Elite Clubs National League announces 2012-13 ECNL / id2 Player Development Programs

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 / id2 Player 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 Player Development Programs 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 ECNL / id2 Player Development Program 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 Zarephath, 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 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.