PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
The outline below shows the programs that each parent and player has the opportunity to participate in.
Through our unique membership with NC Youth Soccer Association and US Youth Soccer, every player will have a direct pathway to an opportunity to participate on a variety of teams from recreation to pro.
This is one of the main benefits of our club, providing a clear pathway to the highest levels of play in the state and in the nation.
U7-U15 Recreation
Who This Program is For: Parents and Players who simply want to play and have FUN!
The Recreation program is designed as a community based program that focuses on players having fun and developing their love of the game. There is also a competitive nature to the game teams practice and play once a week.
Even though there is a competitive element, primary emphasis is placed on players simply enjoying the game, and participating in matches where the end result isn't the only result. Scores are recorded in our recreation league, and all players receive medals at the end of the season for their continued participation.
Building a love for the game is important in this age group and we work hard to make it as fun as possible for all players. Our primary intention is to help players develop their skill level through experience, as well as help players grow their life-long love of the game.
Practices: 1x a week
Matches: 1x a week
Coaches: Volunteer Coaches
Tournaments: 1 per year (NCFC Rec All Star Tournament)
U11-U19 Classic 2nd/1st/Premier Division
Who This Program is For: Parents and Players who want twice a week training, more competitive matches, and higher levels of competition.
The Classic Program features promotion and relegation through the levels of NC Youth Soccer. Teams typically enter in the 2nd division east/west, and can be promoted to the 1st or Premier division after a season of play. Teams will practice twice a week, and will play regional competition every weekend. Teams will also participate in mid and end-of season tournaments throughout the state which may be attended by some college coaches/scouts.
If teams are successful in the Premier Division, they can be promoted to the National League Piedmont Conference.
More on the NC Youth Soccer Classic League can be found here: https://www.ncsoccer.org/classic-overview/
The SINC NCYSA Classic Schedules and Teams can be found here: https://soccer.sincsports.com/details.aspx?tid=NCCSL#
Practices: 2x a week
Matches: 1x a week (Home or Away)
Coaches: US E/D/C/B Licensed Paid Coaches
Tournaments: 1-2 per season (Fall/Spring) (NCYSA State Cup)
U13-U19 National League Piedmont Conference
Who This Program is For: Parents and players who want training 2-3 times a week, with a professional paid staff coach, the highest level of play in the region, and opportunity for national showcase events where many upper level college coaches and scouts will be in attendance, as well as MLS and MLS Academy scouts will be in attendance.
Clubs must earn promotion to the Piedmont Conference through being the #1 or #2 team in their state sanctioned (NCYSA) premier division. If teams perform well, they will be invited to the National League Quarterfinals (Arizona), then the National League Semi-Finals (California), and the USYS National Championships!
This is the highest level of US Youth Soccer competition sanctioned by United States Soccer and teams will compete against other teams from the SC/GA/NC region.
More information about the USYS National League can be found here: https://www.usysnationalleague.com/
Practices: 2-3x a week
Matches: 1-2 matches at weekend events August to March
Coaches: US D/C/B Licensed Paid Coaches
Tournaments: Conference Playoffs and National Event Qualification
The ECNL - Elite Clubs National League
Who This Program is For: This program is for elite clubs that are interested in moving all their competitive teams to the highest level of club play within regions and nationally.
Teams can participate in the ECNL or the ECNL Regional Leagues and will play teams from SC, GA, VA, and NC. Teams can advance to the National Playoffs and National Finals, which will all be attended by multiple college coaches and other pro level coaches.
A club must offer all levels of play U13-U19 before being admitted to the ECNL, however, there are a few teams nearby that already offer these programs that players may join. Our goal is to one day have NRFC be a member club.
Parents and players can find out more about the ECNL here: https://theecnl.com/
Olympic Development Program (ODP) and US National Team
Who This Program is For: Parents and players that want to participate within the US Youth National Team and US Men's/Women's National Team Program.
Parents and players also have the opportunity to participate in the ODP program throughout the year, with many sub-regional and regional matches taking place during the year. Players also travel out of state, and sometimes out of country, to take on other national and regional teams.
These pool players often make the Youth National teams, and sometimes even the men's or women's national teams. This pool of players is traditionally where all national team players are selected from. This is the highest level of play in the nation, and in the state of North Carolina (along with the USYS National League).
The ODP Program is administered by NCYSA and more information on that program can be found here: https://www.ncsoccer.org/olympic-development-program-odp/
Practices: 9-10 training sessions per year
Matches: 3-4 Sub-regional events, South Region ODP Invitational, South Region ODP ID Event.
Coaches: NCYSA Technical Staff and various NC College Coaches
Tournaments: same as matches above