ECNL forges partnership with Skillzys®
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (Dec. 15, 2009) – The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) is excited to announce a formal relationship with Minnesota-based start-up Skillzys®, LLC.
Skillzys® produces Tournament Tagzys™, custom bag tags that events can use as participant giveaways. With the size and feel of a typical credit card, these colorful bag tags feature tournament and sponsor logos, tournament information (date, site, website URL, etc.) and can be personalized with each participating team’s name. As part of the ECNL / Skillzys® partnership, all ECNL players will receive a custom Tournament Tagzy™ in each ECNL event they participate in 2009-10.
“We are excited to partner with Skillzys® to provide ECNL players with commemorative Tournament Tagzys™ this year,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “The Tournament Tagzys™ are great ways to promote the ECNL brand, and the customization to allow recognition of each specific event and the hosting club makes each one unique.”
The planned ECNL Tournament Tagzys™ are shown below:
“The Skillzys® Tournament Tagzys™ were a huge hit at the Chicago ECNL Showcase in August and at the ECNL Final Four Showcase last weekend,” said Doug Bracken, ECNL Vice President. “We think the girls will enjoy these unique keepsakes and collectibles commemorating their participation in our inaugural ENCL year.”
“We are thrilled to be part of the Elite Clubs National League sponsor family,” commented Skillzys® President and CEO, Mark Abboud. “The ECNL’s commitment to provide exceptional development opportunities for female soccer athletes in this country is admirable, and we hope to play a part in this development at the younger age groups in the member ECNL clubs, resulting in an even higher level of ECNL competition down the road.”
Though many events are looking to Skillzys® for these custom Tournament Tagzys™, the Minnesota-based start-up is far from your typical bag tag supplier.
The company’s main product line and company namesake, Skillzys®, are customizable plastic cards which depict soccer-specific technical skills, tactical ideas, and positive character traits and life skills. Think of them as Boy/Girl Scout merit badges, but for sport.
Skillzys® is pioneering the US Patent-Pending Skillzys® Method™, a progressive youth development idea that uses the Skillzys® cards to:
1. Focus players, coaches, and parents on sports-specific technique and tactical idea development
2. Encourage attempt of these techniques and tactical ideas in competitive games and matches
3. Recognize players' eventual execution of these techniques and tactical ideas by rewarding athletes with Skillzys® they can proudly display on their sports backpacks or bags
“Technique and skill are not the same thing,” said Abboud. “Soccer techniques like 1v1 moves, dribbling turns, aerial ball control, ball striking, etc., become skill when players gain the ability to call on these techniques and execute them correctly in competitive game situations. Our goal is to help coaches help their players transform this training-ground technique into real-game skill, and we look forward to bringing our player development ideas to interested ECNL clubs as this partnership grows.”
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.
http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com
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
About Skillzys®, LLC
Skillzys® is committed to helping coaches and clubs help their young players transform training-ground technique into real-game skill. Similar to the Boy and Girl Scout merit badge system, the patent-pending Skillzys® Method™ focuses players, coaches, and parents on sports-specific technique and tactical idea development; encourages attempt of these techniques and tactical ideas in competitive games and matches; and recognizes players' eventual execution of these techniques and tactical ideas by rewarding athletes with Skillzys® they can proudly display on their sports backpacks or bags.
Skillzys® allow adults to redefine what it means to be successful in competitive youth soccer matches; empower young players to take control of this success; and ultimately help foster player smiles, passion, and long-term involvement with the beautiful game. More information at www.skillzys.com
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