The 411: TopDrawerSoccer.com’s club soccer TeamRank and Players To Watch rankings utilize a 16-region setup.  Every Tuesday through Friday we will run an article highlighting a monthly update of one of these regions for each feature. On Mondays we will highlight national rankings updates for both Players To Watch Top 100 and the TeamRank Top 10.

For the uninitiated, our 16 regions are Southern California, Northern California & Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest (AK, WA, OR, ID), Rocky Mountains & Southwest (MT, WY, CC, NM, AZ, NV UT), Texas, Heartland (KS, MO, IA, NE and the Dakotas), Midwest (IL, WI and MN), Great Lakes (OH, MI, IN, KY), South (MS, LA, AK, AL, TN, OK), Florida, South Atlantic (SC, NC, GA), Mid-Atlantic (DE, VA, MD, WV), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Northeast (MA, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME).

The TeamRank National Championship is a unique rankings setup that only includes team performance from the current season. It begins with events in August and ends with final events in July, at which point a new competition begins and the slate is again wiped clean. Each ranking is only for that August to July season.

Please read the TeamRank criteria and points setup.

Each list in the Players To Watch Regional Top 20 and National Top 100 rankings are updated monthly and therefore subject to change.

Players To Watch Regional Rankings and National Top 100 in 12 age groups are based on staff assimilation of data and feedback received from coaches and other observers around the country.

Players To Watch ranking and rating criteria explained.

The Heartland Players To Watch ranking update shows professional goalkeeper Jonathan Kempin atop the 2011 listing, with Iowa ODP standout Gabe Christianson leading at 2012. On the Girls’ side, Kansas City-area Big 12 signings Shea Groom (Texas A&M(w)) and Kaysie Clark (Missouri) lead the way at 2011, with Illinois recruit Nicole Breece and Nebraska-area player Elizabeth Bartels setting the pace for the 2012 and 2013 classes respectively.

We are currently working to finalize the 2014 through 2016 classes rather than showing partial lists. As always, you are welcome to let us know about players in those age groups.

Heartland Region Players To Watch rankings - Boys | Girls

In the South Atlantic TeamRank update, the list of teams earning points is growing quickly, CESA Premier is the only club on the Boys’ side to lead multiple age groups (U17 and U18).

Raleigh giants CASL lead the U15, U16 and U18 Girls standing.

With the spring tournament season (and our continuing to add results from fall and winter events as part of our commitment), it will be interesting to see how the standings in each age group develop.

Northern Cal & Hawaii TeamRank standings - Boys | Girls

If you have an issue with the information in the Players To Watch or TeamRank rankings, particularly with factual data, you can contact us at [email protected] and let us know.