Since its announcement in April, the ECNL’s Heritage Project has experienced rapid growth, with over 800 players now in the Heritage Project database, as well as over 300 players that have been connected with 22 different federations around the world.
Director of the ECNL Heritage Project Pat McStay has designed this project to help connect high-level players with foreign heritage to Federations around the world for whom they are eligible to play. The ECNL Heritage Project will help provide additional pathways and opportunities for players currently playing in the ECNL, as well as alumni, who have ties to other countries based on their parents’ or grandparents’ place of birth, as well as other factors.
This summer provided a platform for federations to come and scout players at the ECNL Playoffs in both San Diego and Seattle. At the ECNL Boys Playoffs in San Diego, scouts from the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico and Samoa were in attendance to scout players, while at the ECNL Girls Playoffs in Seattle, scouts from Australia, Colombia, Marshall Islands, Samoa, and Scotland were in attendance.
Sporting Director for the Puerto Rico Football Federation, Daniel Seletti, believes that the Heritage Project not only allows players to connect with their roots, but that it continues to provide pathways for players to experience international competition, therefore strengthening teams in the region.
“The Heritage Project is providing a pathway and database for players to experience international football and continue to strengthen national teams in CONCACAF. This experience also offers an opportunity for them to connect with their roots.”
McStay was also at both the ECNL Boys and Girls Playoffs and believed the insight he gained from coaches, directors, and scouts will provide him with information to continue to grow the project in the 2024-25 season.
“Attending the ECNL Boys and ECNL Girls Playoffs as both a scout and the Director of the Heritage Project was an invaluable experience for me,” said McStay. “Being able to talk with college coaches, directors, and scouts attending from other countries allowed the project to be further understood at the ground level. The league is very excited to continue to move this concept forward as we head into the 2024-25 season. I look forward to getting out to more events, inviting more scouts, and continuing to help give our players opportunities.”
