ECNL Boys National Playoff structure revealed for 2022-23 campaign

Richmond, Va. – The ECNL Boys announced the National Playoff structure for the 2022-23 season which will include 336 teams across the U13-U18/19 age groups. The ECNL Boys Playoffs will take place from June 25- July 2 in Greensboro, NC at Bryan Park. (More Details)

For the 2022-23 season, the U14-17 age groups will have 64 teams qualify for the Champions League, while the U13 group will have 48 teams qualify. Those teams will then be divided into groups of four and play three group-stage games to open the event.

At the U14-17 levels, the 16 group winners will advance to the knockout round, while at the U13 level, the 16-team knockout round will be made up of 12 group winners and the four best second-place teams from across all groups. Following the first round of games in the knockout round at the U13-U17 ages, the eight winners from the Round of 16 will advance from the ECNL Playoffs to the ECNL National Finals, where they will compete for a 2022-23 ECNL National Championship.

At the U18/19 level, the ECNL has expanded the field of Champions League qualifiers to 32 teams for the first-time ever. All 32 teams will enter into the single-stage event with an opportunity to hoist the coveted ECNL National Championship trophy in North Carolina. Following the first round of games, the 16 winners will advance to the next round of the Champions League, while the other 16 teams will move into the North American Cup Knockout. From there the teams in the Champions League will compete in a 16-team knockout to decide the U18/19 National Champion, while the teams in the North American Cup will compete in a 16-team knockout to decide the North American Cup Champion.

During the 2022-23 season, more than 300 teams will qualify for the ECNL Boys National Playoffs across six different age groups. Qualification for the ECNL Boys National Playoffs is earned by performance in ECNL regular season Conference competition throughout the 2022-23 campaign. While performances at ECNL National Events will not determine qualification for the ECNL Postseason, the playoff seeding will be impacted by these matches from the U15-U18/19 ages.

For more information regarding the ECNL Boys Club Competition National Playoff structure, click here. Information on the ECNL National Finals, including location and play dates, will be announced soon.