ECNL, United Soccer Coaches launch education and awards partnership

RICHMOND, VA (Via ECNL) – The ECNL and United Soccer Coaches have announced a collaborative new partnership to provide resources and opportunities to ECNL coaches and clubs, and to launch a new honors and awards program for players.

Through this new relationship, the ECNL will become a United Soccer Coaches League Partner and all ECNL clubs will become official United Soccer Coaches Member Clubs to receive online educational resources for their coaches along with two individual memberships in the association per club. ECNL and United Soccer Coaches will also collaborate to develop additional educational programs for the future and the ECNL will annually present at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

This season will also see the launch of the new ECNL / United Soccer Coaches All-America Program. Based on player performances over the season and an objective recommendation and voting process, male and female All-Conference ECNL Teams and All-America ECNL Teams at the U15, U16, U17 and U18/19 levels will be selected each season and honored at the United Soccer Coaches Convention. In addition, First Team All-America ECNL honorees will be nominated for United Soccer Coaches Youth All-America consideration.

+READ: U.S. U-15 Girls National Team heads to Germany for training camp

“United Soccer Coaches has a long history of outstanding coaching education programs that have made a huge impact on coaches and clubs all over the country, and we are excited to offer these programs to our members and to work with United Soccer Coaches on new programs for the future,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “We are also very excited about the ability to recognize top players across the ECNL through the ECNL / United Soccer Coaches All-America program, and to help these players receive the honor and recognition they deserve for their performance in top level club soccer.”

“United Soccer Coaches is thrilled to welcome ECNL as a League Partner and to now develop an expanded relationship with every ECNL club through our rapidly growing Member Club Program, which now serves over 475 youth soccer organizations,” said United Soccer Coaches CEO Lynn Berling-Manuel. “This partnership will positively impact players, coaches and clubs across the country as we continue to connect the soccer community with our association’s many valuable resources.”

Look for more announcements about the ECNL and United Soccer Coaches relationship in the coming months.