About
Northeastern Clubs Development Association
HISTORY: The Northeastern Clubs Development Association was founded in June 2013 as Vermont Elite FC, New York Elite, Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club, Guilderland FC, and the Adirondack Lynx/Adirondack FC soccer academies agreed to form their own association based on the simple concept that our soccer programs all focus on player development so it is important that the governing board is made up of Soccer Directors from each participating club.
NECDA believes that at the heart of this association is the quality of the club’s player development and coaching development programs. As we grow, the strength of the association will be determined by the strength of its clubs. Therefore, the association will impose specific standards on all member clubs to ensure league quality. Each club must have a club centric approach towards player development. We believe that successful clubs develop players and teams from within rather than through recruitment.
The founding members of the NECDA played “friendlies” against each other in the fall of 2013 in Saratoga Springs, NY and Rutland, VT as a dry run ahead of the inaugural season set to kick off this spring. PJ Motsiff, the owner and general manager with the Adirondack Lynx, had been involved with the Women’s Premier Soccer League for over five years, “The model we are using comes from the WPSL, A league run by the clubs rather than clubs run by a league. I found that working with other soccer professionals to build an innovative league will make this experience unique for coaches, players, parents and referees. “
In 2014 the spring league will consist of U8-U14 teams. Currently Saratoga, Burnt Hills, Adirondack FC, Adirondack Lynx, Empire City Soccer Academy, Plattsburgh FC, Capital United and Southern Vermont Fusion (Manchester, VT) have committed teams for 2014. This spring teams will participate on April 18 and June 6th to kick off our initial season. Teams will play 2 matches on each day. The focus for 2014 will be on teams U14 and below. The cost to participate for the spring is $150/team and will cover registration and all administrative costs for both days. Referee costs ($50/game) will be paid at the field and split between both teams.
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS GROUP PARTNERS WITH NECDA: Without even a season of playing the North American Sports Group comes forward to support the growth of the association. The North American Sports Group owns and operates over 100 sports tournaments and events annually. NASG properties include Hoop It Up 3x3 Basketball, Kick It 3v3 Soccer, Let It Fly Flag Football and Sticks Up and Rock the Box Lacrosse. NASG also operates the Grassroots Sports Network, an event agency which utilizes owned equipment and assets as well as a network of tournament operators and vendors who service the youth tournament and grassroots sports industry. North American Sports Group has offices in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and Denver, Colorado.
Rob Thompson, Managing Partner for North American Sports Group believes “NECDA will bring together soccer programs that truly focus on player and coach development. We feel that by supporting the local clubs in the northeast through our cost effective and easy online registration process, as well as our ability to host premier soccer events we can help the clubs enhance the soccer environment in our region. We plan to support the clubs throughout the year by sponsoring a full sided league in the spring and fall, 3v3 during the summer and futsal over the winter months.”
CLUB OWNERSHIP: The NECDA will be managed by a Board of Directors made up of the Directors of Coaching/Club Presidents from each of its member clubs. The Board will meet 3-4 times annually to discuss league goals and set the schedule for the following season. The purpose of the association is to ensure quality over quantity. The association will be looking to add other clubs and academies that have similar philosophies on player development from Eastern, NY, Vermont and Massachusetts.
CLUB/FAMILY CENTRIC SCHEDULING: Each club’s entire contingent of teams will travel together to all away games. Start times are staggered allowing coaching directors and multiplayer families to watch several games. The compact schedule also provides each club with greater flexibility in scheduling tournaments and friendly games during the regular season. The association is not meant to compete with the current leagues, but rather compliment them. Clubs may ask or request to have “no” play dates from their respective leagues on the weekends where NECDA play will be scheduled.
COMPETITION FOR AGE GROUPS U-8 THROUGH U-18: Although in 2014 the league will be launched with primarily our youth teams U14 and below. The goal of the association is to create competitive play for both boys and girls divisions U-8 through U-18.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: As the association grows the teams that compete in the NECDA will end the spring season by playing in a club championship in 2016. Although the games leading to the championship will focus on player development, Championship Weekend will be a true test of competitiveness. The winning club retains the traveling trophy until the end of the next season.
MORE THAN A SPRING LEAGUE: The teams associated with the NECDA will have the ability in assisting with the creation of a year round player development program. During the spring and fall seasons teams will get an opportunity to play full sided. In the winter thoughts will turn to futsal in any open space we can find. The summer months will bring the excitement of the fast paced 3v3 game as teams try to prepare for the Kick It National Championships or the Disney 3v3 World Championships which are held each January in Orlando!
REASONS to JOIN NECDA:
· The technical directors of each club directly control the soccer specific decision making of the seasonal leagues during their pre-season meetings.
· The league provides a scheduling format where all teams in one club play 2 games at the same location on the same day.
· Less politics in the decision making process, more fun on the field!
· In developing a unique relationship with association members, opportunities will be created where committed players and coaches from different clubs will have the opportunity to work and train together during various seasons of the year.
· Referee education will be a priority for the association. The league will work closely with referees to educate new and veteran referees on current rules and practices, as well as helping sustain a viable pool of candidates.
HISTORY: The Northeastern Clubs Development Association was founded in June 2013 as Vermont Elite FC, New York Elite, Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club, Guilderland FC, and the Adirondack Lynx/Adirondack FC soccer academies agreed to form their own association based on the simple concept that our soccer programs all focus on player development so it is important that the governing board is made up of Soccer Directors from each participating club.
NECDA believes that at the heart of this association is the quality of the club’s player development and coaching development programs. As we grow, the strength of the association will be determined by the strength of its clubs. Therefore, the association will impose specific standards on all member clubs to ensure league quality. Each club must have a club centric approach towards player development. We believe that successful clubs develop players and teams from within rather than through recruitment.
The founding members of the NECDA played “friendlies” against each other in the fall of 2013 in Saratoga Springs, NY and Rutland, VT as a dry run ahead of the inaugural season set to kick off this spring. PJ Motsiff, the owner and general manager with the Adirondack Lynx, had been involved with the Women’s Premier Soccer League for over five years, “The model we are using comes from the WPSL, A league run by the clubs rather than clubs run by a league. I found that working with other soccer professionals to build an innovative league will make this experience unique for coaches, players, parents and referees. “
In 2014 the spring league will consist of U8-U14 teams. Currently Saratoga, Burnt Hills, Adirondack FC, Adirondack Lynx, Empire City Soccer Academy, Plattsburgh FC, Capital United and Southern Vermont Fusion (Manchester, VT) have committed teams for 2014. This spring teams will participate on April 18 and June 6th to kick off our initial season. Teams will play 2 matches on each day. The focus for 2014 will be on teams U14 and below. The cost to participate for the spring is $150/team and will cover registration and all administrative costs for both days. Referee costs ($50/game) will be paid at the field and split between both teams.
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS GROUP PARTNERS WITH NECDA: Without even a season of playing the North American Sports Group comes forward to support the growth of the association. The North American Sports Group owns and operates over 100 sports tournaments and events annually. NASG properties include Hoop It Up 3x3 Basketball, Kick It 3v3 Soccer, Let It Fly Flag Football and Sticks Up and Rock the Box Lacrosse. NASG also operates the Grassroots Sports Network, an event agency which utilizes owned equipment and assets as well as a network of tournament operators and vendors who service the youth tournament and grassroots sports industry. North American Sports Group has offices in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and Denver, Colorado.
Rob Thompson, Managing Partner for North American Sports Group believes “NECDA will bring together soccer programs that truly focus on player and coach development. We feel that by supporting the local clubs in the northeast through our cost effective and easy online registration process, as well as our ability to host premier soccer events we can help the clubs enhance the soccer environment in our region. We plan to support the clubs throughout the year by sponsoring a full sided league in the spring and fall, 3v3 during the summer and futsal over the winter months.”
CLUB OWNERSHIP: The NECDA will be managed by a Board of Directors made up of the Directors of Coaching/Club Presidents from each of its member clubs. The Board will meet 3-4 times annually to discuss league goals and set the schedule for the following season. The purpose of the association is to ensure quality over quantity. The association will be looking to add other clubs and academies that have similar philosophies on player development from Eastern, NY, Vermont and Massachusetts.
CLUB/FAMILY CENTRIC SCHEDULING: Each club’s entire contingent of teams will travel together to all away games. Start times are staggered allowing coaching directors and multiplayer families to watch several games. The compact schedule also provides each club with greater flexibility in scheduling tournaments and friendly games during the regular season. The association is not meant to compete with the current leagues, but rather compliment them. Clubs may ask or request to have “no” play dates from their respective leagues on the weekends where NECDA play will be scheduled.
COMPETITION FOR AGE GROUPS U-8 THROUGH U-18: Although in 2014 the league will be launched with primarily our youth teams U14 and below. The goal of the association is to create competitive play for both boys and girls divisions U-8 through U-18.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: As the association grows the teams that compete in the NECDA will end the spring season by playing in a club championship in 2016. Although the games leading to the championship will focus on player development, Championship Weekend will be a true test of competitiveness. The winning club retains the traveling trophy until the end of the next season.
MORE THAN A SPRING LEAGUE: The teams associated with the NECDA will have the ability in assisting with the creation of a year round player development program. During the spring and fall seasons teams will get an opportunity to play full sided. In the winter thoughts will turn to futsal in any open space we can find. The summer months will bring the excitement of the fast paced 3v3 game as teams try to prepare for the Kick It National Championships or the Disney 3v3 World Championships which are held each January in Orlando!
REASONS to JOIN NECDA:
· The technical directors of each club directly control the soccer specific decision making of the seasonal leagues during their pre-season meetings.
· The league provides a scheduling format where all teams in one club play 2 games at the same location on the same day.
· Less politics in the decision making process, more fun on the field!
· In developing a unique relationship with association members, opportunities will be created where committed players and coaches from different clubs will have the opportunity to work and train together during various seasons of the year.
· Referee education will be a priority for the association. The league will work closely with referees to educate new and veteran referees on current rules and practices, as well as helping sustain a viable pool of candidates.