Promotion Relegation is a system used throughout the world to ensure competitiveness and allows all teams within the soccer pyramid to compete for a title. There are multiple divisions in a promotion-relegation system, and after each season, the best teams in each division are promoted to the next division, while the worst teams are relegated to the division below.  The best teams in the top division typically qualify for a continental competition. Lower division teams have the oppurtunity to advance divisions through competition, hence the use of the term "pyramid".

Promotion-relegation allows for an extremely competitive top tier of soccer and rewards clubs that perform well, as opposed to the conventional model in the United States that rewards poor teams by awarding them a high draft pick.  

Many arguments have been made against promotion relegation mainly involving protection of investment for club owners and large cost of travel for lower divisions teams. These problems can be reduced or avoided by gradually implementing a pyramid structure over a few years and creating regional divisions in which teams can play.  Major League Soccer, which is recognized as the 1st tier of US Soccer, already divides teams into conferences.  

Promotion-relegation is achievable in US Soccer and can increase the level of particiaption and competitiveness in US Soccer by empowering local clubs.  Please support this petition to help make this a reality.

Note: picture is just an example, photo credit to Soccer Newsday