US Club Soccer announces new Arizona NPL
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Via US Club Soccer) – US Club Soccer and the National Premier Leagues (NPL) welcome the newly created Arizona NPL as part of a new regional alignment in the Southwestern United States. Beginning in fall 2016, qualifiers from the Arizona NPL will be a part of a regional playoff event against qualifiers from the Southern California NPL to determine NPL Finals berths.
The Arizona NPL will feature six clubs and U-11 through U-18 boys and girls teams. Teams will compete September through early November 2016, take a winter hiatus, and then finish their regular season schedules in March and April 2017. Arizona NPL member clubs are:
| Arizona Arsenal (Gilbert) | Scottsdale Blackhawks (Scottsdale) |
| CCV Stars (Peoria) | Sereno SC (Phoenix) |
| SC del Sol (Phoenix) | Tucson Soccer Academy (Tucson) |
“By adding the Arizona NPL into the region, the overall strength and competitiveness of the NPL in the southwest is greatly enhanced,” NPL General Manager Leo Garcia said. “The playoff between these clubs and those from the Southern California NPL will be a great regional event with a big reward at the end of advancing to the NPL Finals.”
The NPL Finals is the targeted destination for all NPL teams, where NPL national champions are determined.
+Read: NorCal NPL girls teams qualify for 2016 NPL Finals
“Every game is going to be meaningful, because of the playoff and then leading to the NPL Finals,” said Adam Burke, Arizona NPL administrator and Scottsdale Blackhawks Elite Division Director of Coaching. “It’s important that you bring your best every showing.”
The Arizona NPL will host its first Player Development Program (PDP) event in November with top players earning invitations to the id² Training Camp in December in Casa Grande, Ariz.
In addition, U-15 through U-17 girls teams within the Arizona NPL are eligible to compete in the NPL Showcase, which will hold its third edition Dec. 31, 2016 – Jan. 2, 2017 in Florida.
