FC Virginia accepts invitation to improved Elite Clubs National League

The Football Club of Virginia has accepted an invitation to participate in the Elite Clubs National League (formerly Red Bull National League). The ECNL replaces the two-year-old “Red Bull National League for Girls”, within which FC Virginia also participated for the 2008/09 season.

Made up of 37 of the top girls soccer club in the United States to date, with 40-44 total clubs anticipated, the ECNL is expected to provide the highest level league of girls youth soccer in the country, following a similar approach to that of the wildly successful U.S. Soccer Development Academy on the boys side of youth soccer.

The invitation-only league requires member clubs to meet several stringent requirements designed to promote the most effective player development environment, as judged by the membership. Factors considered include club coaching structure, with coaches working for a Director - not individual the teams, experience and success of coaching staff, facilities, competitiveness of teams, and a common belief that playing higher quality competition on a consistent basis is the best way to prepare youth players for the future.

FC Virginia, founded just three years ago by legendary Washington area youth coach Terry Foley, is the only club in Northern Virginia to have been invited. Other area clubs include VA Rush, Freestate, and Bethesda. The prestigious membership of clubs includes more than 50% of the 2008 Soccer America top 30 girl’s soccer clubs in the USA.

“I am looking forward to FCV being a charter member of a league that is spearheading opportunities for the development of competition for the best players in the country”, said Foley. “FCV is very excited to be able to offer these levels of regional and national competition to the elite female youth players from the nation’s capital region and middle Virginia.”

While the ultimate goal is for teams to play exclusively, and nationally, in the ECNL, the membership has agreed to ease into this format to allow clubs and players to adjust slowly, preserving current college recruitment and national team ID opportunities.

For the first two years, with the only exception being the US Youth Soccer National League, ECNL clubs will continue to play their traditional schedules while participating in the league via guaranteed acceptance into existing top college showcase events. From year three on, the league will move closer each year towards a regular weekly ECNL schedule for member teams, both regionally and nationally. Ultimately, the ECNL will be the primary – if not only – competition format for all member teams.

For the first year of the league, FC Virginia entrants will be HotSpur at U15, Cardinals (formerly Synergy) at U16, and Explosion at U17. Both the Cardinals and Explosion participated in this year\'s Red Bull League in the U15 and U16 ages respectively. The HotSpur, reigning Virginia State Champions, will join FCV for the first time this summer.

In addition to the national competition experienced at the U15-U17 level, the new ECNL structure includes a new regional league for the U12-U14 age groups of each member club. These teams will play year round against other ECNL regional teams, also enjoying guaranteed acceptance into top tournaments, as well as via arranged inter-club friendly weekends.

These younger aged teams will be formed exclusively under the US Club Soccer banner, with a 22-player roster limit, allowing member players to continue to play with other club teams via their US Youth Soccer player passes and state-sanctioned leagues and cup competition.

The club will be forming U12, U13, and U14 regional teams, as well as holding tryouts for next year’s ECNL teams during late May and early June of this year. Interested players and families are being asked to contact Coach Foley at Foley4socr@aol.com. The club has also published a more extensive ‘Frequently Asked Questions” document on their web site at www.FCVirginia.com

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Confirmed list of 37 member clubs for 2009/2010 ECNL season

Albertson Fury, New York-East
Arsenal FC, Cal-South
Atlanta Fire, Georgia
Bethesda SC, Maryland
Birmingham United, Alabama
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
Eclipse Select, Illinois
FC Delco, Pennsylvania-East
FC Milwaukee;  Wisconsin
FC Stars of Mass, Massachusetts
FC Virginia, Virginia
Freestate United, Maryland
FSA SoccerPlus, Connecticut
Irvine Strikers, Cal-South
Lonestar SC, South-Texas
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
San Juan SC, Cal-North
SC Del Sol, Arizona
Sereno SC, Arizona
St. Louis SG, Missouri
Texas Challenge SC, Texas-South
Virginia Rush, Virginia
West Coast FC, Cal-South.