FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carolina Rapids adds Boys ECNL to programming pathway
March 16, 2018 – Cornelius, NC
Carolina Rapids Soccer Club is excited to announce the addition of the Boys Elite Clubs National League to our player development platform at the club.
The Boys ECNL will provide an exclusive Regional and National level competition for select top clubs across the country.
“Carolina Rapids is proud and excited to be included in the Boys ECNL and specifically the Mid-Atlantic conference. This is a fantastic addition to the club, being part of the player development model with the Boys ECNL is an exciting opportunity. The Boys ECNL shares the same values and holistic approach to player development as the Rapids. We’ll get to work with the best boy’s programs in the region and country on moving the game forward” - Thomas Finlay, Executive Director
The newly adopted Boys ECNL will replicate the same structure of the Girls ECNL. The ECNL (league) provides an opportunity for player and coach development, exclusivity at key college showcase events, talent identification programs & national level competition.
Within our daily training environment and through the Colorado Rapids Alliance, our players and coaching staff are at the forefront of technical curriculums and coaching methodology. Adding the ECNL to our player pathway gives us the opportunity to improve the match day environment for players outside of the Development Academy. The Development Academy is the top level of play and the ECNL program will serve as an environment where players can further their development and push into the DA when they are ready. We will be one of only 14 Clubs in the country that will compete in both the Boys ECNL and Development Academy.
There is no doubt the Rapids Boys Program is the place to play competitive soccer in the Greater Charlotte Area and is now the only club in the market providing such a developmental pathway from USYS to ECNL to US Soccer’s Development Academy.
With our club culture, philosophy and the addition of the ECNL to our player pathway, we believe our boys program is now set up to become one of the top Clubs to develop as a player. Simply put, partnering our philosophy at Carolina Rapids to offer the best environment for player development Monday-Friday with the Elite Clubs National League structure and US Soccer Development Academy, we believe we will be able to create the best platform for soccer players in our area.
“We are always striving to provide the best environment for all of our players to develop and the addition of the ECNL will create good competition for players at that level. We are excited to add this piece to our player pathway and we believe that this will better help us produce players who are able to play in the Carolina Rapids style of play.” Kevin Flanagan – Boys Director of Coaching
We are working to finalize an introduction night for the Carolina Rapids Boys ECNL program on March 29th (location TBD). Please monitor our website for exact details as the date gets closer. We hope everyone can come and hear about how this exciting news will help us shape the male game in our area moving forward.
The Boys ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference includes the following initial clubs:
- Carolina Rapids Soccer Club (NC)
- BRYC Elite Academy
- Carolina Elite Soccer Academy
- McLean YSA
- NC Fusion (Also a DA member)
- NCFC Youth (Also a DA member)
- South Carolina United
- Wilmington Hammerheads
The Mid Atlantic Conference will feature competition in 6 age groups: U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18/19. Teams will be placed in geographical divisions, playing approximately 14-16 conference games, with an additional 3-6 games in cross-conference regular season events depending on age group. The regular season will lead into playoffs and an eventual, national ECNL title. Scheduling will allow for players to participate in high school soccer.
Read more about the Boys ECNL