Boys ECNL adds U-13 age group for all Member Clubs

Richmond, VA – The Boys ECNL has announced the confirmation of the Under-13 age group becoming a required offering for all Member Clubs within the growing league, effective for the 2019-2020 season. Additionally, the league has officially added two showcase events to support the Under-13 and Under-14 age groups, in Palm Coast, FL and Richmond, VA.

Following discussions at the Boys ECNL Annual General Meetings held earlier this year in Las Vegas, NV, the decision to extend the league into the Under-13 age grouping comes in response to an overarching desire from Member Clubs to include this age group in sanctioned, meaningful matches within a framework that controls travel and allows for postseason play.

The Under-13 age group was an optional offering in the Boys ECNL 2018-2019 season, with a conference-to-conference approach to scheduling.  The league will continue to support the conference members in this way for the upcoming season, with member clubs having the opportunity to formulate an Under-13 schedule that acounts for their specific conference needs, all while ensuring the participation of all Member Clubs and guaranteeing that all league fixtures are operated under the same standards and guidelines as the older ages.

“With the addition of the Under-13 age group, and recent expansion of the league’s base of Member Clubs headed into fall of 2019, increasing the number of national events available to thirteens and fourteens became part of a strategic discussion focused upon elevating collegiate exposure for older players and developmental league experiences for young ones,” said Boys ECNL Commissioner Jason Kutney.  “The Boys ECNL will take some exciting strides forward in 2019-2020, centered upon a desire from Member Clubs to invest more in all the league can offer.”