BERRYVILLE, VA, (May 7, 2022) – Clarke County Soccer League (CCSL) has moved its travel program under U.S. Youth Soccer’s Virginia Premier Soccer League (VPSL) program, National Premier League (NPL). CCSL’s travel club teams will compete in the Western Division starting Fall 2022.
NPL’s Western Division consists of more than 30 clubs with U-11 through U-19 boys and girls teams, while another 26 clubs comprise the Eastern Division. The result is a balanced team-based competition for the VPSL NPL Division for the U-13 through U-19 age groups, while the U-11 and U-12 players compete within the VPSL.
“The NPL is an ideal fit for Clarke County Soccer League’s travel program,” said Ray Steen, CCSL President. “Clarke soccer’s primary focus is player development, competition and community. The NPL provides our teams the opportunity to continue developing players while competing at the highest levels in our rural community and throughout western Virginia.”
The number of CCSL travel club teams have grown from one U14 team five years ago to seven teams in 2022. CCSL's U18 boys team won its SCSL division championship last year, as did CCSL's U16 Thunder girls team. The growth of the travel program has come in part to a heightened dedication to coach training and development, as well as the pre-travel prep program that begins as early as U8, as well as strategic partnerships with neighboring leagues committed to developing players through competitive friendlies.
The VPSL NPL Division will compete within the established National Premier Leagues platform, providing national pathways and a plethora of resources available to NPL participants and US Club Soccer members. The VPSL NPL Division receives pathways to the annual NPL postseason, in which teams have an opportunity to compete for National Premier Leagues championships. Additionally, participating teams have access to a variety of US Club Soccer resources and programming, including safety and risk-management standards, cup-based competitions through the Virginia State Cup and the National Cup, player identification via id2 and PDP, coaching education through LaLiga Formation Methodology and U.S. Soccer courses, and various Players First-related opportunities.
Clarke County travel team tryout registration is now open with tryouts scheduled for Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at Chet Hobert Park in Berryville, Va. Tryout registration is free and required at www.clarkesoccer.org.
About Clarke County Soccer League (CCSL)
Clarke County Soccer League (CCSL) is a nonprofit (501c3), volunteer-led sports organization in Berryville, Virginia, whose mission is to improve the quality of soccer, promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among youth athletes, and play an active role in the Clarke County community.
Established in 1981, CCSL is a member of both Virginia Youth Soccer Association and U.S. Soccer Club. CCSL provides recreational soccer opportunities for U6, U8, U10 and U12 players, develops certified soccer coaches and game officials. CCSL’s travel program begins with a pre-travel academy at U8 and continues through U19, competing in the VPSL NPL Division.
To learn more, visit www.clarkesoccer.org.