HISTORY

INTRODUCTION

The history of the ECNL is a series of milestones achieved through collaboration between youth soccer leaders across the country seeking to create a better environment. Each step forward helped to create a league that serves clubs more completely, and that helps players more fully. The list of milestones will continue as this generation of player, coach, and leader works to make their mark in Raising the Game.

Cool Timeline

2020
2020

September 2020

The ECNL rebrands with fresh look and logos

2020

August 2020

ECNL 2020-21 Season Kicks off, with 113 Girls & 131 Boys Clubs

 

ECNL Boys Announce Start of ECNL Boys Regional Leagues

2020

July 2020

Dr. Cristina Fink Joins as ECNL Mental Performance Advisor

2020

May 2020

Dr. Drew Watson Joins as ECNL Chief Medical Advisor

2020

April 2020

Launch of Online Coaching Education Scholarship Program

2020

March 2020

ECNL Boys host first Conference Selection Program & Super Cup Event

2019
2019

December 2019

ECNL collaborates with the International Champions Cup to create unprecedented international youth club competition for boys and girls, featuring ECNL All-Star Teams (both boys and girls) and top ECNL girls clubs teams, ICC Futures powered by ECNL.

2019

November 2019

ECNL Girls Launch National Selection Game Series

 

First ECNL Boys Featured Match of the Day played in Las Vegas, NV

2019

August 2019

ECNL 2019-20 Season Kicks off with 94 Girls & 90 Boys Clubs;ECNL Boys expand into Under-13 age group

 

ECNL Girls Announce Start of ECNL Regional Leagues

 

ECNL 2018-19 Season Starts with 89 Girls & 71 Boys Clubs

2019

June 2019

ECNL Girls Postseason expands to include U13 & U18/19 Composite

2019

April 2019

PUMA North America Becomes Official ECNL Boys Apparel Partner

2018
2018

December 2018

ECNL International Coaching Program travels to Lisbon, Portugal for coaching education with Raymond Verheijen’s World Football Academy and Benfica

2018

July 2018

ECNL Girls Partners w/Womens ICC for Integrated National Training Camp with Paris St-Germain & Manchester City Women

 

ECNL Boys Partners with Bahamian Football Association to Host First-Ever National Training Camp in Nassau, Bahamas

2018

June – July 2018

ECNL Boys Participate in First ENPL Postseason, claiming 4 of 5 ENPL National Championship

2017
2017

December 2017

ECNL International Coaching Program travels to Valencia, Spain for coaching education with Raymond Verheijen’s World Football Academy and Valencia CF

2017

August 2017

ECNL Boys Launches with 57 inaugural member clubs

 

ECNL Girls 2017-18 Season features 80 member clubs

2017

February 2017

ECNL launches inaugural Coaching Symposium with LaLiga Methodology, Level 3 Course in La Jolla, CA

2016
2016

August 2016

ECNL 2016-17 Season starts with 84 member clubs

2015
2015

August 2015

79 member clubs kick off 2015-16 ECNL season

2015

June 2015

ECNL launches The Zone at its National Events: A focus on elite athlete recovery and education, as well as a new social experience to take the National Event experience to the next level.

 

ECNL restructures postseason to include 3 tiers, Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup

2015

February 2015

ECNL opens HER Coaching Scholarship Program to assist ECNL Alumni and female coaches in continuing education for advancement in the coaching field

2014
2014

August 2014

2014-15 Season gets underway with 77 member clubs

2014

June 2014

ECNL Playoffs return to Seattle, WA for first-time since the league’s inaugural National Championship in July 2010

2014

February 2014

First ever ECNL Conference Player Development Program (PDP) is held in Madison, WI

2013
2013

November 2013

ECNL hires first full-time Commissioner

2013

August 2013

2013-14 Season Commences with 76 member clubs

2013

June 2013

Champions League and North American Cup begin at ECNL Playoffs in Aurora, CO, featuring the top 64 teams in a two-stage Postseason concluding in Richmond, VA

2012
2012

August 2012

73 clubs start the 2012-13 season in a new ECNL Competition Structure based primarily upon Conference play

2011
2011

August 2011

ECNL expands to 66 total clubs and expands programming to include U14 age group and an approximate 30-game schedule, solidifying its place as the primary competition platform for clubs

2011

July 2011

ECNL clubs participate in USYS State Cup and Regionals with ECNL teams for the final time, sweeping almost every 2011 USYS Regional and National Championship

2011

February 2011

First ever ECNL National Training Camp held in conjunction with id2 at Florida State University

2010
2010

September 2010

First ever ECNL “regional” games are held in Libertyville, IL

2010

August 2010

ECNL expands to 52 clubs and adds U18 age group, paving the way for a 16-game annual schedule comprised of ECNL National Showcases and supplemental regional competition

2010

June 2010

ECNL announces Nike Soccer as league sponsor

2009
2009

August 2009

ECNL formed with 40 founding members, including 2,000+ players in the U15, U16, & U17 age groups, with teams playing 9 regular season games at various ECNL National Showcases in order to qualify for the ECNL National Championship.

2009

March 2009

A presentation is made to nearly 60 clubs across the country in Las Vegas, NV discussing the idea of a new youth competition and development platform called the Elite Clubs National League, and inviting all to join.