THE PROGRAM:
In conjunction with US Club Soccer, the ECNL has developed a player identification program to identify players with the potential to play with the US Youth National Teams and provide opportunities for these players to be seen and trained by U.S. Soccer National Team staff (the "ECNL Player ID Program"). In 2009-10, the ECNL Player ID Program will focus on the 1994, 1995 and 1996 age groups through a systematic scouting process established by the ECNL at ECNL competitions. By scouting players in their regular team environment, while they are competing against the best players in the country, the ECNL Player ID Program will increase opportunities for identified players at no additional cost to the players.
THE PROCESS:
ECNL scouts will be assigned to observe and analyze games involving the 1994, 1995 and 1996 age groups at each ECNL event. A standardized evaluation program has been established by the ECNL for these scouts whereby identified players will be evaluated on a variety of technical, tactical, physical, and psychological characteristics based upon their performances. The performance of identified players will be tracked over time through a unique database provided to the ECNL by ZOOM REPORTS.
In addition to the scouting program, the ECNL works closely with US Club Soccer id2 staff to solicit recommendations of top players from coaches throughout the ECNL.
As a result of the ECNL Player Identification Program, approximately 30 players from the 1994 age group participated in US Club Soccer’s id2 National Training Camp, which was held in conjunction with the ECNL, Feb. 26-March 1, 2010, in Weston, Fla. The camp came at no cost to any of the invited players (except transportation to and from the camp), and was attended by U.S. Soccer National Team staff as well as top youth coaches from throughout the country.
Four players subsequently received call-ups to the U.S. U-15 Girls’ "Carry-Over" Camp, held March 20-27, 2010, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
"Caroline Lindquist’s invitation to the U.S. U-15 Girls’ Carry-Over Camp is the reason the id2 program was created and thrives. Caroline was selected for the id2 National Training Camp based on recommendations from coaches and DOCs within the ECNL and the ECNL/id2 scouting network. She attended the id2 camp, played well and had a fantastic experience. We at CASL have always felt Caroline could play and compete at the highest level. US Club Soccer’s id2 program and the ECNL created a new opportunity outside the normal system for Caroline to be indentified and selected for a U.S. Soccer National Team program. Caroline’s call-up is a shared success story for the ECNL, US Club Soccer’s id2 program and U.S. Soccer."
-- Jay Howell, CASL’s Director of Coaching
THE FUTURE:
As the ECNL grows, the player identification program will grow in tandem with it. The ECNL Player ID Program will eventually encompass an elaborate scouting system that tracks and rates the performance of top players within the league at all age groups, throughout their youth careers.
