U.S. Soccer names 22 clubs to Girls Development Academy for total of 74

[Unregistered]

U.S. Soccer has accepted an additional 22 clubs to the Girls Development Academy, which will kick off in fall of 2017 with 74 clubs fielding teams in U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 competition.

The 22 clubs named on Wednesday are:
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (Tinton Falls, N.J.)
Burlingame SC-MVLA (Burlingame, Calif.)
Empire United (Rochester, N.Y.)
FC Fury New York (Bay Shore, N.Y.)
FC Kansas City (Prairie Village, Kan.)
Houston Dash (Houston, Texas)
Houston United (Houston, Texas)
Indiana Fire (Westfield, Ind.)
La Roca Futbol Club (Kaysville, Utah)
Nationals (Royal Oak, Mich.)
Oakwood Soccer Club (Glastonbury, Conn.)
Pateadores (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
PA Classics (Manheim, Pa.)
PSV Union (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Real So Cal (Woodland Hills, Calif.)
SC del Sol (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Sereno Soccer Club (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Sporting Blue Valley (Overland Park, Kan.)
Texas Rush Soccer Club (The Woodlands, Texas)
FC United (Northfield, Ill.)
West Coast Futbol Club (Laguna Hills, Calif.)
Western New York Flash (Elma, N.Y.)

California is the best represented state, with 11 Southern California and six Northern California entrants. Texas comes in with four North Texas and four South Texas clubs.

2017-18 U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy Clubs
CALIFORNIA-SOUTH (11): Beach FC, Eagles SC, LA Galaxy San Diego, LA Premier, Legends FC, LAFC-Slammers, Pateadores, Real So Cal, San Diego Surf, So Cal Blues, West Coast Futbol Club.
FLORIDA (7): Boca United, Clay County SC, IMG Academy, Jacksonville Armada Youth Academy (JFC), Orlando Pride/City SC, West Florida Flames, Weston FC.
CALIFORNIA-NORTH (6): Burlingame SC-MVLA, Davis Legacy-San Juan SC, De Anza Force, Lamorinda, Mustang, PSV Union.
NEW YORK (5): East Meadow SC, Empire United, Fury New York, Western New York Flash, World Class FC.
NEW JERSEY (3): Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth, Match Fit Academy, Sky Blue FC-PDA.
TEXAS-SOUTH (4): Lonestar SC, Houston Dash, Houston United, Texas Rush.
TEXAS-NORTH (4): Dallas Texans, Sting Soccer Club, FC Dallas, Solar Chelsea SC.
MICHIGAN (3): Michigan Hawks, Midwest United, Nationals.
VIRGINIA (3): FC Virginia, Virginia Development Academy, Washington Spirit-Virginia.
WASHINGTON (3): Eastside FC, Crossfire, Seattle Reign.
COLORADO (2): Colorado Rush, Real Colorado.
GEORGIA (2): Concorde Fire, Tophat NTH.
ILLINOIS (2): Eclipse Select, Sockers FC.
KANSAS (2): FC Kansas City, Sporting Blue Valley.
MASSACHUSETTS (2): FC Stars, Boston Breakers.
ARIZONA (2): SC del Sol, Sereno SC.
NORTH CAROLINA (2): CASL, Charlotte Soccer Academy.
PENNSYLANIA (2): PA Classics, Penn Fusion SA.
CONNECTICUT (1): Oakwood SC.
INDIANA (1): Indiana Fire.
ILLINOIS (1): FC United
MARYLAND (1): Washington Spirit-Maryland.
MINNESOTA (1): Shattuck-St. Mary's.
OHIO (1): Cincinnati Development Academy/Kings Hammer/CUP.
OKLAHOMA (1): TSC Hurricane.
OREGON (1): Portland Thorns.
UTAH (1): La Roca Futbol Club.

[Unregistered]

If this keeps up, FCP and CU will be the best ECNL teams around!

[Unregistered]

and on the same day the following press release:

Elite National Premier League Logo and Framework Announced

August 17, 2016
CHARLESTON, S.C. (August 16, 2016) – The format and structure of the Elite National Premier League (ENPL), the new competition and development platform for boys collaboratively launched by US Club Soccer and the Elite Clubs National League, is taking shape well ahead of the league’s August 2017 kick-off.

Released today, the logo for the ENPL reflects the collaborative effort between US Club Soccer and the ECNL by incorporating elements from both brands. This collaboration is fundamental to the platform, leveraging the strengths and resources of two of the biggest brands in youth soccer.

ENPL competition will include U14, U15, U16, U17, and U19 boy’s age groups, and will include participating teams from two independent qualification paths: (i) qualifying teams from National Premier Leagues across the country; and (ii) qualifying teams from ECNL club-based conferences across the country. These teams will come together to compete for the ENPL National Championship in a two-stage post-season event in 2018. By providing qualification paths for both team-based and club-based competitions, and through a variety of competition formats, the ENPL will feature the very best boys players in US Club Soccer.

While the NPL and the ECNL will each determine their own regular season competition format, all qualifying leagues and conferences must meet ENPL guidelines on the minimum number of matches, basic roster and competition rules, and other development standards to insure a top quality environment. The ENPL will determine the total number of post-season berths and the post-season competition structure.

The inaugural ENPL Play-Offs will be held in June 2018 in two locations – an East and West venue – where teams will be seeded based on their regular season performance. Play-Off winners will advance to the 2018 ENPL National Championships in early July 2018.

No teams are guaranteed entry into the ENPL Play-Offs. Whether qualifying through an NPL or an ECNL conference, all teams will earn their place into the ENPL Play-Offs through a full season of regular league play.

The initial footprint of NPLs and ECNL conferences will be released in the coming months.

###

ABOUT THE ELITE CLUBS NATIONAL LEAGUE: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.

eliteclubsnationalleague.com | Facebook: /theECNL | Twitter: @theECNL

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER: A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible development environment for players of all ages. Among US Club Soccer’s primary programming is the National Premier Leagues (NPL), a competitive nationwide platform for boys and girls consisting of 19 member leagues and more than 300 member clubs.

US Club Soccer offers youth and adult registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, and a variety of other programming and services. Anchored by Players First, US Club Soccer supports all facets of youth soccer through the five pillars of Players First: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. Other programming elements include the id² Program and Player Development Program, and the National Cup.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and is supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.

[Unregistered]

U.S. Soccer has accepted an additional 22 clubs to the Girls Development Academy, which will kick off in fall of 2017 with 74 clubs fielding teams in U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 competition.

The 22 clubs named on Wednesday are:
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (Tinton Falls, N.J.)
Burlingame SC-MVLA (Burlingame, Calif.)
Empire United (Rochester, N.Y.)
FC Fury New York (Bay Shore, N.Y.)
FC Kansas City (Prairie Village, Kan.)
Houston Dash (Houston, Texas)
Houston United (Houston, Texas)
Indiana Fire (Westfield, Ind.)
La Roca Futbol Club (Kaysville, Utah)
Nationals (Royal Oak, Mich.)
Oakwood Soccer Club (Glastonbury, Conn.)
Pateadores (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
PA Classics (Manheim, Pa.)
PSV Union (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Real So Cal (Woodland Hills, Calif.)
SC del Sol (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Sereno Soccer Club (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Sporting Blue Valley (Overland Park, Kan.)
Texas Rush Soccer Club (The Woodlands, Texas)
FC United (Northfield, Ill.)
West Coast Futbol Club (Laguna Hills, Calif.)
Western New York Flash (Elma, N.Y.)

California is the best represented state, with 11 Southern California and six Northern California entrants. Texas comes in with four North Texas and four South Texas clubs.

2017-18 U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy Clubs
CALIFORNIA-SOUTH (11): Beach FC, Eagles SC, LA Galaxy San Diego, LA Premier, Legends FC, LAFC-Slammers, Pateadores, Real So Cal, San Diego Surf, So Cal Blues, West Coast Futbol Club.
FLORIDA (7): Boca United, Clay County SC, IMG Academy, Jacksonville Armada Youth Academy (JFC), Orlando Pride/City SC, West Florida Flames, Weston FC.
CALIFORNIA-NORTH (6): Burlingame SC-MVLA, Davis Legacy-San Juan SC, De Anza Force, Lamorinda, Mustang, PSV Union.
NEW YORK (5): East Meadow SC, Empire United, Fury New York, Western New York Flash, World Class FC.
NEW JERSEY (3): Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth, Match Fit Academy, Sky Blue FC-PDA.
TEXAS-SOUTH (4): Lonestar SC, Houston Dash, Houston United, Texas Rush.
TEXAS-NORTH (4): Dallas Texans, Sting Soccer Club, FC Dallas, Solar Chelsea SC.
MICHIGAN (3): Michigan Hawks, Midwest United, Nationals.
VIRGINIA (3): FC Virginia, Virginia Development Academy, Washington Spirit-Virginia.
WASHINGTON (3): Eastside FC, Crossfire, Seattle Reign.
COLORADO (2): Colorado Rush, Real Colorado.
GEORGIA (2): Concorde Fire, Tophat NTH.
ILLINOIS (2): Eclipse Select, Sockers FC.
KANSAS (2): FC Kansas City, Sporting Blue Valley.
MASSACHUSETTS (2): FC Stars, Boston Breakers.
ARIZONA (2): SC del Sol, Sereno SC.
NORTH CAROLINA (2): CASL, Charlotte Soccer Academy.
PENNSYLANIA (2): PA Classics, Penn Fusion SA.
CONNECTICUT (1): Oakwood SC.
INDIANA (1): Indiana Fire.
ILLINOIS (1): FC United
MARYLAND (1): Washington Spirit-Maryland.
MINNESOTA (1): Shattuck-St. Mary's.
OHIO (1): Cincinnati Development Academy/Kings Hammer/CUP.
OKLAHOMA (1): TSC Hurricane.
OREGON (1): Portland Thorns.
UTAH (1): La Roca Futbol Club.

I thought they were really scraping bottom when they accepted the Thorns Academy but some of these clubs are really bottom of the barrel.

[Unregistered]

List of all clubs by state

http://www.soccerwire.com/blog-posts...sted-by-state/

Is it me or are some of the clubs on the list unimpressive? This last round was not nealy as strong as the first ECNL is probably pretty happy, USSF not so much

[Unregistered]

And how many of these clubs will actually "accept" being "accepted"? Some have already dropped the GDA since it was announced they had been accepted. More to follow for sure.

[Unregistered]

And how many of these clubs will actually "accept" being "accepted"? Some have already dropped the GDA since it was announced they had been accepted. More to follow for sure.

I wouldn't be surprised either, although I bet after Davis very publicly dropped out in favor of ECNL (embarrassing!), USSF probably made sure this last list was legally locked in. This last list of clubs was pretty lame. If USSF had gotten all the top clubs it had wanted at the start, some of those clubs never would have gotten a badge

[Unregistered]

If this keeps up, FCP and CU will be the best ECNL teams around!

Every ECNL club other than Utah and Boise would have to drop out of ECNL for THAT to happen. And even at that, it would be a dogfight.

[Unregistered]

Every ECNL club other than Utah and Boise would have to drop out of ECNL for THAT to happen. And even at that, it would be a dogfight.

Then they could call it ECWPL.

(Elite Clubs West Portland League).

[Unregistered]

Then they could call it ECWPL.

(Elite Clubs West Portland League).

And still make it cost the parents $10,000.

[Unregistered]

And still make it cost the parents $10,000.

And of course, that wouldn't include parent travel.

[Unregistered]

Every ECNL club other than Utah and Boise would have to drop out of ECNL for THAT to happen. And even at that, it would be a dogfight.

Add Thorns Academy into the mix so there's somebody at the bottom of the standings.

[Unregistered]

List of all clubs by state

http://www.soccerwire.com/blog-posts...sted-by-state/

Is it me or are some of the clubs on the list unimpressive? This last round was not nealy as strong as the first ECNL is probably pretty happy, USSF not so much

Very very weak list of clubs. Some only have 3 or 4 teams total. Some don't have any premier level teams at all. US Soccer is really struggling to get this GDA thing off the ground. And now some of the top ECNL clubs that were "accepted" 2 months ago are looking at the latest list and deciding to head back to ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Very very weak list of clubs. Some only have 3 or 4 teams total. Some don't have any premier level teams at all. US Soccer is really struggling to get this GDA thing off the ground. And now some of the top ECNL clubs that were "accepted" 2 months ago are looking at the latest list and deciding to head back to ECNL.

I was on the webinar this morning. your statement above is not true. All teams prior to the last batch announced have committed their top players for the 2017 year.

[Unregistered]

I was on the webinar this morning. your statement above is not true. All teams prior to the last batch announced have committed their top players for the 2017 year.

Sure they have. Just wait and watch.