Five LaLiga Courses Draw 750-Plus Coaches from 250 Clubs
(CHARLESTON, S.C.) – US Club Soccer – a prominent member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and the leading organization developing soccer clubs across America – today announces its significant growth in 2016, including the execution of five LaLiga Formation Methodology courses, expanding the National Premier Leagues (NPL) from 19 to 23 leagues and registering nearly 500,000 members to date.
Continuing US Club Soccer’s banner year through its technical partnership with LaLiga, the top professional soccer league in Spain, the organization conducted five LaLiga Formation Methodology courses across five states. They featured 750 coaches from 250 clubs and organizations spanning 22 states. The first course for 2017 will be held Feb. 3-5 in San Diego, Calif.
NPL, created by US Club Soccer to elevate the competitive youth soccer landscape in America, serves as a national competition platform based on a common technical framework. New for 2017, US Club Soccer and the Elite Clubs National League created a new national competition and development platform – the Elite National Premier League (ENPL) – for 14-U through 19-U boys that will begin in August 2017. The ENPL will provide local and national regular-season competition, national showcase events and postseason playoff competition for top teams across the country.
All of US Club Soccer’s coaches were subject to increased health and wellness standards for their players in the new Sideline Sports Doc course. The online educational platform is a scalable training program, customized and designed specifically with the needs of US Club Soccer’s Players First platform in mind, which will help improve coaches’ on-field triage of key injury situations. Players First is a branded, holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential.
“US Club Soccer’s mission is to improve the soccer experience for every player and parent by helping our clubs provide the best possible environment for enjoyment and growth. With our Players First philosophy as a guideline, and with the help of our many great partners – in particular LaLiga – we believe we made significant progress in 2016 by beginning the conversation with clubs, coaches, parents and players,” says Kevin Payne, CEO of US Club Soccer. “We’re incredibly excited about 2017 when we will roll out new Players First initiatives and commence our new ENPL platform, which will bring together the top boys clubs in the country in a league-based structure focusing on competition as an important part of player development.”
In July 2016, US Club Soccer held the National Cup XV Finals and 2016 NPL Finals in Aurora, Colo. which generated an estimated $4.2 million in direct economic impact, totaling more than 300 teams and 3,000 of America’s top youth players. US Club Soccer is returning its 2017 championship events – 2017 NPL Finals and National Cup XVI Finals – to Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The NPL Finals are slated for July 13-17, while the National Cup XVI Finals will take place July 21-24.
To continue identifying top-tier talent in the U.S. soccer system, US Club Soccer sanctions the id² Program which provides an opportunity for the country’s elite youth soccer players to be identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. Within the id² umbrella, Player Development Programs are also conducted regionally to support this platform.
Lastly, US Club Soccer saw a steady rise in overall registration, reaffirming US Club Soccer’s status as the leading developer of soccer clubs in America.
More information: usclubsoccer.org, 843.614.4140.
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.
Anchored by Players First and its five pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.
US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.
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