FC Copa, TSF Academy commit to National League EDP Conferences

East Brunswick, NJ (Via FC Copa) – Two of the top clubs in the Mid-Atlantic Region – FC Copa Academy of New Jersey and TSF Academy — today confirmed they have committed to play in the new US Youth Soccer National League EDP Conferences in 2018-19.

Both clubs have made full commitments to EDP and its programs. Top boys and girls teams from each club will play in the club-based model of the US Youth Soccer National League EDP North Atlantic Conference this coming season. All remaining teams from each club will continue to play in the EDP team-based divisions.

TSF Academy Director of Coaching, Luis Mendoza commented, “The key focus should always be what’s best for the development of each individual player and building towards investing all our resources into the future of the game. We have worked with EDP for many years on cultivating this environment, not just for us as a club, but on what we feel is right for the development of soccer in this country. We trust that EDP will make the right changes for the benefit of the players and will become that platform we are striving for; and the one we need in US Soccer.”

+READ: Nine Global Premier Soccer clubs join National League EDP Conferences

“Our relationship with EDP goes back over a decade and throughout those years we have seen the program expand with a mutual focus on areas we believe are critical for the development of our players.” said Roberto Aguas, Executive Director of Coaching, President and Founder of FC Copa Academy/New Jersey Copa FC. “EDP’s new National League conference and championship platform, as well as its cooperation with USSF Development Academies, will make this pathway even more attractive to college coaches, which is a major focus for us as an organization.”

EDP CEO Alan Shilling said, “EDP is pleased that prestigious clubs like FC Copa Academy and TSF Academy have reaffirmed their continued commitment to EDP and the US Youth Soccer National League EDP Conferences. These clubs have been long time thought leaders in EDP and have been an integral part of framing and executing on our core principles of a great game every week, sensible travel, and pathways to college.”

EDP, one of the country’s largest leagues located on the east coast of the United States, announced in April that it had entered into a long-term agreement with US Youth Soccer to manage four National League conferences in the East Region starting in 2018-19 – the US Youth Soccer National League New England EDP Conference; the US Youth Soccer National League North Atlantic EDP Conference; the US Youth Soccer National League Mid Atlantic EDP Conference; and the US Youth Soccer National League South Atlantic EDP Conference.

Beginning in the Fall of 2018, these US Youth Soccer National League EDP Conferences will provide local/regional regular season league play, cup competition and regional/national showcase events, with top teams advancing directly into the US Youth Soccer National League and the Regional Championships in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series (NCS). Club v. club and team v. team models will both be offered in the US Youth Soccer EDP Conferences.

EDP plans to host National League Regional Showcases in the local area so that its clubs can participate in nationally recognized events within a reasonable travel distance to help reduce travel costs. “We are in the planning stages of developing a world-class athletic complex in the Greater Philadelphia area and look forward to the opportunity to host even more of the US Youth Soccer competitions in the future,” said Shilling.