Connecticut Football Club
GIRLS ECNL
CFC ECNL Girls compete in the New England Conference of the Elite Clubs National League.
CFC Girls Regional League teams compete in the New England Conference of the ECNL Regional League.
The ECNL has an unmatched reputation for providing the best platform in the country for college recruiting and player advancement.
America's Top Youth Soccer Competition
The ECNL is the top competition in American youth soccer, with approximately 130 clubs in the ECNL Girls and 150 clubs in the ECNL Boys participating each year in the U13 – U18/19 age groups.
The ECNL Regional League is the second level of competition in American soccer, with approximately 300 clubs in the ECNL RL Girls and 400 clubs in the ECNL RL Boys participating each year in the U13 – U18/19 age groups.
The Pre-ECNL is a developmental competition for male and female players in the U12 and younger age groups.
Connecticut football Club
ABOUT THE ECNL
The ECNL was founded in 2009 as a challenge to the status quo of youth soccer, with a vision to be better. In its first years, the league supported only girls programming, but that was to change.
As a result of grassroots collaboration and innovation driven by youth soccer leaders all around the country, the ECNL quickly rose to national prominence – and ultimately to be the top level of competition and player development in the country. Each step was fueled by a shared commitment to elevating the youth soccer experience.
From inception, the ECNL consistently developed in alignment with the needs of its member clubs, always seeking opportunities to lead and provide more, no matter the challenge or adversity. The four letters “ECNL” have become the embodiment of collaborative innovation, opportunity, respect, development, and excellence in youth soccer, as the once-radical idea of clubs having a voice to determine their future proved to produce results never before seen in youth soccer. Unrivaled numbers of female players, of constantly improving quality, began moving on to the collegiate, professional, and national team levels as the ECNL impact changed youth soccer.
In 2017, the landscape again demanded more and the ECNL Boys was founded, setting the stage for an amazing period of rapid growth, increasing quality and further change in youth soccer. Starting with 57 of the top boys clubs in the country, the creation of the Boys ECNL once again demonstrated how a total commitment to improving the experience of players, coaches, clubs, and the environment in which they develop, can change everything.
Today, the ECNL represents the epitome of excellence in youth soccer, for boys and girls, as the league and its clubs, players, coaches, and everyone involved seeks to constantly “Raise the Game” for the future.
Find out more at: https://www.theecnl.com/
ECNL Girls Framework
ECNL Regular Season
ECNL Post Season
ECNL Additional Competitions
ECNL Regular Season
REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE PLAY: At all ages and levels, teams participate in regionalized regular-season competition in their conference. This competition provides the majority of games for each team each season, and is the top priority in their total competition schedule for the year. The vast majority of postseason qualifiers are determined through conference standings.
REGULAR SEASON NATIONAL EVENTS: At all ages and levels, teams have the opportunity to participate in National Events throughout the year. At U16 and younger, these events are experiential – designed to inspire, challenge, and prepare players for the future. At U17 and U18/19, these events are recruitable – designed to showcase players for college and professional soccer. The number of events that each team participates in varies based on age and level of performance.
ECNL Post Season
The ECNL Girls have a two-stage post-season, with one ECNL Playoffs event and one ECNL National Finals event.
PLAYOFFS in June include more than 300 teams from the U13 to U18/19 age groups, participating in one of three post-season competition tiers. The ECNL Girls Champions League Playoffs include the top teams from all conferences in the country, the ECNL Girls North American Cup includes the next level of postseason qualifiers, and the ECNL Girls Showcase Cups include the third level of postseason qualifiers. Winners of the North American Cup, Showcase Cups , and the U18/19 ECNL Champions League National Champion are crowned at the ECNL Girls Playoffs, while top performing teams in the ECNL Girls Champions League from U13 – U17 advance to the ECNL Girls Finals.
FINALS in July is where the U13 – U17 ECNL Girls National Champions are crowned every year as the best team in their respective age group in American youth soccer.
ECNL Additional Competitions
ECNL GIRLS LEAGUE CUP
The ECNL Girls League Cups are cup competitions in selected age groups and conferences that add meaning and excitement to local and regional rivalries. Each League Cup includes group play and a knockout round, and the winner of the League Cup earns automatic qualification to the postseason.
ECNL RL Girls Framework
ECNL RL Regular Season
ECNL RL Post Season
ECNL RL Additional Competitions
ECNL RL Regular Season
REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE PLAY: At all ages and levels, teams participate in regionalized regular-season competition in their conference. This competition provides the majority of games for each team each season, and is the top priority in their total competition schedule for the year. The vast majority of postseason qualifiers are determined through conference standings.
REGULAR SEASON NATIONAL EVENTS: At all ages and levels, teams have the opportunity to participate in National Events throughout the year. At U16 and younger, these events are experiential – designed to inspire, challenge, and prepare players for the future. At U17 and U18/19, these events are recruitable – designed to showcase players for college and professional soccer. The number of events that each team participates in varies based on age and level of performance.
ECNL RL Post Season
The ECNL Regional League Boys and ECNL Regional League Girls each have a two-stage postseason, with four ECNL RL Playoff events in the first stage, and one ECNL National Finals event in the second stage.
ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS events are held in four different regions of the country in June: East, Central, South and West. The U18/19 ECNL Regional League Playoff Champions are crowned in each of these events and conclude their season. The top performing teams in the ECNL Regional League Playoff events from U13 – U17 advance to the ECNL Regional League Finals.
ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE FINALS in July is where the U13 – U17 ECNL RL Boys and ECNL RL Girls National Champions are crowned every year as the best teams in their respective age groups in the ECNL Regional League.
ECNL RL Additional Competitions
ECNL RL GIRLS LEAGUE CUP
The ECNL RL Girls League Cups are cup competitions in selected age groups and conferences that add meaning and excitement to local and regional rivalries. Each League Cup includes group play and a knock-out round, and the winner of the League Cup earns automatic qualification to the post-season.
ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE GIRLS LEADERS CUP
The ECNL Girls Leaders Cup was launched in 2026 and is an invitation only event for the top performing ECNL Regional League Girls clubs in the country. Each club is invited based on their regular season league performance across multiple ages the prior year. Through unique mini-game competition, in group stage and knock-outs, the ECNL RL Leaders Cup champions are crowned.
MATT MICROS
CFC ECNL GIRLS DIRECTOR
- CFC United Girls ECNL Director
Contact: mattmicros@aol.com
CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL CLUB
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Interested in playing ECNL?
Complete the form and Register your interest now and one of our coaches will be in touch.
ECNL Girls Clinics and Tryouts
Fall 2025 Registration Opens: September, 2025