| Emerald City FC joins US Club Soccer - Leaves WYSA |
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| on 12 Mar 2010 | |
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Emerald City FC joins US Club Soccer and Eastern Washington clubs commit to PSPL to create a new era for youth soccer SEATTLE (March 11, 2010) – The Emerald City FC board has voted to seek more competitive opportunities under US Club Soccer and the Puget Sound Premier League (PSPL) in an effort to help inspire a new era and a new vision for youth soccer in Washington state. The decision by the Seattle-based premier soccer club, known for being on the leading edge of player development, follows a recent decision by Crossfire Premier to join the PSPL Development League. “We are making this decision because it is time to do what is right for young soccer players, what is right for competitive clubs and what is right for the good of the game,”’ said Bobby Howe, director of coaching for Emerald City. “We want to redraw the youth soccer boundaries that currently restrict player development in this state and create a more open and diverse system. We want to give the game back to the players.” Additionally, several of Eastern Washington’s and Northern Idaho’s top competitive clubs announced this week that they are committing to the PSPL for the fall of 2010, boosting the number of fully-committed PSPL clubs to 22 for the fall season. That potentially increases the number of teams to over 200. Since its inception in the spring of 2007, US Club Soccer’s PSPL league has grown more than 30 percent each season. Emerald City teams will compete in the PSPL and form the core of a new regional elite Northwest Champions League with some of Oregon and British Columbia’s competitive clubs. US Club Soccer, the PSPL and Emerald City encourage other clubs to join them in an effort to redefine and rethink how competitive leagues should be created. “The Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club is prepared to move forward with the NW Champions League in the U-14 through U-18 girls’ age groups,” said Tom Atencio, coaching director for Tualatin Hills. “Tualatin Hills sees the NW Champions League as an opportunity for motivated soccer clubs to give back to the players in an economical fashion. We believe that youth soccer leagues, aged appropriately, should have meaning and that clubs should work together for the good of the game.” Emerald City is being joined by several other competitive clubs in Washington and Northern Idaho. These clubs announced this week they are committing teams to the PSPL: Spokane SC Elite, Idaho Thunder, CB United and Coeur d’Alene Sting. They join a growing list of Washington and Idaho clubs – 35 different clubs – that have or will compete in PSPL leagues. “We are excited about the new competitive opportunities being created by the PSPL and US Club Soccer,” said Abbas Faridnia coaching director of Spokane Soccer Club. “Equally exciting is that we now can control our own destiny as a club and one we believe will ultimately benefit our players.” The PSPL plans to offer a US Club Soccer-sanctioned Eastern Washington league for select teams that don’t want to travel across the state. The top competitive teams will compete in the PSPL statewide league. US Club Soccer’s philosophy places a heavy emphasis on the clubs themselves, as the organization believes that clubs are the primary vehicle through which players are developed. As such, Emerald City and the other clubs are free to help redefine the competitive soccer landscape. They have the flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit to help the Puget Sound Premier League – US Club Soccer’s league in Washington state – to develop new leagues, set new competitive standards and offer tournaments that pit the best against the best. Emerald City and the other clubs will be in charge of their own governance and their own destiny, as they have the freedom to make decisions in the best interest of their respective clubs. Additionally, the clubs will realize significant cost savings while freeing up more time and money to devote to developing competitive soccer players. US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage welcomed Emerald City’s decision, one that has been made by numerous competitive clubs across the country: “With the support of US Club Soccer and the Puget Sound Premier League, we are confident that Emerald City FC will experience great success in the future,” said Sage. “But ultimately we are confident that the ones who will benefit the most will be the young players who are so passionate about this game.” Immediate benefits to US Club Soccer and PSPL clubs and players: id2 national player identification program: US Club Soccer’s national player identification and development program provides an opportunity for the country’s top youth talent to be identified and developed for possible inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. There is no cost to be included in the program. [id2 Web page] National Cup: US Club Soccer’s signature national championship competition. A national championship competition. U-13 through U-17 winners from each regional cup advance to the National Cup Finals, where national champions are crowned in two competitive divisions. [National Cup Web page] Northwest Champions League: A regional competition for top US Club Soccer teams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. PSPL league winners would qualify for a series of three venue-based tournaments against league winners from the other states and provinces. Plans are to start the girls’ league in January 2011 and the boys for summer 2011. [www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com] Puget Sound Premier League: It is currently the US Club Soccer-sanctioned league for Washington state. The league features fall and spring leagues for U-11 through U-15 teams in two divisions, and can add older age groups if there is demand. The first division contains premier-level competition. Since its inception in spring of 2007, the PSPL has grown 30 percent annually in the number of teams registering for its leagues. The PSPL also runs development leagues for U-8 through U-10 teams. [www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com ] The Washington Cup: A state championship competition organized by the PSPL that will follow an FA-cup style format in the future. Cup winners qualify for two regional California tournaments: the Mustang Stampede and the Santa Clara Invitational. Registration is being accepted for current cup competition, which kicks off April 16-18 and April 23-25. [www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com] PSPL Showcase Team Program: U-12 through U-14 male and female players have the opportunity to try out for one of six showcase teams, June 5-6. Selected players will attend a three-day residency camp in July at no cost to prepare to play in the Lake Oswego Cup tournament at the end of July. Teams will receive top-flight coaching and players will be expected to return to their club teams. [www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com] Arsenal Showcase Tournament: Arsenal Youth Academy director Liam Brady will be bringing a team of Arsenal scouts to look for American talent, Aug. 27-30 at Starfire. A player or two could receive a two-week, all-expenses paid trial at Arsenal’s academy in north London. This will be an invitational showcase tournament for U-16 to U-18 boys and will include top clubs from the West Coast. Emerald City’s U-17 and U-18 teams will be guaranteed spots in the tournament if the current successful teams remain intact. [www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com] For more information about US Club Soccer, please contact Membership Services Representative Gabe Rood at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or (707) 571-1425. For more information about the Puget Sound Premier League, contact President Stanley Holmes at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or (206) 200-2245. |
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