ECNL announces 2012-13 ECNL/id2 Player Development Program schedule

RICHMOND, VA. (November 30, 2012): The Elite Clubs National League has announced the schedule for 2012-13 ECNL / id² Player Development Program events to be held across the country in early 2013. The ECNL / id²Player Development Programs (PDPs) provide an opportunity for the top players within every ECNL Conference at the 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 age groups to play with and against the best players within their region at multiple age groups, and to attend presentations from leading coaches or experts in elite athlete development.

The ECNL / id² PDPs are operated by the ECNL in conjunction with US Club Soccer’s id² National Identification and Development Program. The id² Program and the ECNL / id² PDPs are sanctioned as Olympic Development Programs.

The ECNL / id² PDPs have three primary goals: (i) identify the top players within each ECNL conference at multiple age groups; (ii) provide a great developmental experience; and (iii) recognize and reward individual performance and achievement.

Players are selected for the ECNL / id² PDPs based on their performance in ECNL competitions and through recommendations from coaches throughout the country. Each PDP will occur over two days and will include three training sessions and a presentation for the players. All players will also receive Nike training gear.

There are no costs for participation in the ECNL / id² Player Development Programs, as the ECNL covers all staffing, facility rental, and equipment costs. The only responsibility for participating players is the cost of travel and accommodation (where necessary).

The 2012-2013 ECNL / id² PDP schedule is available below:

• Midwest – West: February 2-3, 2013 in Madison, Wis.
• Midwest – East: February 16-17, 2013 in Detroit, Mich.
• West Coast: March 2-3, 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Texas: March 9-10, 2013 in Dallas, Texas
• Northeast: March 9-10, 2013 in Zarepath, N.J.
• Southeast: March 9-10, 2013 in Greenville, S.C.
• Northwest: March 9-10, 2013 in Santa Rosa, Calif.
• Mountain: March 23-24, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Mid-Atlantic: May 4-5, 2013 in Richmond, Va.

The lists of participating players will be distributed before each event.

“The ECNL / id2 Player Development Programs are a great opportunity for some of the best players in the country to be recognized for their performances in top club competition and to be further scouted for youth national teams and colleges,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers.

“Providing an identification process that starts with identification in regular club competition, then moves into a no-cost regional identification event, and eventually to a national training camp is an example of the type of integration that makes the game better and helps players get better,” said ECNL Executive Director Jay Howell.

Based on performance in the ECNL PDPs, as well as additional scouting throughout the year, players will be invited to the 2013 ECNL / id2 National Training Camp in the summer of 2013. Further information on the 2013 ECNL / id2 National Training Camp will be provided in the coming months.

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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; (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. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is 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 id2 Program 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.