championship Soccer (Ratlea) | Spruitland First Division (Spruitland) | Súprelige (Bedistan) | Liga de Fútbol de Vassfforcia (Vassfforcia) | Virsliga (Boudra-Boudra) | Weegie Premiership (The Weegies) | Winchestia Pro League (Winchestia)