Strong competition and improved player identification result from
ECNL Final Four Showcase in College Station, Texas; All-Event Team announced
ECNL Final Four Showcase Web page | All-ECNL Event Team | Standings | Schedule/Results
Photos | Videos | Notes | Interviews
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 9, 2009) – A total of 96 teams participated in the ECNL Final Four Showcase, held Dec. 4-6, 2009, in College Station, Texas. The event also marked the introduction of the ECNL Player Identification Program.
Held in cooperation with The IV ‘09 Girls’ College Cup Showcase, hosted by Challenge SC, the event also coincided with the NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup and took place at Veteran’s Park, Penberthy Intramural Sports Center and Bryan Regional Athletic Complex.
Each team played one game on each of the event’s three days. Unusually-cold weather resulted in periodic snow showers on Dec. 4 but posed no problems to players, coaches, fans or college coaches.
Results from the event as well as updated standings for teams that competed in either of the first two ECNL regular-season events can be viewed at the ECNL Final Four Showcase Web page.
An ECNL Final Four Showcase All-Event Team for each age group was also selected based upon feedback from ECNL scouts and nominations by coaches.
College coaches from throughout the country were in attendance scouting ECNL games, which complemented the newly-formed ECNL Player Identification Program.
Designed to identify players with national team potential, the ECNL Player Identification Program focuses on the 1994 and 1995 birth years for the 2009-10 season and will expand to include additional age groups in 2010-11. Over 15 ECNL scouts were in attendance at the ECNL Final Four Showcase.
“If we can get more quality eyes looking for the quality players, I think that’s going to help our national team down the road,” said U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach David Rubinson. “If we've got more people helping us identify talent, then we're going to get closer to finding the best players. There's always a diamond in the rough somewhere that we don't know and that's one of the things that's really going to help us in this environment.”
Based upon the performances of players in the 1994 and 1995 birth year at the ECNL Final Four Showcase and the Disney Soccer Showcase, approximately 30 players will be invited into a new US Club Soccer id2 training camp held in conjunction with the ECNL, Feb. 26-March 1, 2010, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. These identified players will be combined with approximately 30 players previously identified through US Club Soccer's id2 program to create a 60-player camp that will be staffed by some of the nation's top coaches and U.S. Soccer National Team staff. The ECNL will be paying all costs of the camp (except travel to and from the camp) for the approximately 30 invited ECNL players.
“The competition here in College Station was great,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “There was an extra ‘edge’ in the environment that is missing at most showcases I have seen in the past, because I think the players understand that they are playing in a year-long league in the ECNL – and that the games matter. This added energy and significance made the games faster and more competitive, and over time will help the players learn how to handle and perform in a higher-pressure environment. All of these things are great for player development.
“Because of this, I believe that the standard of play will only get better at each event as teams and clubs adjust to the ECNL,” Lavers added. “While we will always be looking to improve our events to make the environment more professional, to improve the standard of refereeing, and to get the best facilities possible, this was a great second step for the ECNL.”
The ECNL Final Four Showcase was the second of five 2009-10 ECNL regular-season events. The next regular-season competition will be held in conjunction with Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea FC, Dec. 31, 2009 – Jan. 3, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.
Member clubs must select three of the five events to attend in advance of the 2009-10 ECNL National Championship, scheduled for July 15-18, 2010, in Seattle.
For more information and highlights from the event, visit the ECNL Final Four Showcase Web page.
About the ECNL:
The ECNL is a non-profit national youth soccer league founded in 2009 to provide the best possible developmental environment for American female youth soccer players through the creation of the highest level of national competition and an identification and development program to provide an avenue for players to participate in U.S. Soccer's National Teams. The 2009-10 season is the ECNL’s inaugural season. Each of the 40 member clubs in 2009-10 will have a team in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 age groups, each competing for the ECNL National Championship, the ECNL National Club Championship, and promotion and relegation between flights. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer.
About US Club Soccer:
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup and the National Collegiate Showcase. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id2.
http://www.usclubsoccer.org
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