ECNL ANNOUNCES MAJOR ADDITIONS AND PROMOTIONS TO ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE

The ECNL is thrilled to announce a wave of promotions and additions across the country to the ECNL Regional League for the 2024-25 season, as well as the creation and rebranding of a number of ECNL Regional Leagues.

This growth further solidifies the national footprint of the ECNL RL with more quality clubs across the country that increase the competitive quality and depth of the RL and a presence in multiple new markets to provide opportunity for more players.  Overall, the ECNL RL offers all clubs fantastic local and regional competition, access to ECNL Regional League Events, a tremendous post-season pathway, and the opportunity to earn promotion to the ECNL over time.

“These new clubs and leagues reflect a larger and more mobile pathway for clubs all over the country,” said ECNL Associate Commissioner Chris Leahey.  “Clubs are being promoted from several of US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues based on their performances, and clubs are being added to the ECNL Regional League platform from other leagues.  Overall, these changes demonstrate the ECNL’s commitment to operating and servicing the top two levels of youth boys and girls soccer in America.”

The additions announced today bring the number of ECNL Regional Leagues across the country to 20 girls and 21 boys leagues, and put many of the final touches on the overall ECNL pyramid and pathway.  In the 2024-2025 season, the ECNL Regional League platform will include nine different ECNL RL regular season events for college showcasing, as well as an ECNL RL Playoff event in every region for top teams chasing a berth in the ECNL RL Finals.  

“Last year hundreds of players from the ECNL Regional League moved into college soccer, and over the past several years dozens of clubs have been promoted into the ECNL,” continued Leahey.  This platform will be a hugely valuable development, testing, and showcasing platform for players, teams and clubs with aspirations to be the best in the country.”

Below is a league-by-league look at the changes coming to the ECNL Regional League, boys and girls, for the 2024-25 season.

ECNL Regional League – Florida (Boys)
Cape Coral SA, Orlando City – Lake Nona, South Orlando SC, and Springs SC will all be promoted into the ECNL Boys Regional League – Florida from the Florida National Premier League (NPL), reflecting the league’s commitment to rewarding club performance over time.

“We are extremely excited to achieve this club milestone, being promoted to the ECNL Regional League and taking the next step in our evolution,” said South Orlando SC Competitive Director Miguel Gallardo. “It is a testament to our ambition and goals, and we embrace this challenge to enter this highly competitive and prestigious league with the same level of passion, transparency, and commitment that affords us this opportunity. We are confident that the players in our community have what it takes to compete, and we will continue to raise the standards for youth soccer in our area.”

ECNL Regional League – Florida (Girls)
On the girls side, Cape Coral SA, South Florida Football Academy, Sunrise Surf Soccer Club, Team Boca, and West Florida Flames – East Lake will be all promoted from the Florida NPL into the ECNL Girls Regional League – Florida next season.

“The Cape Coral Soccer Association is thrilled to be promoted into the ECNL Regional League and compete with the top teams in the state,” said Cape Coral’s Director of Soccer Operations Eddie Carmean. “Having this pathway for both the Boys and Girls Cyclones programs will provide massive exposure to college coaches, greatly assisting our players’ ability to fulfill their dreams of being collegiate soccer players. As we are about to begin our 50th season as a club, we are proud and honored that our players and staff have earned this opportunity to compete at the next level of US Club Soccer.”

ECNL Regional League – Frontier (Boys) – NEW LEAGUE
Beginning in the 2024- 2025 season the ECNL Regional League – Frontier will be the new name of the existing ECNL Regional League – Mid-America. The re-named league will create a new competition structure for some of the current ECNL RL clubs in the Southeast, along with expansion and new clubs from new markets.

Arkansas Comets, Arkansas Rising, Blitz Academy (OK), Mississippi Rush, Oklahoma Cosmos, and Tupelo FC (MS) will all comprise this rebranded Regional League for the fall of 2024.

ECNL Regional League – Frontier (Girls) – NEW LEAGUE
The ECNL Regional League – Frontier will be a new league on the girls’ side for the fall of 2024, including clubs from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.  Some of these clubs are new while others are bringing their girls programs into the platform after already participating in the Boys ECNL Regional League.  Collectively, the combination creates a more competitive league with better travel for all teams.

Tulsa and West Side Alliance (OK) will move from the ECNL Regional League – North Texas, while FC Wichita will move from the ECNL Regional League – Heartland into the ECNL RL – Frontier.  Those clubs will be joined by Arkansas Comets, Blitz Academy (OK), Northeast Oklahoma FC, Oklahoma Cosmos, and Sporting Springfield (MO).

ECNL Regional League – Great Lakes Alliance (Boys)
Canton United Force, Manta United Soccer (OH), North FC (OH), Ohio Galaxies, Pacesetter (OH), and Steel City (PA) all will join the ECNL Regional League – GLA as new clubs after strong performances across the GLA in the past years.

ECNL Regional League – Heartland (Girls)
Sting Nebraska will join the ECNL Regional League – Heartland, one of the top performing ECNL Regional Leagues in the country in the 2023 ECNL RL post-season. Sting Nebraska excelled in the NPL last season winning two Conference Championships and advancing to the NPL Finals in two age groups.

ECNL Regional League – Mid-America (Boys) – NEW LEAGUE
The new look ECNL Regional League – Mid-America will launch in 2024- 2025, designed to mirror the look of the ECNL clubs making up the league’s newly formed ECNL Mid-America Conference for the ECNL Boys.

Alabama FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves, FC Alliance (TN), Germantown Legends (TN), Lobos Rush (TN), and Tennessee SC will comprise the new league.

ECNL Regional League – Mid-America (Girls) – NEW LEAGUE
The ECNL Regional League – Mid-America will launch on the girls side to improve the competition structure in southern Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee with a realignment of current RL clubs and the addition of new great clubs in the region.

FC Alliance (TN) and Tennessee SC will move into the ECNL Regional League – Mid-America from the ECNL Regional League – Ohio Valley, while Indiana Fire South will move from the ECNL Regional League – Great River into the ECNL RL – Mid-America. Those three clubs will be joined by newly added Germantown Legends (TN), Lobos Rush (TN), Mississippi Rush, Tennessee United and Tupelo FC (MS).

ECNL Regional League – Mountain (Girls)
Utah Surf will join the ECNL Regional League – Mountain, adding further depth and strength to the growing mountain region. Utah Surf has a history of success, winning USYS State Cups at multiple age groups over the past two years, as well as competing in the USYS National League PRO, and winning a National League PRO Division Championship. 

ECNL Regional League – Northeast (Boys)
The existing ECNL Boys Regional League – North Atlantic will be rebranded as the ECNL Boys Regional League – Northeast for the 2024-25 season, more accurately reflecting its scope and size with the new additions.

The ECNL Regional – Northeast will expand from 8 clubs to 16 clubs with newly created North and South divisions. This alignment will allow the league to add clubs from both Boston and Maryland in order to increase competition and quality, expand reach, and also reduce overall travel.

CFC North, Eastern FC (NY), New England Surf, and Scorpions SC (MA) will join the ECNL Regional League – Northeast (North), while Coppermine SC (MD), FC Copa (NJ), FC Europa (PA), and YMS (PA) will join the ECNL Regional League – Northeast (South).

ECNL Regional League – Northeast (Girls)
Building off its inaugural season this year, the ECNL Girls Regional League – Northeast will expand the league’s footprint in the region with more clubs of quality in a variety of new markets.  With a North and South division, the expansion allows for an increased game count, especially at the younger age groups to solidify a more complete structure and calendar.

New England Surf and PSA North (NJ), will join the ECNL Girls Regional League – Northeast (North), while Hex Keystone FC (PA), Match Fit Mercer (NJ), Reading Rage (PA), and YMS (PA) will join the ECNL Girls Regional League – Northeast (South).

ECNL Regional League – Northwest (Girls)
Portland Thorns and Three Rivers SC (WA) will join the ECNL Girls Regional League – Northwest as this league continues to add depth and quality.

ECNL Regional League – Ohio Valley (Girls)
GTFC Impact (OH), Indiana Elite Academy, NWI Lions (IN), and Ohio Galaxies will all move from the ECNL Regional League – Great River to the ECNL Regional League – Ohio Valley, tightening the geographic scope of this league while creating great new rivalries.

ECNL Regional League – Texas (Boys)
San Antonio FC will be joining the ECNL RL – Texas after their first year in the ECNL Boys this season as the club expands its player pool and developmental program.

ECNL Regional League – Virginia (Boys and Girls)
DC Soccer Club and Lee Mt. Vernon Sport Club will both join the ECNL Regional League – Virginia, one of the very first RLs in the country as it continues to support a bigger club pathway in Virginia.

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About the ECNL:
The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform.  The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential. 

The ECNL’s mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports.

The ECNL Commitment:
We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly.  Born out of the belief in a better way.  Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.