·         Teams will be re-evaluated’ in January via additional tryout for spring play.

·         NPL games will consist of ‘tournament weekends’ where multiple games will be played outside regular girls / boys ‘North Texas League’ play.

·         NPL Travel Squads will be expected to travel together on trips leaving at a time and location to be   determined before the event.

·         All NPL teams are expected to follow travel expectations;

·         Travel together to game day locations during weekends away from Dallas.

·         Dress in the same LFCA attire and have a professional appearance to represent the club well when arriving at locations (LFC training T-shirt or game day shirt for example)

NPL Team Fee
 

The club will contribute some funding toward NPL expenses with the players also sharing in some of the fee associated with being a part of NPL. Players selected to the NPL travel pools would be responsible for an additional fee that equates to $30/month (See below). This fee is collected separate from their normal LFCA team dues.

U13-14  $300 ($30/ month) - (10 months, which includes two training sessions / month & 10 games through the year)
U15-17  $240 ($30/ month) - (8 month; which includes two training sessions / month & 10 games through the year)

These fees will help fund the following:

-                      NPL league Team registration

-                      Additional NPL player registration (Player cards / coach player cards / NPL website maintenance)

-                      Medical trainers at NPL home matches

-                      Additional training

-                      Field rental for extra training

-                      Coaches travel

-                      Referee / assistant referees

Parents will be responsible for the fees involve with additional travel such as hotel reservations, travel to event and food while away.

National Premier League - FAQ

Q1) What is the NPL?

•       Created to elevate and change the competitive youth soccer landscape based upon US Club Soccer’s fundamental principles, providing a platform for long-term player development.

•       For the country’s top soccer clubs, allowing consistent, meaningful high-level games appropriately scheduled with higher training-to-game ratios

•       Allows players to be scouted and evaluated by U.S. Soccer National Staff and Technical Advisers; through the ID2 Scouting program

•       Designed and structured by the clubs, based on the needs of the clubs

•       Provides an avenue for qualification for the NPL Champions Cup.

Q2) How will this affect my player?

The NPL will provide additional player development and exposure opportunities as a complement to their normal LFCA competitive team. As our players will be competing against some of the top clubs in the nation, it is imperative we form NPL travel squads based on "calendar" year. Participation in the NPL will provide these players with enhanced development & exposure opportunities.

Liverpool FC America will participate in the South Central Conference of the NPL, made up with clubs from Oklahoma, North and South Texas. This is one of the newest leagues in the country and LFCA is proud to be represented.  Besides the added exposure of the NPL and playing against top level, the calendar year format allows the younger LFCA players (those born Jan-July) to compete as older players on their respective NPL travel squads adding to the challenge and development opportunities.  Conversely, the LFCA “older players” (those born Aug-Dec) will be competing against “older” players in the NPL which is good for their development. These situations provide development opportunities and exposure for our players that cannot be replicated. Players selected to NPL travel pools will also receive additional training twice a month in specific “NPL age group training sessions”.

Q3) Who can take part?

The NPL leagues will target the U13 - U17 age groups (2001 - 1996 playing years), HOWEVER we will give the option to the U12 (2002) players to try out for places in the 2001 age group teams.

Q4) How many extra sessions will there be?

We will work 2 extra training sessions of 1.5 hours each into the coaching schedule each month. These sessions will be carried out on a Sunday afternoon in a location to be determined in duel age group sessions. For example a staff of 4 coaches will work with the 01 and 00 girls from 3:00 - 4:30pm, followed by the 99, 98, age group teams from 4:45 - 6:15pm.

For the U13 & U14 teams this will be over a 10 month period, and for the U15 - 17 teams this will be over an 8 month period due to High School commitments (as a result there is a price difference of $300 for the U13/14 players and $240 for the U15-17 players for the entire period).

Q5) Who will be coaching the sessions?

The designated NPL coaching staff, carefully selected based on licensing and experience at the highest level to maintain the quality we expect from our ‘Elite’ program.

Q6) Will there be specific goalkeeper sessions?

Yes. Our goalkeeping staff will be on hand at every training session to work specifically with the goalkeepers and will also travel to events to ensure that they are properly warmed up and catered for to the extent you would expect from an elite program.

Q7) Will it affect my player’s league games or training sessions?

This program will have NO impact on regular training sessions for LFCA teams, or impact league games in the Dallas area due to the times of training sessions and the dates put forward for league play. This is with one or two exceptions where we will work hard to ensure an organized training environment.

Q8) When are the events for NPL games?

There are 4 tournament weekends where the LFCA teams will play a total of 8 games of their 10 game season; the remaining 2 games will be scheduled by the clubs at a later date. Specific dates are

not available at present but as specified before they will not impact regular season league play. The National Championships are going to take place in mid-July next year.

Q9) What is the benefit for my player to take part?

Your player will be given the opportunity to play at the highest level possible, gain additional advanced training, have the opportunity to represent the club on a National level and gain additional college exposure all while still being part of your own team as part of LFCA. We wanted to provide players who want that extra challenge and are dedicated to the sport, an opportunity to play the best teams and participate on a National level. We also have the opportunity to enter players into the US Club Soccer’s ID2 program, which is a National Team scouting network.

Q10) Will I need to buy a new jersey?

No; a plan is being formulated to counter this, and a budget being put in place to cover any additional uniforms needed due to conflicting jersey numbers.

Q11) What’s the $30 a month for?

•       The fee goes towards covering the following:

•       League / team registration

•       NPL admin

•       Field rental

•       Player cards

•       Coaching expenses

•       Coach travel expenses

•       Other possible related expenses such as additional uniforms / equipment for training etc.

Q12) What are the families financially responsible for?

The player’s families will be asked to cover their own travel such as gas to events and hotel rooms and meals.

Q13) Do you form the teams based off calendar year (like ODP), or soccer year?

The program will work from the 'Soccer Year' age chart; so an August - July birth range per age group

Q14) Can my player still play other sports?

Yes, however we will require any players that are offered spots on the NPL teams to be fully committed to the additional training and games

Q16) Will the teams from South Texas be involved?

Yes. Our Program Director, Matt Veasey, recently made a trip down to Temple, TX to evaluate

the talent we have down there. A handful of players will certainly make an impact in this program for us and our South Texas program is producing some very talented young boys and girls.

Hopefully those points go some way to answering any questions you have about the program at this stage. We are working to get as much information to you, and posted on the club website, as possible but if you have any other questions please contact Matt Veasey at: matt.veasey@liverpoolfcamerica.com

Our goal is to create an opportunity for our advanced athletes to train and play at the highest level possible. We are very excited by the possibilities of this program, and the staff that will drive the training sessions; we know that involvement in this program can continue our push to be the best youth soccer club in Texas!