ELITE CLUBS NATIONAL LEAGUE
ECNL expands to 66 clubs and will add U14s to the league for 2011-2012
The Elite Clubs National League mission is to enhance the developmental experience of the best female youth soccer players in the United States through:
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Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true nationally-based competitive league with multiple flights;
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Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competition; and
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Improving the daily training environment at female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs.
Freestate Soccer is proud to announce itself as one of the ECNL member clubs.
In the 2011-2012 season Freestate will field teams in the U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 age groups and compete against the top 66 girls clubs in the United States. The ECNL is expected to provide the highest level league of girls youth soccer in the country.
Freestate ECNL Teams
Fury U14 ECNL
Ashly Kennedy ashly.kennedy@gmail.com 443-223-0760
Storm U15 ECNL
Will Morris will1321@yahoo.com 301-399-6125
United U16 ECNL
Shannon Cirovski cirovski@verizon.net 443-472-5118
Elite U17 ECNL
Steve Campbell doc_campbell@freestatesoccer.org 410-627-6300
Fury U18 ECNL
Steve Campbell and Mellanie Nai doc_campbell@freestatesoccer.org 410-627-6300
ECNL Club Goalkeeping Coach Mellanie Nai
Member clubs
Albertson Fury, New York-East; Arsenal FC, Cal-South; Atlanta Fire, Georgia; Bethesda SC, Maryland; Birmingham United, Alabama; Carmel, Indiana; CASL, North Carolina; CESA Premier, South Carolina; Charlotte Soccer Academy, North Carolina; Colorado Rush, Colorado; Concorde Fire, Georgia; Connecticut FC, Connecticut; Crossfire Premier, Washington; Dallas Sting, North-Texas; Dallas Texans, North Texas; De Anza Force, Cal-North; East Meadow, New York; Eclipse Select, Illinois; FC Delco, Pennsylvania-East; FC Milwaukee; Wisconsin; FC Bucks, Pennsylvannia-East; FC Stars of Mass, Massachusetts; FC Virginia, Virginia; Freestate Soccer Alliance, Maryland; FSA SoccerPlus, Connecticut; Irvine Strikers, Cal-South; KCFC, Kansas; Lonestar SC, South-Texas; McLean, Virginia; Michagen Hawks, Michigan; Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota; Mustang SC, Cal-North; Neusport FC, Nevada; Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, Ohio-South; Ohio Premier, Ohio-South; PDA, New Jersey; Pleasanton Rage, Cal-North; Real Colorado, Colorado; Real So Cal, Cal-South; Richmond Strikers, Virginia; San Diego Surf, Cal-South; San Juan SC, Cal-North; Scorpians, Massachuestts; Sereno SC, Arizona; SC Del Sol, Arizona; Slammers, Cal-South; St. Louis SG, Missouri; Texas Challenge SC, Texas-South; Utah Alvanche, Utah; Vardar, Michigan; Virginia Rush, Virginia; Washington Premier, Washington; West Coast FC, Cal-North.
Yearly Schedule
Each Freestate Team will follow the same schedule.
August-October (HS Season)
We will train and scrimmage on Sunday evenings. We will have team building events and group outings to college games and conduct a college seminar. No league play. Players will be playing for their respective high schools through September-October.
November-December
We will train twice midweek. In addition to scheduled tournaments, we will also train or scrimmage on weekends.
January-February
We will train twice midweek and on the weekends with practices at QAS, Soccer Dome, AACS and outdoor in Bowie. We will also play in the Freestate Winter League.
March-June
We will train 2-3 times midweek with ECNL games on the weekend.
July - will be completely off-season.
Freestate and the ECNL
1. Why play for Freestate Soccer Alliance in the ECNL?
The Elite Clubs National League was formed to allow the top clubs in the country the opportunity for their college recruiting age players to play meaningful games, on quality fields, in an organized system. This league is likely to grow into the US Development Girls Academy and join the boys US Development Academy as the place for elite players.
2. How is the ECNL track different than the track of typical premier travel teams?
The ECNL has created agreements with events to place players on the highest quality and the most visible fields. Coaches have limited ability to see players in a weekend so the 66 clubs participating in this venture are at a significant advantage.
3. What does Freestate have planned for the ECNL teams?
Players will benefit from a top quality coaching staff coordinated by Directors of Coaching, expanded curriculum, camaraderie of the five age-group teams, college success seminars, fitness testing, and a lot of fun! Players will be on the best fields and facilities that our club has to offer for training and games (indoor, turf fields, and quality grass surfaces).
4. What commitment is expected of the ENCL players?
It must be a full year-round commitment to the ECNL team and to the sport of soccer. The ECNL is the highest level of girls youth soccer and players must be always finding ways to improve. Additionally, periods of downtime and an off-season will be incorporated into the year round schedule to allow for proper recovery between games and seasons. The competitive schedule will total about 30 ECNL games and approximately another 12 games from non-ECNL tournament play.
5. How will the ECNL change college recruiting?
ECNL has already proven the best opportunity to be identified by College coaches. Hundreds of coaches attend every ECNL event. www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com
6. Will players have to play ODP in order to be pulled into the US National Pool?
The ECNL provides a direct route to the National Pool through a combination of scouting ECNL games and the regional and national US Club Soccer ID2 program in order to identify talented players and get them into the National Pool. Several players from ECNL clubs made their way into National Team camps in 2010 and 2011 without being a member of their State Olympic Development Program.
