ECNL announces 2012 ECNL / id2 National Training Camp presented by Nike’s The Chance

RICHMOND, VA. (April 26, 2012): The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and US Club Soccer have announced that the 2012 ECNL / id² National Training Camp will be held July 23-25 at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., presented by Nike’s The Chance.

At the camp, approximately 100 of the top female youth soccer players born between 1993 and 1996 from across the United States will come together for three days of elite training, competition and presentations at one of the world’s premier athletic facilities, where U.S. Soccer staff will scout players for potential inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

A select team of 18 players will be identified from the camp for an international soccer experience of a lifetime. In addition, these players will be invited to attend Mia Hamm’s TeamFirst Academy to work alongside the former U.S. international and her staff as mentors to younger players.

The camp is a joint effort between the ECNL, US Club Soccer’s id² National Player Identification and Development Program, and Nike’sThe Chance. Consistent with the philosophy of US Club Soccer’s id² Program, the 2012 ECNL / id² National Training Camp is open to all players regardless of U.S. Soccer affiliation, or lack thereof.  Olympic Development Program status applies to all id² Program events, including the 2012 ECNL / id² National Training Camp.

Nike’s The Chance was created in 2010 to support young talented athletes to give them opportunities to showcase their skills in front of elite coaches and mentors, as well as to further develop their own talent in an effort to get noticed. Since its creation, The Chance has been a one-of-a-kind global soccer talent search for aspiring male players.

For the first time, U.S. girls will get their shot at The Chance, too.

“The Chance is an opportunity to realize your dream of playing and training at the highest level,” said ECNL Commissioner Sarah Kate Noftsinger. “The partnership has expanded this once-in-a-lifetime soccer experience to girls, providing them an opportunity to prove themselves on an elite stage, domestically and internationally. At the camp, players will have a chance to compete with and against the best players in the country and be identified to compete internationally while working alongside soccer legends like Mia Hamm, learning what it takes to be true ambassadors of the game.“

The 2012 ECNL / id² National Training Camp is a part of US Club Soccer’s id² Program. There is no cost to players aside from travel to and from the camp. Lodging, meals and training gear are provided by the ECNL, US Club Soccer and Nike.

“The combined efforts of Nike, the ECNL and US Club Soccer will make this camp a once-in-a-lifetime soccer experience,” said US Club Soccer Executive Vice President Christian Lavers.

More details on the schedule, participants and other events surrounding the camp will be released in the coming months. The Chance program updates are available via@NikeSoccer on Twitter.

A Look Back: Videos from the 2011 ECNL / id² National Training Camp.

In addition to the 2012 ECNL / id² National Training Camp, Nike World Headquarters will also host the 2012 ECNL Annual General Meeting. The Directors of Coaching and other leaders of every ECNL club across the country will converge in Beaverton for two days of presentations and discussions on the league’s future, developmental issues surrounding youth female soccer and other related topics.

“Bringing together the grassroots leadership of female youth soccer across the country provides a huge opportunity to generate excitement, create unity, and to make changes to the structure of the game,” said Jay Howell, ECNL Executive Director. “Hosting the AGM at Nike will add that much more excitement and quality to what is already a very important and impactful event.”

More details regarding the AGM will released in the coming weeks.

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About the ECNL:  The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization. The 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 with multiple flights; (ii) 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 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.  Follow ECNL on Twitter @theECNL and Facebook: Elite Clubs National League. Visit the official ECNL website for more information: http://www.ecnlgirls.com. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and sponsored by Nike Soccer.

About US Club Soccer: US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs and players in the United States. A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer maximizes flexibility and offers youth and adult player and staff registration, integrated competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Development Program-sanctioned id²Program and Player Development Programs.

Unique to US Club Soccer is the ability of member clubs to unite youth and adult programs within one organization, creating a “members for life” culture within each club.

usclubsoccer.org | Facebook:  /usclubsoccer | Twitter: @usclubsoccer | YouTube: /usclubsoccer

NationalPremierLeagues.com | NationalAdultLeagues.com | id² Program | National Cup

About NIKE, Inc.: NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.