US Club Soccer announces launch of East Coast Soccer League

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Via US Club Soccer) – US Club Soccer has announced the launch of the East Coast Soccer League, a multi-faceted league with club-based and team-based competitions, beginning with the 2018-19 season. Clubs from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware have formed the East Coast Soccer League, with the top tier of the league being the East Coast NPL.

The league will provide local and national regular season competition, national showcase events and postseason opportunities. While success on the field is important, among the East Coast Soccer League’s principles is that the “primary focus of soccer coaches, teams and clubs will be the development of children as people first and players second.”

While the East Coast NPL represents the top level, the East Coast Soccer League Metropolitan League is another club-based league platform modeled after the NPL structure. The Metro League provides a potential pathway for aspiring clubs to achieve NPL status.

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On the team-based side, the East Coast Soccer League will have a Premier League level – the competition structure US Club Soccer formed to foster team-based opportunities. In this league, there are Northern and Southern Regions, and the qualifiers will meet for a Final Four competition with winners earning slots to the National Cup Mid-Atlantic Regional. Below that Premier League level, the East Coast Soccer League is offering Championship Divisions, also with Mid-Atlantic Regional implications.

The East Coast Soccer League is committed to extending US Club Soccer’s player identification and development opportunities to its members and is already making plans to host Player Development Programs (PDPs) for 2005-06 girls and 2006-07 boys in the fall. PDPs are regionally based programs conducted within the id2 umbrella.

US Club Soccer has been consistent that better coaches create better players, so Coaching Development – a Players First pillar – is critically important. East Coast Soccer League technical staff are equipped to organize U.S. Soccer Federation grassroots coaching courses, including the “D” license and in-person 11v11, 9v9, 7v7 and 4v4 courses. In addition, discussions are already underway for the league to host a LaLiga Formation Methodology course.

Administratively, the East Coast Soccer League is managed by the New York Club Soccer League, which is led by its President, Gary Grossman, and Technical Director, John Curtis. As is customary with other leagues, competition decisions will be made collaboratively by club directors and US Club Soccer to ensure the best environment is provided to East Coast Soccer League players and families.

More details about the East Coast Soccer League, including a full club listing and its Board of Directors will be released soon.