VCCL expands by adding Maryland and DC clubs
The Virginia Club Champions League (VCCL) Board of Directors announced that four new clubs will be joining the league in the fall of 2012.
Joining VCCL as members of VCCL Maryland are three clubs from Maryland and one from Washington, DC: Bethesda Soccer Club, DC Stoddert, FC Frederick, and Freestate Soccer Alliance.
Current VCCL South club members, Beach FC, FC Richmond, Richmond Strikers, Richmond Kickers, Roanoke Star, SOCA (Charlottesville), Virginia Legacy (Williamsburg), and Virginia Rush (Virginia Beach) serve players from southern Virginia.
Current VCCL North club members Annandale Boys & Girls Club, Arlington Soccer Association, Braddock Road Elite Travel Soccer, Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association, Loudoun Soccer, Prince William Soccer Inc., and Southwestern Youth Association serve players from northern Virginia.
VCCL, a member of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA), and a new member of the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), was founded in 1997 as one of a small number of soccer leagues in the country based on the philosophy that the player is a member of the club as well as a member of the team and that successful clubs develop players and teams from within rather than through recruitment.
“As president of VCCL it is very gratifying that the expansion into Northern Virginia has been quickly followed by expansion into Maryland. We believe that this growth is for the good of our clubs and especially our players as it will present new challenges and provide better competition for all,” said VCCL President Dave Amsler.
VCCL is the only soccer league in MSYSA or VYSA governed and administered by a Board of Directors whose members are directors in the sport. Each club has one member on the Board of Directors.
VCCL operates with club-to-club scheduling, where all teams from the same club play on the same day at the same location against another member club. Additionally, VCCL uses the club pass system that allows any age-appropriate player in a club to guest play with a team from the same club in VCCL league games. The league has also championed the development of the Provisional Roster which allows players on other club rosters to play for a team in league play only without officially transferring to that team.
“We are excited to bring the VCCL model to Maryland,” said Jonathan Colton, Boys Director of Coaching, Bethesda Soccer Club. “It will bring to Maryland a true player-centered club development model of league play. We are excited to be a part of this evolution in youth soccer, and the members of our club will reap the benefits of the VCCL structure and its philosophies.”
Pat Noel, Director of Coaching for Freestate adds, “The Metro DC area has a rich tradition of high quality, well-run leagues. We are excited to add VCCL into this mix, as the players will ultimately benefit from the variety of options available to them for their soccer development.”
During the 2012-2013 seasonal year, VCCL Maryland clubs will schedule their top U11 through U18/19 boys and girls teams against each other as well as numerous “cross-over” games with VCCL North and South clubs. VCCL Maryland clubs will also include a U9-U10 developmental division.
