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Richmond, VA (May 4, 2012) – The Virginia Club Champions League (VCCL) Board of Directors is proud to announce that four new clubs will be joining the league in the fall of 2012.

Current VCCL South club members, Beach FC, FC Richmond, Richmond Strikers, Richmond Kickers, Roanoke Star, SOCA (Charlottesville), Virginia Legacy (Williamsburg), and Virginia Rush (Virginia Beach) serve players from southern Virginia.

Current VCCL North club members Annandale Boys & Girls Club, Arlington Soccer Association, Braddock Road Elite Travel Soccer, Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association, Loudoun Soccer, Prince William Soccer Inc., and Southwestern Youth Association serve players from northern Virginia.

Joining VCCL as members of VCCL Maryland are three clubs from Maryland and one from Washington, DC: Bethesda Soccer Club, DC Stoddert, FC Frederick, and Freestate Soccer Alliance.

VCCL, a member of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA), and a new member of the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), was founded in 1997 as one of a small number of soccer leagues in the country based on the philosophy that the player is a member of the club as well as a member of the team and that successful clubs develop players and teams from within rather than through recruitment.

“As president of VCCL it is very gratifying that the expansion into Northern Virginia has been quickly followed by expansion into Maryland. We believe that this growth is for the good of our clubs and especially our players as it will present new challenges and provide better competition for all,” said VCCL President Dave Amsler.

VCCL is the only soccer league in MSYSA or VYSA governed and administered by a Board of Directors whose members are directors in the sport. Each club has one member on the Board of Directors.

VCCL is arguably the only league in the country with club-to-club scheduling where all teams from the same club play on the same day at the same location against another member club. This unique scheduling model benefits all members of the club:

Club Management and Development: Professional staff can observe and evaluate players and coaches to improve management and training.

Coaching Development: Coaches can work with more than one team as co-coach, assistant coach, or mentor to “coaches in training” as well as observe other coaches in the club.

Player Development: Players can expand their ability to work with different coaches – a valuable asset when playing high school, college and beyond. Players can observe and evaluate other teams in the club.

Parents and Siblings: The league is family oriented. Parents can easily arrange carpools. Families can watch more than one child play on a single play date.

VCCL was the first league in VYSA to use a club pass system that allows any age-appropriate player in a club to guest play with a team from the same club in VCCL league games. VCCL also championed the development of the Provisional Roster which allows players on other club rosters to play for a team in league play only without officially transferring to that team.

VCCL and its member club, Virginia Legacy, host the College Showcase held at the end of the fall season in Williamsburg. The Showcase is limited in size to VCCL clubs and a select group of other teams and attracts over 80 college coaches annually.

The VCCL model -- professionally managed clubs developing players from within -- represents a different cultural environment from traditional board-managed, team-centered programs. VCCL is encouraged that new national player development programs are based on the same model. Expansion to Maryland with other clubs who embrace the VCCL model affords more players the opportunity to benefit from this format.

“We are excited to bring the VCCL model to Maryland,” said Jonathan Colton, Boys Director of Coaching, Bethesda Soccer Club. “It will bring to Maryland a true player-centered club development model of league play. We are excited to be a part of this evolution in youth soccer, and the members of our club will reap the benefits of the VCCL structure and its philosophies.” Pat Noel, Director of Coaching for Freestate adds, “The Metro DC area has a rich tradition of high quality, well-run leagues. We are excited to add VCCL into this mix, as the players will ultimately benefit from the variety of options available to them for their soccer development.”

During the 2012-2013 seasonal year, VCCL Maryland clubs will schedule their top U11 through U18/19 boys and girls teams against each other as well as numerous “cross-over” games with VCCL North and South clubs. VCCL Maryland clubs will also include a U9-U10 developmental division. 

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The BRYC Elite, an under-11 girls’ travel soccer team representing the Braddock Road Youth Club, was a finalist at the prestigious Jefferson Cup in Richmond this past weekend.

Among the 400 girls’ teams competing across nine age groups in this nationally ranked youth soccer tournament, the Elite was one of only four clubs from Fairfax County to reach the finals of the top Championship division.   Coached by Jim Abt, the Elite beat out top-ranked teams from Maryland, New York, North Carolina and Virginia to reach the championship game. The club lost in the finals to one of its Northern Virginia rivals, Loudoun Red 98, in a hard-fought 2-0 battle.

Congratulations to the BRYC 93 Elite -- PWSI Ice Breaker Soccer Tournament - U16 CHAMPIONS!

Among the 272 teams competing across eight age groups in the prestigious WAGS Tournament, 98 Elite was the only club from Fairfax County to win a top championship division.  Way to go BRYC 98 Elite!!