Arsenal, FC Golden State, Pateadores, Real So Cal, San Diego Surf and Strikers FC will join the Boys ECNL for the 2020-2021 season as members of the Southwest Conference. All six are members the BoysDevelopment Academy run by U.S. Soccer. While U.S. Soccer has yet to a make public announcement, two sources from MLS clubs […]
ecnl
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
ECNL vs. Girls DA hits tipping point: North Carolina Courage and Georgia's UFA leave U.S. Soccer's league
The youth academy of the USA’s top women’s club, which is linked to the club where new U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone coaches, is leaving the Girls DA for the ECNL. Two weeks after Real Coloradoand the Dallas Texans quit theGirls DA, the North Carolina Courage and Georgia’s United Futbol Academy (UFA) are also moving to […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
ECNL president Christian Lavers on clubs leaving the Girls DA, how U.S. Soccer should serve the youth game, and movement on the boys side
With Real Colorado and the Dallas Texans returning to the ECNL for the 2020-21 season, more than 20 clubs have either withdrawn from U.S. Soccer’s Girls DA during its first three seasons or withdrewafter accepting a spot upon the Girls DA’s 2017 launch to remain in the ECNL. The list of clubs opting to play […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Colorado and the Dallas Texans leave Girls Development Academy for ECNL
In major blow to the U.S. Soccer’s Girls Development Academy, Real Colorado and the Dallas Texans are the latest clubs to defect since the Girls DA launched in 2017, when it began competing with theECNL (founded in 2009) to be the nation’s top girls league. “Real Colorado have played in both leagues,” said Lorne Donaldson, […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
ECNL president Christian Lavers: 'Games between DA and ECNL clubs would be fantastic'
The Girls Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), founded in 2009, kicked off its 11th season with 96 clubs. Since U.S. Soccer launched the Girls Development Academy in 2017, the two leagues have beencompeting to field the nation’s top clubs, creating what University of North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance has described as a “civil war in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Illinois' Eclipse Select SC is latest club to leave Girls Development Academy
A fourth club within the last month has announced its departure from the Girls Development Academy after the U.S. Soccer program’s first season of play. Illinois’ Eclipse Select SC will field itstop teams in the ECNL for the 2018-19 season. Last month, New Jersey-based Sky Blue-PDA, the Michigan Hawks and the FC Stars of Massachusetts, […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. Soccer blundered badly on high school soccer
American soccer, so plagued by the pay-to-play problem. If only there was youth soccer that didn’t charge kids so much money. Hold on! It does exist, and it’s massive. Nationwide.It’s called high school soccer. Sometimes, hundreds of people show up for a high school game, the players are celebrated on campus, rivalries date back for […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Leaving the Development Academy: FC Stars director Jason Dewhurst explains why
Following just one season of play in the U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy, which kicked off in September of 2017, three major clubs, New Jersey-based Sky Blue-PDA, the Michigan Hawks and FC Starsof Massachusetts, announced they will not be returning to the DA for the 2018-19 season. All three clubs have been longtime members of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Girls Development Academy defections: Three major clubs to leave U.S. Soccer's new program after one season
After fielding teams in the inaugural 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, three of the nation’s top girls clubs will leave the DA. All three clubs also field teams in the ECNL andwill remain in the ECNL, which was founded in 2009 and is comprised of 80 clubs this season. The Girls DA launched in […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Texans SC Houston are only non-MLS club at this weekend's Development Academy championships
By Mike Woitalla Texans SC Houston, which beat Real So Cal, 2-0, in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-17/18 quarterfinals, is the only non-MLS club to reach the semifinals ateither age group. Alex Alaniz and Alex Bruce scored overtime goals for the Texans to book their trip to this weekend’s Development Academy Championshipsin Carson, California. […]