FRISCO, Texas (March 8, 2022) — The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to announce the next nine boys clubs that will compete as inaugural members of Elite 64.
Chicago FC United (IL)
Dallas Surf Soccer Club (TX)
Indiana Fire Juniors (IN)
Kings Hammer Academy (KY)
Los Angeles Soccer Club (CA)
Players Development Academy (NJ)
Real Colorado (CO)
Rush Select South (MS)
STA (NJ)
Each of these Elite 64 clubs share a collective vision and are dedicated to providing an unmatched game day experience, in addition to maintaining the highest standards, both on and off the field, to maximize the opportunities available to their players.
“We are thrilled to welcome these standout boys clubs as inaugural members of Elite 64,” said Simon Collins, USYS National League Commissioner. “We are excited to continue to work with clubs that are dedicated to doing what is best for the players, both on and off the field, and are confident Elite 64 will help these clubs offer an unrivaled experience for their top-level players. These clubs have a history of player development, and we’re confident their leaders will utilize the full developmental pathway of the National League to ensure every level of player at their club is able to compete in the right environment.”
The newly-announced elite performance tier of the National League, Elite 64 will begin play this fall and feature club-based competition for the nation’s top boys and girls players in the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18/19U age groups. The 64 clubs in each gender will be geographically positioned into eight groups of eight clubs. Teams play a 14-game league season and have access to two national showcases (alongside National League P.R.O.) and the Elite 64 national finals.
Each of the inaugural Elite 64 clubs will benefit from world-class performance analysis from ProScore and new USYS partner STATSports, which will provide Elite 64 clubs with unparalleled access to the world’s most advanced performance wearable technology. All data and analysis collected will be shared with college coaches and professional scouts — making every Elite 64 game or training session a recruitable moment.
Acceptance into Elite 64 guarantees each club a minimum three-year involvement in the competition, with 18-month evaluations of every club taking place to ensure standards are met and Elite 64 maintains the highest possible level of competitive balance across the platform.
View the Club Directory to see all the inaugural Elite 64 clubs that have been announced to this point and continue to check back as more are announced.
HEAR FROM THE CLUB LEADERS…
CHICAGO FC UNITED (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Chicago FC United is honored to be an inaugural member of Elite 64. We are looking forward to the top-level competition week in, week out. The national exposure at the Elite 64 showcases will be a great addition to our club’s programming, and we look forward to helping to grow the league and provide a top soccer environment for our players. Elite 64 simply gives our players an opportunity to compete against the top USYS teams in the country. Playing at that elite level consistently will improve our players and the increased opportunities can only enhance and further player development. We have had a small experience using the STATSports and ProScore technology through National League P.R.O. and have been very impressed with the impact it can have on player development, coaches’ game analysis and the availability to college coaches for the recruitment process. Our ability to use this technology on a larger scale, more frequently, will only further our ability to provide meaningful information to our players on a more consistent basis, thus also allowing college coaches to get an improved, well-rounded view on every player in our club.”
Andy Parry, Director of Operations
DALLAS SURF SOCCER CLUB (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Dallas Surf Soccer Club is honored to be a member of the inaugural class of Elite 64. We strive to be a forward-thinking club and are excited to partner with a platform that offers new ideas and strategies. The analysis we can do using STATSports and ProScore gives our players and coaches an edge that is unmatched in youth soccer. That, combined with a clear player development pathway, sets Dallas Surf up for success now and into the future. USYS is the largest youth soccer organization in the country and having the opportunity to compete in its top league platform is a privilege.”
Tony Cavalle, Director of Soccer
INDIANA FIRE JUNIORS (Elite 64 – Boys)
“The Elite 64 League will allow our teams to consistently compete against the best clubs in the country and streamline showcase opportunities for our players to be seen from professional and collegiate scouts. The autonomy given to the clubs will allow us to manage our players internally while having access to STATSports and ProScore for optimal development.”
Phil Presser, Technical Director
KINGS HAMMER ACADEMY (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Kings Hammer Soccer Club is excited to be joining the National League Elite 64 platform. Kings Hammer Elite 64 will be serving our players in the Central Kentucky and Greater Lexington area, providing high-level players the opportunity to compete on this national platform. Having the access to STATSports and ProScore will provide fantastic technology options for our players and coaches within this platform.”
Paul Nicholson, Technical Director
LOS ANGELES SOCCER CLUB (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Los Angeles SC is proud to join USYS National League Elite 64 — a prestigious and unique platform that will provide incredible opportunities and competition. We are very excited to be part of the inaugural season with so many top-class clubs from around the country. Elite 64 will be a fantastic addition to our player development pathway as it will provide an elite-level local, regional, and national playing environment. A player-centric league, focused on player development, enabling clubs to concentrate on creating a competitive learning environment that will bring out the best in young athletes. The pro-level performance analysis provided through STATSports and ProScore will be a game-changer. It will allow each individual athlete to track their own performance and enable both qualitative and quantitative feedback from coaches. This will be an incredibly valuable tool in the development process and for recruiting purposes.”
Brian Waltrip, Executive Director
PLAYERS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Players Development Academy is extremely honored and excited to be selected to join the USYS National League Elite 64. The opportunity to compete with the best clubs in our northeast region and across the country aligns with our club’s vision, purpose and mission. Providing an elite game day experience throughout the calendar year will continue the growth and development of our players. This national platform will also provide STATSports and ProScore to create a college recruiting opportunity every game for our prospective student athletes. The modern game demands technology and having access to data is imperative for not only player development but also our coaching staff. The performance analysis from STATSports and ProScore will provide our players and coaches with valuable information to enhance training sessions, individual development plans, curriculum and our club’s game model. We look forward to working together with USYS to create a national competitive platform to grow the game of soccer in the United States.”
Brian Grazier, Technical Director PDA Hibernian
REAL COLORADO (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Real Colorado is excited about the opportunity to deepen and improve the player pathway offered to our players interested and capable of competing in a national platform. The roster flexibility offered by USYS National League Elite 64 is an exciting direction permitting the club the ability to manage the development of our players and supporting each player’s individual journey along the way.”
Lorne Donaldson, Executive Director of Coaching
RUSH SELECT SOUTH (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Rush Soccer is extremely excited to participate in the newly formed Elite 64. The platform’s flexibility in connecting leagues allows for a model to truly serve our players first. The formation of Rush Select South will allow us to further develop the proven model within our Select Program and expand opportunities for our players. Partnering with STATSports and ProScore will provide players and coaches added development opportunities through much-needed performance analysis and give scouts additional access to all our players. All this combined will help Rush Select South bring top players and coaches together while helping Rush Soccer continue to develop high level players across our network.”
Michael Ritch, Executive Director
STA (Elite 64 – Boys)
“To be part of the Elite 64 league is a great opportunity for our STA boys’ program. It allows us to continue to extend the opportunities for our membership, providing our players the highest level of national competition against like-minded clubs. Being part of Elite 64 and playing alongside other elite clubs from across the country will also provide valuable extra exposure as part of their recruitment processes. Every day our players are challenged to get better and the opportunity to demonstrate their talents on this stage is something they will relish. We look forward to the experiences this venture with US Youth Soccer and Elite 64 will bring.”
Shane Bullock, Executive Director
