Crossfire Premier Moving Top Girls Teams Back to ECNL for 2019/20 Season
As you know, we’ve spent the past two seasons with teams participating in both the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and the ECNL, but during this time we’ve increasingly recognized the need for Crossfire to choose a single pathway and commit to one or the other in the best interests of our club and players. After much internal deliberation, a thorough review of the national landscape, including conversations with clubs around the country, and after receiving input from our players and parents, we have decided that the ECNL offers the best possible solution for our club moving forward.*
The Development Academy was great for our teams and players in many ways, but we feel the ECNL offers several advantages: namely, a better competition structure with a more consistent and cohesive game schedule and a platform for player development that’s more in line with our club’s philosophies. Additionally, the ECNL does not prohibit our players from participating with their high-school teams and in other competitive events and programs. After two seasons of abiding by this restriction, we recognize how important it is for many of our players to be able to play for their schools and in other selected events and programs throughout the year. We want to provide that opportunity and allow our players the social benefits of playing with their classmates in front of their communities, the exposure of additional showcases, and the value of additional competitive experiences.*
At the same time, to address needs and desires of players of all aspiration, players who choose not to play high-school soccer will have several options during that season to continue training at a high level with Crossfire Premier, including training with the boys’ Development Academy teams.*
Moreover, regarding the structure of competition, the ECNL offers an ideal environment for the development of all of our players, without restrictive substitution rules that don’t allow reentry. This simple change gives our coaches greater opportunity to ensure adequate playing time for the entire roster and manage every player’s performance load more effectively. Beyond this, the club will no longer be restricted from participating in other outside competition and events, so we have more opportunity to plan a full competitive slate and provide our ECNL teams with appropriate competition all season long.*
The ECNL is also an enthusiastic of supporter of Crossfire Premier; they value our membership and have worked with our club since the inception of the league. Christian Lavers, ECNL President, explains, "Crossfire has been one of the very best clubs in the country for more than a decade, with a long history of developing players to be stars at every level of the game – in college, internationally, and in professional leagues across the world. In both men’s and women’s soccer,” he continued, "Crossfire has always worked to provide the best possible environment for their players, and has consistently made decisions to support long-term development of their players and teams.*We look forward to working with Crossfire leadership, supporting the Crossfire club, and providing a fantastic platform for their female players long into the future.”*
Lastly, this transition will in no way impact the financial commitment Crossfire has made and will continue to make towards developing our girls’ teams and players. As it stands, Crossfire is the only club in the country who fully-funds two Girls DA teams, funds all travel costs for two ECNL teams and provides scholarships to cover fees and travel for any players in need, while also providing funding for multiple international trips for girls’ teams each season. In selecting the ECNL as our sole developmental destination for our girls’ program, Crossfire is also committing to provide significant financial resources to the program, ensuring there remains no financial barrier to participation, and that the club maintains its status as a national leader in youth development and the number one source of high-level*soccer players in*the Pacific Northwest.*
Thank you for your continued support of Crossfire Premier, and for being a member of our club.*
As you know, we’ve spent the past two seasons with teams participating in both the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and the ECNL, but during this time we’ve increasingly recognized the need for Crossfire to choose a single pathway and commit to one or the other in the best interests of our club and players. After much internal deliberation, a thorough review of the national landscape, including conversations with clubs around the country, and after receiving input from our players and parents, we have decided that the ECNL offers the best possible solution for our club moving forward.*
The Development Academy was great for our teams and players in many ways, but we feel the ECNL offers several advantages: namely, a better competition structure with a more consistent and cohesive game schedule and a platform for player development that’s more in line with our club’s philosophies. Additionally, the ECNL does not prohibit our players from participating with their high-school teams and in other competitive events and programs. After two seasons of abiding by this restriction, we recognize how important it is for many of our players to be able to play for their schools and in other selected events and programs throughout the year. We want to provide that opportunity and allow our players the social benefits of playing with their classmates in front of their communities, the exposure of additional showcases, and the value of additional competitive experiences.*
At the same time, to address needs and desires of players of all aspiration, players who choose not to play high-school soccer will have several options during that season to continue training at a high level with Crossfire Premier, including training with the boys’ Development Academy teams.*
Moreover, regarding the structure of competition, the ECNL offers an ideal environment for the development of all of our players, without restrictive substitution rules that don’t allow reentry. This simple change gives our coaches greater opportunity to ensure adequate playing time for the entire roster and manage every player’s performance load more effectively. Beyond this, the club will no longer be restricted from participating in other outside competition and events, so we have more opportunity to plan a full competitive slate and provide our ECNL teams with appropriate competition all season long.*
The ECNL is also an enthusiastic of supporter of Crossfire Premier; they value our membership and have worked with our club since the inception of the league. Christian Lavers, ECNL President, explains, "Crossfire has been one of the very best clubs in the country for more than a decade, with a long history of developing players to be stars at every level of the game – in college, internationally, and in professional leagues across the world. In both men’s and women’s soccer,” he continued, "Crossfire has always worked to provide the best possible environment for their players, and has consistently made decisions to support long-term development of their players and teams.*We look forward to working with Crossfire leadership, supporting the Crossfire club, and providing a fantastic platform for their female players long into the future.”*
Lastly, this transition will in no way impact the financial commitment Crossfire has made and will continue to make towards developing our girls’ teams and players. As it stands, Crossfire is the only club in the country who fully-funds two Girls DA teams, funds all travel costs for two ECNL teams and provides scholarships to cover fees and travel for any players in need, while also providing funding for multiple international trips for girls’ teams each season. In selecting the ECNL as our sole developmental destination for our girls’ program, Crossfire is also committing to provide significant financial resources to the program, ensuring there remains no financial barrier to participation, and that the club maintains its status as a national leader in youth development and the number one source of high-level*soccer players in*the Pacific Northwest.*
Thank you for your continued support of Crossfire Premier, and for being a member of our club.*
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