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NCFC Youth CEO Appointed to U.S. Soccer Board of Directors

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:38:48 GMT

NCFC Youth CEO Appointed to U.S. Soccer Board of Directors

NCFC Youth is excited to announce that our CEO, Gary Buete, has been appointed to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Gary is stepping into the Youth Council Representative Seat, a role that represents the interests of youth soccer organizations at the national level, effective immediately. His appointment comes after a decade of leadership with U.S. Club Soccer, where he served as regional director, vice chair, and, since 2021, board chair, helping guide the organization through a period of significant growth.

“I’m honored and humbled to join the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. This is such an exciting time for the sport in our country and across the world with the upcoming World Cup. All eyes will be on the game, and young people will be inspired to play. With millions of players entering the game each year, we have a responsibility to ensure the pathway to play is accessible, developmentally focused, and aligns with the long-term growth of the entire sport.”

Gary brings nearly 30 years of club leadership experience to the role. Since joining Capital Area Soccer League in 2014 and helping lead the merger that formed NCFC Youth, he has played a key role in growing the club into one of the nation’s largest youth soccer organizations, serving more than 17,000 players annually. His career spans coaching, refereeing, league operations and executive leadership, giving him a well-rounded perspective on the game at every level.

With Gary at the table, NCFC Youth’s values will have a direct voice in national decisions that affect how kids experience soccer. The principles our families see every day (player-first development, broad access to the game, and positive environments for young athletes) will now help shape policy and programs well beyond North Carolina.

“During my time on the board, I hope to help reinforce and strengthen the connection between youth soccer and the broader national ecosystem. Youth soccer is where players first fall in love with the game, and it’s critical that we continue building positive environments that keep kids playing and benefitting at every age and stage of play. As the youth game continues to evolve, it’s important to make sure that our sport adapts and decisions are always made with a players-first mentality.”

Please join us in congratulating Gary! He would be the first to say that none of this happens without the people who make NCFC Youth what it is every day. To our players, families, coaches, and volunteers: thank you. Your dedication to this club and this game is what makes moments like this possible.

Meet Athletic Trainer, Mallory Wells

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:28:24 GMT

Meet Athletic Trainer, Mallory Wells

We’re continuing our staff spotlight series with Mallory Wells , Athletic Trainer. In honor of National Athletic Training Month, we’re excited to highlight Mallory and show our appreciation for everything she and our athletic training staff do to keep our players healthy, safe, and performing at their best. Get to know mallory as she shares her background and what inspires her to work in youth soccer.

What inspired you to pursue a career in athletic training?

"I was inspired by my high school athletic trainer. As a multi-sport athlete, I saw him a few times my freshman year and thought his job was really cool. Found out there were classes for it and took them the next 3 years and determined this was the job for me."

How long have you worked in athletic training, and when did you join NCFC Youth?

"I have worked in athletic training for 6 years now. I officially started at NCFC in October of 2022 but had covered tournaments and summer camps since 2021."

Did you play sports growing up? If so, what did you play?

"Growing up my three main sports were competitive cheerleading for 13 years, then volleyball and track all through middle and high school."

What’s something you love about athletic training that you didn’t expect?

"I was surprised to find I enjoy getting to teach athletes, parents, and occasionally coaches about injuries and the treatments/rehab we are doing to help the injuries. Getting to educate them so they can better help themselves when an athletic trainer isn't around and how excited they are to let me know they used that information when they come back is really fun for me."

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

"Seeing the athlete return pain free after injury and how proud they are after their first practice/game post-injury.'"

What’s your biggest piece of advice for athletes when it comes to staying healthy?

"Sometimes the boring maintenance for your body can make the biggest impact in your health and performance. Staying hydrated, resting your body, stretching, properly fueling the body; they all make more of a difference than you think."

What’s your go-to coffee order (or favorite drink)?

"I make my coffee at home. Blueberry coffee with zero sugar french vanilla creamer. But my favorite drink is probably a diet coke or diet Dr pepper."

If you weren’t an athletic trainer, what career do you think you’d have?

"I've had my mind set since I was a sophomore in high school so I'm really not sure. Probably another healthcare career."

Mallory plays a key role on the sidelines in supporting the health and safety of our players. We’re thankful to have her and our entire athletic training staff caring for NCFC Youth every day.

Meet Athletic Trainer, Nick Conde

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:36:01 GMT

Meet Athletic Trainer, Nick Conde!

We’re continuing our staff spotlight series with Nick Conde , Athletic Trainer. In honor of National Athletic Training Month, we’re excited to highlight Nick and show our appreciation for everything he and our athletic training staff do to keep our players healthy, safe, and performing at their best. Get to know Nick as he shares his background in the game and what inspires him to work in youth soccer.

What inspired you to pursue a career in athletic training?

"I saw 2 people driving a gator and it looked cool. When I found out they were in sports medicine club, I found the club and would just be there every day. The rest is history."

How long have you worked in athletic training, and when did you join NCFC Youth?

"I have been an Athletic Trainer since 2019 and I officially joined the club in 2022. I have worked small events for the club since 2019 as well before officially joining."

Did you play sports growing up? If so, what did you play?

"I played a little soccer but I grew up skateboarding mostly."

What’s something you love about athletic training that you didn’t expect?

"Applying a perfect tape job is probably the most satisfying thing that I wouldn't expect."

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

"The most rewarding part of my job is returning athletes back to the game they love to play."

What’s your biggest piece of advice for athletes when it comes to staying healthy?

"Stretch your quads and hamstrings for at least 30 seconds each and have a source of protein post-activity. Doing both of these actions within 2 hours post-activity will greatly improve your recovery."

What’s your go-to coffee order (or favorite drink)?

"Caramel cold brew with cold foam or a mate tea."

If you weren’t an athletic trainer, what career do you think you’d have?

"Professional sport groundskeeper/operations."

Nick plays a key role on the sidelines in supporting the health and safety of our players. We’re thankful to have him and our entire athletic training staff caring for NCFC Youth every day.

Meet Head Athletic Trainer, Jason Bailey!

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:20:28 GMT

Meet Head Athletic Trainer, Jason Bailey!

We’re continuing our staff spotlight series with Jason Bailey , Head Athletic Trainer. In honor of National Athletic Training Month, we’re excited to highlight Jason and show our appreciation for everything he and our athletic training staff do to keep our players healthy, safe, and performing at their best. Get to know Jason as he shares his background in the game and what inspires him to work in youth soccer.

What inspired you to pursue a career in athletic training?

"I had several injuries participating in sports growing up and in HS I took some athletic training classes. I got into the job to be able to help kids get back to playing the sports that they enjoy and helping them strive to be better."

How long have you worked in athletic training, and when did you join NCFC Youth?

"I have worked in Athletic Training for 19 years, and have worked 15 years with NCFC Youth, joining back in 2010!"

Did you play sports growing up? If so, what did you play?

"I played several sports growing up, from bowling, basketball, baseball and soccer. Soccer was my main sport and played a few years in college."

What’s something you love about athletic training that you didn’t expect?

"The appreciation from the parents for helping the athletes get back to the game is very grateful and one of the things that make the job better."

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

"Most rewarding part of the job is seeing the athletes enjoying their sport, especially the ones that start back from long term injuries."

What’s your biggest piece of advice for athletes when it comes to staying healthy?

"Most importantly, it is taking care of the body. There is a lot to that, but working hard at practice breaks down the body and very little does the athlete take the time to recover from the work. Stretching, foam rolling and taking care of nutrition is very important."

What’s your go-to coffee order (or favorite drink)?

"Iced Caramel Macchiato"

If you weren’t an athletic trainer, what career do you think you’d have?

"This is a good question. I wanted to be in the medical field, but working in Orthopedics would probably be the job that I would be doing."

Jason plays a key role on the sidelines in supporting the health and safety of our players. We’re thankful to have him and our entire athletic training staff caring for NCFC Youth every day.

NCFC Youth to Host Inaugural Elite International Boys Soccer Tournament at WRAL Soccer Park

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:29:26 GMT

ECNL and IBERCUP Partnership Brings Global Competition and Significant Economic Impact to Raleigh

Raleigh, NC (Jan. 29, 2026) – North Carolina FC Youth ( NCFC Youth ), the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving more than 17,000 local players annually, is excited to announce that WRAL Soccer Park will host “IBERCUP x ECNL International – Raleigh, NC USA 2026” over Labor Day Weekend, marking the inaugural IBERCUP event in the United States. The IBERCUP is one of the most recognized and respected youth soccer tournaments in the world. Since 2010, it has hosted thousands of teams from over 120 countries, offering a platform where young players compete, develop and connect through the game.

At NCFC Youth’s WRAL Soccer Park, nearly 200 U11 and U12 boys’ teams from Europe, South America, Asia and the United States are expected to compete in 7v7 games for the tournament championship through a mix of group and knockout stages, offering a unique competitive, developmental and cultural experience for players, teams, coaches and clubs. The four-day tournament is part of IBERCUP’s long-term international growth vision and will be launched in partnership with the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), the nation's leading youth soccer development platform for America's top soccer players. With support from the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) , WRAL Soccer Park and NCFC Youth were chosen to host the inaugural IBERCUP tournament in the U.S. The selection highlights the strong reputation NCFC Youth and WRAL Soccer Park have built over decades as a trusted home for youth soccer, high-level competition and premier events. IBERCUP x ECNL International – Raleigh, NC USA 2026 is expected to generate an estimated 7,000 hotel room nights and generate more than $4.5 million in direct visitor spending.

“Hosting IBERCUP x ECNL International is a tremendous win for our community and our local economy,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “Welcoming elite soccer clubs and families from across the United States and around the world delivers meaningful economic impact for our local community, while showcasing Raleigh on a global stage as a premier destination for international youth soccer. Events of this caliber create lasting value for the sport and our region well beyond the final match. It's a milestone moment for the area, and we are grateful for the efforts of NCFC Youth to make this event possible.”

WRAL Soccer Park serves as NCFC Youth’s primary facility and has been a cornerstone of the club’s programming since opening in 1981. The 123-acre complex features 23 fields and welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually, hosting daily practices and games, as well as elite regional, national and – now – international competitions, across a variety of community and sporting events.

“Launching the first IBERCUP tournament in the United States at WRAL Soccer Park marks a significant milestone for NCFC Youth and soccer in our region,” said Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth. “It reflects years of dedicated and intentional effort to develop the facility into a premier sports event destination capable of hosting events of this caliber, supported by partnerships with the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the local hospitality community. We’re proud to welcome teams and families from around the world and look forward to sharing the spirit of the Triangle with them.”

NCFC Youth hosts 10 tournaments throughout the year at WRAL Soccer Park. Its signature event, the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, has been hosted at the Soccer Park since 1982 and consistently draws more than 1,600 teams each year from over 30 states and international destinations. According to economic analysis by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) , the event generates an estimated $29.5 million annually for Wake County and surrounding areas. In addition to soccer, WRAL Soccer Park and NCFC Youth work alongside the GRSA and other sports event partners to host a range of other non-soccer competitions during open weekends. Since 2020, the facility has hosted state and regional events across various sports, including football, spikeball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and more, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and generating nearly $9 million in additional economic impact.

To learn more, visit www.NCFCYouth.com or see the official announcement from ECNL here .

About NCFC Youth:
Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 17,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

About the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA):
A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) – the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 19 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.4 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $321 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $720 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Dana Goodwin
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.830.1289
dgoodwin@visitraleigh.com

NCFC Youth Welcomes Akira Fitzgerald as Assistant Director of Goalkeeping

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:56:02 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Akira Fitzgerald as Assistant Director of Goalkeeping

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NCFC Youth Academy Alum Finn Sundstrom Signs MLS Contract with Philadelphia Union

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:34:27 GMT

NCFC Youth Academy Alum Signs MLS Contract with Philadelphia Union

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union

North Carolina FC Youth is proud to celebrate the continued rise of one of our own, as Finn Sundstrom has signed with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union. The former NCFC Youth and Academy standout joins the Union on a contract through 2028, with club options extending through 2030.

Finn’s journey is a powerful example of the NCFC Youth player pathway in action. He joined the NCFC Academy at just 11 years old and progressed through every age group from U12 to U19. During his time in the Academy, Finn consistently demonstrated strong leadership, defensive intelligence, and a relentless work ethic that set him apart.

After graduating from the Academy, Finn earned a professional opportunity with **North Carolina FC** in the USL Championship. He made his professional debut in September 2024 and went on to play a major role during the 2025 season, appearing in 33 matches across all competitions. His performances anchored the back line, helping NCFC record nine shutouts while leading the team in blocks and ranking near the top in clearances and tackles. Finn’s impact earned him NCFC Player of the Month honors and a nomination for USL Championship Young Player of the Year.

Finn’s development has also been recognized at the national level, earning his first call up to a United States U20 Youth National Team camp. That continued progression ultimately opened the door to MLS, where the Philadelphia Union acquired his rights and welcomed him into their first team environment.

For NCFC Youth, Finn’s success represents the long term vision of the club. His rise from youth soccer to the professional and MLS levels highlights the opportunities available within our system and the dedication of our coaches, staff, and players who help bring that pathway to life.

We are incredibly proud of Finn and excited to watch him take the next step in his career.

**Congratulations, Finn. NCFC Youth alum to MLS professional.**

The Whirl: Beyond the Pitch Feature

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:38:28 GMT

The Whirl: Beyond the Pitch Feature

GENEFIT Sport Joins as Presenting Sponsor of the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:57:09 GMT

GENEFIT Sport Joins as Presenting Sponsor of the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth) is proud to announce GENEFIT Sport as the presenting sponsor of its 2025 visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, one of the largest youth soccer showcase events in the country.

As part of this exciting partnership, the GENEFIT Sport team will be on-site during all four showcase weekends, engaging with players and families to share how athletes can unlock their performance potential through genetic insights and personalized recommendations.

GENEFIT Sport uses cutting-edge DNA analysis to help athletes better understand their unique physiology—empowering smarter decisions around training, nutrition, recovery, and injury prevention – and laying the foundation for an overall healthier lifestyle.

“We’re thrilled to welcome GENEFIT Sport as our presenting sponsor throughout the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series,” said Gary Buete, NCFC Youth CEO. “Their innovative approach to performance and wellness aligns perfectly with our mission to help every player reach their potential, both on and off the field. Our tournaments attract some of the best athletes from across the country, and we are excited for them to learn how to tap further into their potential through GENEFIT Sport.”

Through this partnership, all NCFC Youth tournament participants will have access to NCFC Youth’s exclusive youth club partner discount on the GENEFIT Sport DNA Test Kit and Performance Package, which includes:

A comprehensive DNA test kit
A 1:1 consultation with a GENEFIT performance expert
A personalized action plan for improved performance, recovery, and long-term wellness

At the discounted price of $599, players can access the same science-based insights used by professional athletes—helping them make informed decisions about nutrition, sleep, training, and injury prevention to optimize their health and performance on and off the field.

“Partnering with NCFC Youth and being part of such a premier event series is a tremendous opportunity,” said Daniel Guzman, Head of Performance, GENEFIT Sport. “We’re passionate about giving young athletes the same tools that pro athletes use to perform at their best and to stay healthy throughout their playing careers.”

The visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series welcomes more than 1,500 teams annually across four weekends each November and December, attracting top competition and college coaches from across the country.

For more information on GENEFIT Sport or to take advantage of the NCFC Youth partner discount, visit https://genefit.pro/pages/ncfc .

NCFC Youth to Help Host the 2025 ACC Men's & Women's Soccer Championships

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:49:06 GMT

NCFC Youth to Help Host the 2025 ACC Men's & Women's Soccer Championships

We’re excited to share that NCFC Youth will play a part in hosting the 2025 ACC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships again this November. The event brings a premier collegiate soccer event to the Triangle area, showcasing some of the top programs and players in the country at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC.

The championships will bring high-level competition and an incredible atmosphere to the Triangle, and we’re proud to help provide a first-class experience for student-athletes, fans, and the soccer community.

As part of this partnership, NCFC Youth families have access to a special ticket offer to attend the matches and cheer on the future stars of the game.

NCFC Youth Exclusive Ticket Offer

Complimentary Youth Ticket: Every registered player receives a free youth ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Select 2 or more tickets - the free ticket discount applies automatically with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Families with multiple players can request extra youth tickets by emailing Jacob Schmidt ( jschmidt@theacc.org )
Early-Bird Pricing: Guest tickets are $15 (or $7.50 each after discount).
Applicable Games: Offer valid for both semifinals and finals of the Men’s and Women’s Championships.
Team Experiences: Groups of 10+ fans can enjoy exclusive on-field experiences, including a pre-game team photo (limited availability - contact Jacob for details at jschmidt@theacc.org ).
Secure your tickets today here - purchase deadline of November 13th applies!

Join us in celebrating top collegiate soccer (and some NCFC Youth alumni!) right here in our backyard and show your support for the next generation of champions!

NCFC Youth Welcomes Valvoline Instant Oil Change as a New Sponsor

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:36:29 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Valvoline Instant Oil Change as a New Sponsor

NCFC Youth families to receive 20% discount on any service and Valvoline Instant Oil Change to donate an additional $5 to NCFC Youth’s Financial Aid fund with each service completed during “NCFC Youth Week at Valvoline”

NCFC Youth is excited to announce a new sponsorship with Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Their sponsorship is visible through a sponsorship with the NC Courage Academy game and training kits.

Additionally, Valvoline Instant Oil Change has a special offer from October 5-11 for all NCFC Youth families. As part of the sponsorship, Valvoline Instant Oil Change will host an “NCFC Youth Week” at locations across the Triangle. NCFC Youth families will receive 20% off the total bill of any service (safety/emissions checks and battery exclusions apply).

In addition to this special offer, Valvoline Instant Oil Change is also donating $5 to NCFC Youth’s Financial Aid fund for each service they perform for an NCFC Youth family. The goal of the financial aid program is to provide financial assistance to players from families that have a documented financial need. This past year, NCFC Youth distributed a record $520,000 to qualifying players and families across all levels of play. Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s pledged donations create increased opportunities for kids to play soccer and foster community with their team.

Just like NCFC Youth helps players stay active on the field, Valvoline Instant Oil Change helps our on-the-go families with quick and easy oil changes to keep their cars going as fast as they are. The Valvoline Instant Oil Change difference includes a 15-minute stay-in-your-car oil change with an 18-point maintenance check and no appointment needed. With multiple locations across the Triangle, Valvoline Instant Oil Change is a great place to go for a variety of car services in addition to oil changes, including tire rotation, radiator and transmission service, and more.

The club is grateful for this sponsorship and hopes to see families take advantage of “NCFC Youth Week” at Valvoline Instant Oil Change.

Download the coupon here .

Learn more about Valvoline Instant Oil Change Here .

NCFC Youth Proud to Sponsor NC Power Soccer

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:42:56 GMT

NCFC Youth Proud to Sponsor NC Power Soccer

NCFC Youth is excited to announce our sponsorship and support of Carolina Thunder, North Carolina’s first Power Soccer team. Carolina Thunder is dedicated to bringing the thrill of competitive sports to athletes (age 5+) who use power wheelchairs. The program launched in July 2024 with an inaugural clinic, which has since grown into a full season of programming with 8 session days.

“We have really enjoyed getting to know the team behind NC Power Soccer whose passion and drive brought this program to life for our community,” said Katharine Eberhardt, NCFC Youth’s Chief Marketing & Development Officer. “As part of our ongoing commitment to community, inclusion, and growing the game for all athletes, we are more than happy to help support an environment for all kids to participate and grow through soccer.”

So far this season, NCFC Youth has provided equipment to support on-court programming, donated an end-of-season celebration gift for athletes, and offered additional resources to bring awareness to and execute the program. Looking ahead, we’re already making plans to provide official jerseys for the athletes this spring and step up in any way we can to support Carolina Thunder.

What is Power Soccer?

Power Soccer is designed for athletes who use power wheelchairs. Open to players ages 5 and up, the game is played indoors on a basketball court with an adapted, larger soccer ball. Players use their chairs—fitted with specially designed footguards—to pass, defend, and score goals.

Where does Carolina Thunder (Power Soccer) Play?

All sessions are hosted on Saturdays at Hope Community Church (2080 East Williams St., Apex, NC 27539) from 11am – 12pm. The program had its first session on September 6th and will host sessions every Saturday from now through October 25.

How can I volunteer to coach?

NC Power Soccer is looking for additional volunteer coaches/assistant coaches as the program continues to grow. If you would be interested in working with youth of varying abilities, have a positive attitude, and available to help out on Saturdays in the Apex area, please reach out to Josh Hewitt at jthewitt@gmail.com

To learn more about NC Power Soccer, how you can support, or to join the program, visit https://www.ncpowersoccer.com

Spectrum News: Jane Moore's Journey as a Player & TOPSoccer Buddy

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:55:26 GMT

Spectrum News: Jane Moore's Journey as a Player & TOPSoccer Buddy

Finn Sundstrom Signs Professional Contract with North Carolina FC

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:04:50 GMT

Finn Sundstrom Signs Professional Contract with North Carolina FC

NCFC Youth is proud to share that North Carolina FC Academy alum Finn Sundstrom has signed his first professional contract with North Carolina FC.

From North Carolina FC:

North Carolina FC and defender Finn Sundstrom have agreed to terms on the NCFC Youth product’s first professional contract through the 2027 USL Championship season with an additional one-year option, pending league and federation approval.

Sundstrom started the 2025 season on a USL Championship academy contract, allowing him to play in the professional league while maintaining college eligibility.

“It’s been a dream come true to play for the club I grew up with. Watching them play when I was 11 years old and playing in the academy to now getting to play on that field and sign a professional contract is amazing,” Sundstrom said.

Originally rising through the NCFC Academy as an attacking-minded midfielder, Sundstrom made the transition to center back out of necessity during NCFC’s preseason and has become a reliable presence on the outside of NCFC Head Coach and Sporting Director John Bradford’s three-back system.

“I am very happy for Finn and achieving his first professional contract. This is a major milestone in his young career and he has earned everything that is happening for him. His development has been fantastic to watch over his many years in the club, and specifically this season with our professional team. We changed his position to center back during preseason and he has become a consistent presence in the starting lineup throughout the season in a position where he has been improving every day. Finn’s character and humility are what will help him have a long, successful career,” Bradford said.

Across 1,562 minutes of action in the USL Championship regular season, Sundstrom has won 19 tackles, 67 duels, and 24 aerial duels, while making 13 interceptions and 65 clearances. The young defender has also been efficient in his defensive work, winning 76% of his tackles and 61.5% of his duels. On the ball, Sundstrom has completed 80.5% of his passes.

The 18-year-old leads all NCFC defenders in minutes played and tackles won.

Sundstrom started with NCFC Academy when he was 11 years old, rising through the ranks from the U-12 team up to the U-19s.

The defender was part of NCFC’s 2024 and 2025 USL Championship academy contract signing classes and made his professional debut with NCFC during the 2024 season, subbing into the team’s 5-0 win over the Oakland Roots in September.

While he played limited minutes during his first season with the team, Sundstrom quickly became a regular starter in 2025.

Sundstrom’s success throughout the season and earning of his first professional contract marks another success story for North Carolina FC’s youth-to-pro development pathway and connection with NCFC Youth.

“Finn’s journey is a testament to the player pathway at NCFC. Growing up in the Academy, he was able to develop through ECNL, USL Academy, UPSL, and USL League Two, with each experience preparing him for this next step. The Academy staff and coaches created the environment to challenge and support him, but it’s Finn’s commitment and growth that ultimately paved his way. Signing his first professional contract in the USL Championship is a tremendous achievement and a moment that reflects his hard work and dedication,” said NCFC Academy Director Daniel Sellitti.

“Finn’s story is a great one and a true reflection of the youth-to-pro connection we have here at NCFC. It confirms a true pathway to becoming a professional footballer is a reality in our club. Kudos to all those that have played a role in making this happen. We couldn’t be happier for Finn and his family,” said NCFC Youth Director of Soccer Paul Forster.

NCFC Youth Welcomes International Exchange Group for Leadership Workshop

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:44:21 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes International Exchange Group for Leadership Workshop

NCFC Youth recently partnered with International Focus last week to host an incredible group of young leaders from Algeria, alongside local American youth, as part of a cultural and leadership exchange.

International Focus, a nonprofit dedicated to building global understanding and respect through face-to-face diplomacy and cultural exchange, brought the group to North Carolina for a multi-stop cultural experience. As part of their visit, NCFC Youth led a dynamic leadership workshop at our main office.

Bradley Morrison, Director of Coaching Education & Development, and Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing & Development Officer, guided the youth through classroom sessions and on-field exercises. The workshop focused on leadership development and team dynamics, connecting concepts from coaching and playing to real-life situations.

Additionally, one of the Algerian mentors had a one-on-one mentoring session with Nicole Turner, Director of Supplemental Programs, Assistant NPL Director, and head girls NPL coach, who shared her experience in youth, coach, and personal development.

The group’s broader visit included stops with the Cary Teen Council, NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement, NC Legislature, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and NC State University’s Entrepreneurship program.

We were humbled and inspired by these young changemakers and proud to be a small part of their North Carolina experience. This exchange reminds us of the powerful role sport plays in building bridges and fostering leadership across cultures.

Nicole Turner Earns U.S. Soccer "A" License

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:01:58 GMT

Nicole Turner Earns U.S. Soccer "A" License

NCFC Youth is proud to recognize Nicole Turner for earning the U.S. Soccer A License, the highest level of coaching education available on the youth side. This significant achievement reflects her continued commitment to excellence and development within the game.

In addition to her work on the field, Nicole serves as a Coach Educator and SheChampions Program Mentor with the U.S. Soccer Federation, where she’s helping shape the next generation of coaches. She recently taught the first all-female Club Technical Leadership course and sits on the SheChampions Advisory Board, working to expand pathways for women in coaching. She also represented the SheChampions program as a speaker at the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Convention.

At NCFC Youth, she leads as the Director of Supplemental Programs, Assistant NPL Director, and a head coach in the girls NPL program. She has played a vital role in growing participation across supplemental programs and enhancing the quality of training opportunities. Her commitment to mentorship, coach development, and inclusive leadership has strengthened the club community.

Beyond the field, she also shares her expertise in the classroom as an Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University, where she teaches courses in sports management, leadership, and communication.

“I’m incredibly proud to have earned my U.S. Soccer A License – it’s a milestone that reflects countless hours of learning, reflection, and growth,” said Nicole Turner. “I’m especially grateful to NCFC Youth for their unwavering support throughout this journey. From encouraging professional development to providing an environment that fosters leadership and innovation, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow as a coach and leader. This achievement is not just a personal one – it’s a reflection of the incredible community I get to work with every day.”

Triangle Business Journal: Triangle youth powerhouse strikes deal with apparel giant

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:06:21 GMT

Triangle youth powerhouse strikes deal with apparel giant

Apparel giant provides new look for local youth teams

A dominant force in local youth soccer is getting a new look, thanks to a global apparel company based in Germany.

NCFC Youth — the former Capital Area Soccer League — has unveiled a new kit designed by Adidas .

Click here to read the full story .

Spectrum News: Teens Use Sports to Improve Mental Health

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:10:02 GMT

It's more than just the game: How teens are using sports to improve their mental health

SPECTRUM NEWS:

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — As concerns over youth mental health continue to grow, communities are turning to an outlet to help young people cope: sports. From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, a study found that among high school students across the nation, in the past year many teens face mental health issues. According to the study, 40% of these teens said that they've dealt with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. Nationwide, 20% of teens reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.

In 2023, the CDC reported how teen's mental health is taking a decline. (Spectrum News)

North Carolina FC Youth is the largest club in North Carolina, offering soccer to children from the ages of 5 to 18 across the Triangle. Lucia Namey, an NCFC Youth soccer player, said the game means everything to her.

“It was genuinely life-changing for me," Namey said. "I don't know where I'd be without soccer."

Namey recently injured a ligament in her knee.

“With injuries, they're just very isolating, and you feel very lonely, because no one knows exactly what you are going through,” Namey said.

She said that if it weren’t for the support of her teammates, she wouldn’t have been able to get through her injury.

“Everyone showed up for me when I need their support the most," Namey said. "I think that in moments like that, when you're at your lowest, having a big circle around you, showing you love, helps get you through because you know that you're not alone, even when you do feel alone.”

Her favorite part of being on the team is the strong support system that sports teams like these can bring.

"Being here definitely just boosts your mood. I leave feeling much happier," Namey said. "I can be having the worst day, and I know that I'll leave here feeling so much better.”

For her, it's not only about the support of her teammates, but also being able to let off some steam and be physically active after school.

Lucia Namey, NCFC Youth soccer player, is out with an ACL injury, but she still comes to practices to support her teammates. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)

“You get that anger out, you get to express yourself in a different way that's not screaming or yelling at someone," Namey said.

It’s not just about the exercise, NCFC Youth Chief Marketing and Development Officer Katharine Eberhardt said the social side of sports plays a huge role in mental well-being.

“Mental health is such an important topic, it always has been, and especially now, it's a part of the conversation," Eberhardt said. "We want parents to be talking with their kids, we want coaches to be talking with their their players.”

With a world full of screen time, Eberhardt said it's becoming even more important for activities like these to exist.

“It's great to have an outlet where we can create this environment that allows kids some freedom to become friends," Eberhardt said.

For NCFC Youth Coach Tom Misuraca, it's all about watching the teens grow as people and have fun on the field.

“You just got to keep them up and keep them going, get their confidence back, let them know they're doing a good job and just be there for them and talk to them when they when they get down," Misuraca said.

For these kids, the real win isn't just what's on the scoreboard, but it's in feeling supported. Sports doesn't fix everything, but it might just be part of the solution.

NCFC Youth Unveils First-Ever Custom adidas Jersey for a Youth Soccer Club

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:15:04 GMT

NCFC Youth Unveils First-Ever Custom adidas Jersey for a Youth Soccer Club

The First of Its Kind Collaboration Between adidas, Soccer.com and NCFC Youth Brings Pro Team Experience to Next Generation of Players

Raleigh, NC (June 10, 2025) – North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth), the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving more than 17,000 local players annually, in partnership with adidas and Soccer.com , is proud to unveil a milestone in North American youth sports; the first-ever, bespoke, custom designed adidas jersey co-created with a youth soccer club. This historic collaboration took place over 12 months and serves as an inaugural test case for the process of scaling a custom youth jersey across planning, design, production, inventory, and execution. The three organizations also worked together on a professionally produced reveal video to premiere today, merging cinematic storytelling with design inspiration in the same vein as those produced by professional soccer clubs around the globe.

“We are extraordinarily proud to unveil this new home kit and be part of a groundbreaking collaboration,” said Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth. “The custom jersey design is incredible and the meaning behind it represents who we are as a club. To be the first North American youth club to have the freedom to design a one-of-a-kind jersey and bring it to life speaks volumes about our culture and the people who make NCFC Youth special. This was an opportunity to design something that reflects our values and our identity, and I think we’ve created something that every current and former player, coach, and family can be proud of. NCFC Youth, adidas, and Soccer.com are long-time partners who have worked together for decades, and this opportunity would not have been possible without trust, confidence, and partnership.

The new home kit features a custom jersey paired with adidas navy shorts and grey socks, which will be worn by the club’s Classic and ECNL teams. The jersey design is inspired by North Carolina’s state tree and serves as a powerful symbol of identity and connection. The rows of pine trees and roots reflected in the design speak to themes of strength, resilience, and unity. Pines cover over sixty percent of North Carolina, including more than half of the Raleigh-Durham area, and grow in all 100 counties. They’re a constant presence in neighborhoods, along commutes to training, and often surround the fields themselves. Named the state tree in 1963, the pine represents longevity, adaptability, and economic importance. The rows of pines on the jersey represent the individuals who make up the NCFC Youth community, the players, parents, coaches, volunteers, and the deep history of a club now in its 51st year. The roots beneath those trees tell the rest of the story. When pine trees grow close together, their roots form interconnected networks that help them share nutrients and support one another against the elements. It’s a fitting metaphor for the power of teamwork and for a club built on deep roots, collective strength, and growing stronger together.

The custom jersey also showcases two of our local sponsors, who share deep roots and a strong connection to our community. We are excited to welcome Young Construction Company as the front of kit jersey sponsor. Young Construction Company was founded in 1999 and is locally owned and headquartered in Wake Forest, NC. Like NCFC Youth, they pride themselves on teamwork and working towards the same goal. WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Wake Orthopaedics are featured on the sleeve of the jersey. Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed Health & Hospitals is the leading provider of health services in Wake County. With a mission to improve the health and well-being of our community, they have been one of our longest tenured community supporters and growing access to the game and benefits of participation.

“Working with NCFC Youth and Soccer.com has been both groundbreaking and inspiring,” said Tor Southard, Senior Director, adidas Soccer North America. “When presented with the opportunity to co-create a fully bespoke jersey from the ground up, NCFC Youth did not hesitate. The club provided important input on what makes their club unique, and we ensured the jersey incorporated that input. Soccer.com was instrumental in the process and logistics execution. With the success of this inaugural collaboration, we’ve taken a meaningful step toward bringing the same opportunity to more youth clubs in the future.”

Founded in 1974 as the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), NCFC Youth has grown over five decades to become the largest youth-to-professional soccer club in the country, impacting more than one million players over the years. What started in Raleigh expanded to the Capital area and now serves families across a wider radius in North Carolina. In 2017, the club rebranded following a collaboration with Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and a partnership with North Carolina Football Club. While still rooted in local service, NCFC Youth welcomes players from anywhere. The club’s statewide identity is reflected in its name and now, in the design of its first custom kit. Rather than use typical soccer motifs, the club looked to create something meaningful, connected to its journey, and reflective of the state and community in which it serves.

“From day one, everyone approached this opportunity with purpose and vision,” said Brian Berklich, Chief Marketing Officer with Soccer.com. “The design is something special. Perhaps even more so is the collaboration, the storytelling, and the shared belief that youth clubs and players deserve moments like this. We are proud to have played a role in creating something that reflects the heart of NCFC Youth, and to set the stage for what’s next.”

About NCFC Youth:

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 17,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com.

About adidas

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 62,000 people across the globe.

About adidas Soccer

adidas is the global leader in soccer. It is the official supplier of the most important soccer tournaments in the world, such as the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the UEFA European Football Championship™, the UEFA Women’s European Football Championship™, the UEFA Champions League™ ,the UEFA Women’s Champions League™, and Major League Soccer (MLS). adidas also sponsors some of the world’s top clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Bayern Munich & Juventus. adidas is also partner to some of the best athletes in the game including Leo Messi, Jude Bellingham, Aitana Bonmati, Lamine Yamal, Trinity Rodman, Mohamed Salah, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, Alessia Russo, Lena Oberdorf, Gabriel Jesus, Serge Gnabry, Son Heung Min, Vivianne Miedema, Lindsay Horan, Jaedyn Shaw, Mary Fowler, and Wendie Renard.

About Soccer.com

For over 40 years, Soccer.com has been a trusted partner for youth teams, players, coaches, parents and fans around the world. As part of the Sports Endeavors, LLC family, Soccer.com exists to help people pursue their passion for the beautiful game - outfitting the soccer community with everything they need to train, play, and cheer.

Celebrating the 2025 Lane Meyer Scholarship Recipients

Thu, 08 May 2025 14:02:04 GMT

NCFC Youth is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Lane Meyer Scholarship , a $2,500 award given to exceptional college-bound, NCFC Youth seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, friendships, and community service — the pillars that define Lane Meyer's legacy.

Each year, the family of Lane Meyer and the scholarship review committee selects recipients from NCFC Youth applicants who have distinguished themselves on and off the field. This year, three outstanding student-athletes have been selected for their achievements and unwavering dedication to their teams, schools, and communities.

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Lane Meyer Scholarship recipients:

Addison Faris

High School: Heritage High School
NCFC Youth Teams: 07 NCFC WF United Black, ECNL 07 Elite G
Future Plans: Addison will attend the University of South Carolina , where she plans to study International Business, Business Management, and/or Chinese Language & Culture. A strong leader and high-achieving student, Addison has balanced academic excellence with competitive play, embodying the values of teamwork and global citizenship.

Davis Sauls

High School: Wakefield High School
NCFC Youth Team: 06 ECNL Elite
Future Plans: Davis will be attending UNC Chapel Hill , with plans to study Business. Known for his discipline on the pitch and in the classroom, Davis exemplifies maturity, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning — qualities that will serve him well as he continues in this next chapter.

Katie Paulakonis

High School: Middle College High School at Durham Tech
NCFC Youth Team: 06/07 ECNL G
Future Plans: Katie is headed to Bellarmine University , where she intends to major in Exercise Science Sports Performance. A dedicated athlete with a passion for health and wellness, Katie has consistently demonstrated compassion, perseverance, and a drive to make a positive impact in her community.

We are incredibly proud of Addison, Davis, and Katie, and we look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the next chapter of their lives. Congratulations to these inspiring student-athletes — your NCFC Youth family celebrates you!

To learn more about Lane Meyer and the Lane Meyer Scholarship, which is awarded each year to at least 1 boy and 1 girl in NCFC Youth Challenge soccer or higher, click here.

NCFC Youth Teams up with Ray Provencher Memorial Scholarship Fund to Support Team Fee Financial Assistance to Families

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:53:34 GMT

NCFC Youth Teams up with Ray Provencher Memorial Scholarship Fund to Support Team Fee Financial Assistance to Families

NCFC Youth distributes more than $500,000 in financial aid to qualifying players and families across all levels of play each year. Financial Aid is in place to support filling the gap between what a family can afford to pay and the required club fees at each level of play. To learn more about NCFC Youth’s financial aid, click here.

NCFC Youth has grown its financial aid fund more than 500% over the past decade through our continued and increasing commitment to grow the game and benefits of participation to more youth in our community.

As a 501c3 non-profit organization, NCFC Youth fundraises throughout the year through various events, welcomes sponsorships, and accepts individual and corporate donations to support the financial aid fund. Most recently, the club’s annual golf tournament fundraiser presented by TowneBank on April 14 raised more than $45,000, and the inaugural Beyond the Pitch fundraiser at the Angus Barn in October 2024 raised $200,000 for financial aid.

Many in the soccer community know that the family and financial commitment for their children to play competitive youth sports goes beyond the fee to play when you start adding in travel, tournaments, equipment, and more.

Over the past few seasons, NCFC Youth has teamed up with the Ray Provencher Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide additional team fee financial assistance to competitive level (Classic and above) players. Through its financial aid fund, NCFC Youth provides referrals for the family of the late Ray Provencher to consider for additional financial assistance. Each year the scholarship fund provides significant team fee financial assistance and a $300 soccer.com gift card to several players to support their team fees and soccer uniforms or equipment.

About the Ray Provencher Memorial Scholarship Fund:

NCFC Youth alum (Marcel and Etienne Provencher) both played in the early years of the club in the late 70s and early 80s. Their dad, Ray, was an early committed volunteer for the teams his sons played on and for the organization. When Ray passed away, in 2022, the Provencher family set up a scholarship fund to honor their dad’s memory. As they reflected on their dad’s involvement and commitment to their own playing days, Marcel and Etienne realized how much of a family sacrifice and investment it can be to play at competitive levels. To learn more or contribute directly to the scholarship fund, click here.

Pictured above: Marcel Provencher, Katharine Eberhardt, & Etienne Provencher

NCFC Youth Welcomes Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing to WRAL Soccer Park for Exciting New Park Visitor Experience

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:06:44 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing to WRAL Soccer Park for Exciting New Park Visitor Experience

Raleigh, NC – NCFC Youth is thrilled to announce an exciting new addition to the WRAL Soccer Park experience for our local players and families as well as visiting teams: Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing is coming to the park! Beginning this Saturday, families and visitors will notice the Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing trailer stationed in the clubhouse parking lot near McDonald’s-Gunter Family Stadium Field (6).

To kick things off, the trailer will begin with a soft launch this Saturday from 9am – 6pm (or while supplies last) as both NCFC Youth and Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing work through logistics. During this period, a limited menu will be available— while supplies last . At this time, all purchases will be cashless and require cred card, ApplePay, etc. The soft launch menu includes:

Chicken Biscuits (until 10:30am)
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich
Waffle Potato Chips
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Bottled Water
Apple Juice
Apple Sauce

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the experience for our players and their families,” said Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing & Development Officer at NCFC Youth. “Partnering with Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing to bring convenient, delicious and healthy food options to the park is just one more way we’re making WRAL Soccer Park a welcoming place for everyone.”

Moving forward, the Chick-fil-A trailer will expand to offer a more comprehensive menu including breakfast items, wraps, fruit, and more. Families can expect to see it in operation during peak activity times— select training nights, Saturday game days, and tournaments .

“Our team is so excited to partner with NCFC Youth, and we are looking forward to bringing our newly constructed food trailer out to WRAL Soccer Park this season,” said Kelly McKeown, Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing. “This collaboration with NCFC Youth marks a shared commitment to investing in our community, supporting youth development, and creating memorable moments through food, sports, and fellowship. Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing has a mission of serving great food with genuine hospitality. We hope to provide you with that, in addition to some of your Chick-fil-A menu favorites, all while supporting the next generation of athletes right here in our local community.”

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting addition grows to better serve our NCFC Youth community.

Ozzy Peralta Named North Boys U13-U19 Director

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:00:59 GMT

Ozzy Peralta Named North Boys U13-U19 Director

Raleigh, NC (April 15th, 2025) – NCFC Youth is excited to announce Ozzy Peralta as the North Boys U13-U19 Director. Peralta has been coaching within the NCFC Youth ECNL RL program for 4 years as well as working as an assistant coach within the Boys Academy for 2 years and the U23 North Carolina FC team (USL2) for 3 years. He was previously working as the Associate Head Men's Soccer Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at William Peace University, where he helped lead the program to their first ever USA South Conference Tournament Championship in 2024. Prior to this, he was also the Athletic Communications Director at William Peace University. He graduated in 2017 with a degree in Business Administration and currently holds a U.S. Soccer "C" License.

"I am thrilled to be joining NCFC Youth as the North Boys U13-U19 Director and look forward to working our players and staff in the U13-U19 North Boys program," stated Peralta, adding, "The last four years within NCFC Youth have helped me grow tremendously as a coach, and I am excited to continue working with the club in a full-time role."

NCFC Youth welcomes Kanki Japanese House of Steaks & Sushi as a new field sponsor

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:35:19 GMT

NCFC Youth welcomes Kanki Japanese House of Steaks & Sushi as a new field sponsor at WRAL Soccer Park

We are delighted to announce our newest partnership with Kanki Japanese Steakhouse! Known for their delicious hibachi, fresh sushi, and exceptional dining experience, Kanki has grown to operate 3 locations that serve many of our families across the Triangle including Crabtree Valley Mall, North Raleigh, and Durham, providing a great convenient spot for family celebrations, team dinners, and more.

Since the early ‘70s, both NCFC Youth and Kanki Steakhouse have been bringing families together—one on the field, the other around the table.

"We are pleased to announce Kanki Steakhouse as a sponsor of NCFC Youth," said Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing and Development Officer. "Their strong ties to the community and dedication to supporting the club will further elevate the experience for players and families, both on and off the field."

We look forward to an incredible partnership filled with great food, great fun, and great success.

7 Soccer Safety Tips for a Fun and Safe Season from Wake Orthopaedics

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:22:07 GMT

7 Soccer Safety Tips for a Fun and Safe Season from Wake Orthopaedics

Check out a few tips and recommendations from proud NCFC Youth sponsor, Wake Orthopaedics, on how to have a fun and safe season!

As an athlete, you know the stress soccer can place on the body. Sprains and strains, player collisions and overuse injuries are all very common in soccer and can cause a wide range of injuries. At Wake Orthopaedics , we have an entire sports medicine team dedicated to diagnosing and treating various sports-related injuries. No matter your skill level or age, we pride ourselves on prevention and education to keep you playing at the top of your game, injury free.

Follow these seven tips to avoid injury and improve performance so you can continue to enjoy the sport you love.

Warm-up properly: Research shows that cold muscles are more prone to injury. Prepare your muscles and joints for activity by warming up and stretching before you play. A warm-up routine not only increases blood flow and raises the body’s temperature, it also improves balance, flexibility and coordination so you can play at your peak while avoiding injury. If your warm-up includes stretching, be sure to perform them gently, holding each for 30-seconds. Check out these FIFA warm-up exercises to get you started.
Don’t forget to cool down: Stretching at the end of practice or a game is often neglected. Take time to stretch to reduce muscle soreness and keep muscles long and flexible to reduce your risk for injury.
Invest in the right gear: Wearing proper gear, such as well-fitted soccer cleats, shin pads and compression garments can reduce your chances of getting injured, enabling you to focus on the game and not worry about accidents that might occur.
Hydrate: Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Failing to stay hydrated can hinder your sports performance. Even losing just 1% of your body’s water content to sweat and dehydration can make you less effective as an athlete.
Remain Aware: Be mindful of poor field conditions. A wet and rainy day can increase the incidents of slips and falls during tackles.
Rest: Minimize the risk of overuse injuries by taking adequate rest between practice and games.
Participate in an injury prevention program: Injury prevention programs have proven to be effective at reducing the risks of hip, knee and ankle injuries in athletes across all sports. At Wake Orthopaedics, we offer FREE injury prevention assessments to NCFC youth athletes. Schedule your assessment today with Luke Hudson, DPT ( lhudson@wakeortho.com ) or Dan Menday, DPT ( dmenday@wakeortho.com ) at their Cary, Oberlin or WRAL office locations.

NCFC Youth Announces WPSL Staff for Inaugural Season

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:40:55 GMT

NCFC Youth Announces WPSL Staff for Inaugural Season

NCFC Youth has announced three members of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) coaching staff for the club's inaugural season. Current NCFC Youth ECNL Girls Staff Coach Caiman Stevens will lead the team as the Head Coach. He will be assisted by Nicole Turner (Director of Supplemental Programs/NCFC Youth NPL Coach) and Bobby Cardelle (NCFC Youth ECNL-RL Coach).

"I’m excited to lead a team and staff in our first ever season in the WPSL," said Stevens, continuing, "NCFC Youth is one of the top youth clubs in the country, and WPSL provides a great opportunity for current & former players to continue to develop, compete, and stay playing during the summer months."

NCFC Youth announced their addition of a WPSL squad earlier this year. WPSL will provide an additional opportunity for current NCFC Youth players as well former players competing at the collegiate level to experience top-level competition to prepare themselves for the upcoming fall season and continue their individual player development pathway.

Read more about our coaching staff below, and stay tuned for more staff announcement and WPSL updates in the coming weeks.

If you have questions about the WPSL program or you are interested and currently out of state and would like to submit a video highlight reel for consideration, please email Pete Sadin at Pete.Sadin@NCFCYouth.com

Head Coach - Caiman Stevens

With 10+ years of experience, Caiman Stevens joined NCFC Youth this past season, coaching in our ECNL Girls program. Before NCFC Youth, he coached at the highest youth levels(ECNL & MLS Next) in the country, spending time with the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer(CO) and Napa United(CA), while also previously being involved with WPSL. A huge advocate for coach education, Caiman has licensing from USSF, UEFA, United Futsal, & was previously awarded United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30.

Assistant Coach - Nicole Turner

Nicole Turner is the Director of Supplemental Programs at NCFC Youth, where she oversees our camps, college combines, and player development programs. In addition to her role, she serves on the NCFC Youth Coaching Education Cohort and the Women’s Coaching Collective Committee.

Beyond her work at NCFC Youth, she is an active advocate for coaching education and mentorship. She serves on U.S. Soccer’s SheChampions Advisory Board, working to expand opportunities for female coaches to enter and stay in the game. As a mentor in the SheChampions Mentorship Program, she is committed to supporting the next generation of women in coaching. She is also a Course Educator for U.S. Soccer, with her focus on teaching the Club Technical Leader course (formerly known as Director of Coaching course). In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business, where she teaches in the Sports Management and Business Management programs.

Turner is currently a USSF National A License candidate and has earned the NFHS Professional Development Certificate, along with eight United Soccer Coaches Special Topics Diplomas. She was honored as the Arizona Soccer Association’s Competitive Coach of the Year for 2021-22 and recognized as the Colangelo College of Business Adjunct of the Semester in Spring 2020 and Spring 2022. Additionally, she had the privilege of presenting at the United Soccer Coaches Conventions in both 2024 and 2025.

Assistant Coach - Bobby Cardelle

Originally from Salisbury, NC, Cardelle attended Catawba College and was part of the men’s soccer team while there. He worked for Lake Norman Soccer Club and Charlotte Independence Soccer Club before moving to Raleigh in 2022 and has been with NCFC for the past three years. He currently coaches in our ECNL-RL program.

NCFC Youth Expands NPL Footprint

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:37:55 GMT

NCFC Youth is excited to announce that the club has been granted a second team in the South Atlantic Premier Division of the National Premier Leagues (NPL), after our inaugural season in the league.

This past season, the NPL operated in both the North (2012, 2011, 2008, 2007) and the South (2010 & 2009) age groups. Next year, NCFC Youth will have teams competing in the NPL in each age group in both the North and the South Regions (07/08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 birth years).

Players that are currently on an NPL team will have the opportunity to tryout for the Region of their choice. The NPL team selection will be an invite only tryout process, and each player will have to be evaluated again for acceptance into the program. More details about the tryout process will follow in the coming weeks.

The North teams will train at WRAL Soccer Park, Wake Stone or North Raleigh Christian Academy (neighboring WRAL Soccer Park). South teams will train at a combination of Pleasant Park, Mills Park, Thomas Brooks Park, and Wake Competition Center.

“After a successful first season with the NPL, we’re thrilled to expand our league involvement to include two teams per age group across our boys and girls programming,” said NCFC Youth NPL Director Buddha Keyes. “Doubling the amount of teams that we will have compete in the league and extending the opportunity to face high level teams across our region will continue to develop our players and strengthen our programming.”

More information will be coming soon. For questions, please email Buddha@NCFCYouth.com .

NCFC Youth Concludes 50th Anniversary with Final Members of All-Star Commemorative Team

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:55:38 GMT

NCFC Youth Concludes 50th Anniversary with Final Members of All-Star Commemorative Team

A Year of Celebration, Reflection, and Giving Back Marks the Next Chapter for Youth Soccer in the Triangle

Raleigh, NC (March 10, 2025) – North Carolina FC Youth, the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving nearly 17,000 local players annually, turns 51 tomorrow (March 11) after a year of anniversary reflections and fundraising events to support the NCFC Youth Financial Aid Fund. We kicked off the anniversary year by announcing the Starting XI of an All-Star Commemorative Team made up of 50 players, coaches, teams, and contributors for their impact, support, and achievements on and off the field. An open call to the community for nominations to help round out the remaining team members was held throughout the year and NCFC Youth is proud to announce the final roster selections to complete the 50-members-for-50-years squad.

“This past year has been an incredible celebration of our history and all those who helped shape NCFC Youth over this incredible 50-year journey,” said Gary Buete, Chief Executive Officer of NCFC Youth. “As we unveil the final selections for the All-Star Commemorative Team, we reflect on the fact that our greatest achievements aren’t just found on the field but in the lives we’ve impacted, our role as a community partner and our commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their financial situation, has the opportunity to play.”

A few of the final All-Star Commemorative Team selections include:

'86 CASL Elite (Boys) – This team was a dominant force in youth soccer throughout its career, winning multiple NCYSA State Cups, claiming a USYS Southern Regional Championship, reaching the USYS National Final, and clenching a Super Y League National Championship in 2000.
'91 TFC Navy (Girls) - A powerhouse squad that won NCYSA State Cup titles and advanced to the USYS Southern Regionals three years in a row. Seventeen of their 19 players went on to play Division I soccer with standouts like Mollie Pathman earning Gatorade High School Player of the Year honors before competing at Duke University and professionally with the Boston Breakers.
John Dalpe - As Chairman of the NCFC Youth Board of Directors since 2012, John has led the club through major growth, including the 2017 collaboration between the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA), and North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) that formed NCFC Youth and key facility expansions. He was also integral in hiring CEO Gary Buete, helping shape the club’s long-term vision and impact.
Ralph Jordan - As referee assignor for nearly two decades, he played a pivotal role in recruiting, assigning, and supporting referees, ensuring the integrity of over 170,000 games and elevating the referee program across NCFC Youth.

The final members of the All-Star 50th Team also include Bill Wynne, Samuel “Sammy” Radford, Monica (Hall) Brown, David Long, ' 87 CASL Spartan Elite Girls, ' 92 TFC Navy Boys, ' 00 TFCA Navy Girls, Charley Norkus, Lee Evans, and a group of staff members who have each dedicated 10 or more years to the club. The complete All-Star 50th Anniversary Commemorative Team roster and bios are available at ncfcyouth.com/anniversary#AllStarTeam .

“This has been a great year to both honor the past and make an impact on the future,” said Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing & Development Officer at NCFC Youth. “From the eleventh annual Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 tournament to our nineteenth annual Golf Tournament and our inaugural Beyond the Pitch fundraising event, we came together to celebrate, reflect, and raise critical funds to ensure every child has access to the game. We are immensely proud to have distributed over $500,000, the most ever, this year to assist young athletes. Financial aid empowers children to become team members, forge lasting friendships, and acquire life skills that go beyond the sport.”

NCFC Youth’s spring recreation season kicked off with a first-games weekend and the culmination of referee appreciation week on March 1 and 2. Registration is currently open for spring break and summer camps , supplemental programs , and our annual Golf Tournament fundraiser , which will be played in April. Visit NCFCYouth.com to learn more.

About NCFC Youth:

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for nearly 17,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

NCFC Academy's Finn Sundstrom and Jayson Quintanilla Sign USL Academy Contracts with North Carolina FC

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:35:12 GMT

NCFC Academy's Finn Sundstrom and Jayson Quintanilla Sign USL Academy Contracts with North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC recently announced the signing of NCFC Youth Academy standouts Finn Sundstrom and Jayson Quintanilla to USL Championship academy contracts.

Both players will be eligible to appear in matches during the 2025 USL Championship season while maintaining college eligibility.

"We're really proud of Finn and Quinta for earning this opportunity. They've put in the work, and this is a big step in their development. It's another great example of the pathway we're building for young players to take that next step toward the First Team," said Academy Director Daniel Selliti.

Sundstrom was part of NCFC’s 2024 academy signing class, making his professional debut in the 5-0 win over the Oakland Roots on September 7. Both Sundstrom and Quintanilla were second-half substitutes in NCFC’s 1-0 win over MLS club Charlotte FC in the preseason.

"Finn and Quinta are a testament to both the work of themselves as individuals and the work of the Academy as a whole.," stated Chris Harrington, Academy Head Coach and Transition Coach, "Our club is unique and has a real belief in providing opportunities for players that are good enough. We don't just talk about it, we act it. We are thrilled for both and are already working on the next crop!"

Sundstrom made his starting debut with the club on March 8th in North Carolina FC's home opener, playing all full 90 in a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Find the release from North Carolina FC here .

The Sports Shop - visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:13:18 GMT

Katharine Eberhardt, NCFC Youth's Chief Marketing & Development Officer speaks with The Sports Shop with Reese + KMAC on the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series. The Showcase Series, formerly known as the CASL Shootout, takes place over four weekends, bringing players and families from all over the country to the Triangle.

NCFC Youth To Field WPSL Team Beginning In 2025

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:27:31 GMT

NCFC Youth Set To Field WPSL Team In 2025

NCFC Youth is set to join the Women's Premier Soccer League in 2025, competing under the name North Carolina FC.

“We are excited to add a WPSL team to the NCFC Youth player development pathway. We’ve seen growth in the girl’s game, and especially an increased demand for more high-level playing opportunities during the summer that we are already providing,” Paul Forster , NCFC Youth Director of Soccer, said.

With the announcement, NCFC becomes the second second club in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill market, forming what is sure to be a heated local rivalry with second-year WPSL club Carolina Football Club (formerly Trinity Fire).

The WPSL side will draw from the club’s deep pool of current youth team players, as well as from some of the top colleges in the region, including the 2024 NCAA Division I champions, University of North Carolina, and 2024 semifinalist, Duke University.

“Joining the WPSL is an exciting opportunity for our current NCFC Youth players as well as former players competing at the collegiate level to experience top-level competition to prepare themselves for the upcoming fall season and continue their individual player development pathway,” Pete Sadin , NCFC Youth Girls Director.

Announced last week at the WPSL Annual General Meeting, NCFC will compete in the South Region’s Carolinas Division of the Atlantic Conference, facing teams from North and South Carolina in divisional play. The club’s official schedule will be released in mid March with the league’s unveiling.

For more information about the WPSL, head here.

Advancing Women Coaches Through the US Soccer SheChampions Program and Club Technical Leadership Initiative

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:26:12 GMT

Nicole Turner to Serve as US Soccer Educator, Hannah Sink to Participate in First Class of the Program

(January 17, 2025) Last week, Nicole Turner, our Director of Supplemental Programs, spoke at the United Soccer Coaches Convention on behalf of US Soccer’s SheChampions mentorship program. She shared her experiences with the program, which aims to build a supportive community for women coaches, enhance their professional development through coaching scholarships and mentorship opportunities, and increase the recruitment and retention of women in soccer.

“It was an honor to contribute to such an important conversation and to connect with others who are passionate about empowering women. Being part of the US Soccer SheChampions program on the advisory board and as a mentor is truly a privilege, and I hope our presentation helped to expand awareness and interest in its mission,” said Turner. “Thank you to NCFC Youth for supporting my involvement in this impactful panel and program.”

This year, four national soccer organizations: US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, Women and Girls in Soccer, and U.S. Soccer’s SheChampions Coaching Initiative are collaborating in an effort to increase the number of leadership roles across the soccer landscape. This all-female Club Technical Leadership is the first of its kind. Turner, who is currently earning her USSF A License, will be one of four educators teaching this course with 31 student coaches from across the US, which blends both in-person and virtual components.

Hannah Sink, our Durham/Chapel Hill Classic Girls Director, will be one of the student coaches participating in the course. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the CTL-1 Course, learning alongside and from leaders around the country! I hope to effectively develop and implement programs that prioritize player growth, technical quality, coach development, and a positive culture. My goal is to ensure our programs provide the best possible environment for player development at all levels!”

Beginning January 30 – February 2, the in-person portion will be held at the U.S. Olympic Performance Center at UNC Charlotte in North Carolina. The course will progress through the beginning of May, and at the completion of the course, participants can earn their Club Technical Leadership Level 1, formerly known as the Director of Coaching, license.

To learn more about the Club Technical Leadership Level 1 Course and ongoing initiatives by US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, Women and Girls in Soccer, and the U.S. Soccer’s SheChampions Coaching Initiative, click here .

Referees Given Opportunity to Shine at NCFC Youth's visitRaleigh.com Showcase

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:39:58 GMT

Referees Given Opportunity to Shine at NCFC Youth’s visitRaleigh.com Showcase

Published in Partnership with SoccerWire

The off-season is typically an opportunity to rest and recover, however this December, there will be some eager officials who will use this time as an opportunity to excel.

This year, in collaboration with North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth) and their annual visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series which brings in nearly 1,600 youth teams and 500 college coaches over four weekends of play, the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) is proud to once again hold its College Cup Seminar. Teams participating in the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series can look forward to a premier match experience, elevated by the presence of top-tier officiating through this partnership. Due to this collaboration and prior seminar success, the event will be expanded to both the Women’s and Men’s NCAA College Cup weekends, which are both hosted in Cary, NC.

“At NCFC Youth, we are committed to providing not only the best possible experience for our players, families, and college coaches, but also for our referees, as they play a critical role in the success of these events,” said Bryan Bachelder, Director of Administration. “The collaboration with NISOA shows our commitment to creating a world class environment featuring the best competition, officiating, and recruiting opportunities in the country.”

While officiating matches at the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, 30-hand selected college soccer officials from across the country will travel to North Carolina to be observed and provided instruction by world class referee mentors. Referees will gain valuable knowledge from FIFA, PRO (Professional Referee Organization), US Soccer National Coaches, NISOA National Clinicians, NCAA Coordinators, and Conference Coordinators to be the very best soccer officials they can be. The expansive list of referee mentors are not the only impressive guests coming to Raleigh for this extraordinary opportunity, but so are the keynote speakers for Saturday evening’s event.

Keynotes for the NISOA Seminars will be delivered by two FIFA World Cup Final Referees. The Women’s College Cup keynote address will be given by 2015 Women’s World Cup Referee Kateryna Monzul from Ukraine. Recently coming off her tenure as a FIFA Instructor at the Paris Olympics, she will join officials to share her perspective of being a top match official in the world. A week later at the Men’s College Cup, the keynote address will be given by the legendary match official from Italy, Nicola Rizzoli, who notably officiated the 2014 Men’s World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina, and more recently in his position as Head of Refereeing at Concacaf, is focused on developing the next generation of world class officials.

“It’s not often two World Cup Final Referees will be in one place, and NISOA is honored to be able to bring this unique experience and opportunity to hear from the world’s best right here in The Triangle” said Jude Carr, Vice President of NISOA. “We’re thrilled to partner with NCFC Youth’s visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series to add a new dimension to the event, allowing officials to take the pitch and show off their skills first-hand.”

At both the women’s and men’s events, match officials will be observed, creating opportunities to learn on the job from some of the best in the business, including Alex Prus head of PRO2 and former MLS Referee, as well as John Collins NCAA National Coordinator, Carmen Serbio ACC Coordinator, Karen Coulson (Abt) RMAC Coordinator, Chris Penso AAC Coordinator, Cien Asoera Big 10 Coordinator, and many more. These events will not only create connections with fellow officials and key stakeholders across the soccer landscape, but also provide learning experiences for the officials in the Triangle.

“Working with NISOA allows us to attract and develop top referees from across the country while also investing in the growth of our local referee pool,” said NCFC Youth Director of Referees Brian Miller. “Together, we’re raising the standard of officiating and creating opportunities for referees to excel at every level.”

This will be the fourth edition of the Women’s College Cup NISOA Seminar and for the first time, NISOA will have a full class of 100% female participants, all hand-selected from Conference Coordinators, NCAA and NISOA National Staff to represent a promising group of up-and-coming officials who aspire to work at the NCAA College Cup level. The women’s seminar will have a specific agenda tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities that female match officials are presented in today’s game. A richly curated educational agenda including special guests such as nutritionists, sports scientists, and world-class speakers to discuss topics like nutrition for women athletes, to building your brand will help these officials take the field with confidence.

“With less than 10% of all college match officials today being female, we have an obligation to develop this underserved, yet growing sector of match officials,” added Jude Carr. “We are able to provide these uniquely targeted opportunities thanks to partners like WAGS (Women And Girls in Soccer) who have helped sponsor soon-to-be mothers to be able to attend.”

Together, NCFC Youth and NISOA are proud to foster an environment where players, coaches, and referees alike can enjoy an unparalleled soccer experience, ensuring that everyone involved leaves the field inspired and excited for the future of the game.

About NISOA: NISOA is an NFP organization of roughly 5,000 match officials nationwide who serve the collegiate game. NISOA’s Mission: Identify and recruit officials for the collegiate game while progressively developing NISOA members to their highest potential through collaboration initiatives. More can be found out at NISOA.com.

About NCFC Youth: NCFC Youth is a non-profit youth soccer organization who serves nearly 17,000 youth players through all levels of programming each year. Founded in 1974, the youth club hosts tournaments throughout the year, including the annual NCFC Youth visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, which welcomes nearly 1,600 teams across four weekends of play. NCFC Youth is dedicated to providing positive, high-quality soccer at all levels of play and serving as a valuable community partner. To learn more, visit NCFCyouth.com.

Postseason Collegiate Play Highlights NCFC Youth Alums

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:29:04 GMT

Postseason Collegiate Play Highlights NCFC Youth Alums

Across all divisions of collegiate soccer, NCFC Youth alums are succeeding. Nearly 100 alums this season qualified for the NCAA Tournament with their collegiate team, with some big championship wins standing out.

Shaw University women's soccer, lead by Head Coach Randy McClure, is just one highlight of the season as they secured a back-to-back USCAA National Championship win . McClure currently coaches in the Classic program, where he coached current Shaw player Brianna Garbrandt on 2003 White North G, who scored the game-winner in a 3-1 victory over Bryant & Stratton Syracuse. The squad finished the season 11-6-1 overall to finish as the USCAA D1 Women's Soccer National Champions for the second year in a row.

William Peace Men's Soccer features 12 NCFC Youth alums, 4 of whom participated in La Liga Del Sol , and Associate Head Coach Ozzy Peralta, who also coaches in the ECNL RL program. The team defeated Brevard College in the USA South Conference Tournament Championship for a historic win, becoming the first athletic program in school history to win a conference championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA D3 tournament . NCFC Youth ECNL & La Liga alum Roberto Rayo recorded the program's first NCAA assist in the first round of the tournament.

Many alums are currently still competing in the NCAA Tournament - check out some big highlights below! To let us know any other alum highlights, please email media@NCFCYouth.com .

D1 Women’s

East Carolina University – American Conference Champs (Maeve English, Annabelle Abbott, Sierra Lowery, Amy Mason, Sydney Cox, McCarthy Spencer, Keyera Wynn)

USC Upstate – Big South Conference Champions (Caroline Simpkins)

NCAA Tournament qualifiers - Virginia Tech (Gabby Ciocca, Ella Bjorklund), UVA (Laney Rouse), Wake Forest (Laurel Ansbrow), UNC Chapel Hill (Aven Alvarez, Alexa Wojnovich, Abby Gundry), Duke (Phoebe Goldwaite, Lauren Martinho, Mia Oliaro, Katie Groff), Minnesota (Karson Yon), Penn State (Kayleigh Herr, Bella Ayscue), James Madison (Kylie Rock), Fairfield (Emilie Cook, Alex Darcy)

D2 Women’s

Shaw University – USCAA National Champions (Coach Randy McClure, Brianna Garbrandt)

Lenoir-Rhyne – SAC Champsions (Coach Jo Fennema, Lilly Soltz, Riley Miller)

NCAA Tournament qualifiers - Catawba (Callie Hammond), Wingate (Haley Faucette)

D3 Women’s

Methodist University - USA South Conference Champs (Corrine Shovlain, Jessica Haswell, Alexis Lemmons)

Messiah University - MAC Champions (Tahlia Lloyd)

NCAA Tournament qualifiers - Washington University (Allie Goulding), Sewanee (Arianna Shirak), Christopher Newport (Brooke White), New York University (Jodie Loturco, Julia Spang), Vassar (Lily Brigman)

D1 Men’s

University of North Carolina at Charlotte – American Soccer Conference Champions (Eli Mumford, Grant Stewart, Ander Breidsprecher, Christian Lee)

Wake Forest University – ACC Champions (Trace Alphin & Ade Taiwo)

NCAA Tournament qualifiers - NC State (Will Buete, Caden Tolentino, Sam Terranova, Ervin Cruz), UNC Chapel Hill (Luke Hille, John McDowell, Parker O'Ferral, David Molina), Duke (Drew Kerr, Colton Pleasants), Providence (Brandon Marshall), University of Denver (Jake Smith), UVA (Brendan Lambe), University of Pennsylvania (Aaron Messer), St. Louis University (Xavier Holloway)

D2 Men’s

Limestone College – SAC Champions (Landon Hall)

NCAA Tournament Qualifiers - Mars Hill (Liam Walden, Gavin Moore)

D3 Men’s

William Peace University – USA South Conference Champions (Coach Ozzy Peralta, Abdul Qurneh, Daniel Romanchok, Roberto Rayo, Nathan Cochran, Braden Bonanno, Pat Dion, Miguel Rodriguez, Andrew Mesnard, O'Shari Shealey, Ryan Rosales, Rafa Quevedo-Antunez, Jayden Renteria)

NCAA Tournament Qualifiers - Lynchburg (Nicholas Fitzgerald, Alex Derstine), Washington & Lee (Lucas Pleasants), Catholic University (Luke Lillis), Vassar (Diego Pastor-Valverde)

Inaugural NCFC Youth Beyond the Pitch Event Raises more than $200,000 for Financial Aid

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:28:45 GMT

Inaugural NCFC Youth Beyond the Pitch Event Raises more than $200,000 for Financial Aid

The Club's 50th Anniversary Celebrations Continued with a Signature Event to Ensure Access to Play for All Youth

On October 23, 300 NCFC Youth supporters came together at the Angus Barn Pavilion for the club’s inaugural Beyond the Pitch fundraiser, presented by TowneBank. While the event was held on one night, many NCFC Youth supporters contributed to and engaged in the fundraising efforts for a week leading up to the event through early access to bid on silent auction items and/or purchase some great deals and discounts – all to support our collective efforts to grow the game.

"This event embodies the spirit of our club's mission— to provide positive, high-quality soccer opportunities at all levels of play for all youth and their families and to serve as a valuable community partner,” said Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth. “The generosity we saw at the event will not only open doors for young athletes to experience the game of soccer and all the lasting benefits that come with participation, but also it will strengthen the fabric of our community. Together, we’re shaping the future by investing in these kids, and I couldn't be prouder of what we continue to achieve together.”

Around 300 attendees enjoyed an evening of delicious food prepared by the Angus Barn, a silent and live auction, a direct give and keynote remarks from Jeremy Boone, internationally recognized performance coach, best-selling author, published researcher, and creator of Winning Leader™. Before sitting down for the dinner and program portion of the evening, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour that stretched beyond the Angus Barn Pavilion onto the terrace and lakeside seating.

Beyond the Pitch, so named to reflect the game’s lasting impact beyond the soccer field, also showcased a few of the countless stories of inspiration by players, coaches, staff, volunteers, and families over the past 50 years. Dean Linke, the voice of North Carolina FC and NC Courage, was the event emcee and took us through the night, while always bringing us back to why we were there – to open the game and benefits of participation to all kids.

Financial aid plays a vital role in enabling every child, no matter their financial situation, to participate in NCFC Youth programs. By reducing the financial strain on families, it creates equal chances for children to enjoy soccer's benefits including fun, teamwork, discipline, and community participation. This year, the program expects to allocate more than $500,000 to assist young athletes and their families. Financial aid empowers children to become team members, forge lasting friendships, and acquire life skills that go beyond the sport.

"TowneBank is honored to support NCFC Youth and be part of an evening that celebrates both the club’s legacy and its future,” said Brian Reid, Triangle President of TowneBank. “Events like Beyond the Pitch truly demonstrate the power of community and the importance of ensuring every child can experience the benefits of soccer. We’re proud to stand with NCFC Youth in their mission to provide access and foster growth both on and off the field."

To see a video highlight and gallery of photos from the evening, click here .

WPTF Morning News - visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:02:35 GMT

The NCFC Youth visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series brings in players and families from all over the country to the Triangle in one of Wake County's most significant sporting event in terms of hotel rooms and visitor spending. With Chris Edwards to discuss this more is Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing & Development Officer of NCFC Youth.

NCFC Youth NPL Teams Impress in First Season of NPL

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 16:51:46 GMT

NCFC Youth Impresses in first NPL Season

North Carolina FC Youth began their first season in the National Premier Leagues (NPL) league (operated through US Club) this fall and have impressed in the opening weekends of play against strong competition from across the league, which includes clubs such as James Island Youth SC, Charlotte Metro FC, FC Athletico, Charleston SC, and more.

NCFC Youth’s NPL Director & South Regional Director Jason "Buddha" Keyes reflected on the start of the season, saying, "After the first few weeks of games, I am optimistic that NCFC will be very competitive in this new league and will look to make our mark in the coming years."

NCFC Youth will have one team competing in the East Conference within the South Atlantic division of the NPL from each of the U13 – U19 age groups for both the boys and girls divisions. Acceptance into the league will provide players on participating teams the opportunity to compete against fellow NPL clubs.

The National Premier Leagues (NPL) provides a unified national developmental platform to various member leagues throughout the country. The NPL’s mission is to facilitate more meaningful games, reduce travel and provide a pathway to postseason competition.

NCFC Youth Welcomes Diego Amaro to Goalkeeping Staff

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 18:25:18 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Diego Amaro to Goalkeeping Staff

Raleigh, NC (September 17th, 2024) – NCFC Youth is excited to announce the addition of Diego Amaro to the Goalkeeping Staff as the Assistant Goalkeeping Director. Coach Amaro was previously an assistant coach at Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL) and a goalkeeping coach at Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL), a college prep boarding school which has produced several current professional players. His experience and network at the college level and within youth soccer will be an asset to the everyday training and development of our goalkeepers across all levels, as well as providing expertise to our players looking to play at the collegiate level.

“It’s an honor to join NCFC Youth as the Assistant Director of Goalkeeping,” stated Amaro, “I am passionate about developing goalkeepers and NCFC Youth will provide me with an incredible platform for player development.”

Coach Diego Amaro is originally from Tupã, São Paulo (Brazil), and graduated from Faulkner University (AL) in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

As a goalkeeper in Brazil, Coach Amaro played at the youth level with Marilia Atletico Clube and Ole Brazil for three years. In the United States, he played for Montverde Academy, Faulkner University, and Birmingham Hammers (NPSL). During his time at Faulkner University, he achieved All-Conference First-Team, Team MVP, Scholar Athlete, and several Defensive Player of The Week awards.

Coach Amaro currently holds a UEFA C License, USSF D License, and Level III Goalkeeping Development from United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA).

NC Courage Academy & NCFC Academy Named to Top 25 ECNL Clubs

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:48:05 GMT

NC Courage Academy & NCFC Academy Named to Top 25 ECNL Clubs

Raleigh, NC (September 16th, 2024) – After strong performances in the 2023-24 season, NCFC Academy was ranked 6th in ECNL Boys, while NC Courage Academy was ranked 19th in ECNL Girls amongst all clubs. NCFC Youth was the only NC club to receive a Top 25 ranking on the boys side, and we were the top-ranked NC club on the girls side. Additionally, we were just one of a few clubs to receive a Top 25 ranking for both boys and girls.

"We knew that our NC Courage Academy and NCFC Youth Academy teams had a strong 2023-2024 collective season on the field – through league conference games won and post-season play and advancement, which earned each program points along the way. Seeing the final tallies now and having both our boys and girls academy programs ranked in the top 25 by the ECNL is a testament to our coaching staff, support staff, players and parents,” said Paul Forster, Director of Soccer. “It truly is a team effort, and these teams collectively earned this recognition through their commitment, dedication, and hard work on and off the field.”

Find the full ECNL Girls list here and the full ECNL Boys list here .

Meet our Fall Interns

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:33:27 GMT

Meet our Fall Interns!

We are excited to introduce our Fall Interns! Meet Summer Pence (Marketing Intern) and Amber McCorkle (Tournaments and Events Intern) Read below to learn more about them, and what lead them to becoming interns at NCFC Youth.

Hey y’all, my name is Summer Pence , and I am so excited to be working with NCFC Youth this fall as a Marketing Intern. I am a current sophomore at NC State University where I am in the process of switching my major to sports management with a minor in coaching education. During my first year at NC State, I was able to work with NC State Athletics as a photographer, and I instantly fell in love with the world of sports media. Since then I have done social media, content creation, and photography for a volleyball club in Raleigh and a baseball team in the ONSL. To put it short, I love the sports world. When I saw NCFC Youth was hiring a marketing intern, I was beyond excited to apply. As a former NCFC Youth player, some of my favorite childhood memories came from playing soccer. I am so excited to be able to give back to the organization that did so much for me.

Hi! My name is Amber McCorkle , and I’m so excited to be working with NCFC Youth as a Tournaments and Events Intern this fall. I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. My prior internships include a marketing internship with technology services provider Argano and an operations internship with a baseball team in New Bern, NC. Soccer has always been an integral part of my life, as both a player and fan, and I played D1 soccer during college. I am so excited to be working in the sport and know how impactful youth soccer can be on personal and professional development.

NCFC Youth Announces Next (14) Additions to the All-Star 50th Anniversary Commemorative Team

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:35:51 GMT

NCFC Youth Announces Next (14) Additions to the All-Star 50th Anniversary Commemorative Team

Final 14 Spots will be filled with Nominated Players, Coaches, Teams and Contributors

Raleigh, NC (August 21st, 2024) – In March 2024, North Carolina FC Youth ( NCFC Youth ), the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving nearly 17,000 local players annually, announced the formation of an All-Star Commemorative Team as part of its 50 ^th anniversary of serving the greater Triangle area community. NCFC Youth, which was originally founded under the name Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), rebranded in 2017 to NCFC Youth after a collaboration with Triangle Futbol Club Alliance - a neighboring powerhouse youth soccer club headquartered in Hillsborough, NC - and the local professional teams at the North Carolina Football Club. The All-Star Team is made up of players, coaches, teams, and contributors from CASL, TFCA, and NCFC Youth who have been nominated since the announcement of the team.

In March, NCFC Youth announced the Starting XI: a foundational group whose contributions and support to the club undoubtedly played an impactful role. NCFC Youth has received numerous nominations since then to help fill the remaining spots. After reviewing the nominations, NCFC Youth is releasing the newest “roster additions” to the All-Star team, leaving 14 spots that will be filled from submitted nominations. To view the full bios of these new additions as well as those honored up to this point, click here .

All-Star Commemorative Team: Newest Additions

’94 CASL Chelsea Ladies: One of the winningest teams in CASL’s history, the CASL Chelsea Ladies earned back-to-back ECNL National Championships in 2011 and 2012 among other national showcase events.
Jimmy Rogers: The late Jimmy Rogers was a dedicated volunteer, board member, and successful coach for more than 25 years. He was an early advocate and supporter of growing the girls game and creating stronger player development pathways within the club.
’02 CASL Academy Juniors: In 2016, CASL made national headlines when the ’02 CASL Academy Juniors won the USYS U13 National Championship in Frisco, Texas.
Tommy Cline: Tommy was instrumental in the late 90s and early 2000s as the club shifted from a team-centric model to a more unified club-centric model, particularly within the “travel” soccer programs and creating stronger connections among programs.
Bill Barnett: Barnett was named Director of the Year by NCYSA in 2009 in recognition of his contributions and impact during his time on CASL’s Board of Directors where he served some time as chairman. He guided the organization during a time of tremendous professional change and through much of the development of WakeMed Soccer Park.
Clark Brisson: Brisson has dedicated his life to the game as a player, coach, and now director. He was one of the first players inducted in CASL’s Hall of Fame. He had his start on the ’69 Raleigh Stars, had a successful career at Sanderson High School, and went on to play at the University of South Carolina and then professionally.
Geoff Griffin: Griffin was nominated into the CASL Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition for his outstanding service on the Board of Directors. He was an “All-Star” volunteer from those who knew him and part of his legacy was supporting the building of WakeMed Soccer Park and transitioning the facility to the Cary management.
Roland Paiva: Paiva was CASL’s first hired Executive Director in 1988 after the club was volunteer led for nearly two decades prior. Paiva brought a level of soccer knowledge and business acumen to the organization needed to alleviate the board responsibilities and to set the stage for growth in many ways.
Damon Nahas: Nahas’ near 20-year service to the club is highlighted by but not limited to his role in developing CASL’s Capital Area Youth Academy (CAYA; now Juniors) program, supporting the overall technical development of players & coaches, coaching players to go on to successful college, professional, and (youth) national team success, and coaching the ’94 CASL Chelsea Ladies to two back-to-back National Championships.
Diego Munoz: Munoz has invested nearly 25 years of his life to the club in different capacities, most recently as a seasonal coach within the Classic program. He started as an Office Manager and Coach, but stepped in as Interim CEO and General Manager while the club was searching for a new Executive Director. He has coached teams onto state and regional success and created strong, meaningful relationships with his players over the decades of his coaching.
Indie Cowie: Indie Cowie is known as a World Champion FreeStyle Juggler, but a lot of her youth career was made at CASL and TFCA as a player. She went on to play at UNC but was sidelined by a career ending injury; however, that didn’t stop her from leaving her mark on the game as a FreeStyle juggler.
'02 NCFC Youth Elite Boys: The ’02 NCFC Youth Elite Boys and Head Coach Rich Flaim were the first team to reach the national stage under the newly rebranded club: NCFC Youth. In 2018, they punched their ticket to the USYS National Championship after winning NCYSA State Cup and USYS Southern Regionals.
Darrius Barnes: Barnes grew up playing in Knightdale Soccer Club, which eventually would become part of Triangle Futbol Club. He was a member of the 86 TFC boys team, had a successful high school career at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and then at Duke University before having a successful run in the MLS and NASL. He continues to be part of the game as the President of Charlote FC’s MLS Next Pro Team, Crown Legacy FC.
’06 NCFC Youth Elite Girls: Head Coach Dave Arensdorf and the ’06 NCFC Youth Elite G team were the first NCFC Youth team to be crowned National Champions under the new name. They earned the club its 6 ^th National Title in July 2024, when they won the U18 USYS National Championship .

To see the full bios for each of these honorees as well as the rest of the team so far, click here.

About NCFC Youth

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 16,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

Meet our Summer Interns

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:53:01 GMT

Meet our Summer Interns:

In celebration of National Intern Day, meet our summer interns! It has been a pleasure to have Bella Johnson, Hannah Achilles, and Devyn Arroyo working as NCFC Youth's Camp and Events Interns, and Brooke England working as a Marketing Intern. Read below to learn more about them, and what lead them to becoming interns at NCFC Youth.

Hi! My name is Brooke England . I am beyond excited to be working as NCFC Youth's Marketing Intern this summer!

I am currently majoring in advertising and minoring in business at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Throughout my past two years spent at Tennessee, I fell in love with the world of social media marketing, advertising, and graphic design. I have had the opportunity to manage and create content for UTK’s Barstool Sports social media accounts, create graphics of all kinds for my sorority, run a small business, and even manage a TikTok account for my social media strategy professor; the possibilities have been nothing short of endless and have allowed me to realize what my ideal career path is.

When I was searching for a summer internship within the marketing realm, seeing one from NCFC Youth was very exciting. I played soccer from the time I was 6 to 17 years old, and being a part of NCFC has made a long-lasting, positive impression on my life. Combining my interest in marketing and love for soccer makes this my dream internship. Working for an organization that gave me so much growing up has been such a rewarding experience that I have enjoyed thoroughly.

Hey! I’m Hannah Achilles and I am so excited to be back for a second summer with NCFC Youth as a Camp and Events Intern!!

I spent the last two years of school at Brevard College where I was a member of the Women’s Soccer team. I spent some time majoring in Biology and Exercise Science until I had an injury which led me to be out of playing for a while. During this time I fell in love with coaching and overall just helping make things happen - this led me to change my major. I will be transferring to Wingate University where I will be studying Sports Management and minoring in coaching. I have been blessed to be able to get hands on sports experience during my years at school where I have been coaching U8 and U10 girls as well as helping coach and teach in specific skill programs. I have loved working within a club setting and I am stoked to be able to get even more experience this year.

I grew up playing soccer for NCFC which is how I found out about this summer internship. I held the same position last summer but unfortunately my time was cut short due to ankle surgery. I knew that I wanted to come back this year because I love everything about it. We get to see so many sides of what actually goes into the club and we get to make some great connections and memories along the way.

Hey y’all! My name is Bella Johnson and I’m from Raleigh, North Carolina.

I will be a senior this upcoming semester at North Carolina State University. I’m majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a concentration in Event Management. I grew up playing soccer for NCFC Youth and am beyond excited to get to work with an organization I love! I can’t wait to see what I get to learn as an intern this summer!

Hey everyone, my name is Devyn Arroyo and I am currently one of the Summer Events and Camps Interns for NCFC Youth!

I currently am a senior attending the University of Florida. I am completing my bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management with a specialization in management. I am enrolled in the online program which I transferred to two years ago from ECU where I studied Marketing and Business Administration. I am passionate about the events and hospitality industry and being able to work with others. I enjoy going on hikes, meeting new people, trying new things, traveling, spending time with family and friends, doing fun creative projects, and chilling with my dogs!

This internship has allowed me to explore the sports industry in regards of events, hospitality, and sports management. I have also been able to experience how the work culture is at NCFC Youth and I will have to say, I truly am impressed by the work environment and the work culture, I look forward to each day.. I am surrounded by such wonderful people here at NCFC Youth and I am excited for the rest of my weeks as an NCFC Youth Events and Camps Intern.

NCFC Youth Partners with ENVEST: A Cultural Exchange Experience to Develop Global Collaboration and Learning

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:33:49 GMT

NCFC Youth Partners with ENVEST: A Cultural Exchange Experience to Develop Global Collaboration and Learning

NCFC Youth staff coaches have landed safely in Cape Town, South Africa! Earlier this summer NCFC Youth and members of NC State University’s faculty jointly hosted a group of coaches from South Africa as part of an initiative for cultural learning and experience with ENVEST.

The partnership was set up and “funded by the Sports Diplomacy Division within the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, the Empowering New Voices through Education and Sport Training (ENVEST). The program aims to improve the capacity of coaches to implement youth soccer programs that increase leadership skill development and promote respect for differences and inclusion among participants.”

“Youth sports coaches often focus on the athletic development of their players,” said Mike Edwards, an associate professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State, and NCFC Youth parent. “Our goal is to help these coaches understand that they can accomplish much more than that.”

Edwards is leading the program alongside Jason Bocarro. During the first phase of the program, South African coaches traveled to the US to engage in coaching education, discussion, and courses with the help and support of NCFC Youth staff members including Bradley Morrison, NCFC Youth’s Director of Coaching Education and Paul Forster, Director of Soccer. The group ran sessions at WRAL Soccer Park, engaged in workshops and full days of learning and collaboration.

“Spending time with all members of the ENVEST program has been very insightful and has helped me consider current challenges through a new lens,” said Marshall Hodge, NCFC Youth’s U11-U12 Director. “Having such a diverse range of perspectives only helps us as people, and we’re very fortunate to have this space to share experiences. I look forward to using the lessons from these interactions to positively influence our young players.”

Now, a collection of North Carolina Coaches and administrators have taken the flight halfway across the word to complete Phase II of the partnership, where they will now have the opportunity to continue to learn and engage with the group in their professional areas and build on the development of a global sport.

Learn more here https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2024/03/exchange-program-youth-development/

NCFC Youth Announces Next (11) Additions to the All-Star 50th Anniversary Commemorative Team

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:54:36 GMT

28 Spots Remain and will be filled with Nominated Players, Coaches, Teams and Contributors

Raleigh, NC (June 21, 2024) – In March 2024, North Carolina FC Youth ( NCFC Youth ), the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving nearly 17,000 local players annually, announced the formation of an All-Star Commemorative Team as part of its 50 ^th anniversary of serving the greater Triangle area community. NCFC Youth was originally founded under the name Capital Area Soccer League (CASL). The club rebranded in 2017 to NCFC Youth after a collaboration with Triangle Futbol Club Alliance - a neighboring powerhouse youth soccer club headquartered in Hillsborough, NC - and North Carolina Football Club. And, the All-Star Team is made up of players, coaches, teams, and contributors from CASL, TFCA, and NCFC Youth.

In March, NCFC Youth announced the Starting XI: a foundational group whose contributions and support to the club undoubtedly played an impactful role. NCFC Youth has received numerous nominations since then to help fill the remaining spots. After reviewing the nominations, NCFC Youth is releasing the newest “roster additions” to the All-Star team, leaving 28 spots that will be filled with received or incoming nominations. Nominations can be submitted through this online form or by visiting ncfcyouth.com through June 30.

All-Star Commemorative Team: Newest Additions

’88 CASL Elite : In 2003, the ’88 CASL Elite boys, coached by Bruce Talbot, won the Under 14 USYS National Championship, becoming the first boys’ team from North Carolina and CASL/NCFC Youth to be crowned champion.
Charlie Slagle : The late Charlie Slagle served as CASL’s Chief Executive Officer from 2001 – 2013. He helped grow the grassroots game, led efforts to develop WakeMed Soccer Park, initiated updates to WRAL Soccer Park, and brought the ACC and NCAA Championships to Cary, NC, among many other accomplishments.
Sean Nahas : Current NC Courage Head Coach Sean Nahas was devoted to the youth game at CASL/NCFC Youth for nearly 20 years where he helped lead the club’s ECNL girls program to national recognition, had success on the field as a coach, and supported coach education and player development across the club.
John Bradford : Before John took over the Head Coach role with North Carolina FC, he spent 15 years at the youth club developing players and coaches, guiding teams to success on the field, and helping forge the youth-to-pro pathway between NCFC Youth and North Carolina FC.
Bob Bode : The late Robert “Bob” V. Bode was a servant to CASL as Chairman of the Board during many formative years, which included the construction and development of WakeMed Soccer Park, professionalizing the youth club, and supporting the overall growth of soccer in the Triangle Area.
Ramon Gallardo, Sr. : Gallardo is the founder of NCFC Youth’s La Liga program, which is a reduced-fee outreach program designed for the local Hispanic and Latino youth populations. His service to growing the game began before La Liga became part of NFC Youth, as he was operating the league on his own in the community for many years prior. His devotion to growing the game and also volunteer coaching within the club earned him NCYSA Volunteer of the Year in 2017.
Jay Howell : Howell was the club’s Director of Coaching from 1999-2010, and he is known by many for executing and elevating the professionalization of the organization and its coaches, along with offering expanded programming to fill gaps in the youth development pipeline, coaching teams and players to on-field success, and helping put CASL on the global map with an innovative international partnership with Chelsea FC.
Adidas : Adidas, CASL, TFCA, and NCFC Youth have all shared a strong, overlapping history since some of the earliest years. Adidas’ significant partner support has elevated and supported the experience of players and coaches through quality uniforms and training gear, coaching equipment/gear, and partner support – which comes in the form of sponsorship, equipment donations, and innovative collaborations to support the experience of our players, families, and coaches.
Ike Opara : Opara was a member of the ’88 Triangle FC Navy team, who went on to player and team success at all levels of play including college (Wake Forest University), professional (San Jose, Sporting KC & Minnesota), and national teams (U20 USMNT, U23 Olympic camp, and USMNT). Some of his accolades include being the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, and MLS Defender of the Year).
Joanna Boyles Fennema : Fennema was the captain of the ’94 CASL Chelsea Ladies and helped the team win back-to-back National Championships in 2011 and 2012. At the same time, she was also a familiar name in the youth U.S. National Team environment on the U14, U15, U17, and U20 USYNT. She went on to a successful career at UNC Chapel Hill and was drafted into the NWSL, where she retired after injury in 2020. Since then, she’s given back to the game as a college coach, where she is now the Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Jean Hogshead : Hogshead recently retired from the club after more than 25 years of being one of the first people that players, team managers, parents, and many coaches would interact with. She set the tone for the level of care and customer service to be expected, and during her time in the administrative side of the club, she helped hundreds of thousands of youth players take the field, supported team managers, and helped ensure kids have a safe environment with her role in executing background checks and risk management.

Nominations for the remaining 28 positions will be accepted through June 30. Anyone connected to NCFC Youth's storied history is invited to participate in this momentous occasion by submitting nominations in the categories of players, teams, coaches, and contributors. The committee will review nominations and support the selection of the rest of the team and announce additions to the anniversary team throughout the summer.

About NCFC Youth

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 16,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

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NCFC Youth Announces Staff Changes & New Hires Going into 2024-2025

Fri, 31 May 2024 13:55:00 GMT

NCFC Youth Announces Staff Changes & New Hires Going into 2024-2025

Changes Include Moves to Full Time Coaching Staff, Reorganization of our Youngest Recreation Programs, and Administrative Roles

Ahead of the upcoming season, NCFC Youth is excited to announce a number of staff changes across our programs which includes the addition of a new full time Finance Administrator. These changes come after the club’s acceptance into a new league , the restructuring of programming for our Kickstarters through Kindergarten programs, continued involvement with the U23 men’s and women’s teams, and additional full time soccer staff roles.

Nick Holt takes on a new role as Full Time Staff Coach and Administrator . Nick has coached with NCFC Youth since 2021 in our ECNL Regional League Program and joined the staff full time in July 2022, where he most recently served as the U13-U19 South Girls Director. Nick will now coach 3 Elite girls teams and continue his role as the assistant head coach of our U23 NC Courage USL team. Nick grew up playing club soccer in Alabama for Vestavia - Hoover Soccer Club. He then played collegiately for Belhaven University before transferring and graduating from the University of Alabama. He has previously made coaching stops at NC Fusion, Alabama FC, and Hoover Soccer Club. Nick holds his USSF “C” License and is currently enrolled in his USSF “B” License course.

The club announced Jason “Buddha” Keyes as the new National Premier Leagues (NPL) Director earlier this week. In addition to this role and his role as the U13-U19 South Boys Director , Buddha will also serve as the U13-U19 South Girls Director . Read more about NPL here .

Simon Burke to be Discovery Phase Program Director , overseeing Kickstarters, Pre-K, and Kindergarten Recreation programs. The restructuring of these programs comes as the club takes strategic steps to support the initial experience of our youngest players. Simon has spent the past few seasons in an accounting role with the club, while also being the Director of NCFC Youth’s TOPSoccer program and coaching with Juniors and JDP. Prior to being full time with the club, Simon coached in Pre-K, JDP, Juniors, and Classic. He grew up playing at NCFC Youth beginning in Recreation, making his way to the Academy, before committing to play at Appalachian State University. Simon has his USSF “D” Coaching License and is preparing to pursue his USSF “C” License.

Danny Carlyon , who has been part of the Recreation program since Fall 2023, will continue supporting the Recreation program as an Administrator for Durham boys and girls 1 ^st – 12 ^th grade teams (previously he supported Raleigh, Knightdale and Wake Forest). Danny will also continue as a Classic coach. Prior to joining the club full time in 2023, Danny was a seasonal coach with Juniors and Classic, and lead coach in our Boys Off-Season Development Program. He grew up playing at two clubs in England, Coventry Jaguar Youth and Coventry City Youth. In 2014 he began his coaching career with a number of clubs across the country in California and Connecticut before coming to North Carolina. He holds his USSF “C” License, and is preparing to pursue his USSF “B” License.

Glendon Young will also continue supporting the Recreation department as an Administrator in addition to a full-time staff coach role, where he will be fully invested in coaching 3 Classic teams. Glendon has coached with the club since 2022 in JDP, Juniors, and Classic. Prior to his roles with NCFC Youth, he served as Vice President of the Portland Football Association Disciplinary Committee (Jamaica) from 2017-2018. Soon after, he transitioned into coaching following his youth career as a player at the collegiate level. He holds his USSF “D” License and is currently enrolled in the USSF “C” Course.

The Finance Department welcomes new hire Tameka Williams as Senior Accountant . Tameka brings over 15 years of accounting experience to NCFC Youth, including a non-profit background. She’s new to the world of soccer, but she’s eager to soak up all she can and help support our mission.

All staff changes and transitions will happen over the next couple of months as we prepare for another great year on and off the field.

Jason “Buddha” Keyes named NCFC Youth’s Director, National Premier Leagues (NPL)

Tue, 28 May 2024 18:15:42 GMT

Jason "Buddha" Keyes named NCFC Youth's Director, National Premier Leagues (NPL)

Keyes will also continue his role of South Boys Regional Director

Raleigh, NC (May 28, 2024) - Earlier this spring, NCFC Youth announced a move to join US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) beginning Fall 2024. Through the Players First philosophy and established NPL platform, participating teams will have more meaningful games, less travel, and be provided a pathway to postseason competition.

NCFC Youth will have 11 total teams (one girls team and one boys team) from each of the U13-U18/19 age groups (with the exception of U19 girls) participating in the league this Fall. The teams will participate in the South Atlantic Premier League – East Division, which also includes Barca Academy, Charleston Soccer Club, Charlotte Eagles, FC Athletico, James Island YSC, among others.

To help oversee NCFC Youth’s participation in the NPL, Jason “Buddha” Keyes, takes on an additional role as the club’s NPL Director. In this role, he will oversee the day-to-day management of the coaches and teams participating in the league, and he will be the club’s liaison to the league. Keyes will continue his current role as the U13-19 South Boys Regional Director while acting as the NPL Director.

Keyes is entering his 10 ^th year with the club. He is a Fayetteville native, but he travelled to the Raleigh area to play for NCFC Youth (then CASL) on the ’75 ISA team in high school. He went on to have a stand-out career at NC State, then professionally with the Raleigh Flyers, Capital Xpress, and Harrisburg Heat.

After his professional career ended, Keyes transitioned his passion for the game to coaching. He was a 14-year veteran coach at Next Level Academy, and has coached teams across the boys and girls Classic programs and Girls ECNL program. He brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and director management to the NCFC Youth teams participating in the NPL.

To learn more about the NPL, click here .

NCFC Youth Announces Strategic Partnership with Capitol Broadcasting Company

Tue, 07 May 2024 16:17:40 GMT

NCFC Youth Announces Strategic Partnership with Capitol Broadcasting Company

As 50 ^th Anniversary Year Celebrations Continue, Community Pillars Join Forces to Amplify Impact

Raleigh, NC (May 7, 2024) – North Carolina FC Youth , the largest youth soccer organization in the state and youth-to-professional soccer club in the country, announces an impactful Community Partnership Agreement with Capitol Broadcasting Company in support of its 50 ^th anniversary year. Through Capitol Broadcasting Company’s various television and digital platforms such as WRAL-TV, WRAL.com, WRAZ (FOX 50) and WRAL brand social channels, the strategic media partnership aims to expand the reach and impact of NCFC Youth’s 50 ^th anniversary activations, which will encompass reflections on the club’s rich history in conjunction with fundraising events in support of NCFC Youth’s Financial Aid Fund, ensuring that every child has access to the game of soccer now and for the next 50 years.

“This innovative media collaboration with Capitol Broadcasting Company, another long-standing Raleigh community partner, represents a significant milestone for NCFC Youth as we celebrate soccer’s impact throughout our 50 ^th anniversary year,” said Gary Buete, Chief Executive Officer at NCFC Youth. “Through this amazing opportunity, we have joined forces with Capitol Broadcasting Company to engage with our community on a broader scale, amplify the transformative stories of integral NCFC Youth alumni and those who came before us, and raise vital funds to go towards financial aid, ensuring economic barriers never stand in the way of a child’s participation in soccer.”

The anniversary year celebrations officially kicked off at the 11 ^th annual Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 tournament, presented by Galatians Community Health on January 27. Capitol Broadcasting Company served as the media partner for the event. In past years, the entirely charitable event has raised over $100,000 for nonprofits aiding youth health, education, and underserved communities. This year’s event was no less of a roaring success, raising over $30,000 towards the NCFC Youth Financial Aid Fund. Capitol Broadcasting Company was also the official media partner of this year’s annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, which raised an additional $36,000 for NCFC Youth’s Financial Aid Fund. Capitol Broadcasting Company’s support of the 50 ^th anniversary will culminate at a year-end fall fundraiser to be held October 23 at the Angus Barn, with proceeds benefiting the Financial Aid Fund.

NCFC Youth is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and opportunity within the game of soccer through its robust Financial Aid Fund. With a commitment to ensuring that financial constraints never hinder a child's ability to play, NCFC Youth regularly distributes over $440,000 annually in financial aid to make sure that all children, regardless of their background or financial circumstances, have access to the sport they love. This initiative extends across all ages and levels of play within the club, reflecting a deep-seated belief in the power of soccer to positively impact individuals and communities. By providing financial aid, NCFC Youth not only enables children to pursue their passion for soccer but also cultivates the next generation of leaders who will go on to make meaningful contributions to their schools and communities. Those who support the Financial Aid Fund play a crucial role in this mission, empowering children to dream big and witness those dreams become reality on the soccer field.

Recently, NCFC Youth unveiled a campaign to announce and solicit nominations for players, coaches, teams and other contributors to be recognized as a part of a 50 ^th Anniversary All-Star Commemorative Team . There are many supporters who have played a role in shaping NCFC Youth’s past, present and future, and the formation of this All-Star Commemorative Team is a way to offer gratitude, reflect on and share just a few of those stories and their impact. More information on the nominations process and other 50 ^th anniversary events can be found here.

About NCFC Youth

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 16,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer.

NCFC Youth Joins the National Premier Leagues

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 19:05:29 GMT

North Carolina FC Youth to Join the National Premier Leagues

North Carolina FC Youth is excited to announce that we will be joining the National Premier Leagues (NPL) beginning Fall 2024. NCFC Youth will have one team competing in the league from each of the U13 – U19 age groups for both the boys and girls divisions. Acceptance into the league will provide players on participating teams the opportunity to compete against fellow NPL clubs.

“We are excited to officially join the National Premier Leagues for the upcoming 2024-2025 season,” said Classic Director, Bobby Johnston. “Their core values and mission align with the experiences we want to provide our membership. This will be a wonderful addition to our player pathway and provide another opportunity for competitive games.”

Information regarding tryouts, coaching staff, and which teams are participating in the NPL will be announced within the following weeks.

Players not currently playing for NCFC Youth that would like more information can reach out to Bobby.Johnston@NCFCYouth.com.

To learn more about the NPL, click here .

NCFC Youth is a Proud Member of:

Elite Clubs National League

Elite Clubs National League Regional League

National Premier Leagues

North Carolina Youth Soccer Association

Athletic Training Appreciation Month: Meet Sydney Decker, Mallory Wells, and Nick Conde

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:51:14 GMT

Athletic Training Appreciation Month: Meet Sydney Decker, Mallory Wells, and Nick Conde

March is Athletic Training Appreciation Month, and we are so thankful for our certified Athletic Trainers through our partnership with Wake Med & Wake Orthopaedic s , like Sydney Decker, Mallory Wells, and Nick Conde. Get to know them, and make sure to tell all of our athletic training staff thank you!

How long have you been with NCFC Youth, and what did you do before NCFC Youth?

Mallory : I graduated from East Carolina University in 2020 with my BS in Athletic Training. She worked as an athletic trainer in the school system for 2 years before joining the club in 2022.

Nick: I have been full time with the club since 2022. I graduated from East Carolina University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training. I’ve worked at local Wake County high schools, Camp Woodward, Meredith College, Shaw University, NC Courage Pro, along with a lot of other events & organizations.

Sydney: I've been with NCFC since November 2023. I have also worked with the NC Courage in the NWSL, UNC Women’s Soccer, as well as Meredith College, as well as in D1 football and semi-pro rugby. Previous to athletic training I worked in Orthopedic PT and hand therapy, as well as a neuro spine recovery clinic. I am an alumna of Meredith College, graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science in 2013. In May of 2023, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with her Master of Science in Athletic Training.

What is the most rewarding aspect about working in the athletic training field?

Mallory: Seeing and helping an athlete finally get back to the sport they love after injury. The way they light up getting to run back onto the field with no limitations or complete their first game pain free is something you don’t get to see working in other healthcare settings.

Nick: The most rewarding part of athletic training is helping someone learn skills they can use for the rest of their life even after their playing career is over.

Sydney: I value being able to help athletes through the good and bad times. I also enjoy being someone they trust, their advocate, providing them with a safe space, and educating them on how to care for themselves.

What is your favorite part about working for NCFC Youth?

Mallory: My favorite part of working with NCFC is the wide range of age groups we get to work with. From tiny tots during summer camps to the U23 USL teams; each group brings a different challenge and a variety of personalities.

Nick: My favorite part about working for NCFC Youth is that we have a diverse and fun staff focused on helping the next generation succeed.

Sydney: I enjoy working with a variety of levels of athletes. It’s great being supported in learning all the medical attributes to keep our athletes in top shape for their performance.

Is there anything about working as an AT that might be surprising to someone who doesn’t know a lot about the industry?

Mallory: Athletic Trainers have a very wide variety of healthcare skills and can work in a lot of different settings (broadway, rodeos, sports, clinics, ballet, etc).

Nick: The most surprising fact about athletic trainers is that we aren’t just at sporting events. Athletic Trainers can work for hospitals, labs, factories, brands like Adidas & Nike, and the list goes on. If you can think it, athletic trainers can and probably are involved with it.

Sydney: We do more than tape ankles and hand out water. Most people do not know about all of the behind the scenes work we do as well as our scope of practice for example, emergency care and rehabilitation.

What is a fun fact about you?

Mallory: I’ve known the presidents in the order they were elected/in office since I was in the 1st grade.

Nick: A fun fact about me is that I can kickflip.

Sydney : I am an Identical twin.

Athletic Training Month: Meet Jason Bailey & Tyler Cahill

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:20:40 GMT

Athletic Training Appreciation Month: Meet Jason Bailey & Tyler Cahill

March is Athletic Training Appreciation Month, and we are so thankful for Head Athletic Trainer Jason Bailey and our certified Athletic Trainers through our partnership with Wake Orthopaedics , like Tyler Cahill. Get to know Jason and Tyler, and make sure to tell all of our athletic training staff thank you!

How long have you been with NCFC Youth, and what did you do before NCFC Youth?

Jason: I have been with NCFC Youth for 13 years - 14 this August. Previously I was the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tyler: I've been with NCFC Youth for 1 year in April. Prior to NCFC Youth I did rotations with UPenn soccer, Temple soccer, Temple gymnastics, and Drexel basketball.

What is the most rewarding aspect about working in the athletic training field?

Jason: Most rewarding is seeing kids get back to the field and enjoying playing soccer, healthy and without any pain.

Tyler: I played sports my entire life, mostly soccer, and dealt with various injuries throughout my athletic career. Athletic Trainers were essential to me and helped me return to sport in the best/healthiest way possible. I love being able to help future generations of athletes stay as healthy as possible and continue to play the sport that they love like the athletic trainers in my life did for me

What is your favorite part about working for NCFC Youth?

Jason: Working with the kids is awesome, and the staff that we have employed is fantastic and a pleasure to work with.

Tyler: Soccer was my life growing up and being able to stay a part of the sport while helping others continue to play is very fulfilling.

Is there anything about working as an AT that might be surprising to someone who doesn’t know a lot about the industry?

Jason: Definitely a rewarding profession, and you get to work with all kinds of athletes and meet great people.

Tyler: We are not just "trainers". Strength and conditioning is a part of our field, but we can do so much more than that: from saving someone's life, to diagnosing skin conditions, to splinting broken bones. So when you think of an Athletic Trainer don't just think about the strength and conditioning aspect because we are so much more!

What is a fun fact about you?

Jason: I grew up playing soccer at CASL, and love to play most sports for fun.

Tyler : I love to travel. My favorite country that I have been to so far is Japan.

MLS Referee Crew Officiates & Mentors NCFC Youth Games

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:06:14 GMT

MLS Referee Crew Officiates & Mentors NCFC Youth Games

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 13 ^th , 2024) – WRAL Soccer Park was recently home to a Major League Soccer referee crew as Jason White, Ryan Graves, and Justin Howard officiated a NCFC Youth game this past Saturday.

Director of Referees, Brian Miller, stated, “A full crew of MLS officials officiating a youth game has only occurred a handful of times since the inception of Major League Soccer 25-years ago. The willingness of 11-year MLS veteran Jason White, newly minted FIFA Assistant Referee Ryan Graves, and highflier Justin Howard to give back to the youth game, which got them their start in officiating, is a testament to the character of these true professionals. The fact they chose NCFC Youth to share their abilities with is a testament to the quality of officials within our organization. The desire of NCFC Youth officials to learn from the best and the generosity of Jason, Ryan, and Justin to share their knowledge with the next generation of officials made last Saturday a perfect pairing. NCFC Youth’s support of its referees along with its extremely positive relationships with the NCSRA and the PSRA allowed this truly special opportunity to occur. We look forward to continuing to bring MLS officials to NCFC Youth fields in the future.”

Following the game, all three mentored other referees on site for the remainder of the day – a reminder of our continued commitment to referee education.

“Justin, Ryan, and I thoroughly enjoyed working a U17 match together and sticking around to mentor some referees on a couple other matches,” stated Jason White “As we were discussing beforehand, the match took us back to the good ol' days - driving 2-3 hours each way, changing in the parking lot, and doing the match not for the money but for the camaraderie and the love of the game. All 3 of us have been very fortunate to make it to MLS level and, in Ryan's case, being named to the FIFA international panel as an Assistant Referee. We achieved our successes because of so many people who took time to mentor and guide us along our refereeing journeys. Giving back in this way is a huge part of what the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) is all about.”

Learn more about becoming a referee here .

Spectrum News Highlights Financial Aid Program

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:23:08 GMT

Spectrum News Highlights Financial Aid Fund

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 28th, 2024) - Spectrum News recently highlighted our commitment to make the game accessible for all in an interview with NC Courage Academy player Aven Alvarez, and her mom, Laura Alvarez, where they discussed Aven's time with NCFC Youth and how the financial aid fund has impacted their family. The financial aid fund was established to provide increased opportunities for children to participate in soccer.

“We don’t want there being any barriers to kids being able to play,” said Chief Marketing and Development Officer Katharine Eberhardt. “You know, in the case of the Alvarez family, the husband is serving our country, and so, single-parent household for the next six months, and so for us to be able to support that family, for the kids to come out here and have some normalcy, that’s what this is all about.”

Alvarez highlighted her time with the club, saying, "Huge honor to be a part of this club and team. It’s always really competitive and super fun. Definitely look forward to coming out here every single day and spending the time with my teammates and learning from the coaches.”

Check out the full feature here !

Former Academy Goalkeeper Nick Holliday Signs MLS Contract

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:04:47 GMT

Former Academy Goalkeeper Nick Holliday Signs MLS Contract

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 12th, 2024) - Nick Holliday has become the first-ever NCFC player to earn a direct transfer to a MLS contract. He will join Charlotte FC in the 2024 season with their MLS Next Pro team, with a 3-year guaranteed MLS contract beginning in 2025.

Holliday joined NCFC Youth in 2018 as part of the U13 Academy South team. He signed his first professional contract with North Carolina FC in 2021 at age 15 and has continued to excel in the Youth-to-Pro model. In his time as a pro, he has totaled 2,340 minutes to post 75 saves and a 71.2 career save percentage.

Reminiscing on his time with NCFC Youth, Holliday stated, "This opportunity means everything to me. I give a lot of thanks to God for putting me in this position and to my parents for their support. NCFC as a whole has been an amazing experience. I've grown so much through the coaches and staff mentoring me everyday and all of my teammates along the way. I joined when I was 12 years old - joining the Academy was one of the best decisions I've made. I am honored to have been a part of this family for so long."

Congratulations Nick - we can't wait to continue watching your journey!

Check out the full release from North Carolina FC here !

NCFC Youth Receives $25,000 For Financial Aid Fund At TowneBank’s New Branch Grand Opening

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:53:48 GMT

NCFC Youth Receives $25,000 For Financial Aid Fund At TowneBank’s New Branch Grand Opening

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 1 ^st , 2024) – Following a record-breaking Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 Tournament which garnered over $31,000 in funds for North Carolina FC Youth’s Financial Aid Fund , the club received a $25,000 donation from TowneBank at their grand opening of their 50 ^th banking center in the North Ridge Area of Raleigh.

Chief Executive Officer Gary Buete expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are honored and grateful to receive this substantial donation to our Financial Aid Fund. As we approach our 50 ^th Anniversary, donations like this help pave the way for us to continue growing the game to all youth in our community. “

The Financial Aid Fund was established to help increase opportunities in our community for children to participate in soccer. Over $440,000 each year is distributed in financial aid in efforts to make soccer accessible for all.

NCFC Youth celebrates it’s 50 ^th Anniversary this year, and additional fundraising events throughout the celebration of this milestone will focus on supporting the Financial Aid Fund, culminating with fall gala on October 23 ^rd . Continued efforts to support the Financial Aid Fund will help ensure that we can continue to broaden the game to all in our community.

To see how the Financial Aid Fund is helping one of many families in our community, check out this spotlight on the Alvarez family.

For the full release from TowneBank, click here.

Coaches & Staff Represent NCFC Youth at US Soccer Coaches Convention

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:17:07 GMT

Coaches & Staff Represent NCFC Youth at US Soccer Coaches Convention

RALEIGH, N.C. (January 25th, 2024) - Several members of our staff recently traveled to the 2024 US Soccer Coaches Convention , held this year in Anaheim, California. The convention is a great chance for our staff to engage with the soccer community and provides an opportunity to build new connections, receive coaching education, and recognize excellence in soccer.

Director of Camps & College Combines and Classic Staff Coach Nicole Turner presented at convention on "Communication in Soccer: Navigating Tough Conversations", speaking on how to navigate difficult conversations as a coach with an audience-centered approach.

She stated, "The convention is a great way for administrators, coaches, and directors to network and connect with like-minded people and share best practices in a space where people are intentional about learning and improving their teams/organizations. I felt honored to represent NCFC Youth as a speaker at the convention and enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the continuing education of the attendees."

"The convention allows me to create and strengthen relationships with other top youth soccer organizations around the country and internationally," said Ryan Holbrook, Tournament Director and Facility Events, "these relationships allow me to bounce ideas off of other clubs and vice versa to ensure that we are continuing to evolve in the best ways possible.” Holbrook and Director of Administration, Bryan Bachelder, were both in attendance to continue promotion of the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series and network with other clubs across the country.

Bachelder said, "Attending the United Soccer Coaches Convention provides networking opportunities across several facets of my position, including promoting the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series to clubs across the country, exchanging best practices within the technological platforms we use every day, and providing input to regional and national organizations on various topics in order to improve both soccer on a national level and NCFC Youth."

NCFC Youth Marks 50 Years of Soccer Excellence and Community Engagement

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:39:46 GMT

NCFC Youth Marks 50 Years of Soccer Excellence and Community Engagement

A Half Century of Shaping Lives On and Off the Field, NCFC Youth Continues to Build a Strong Legacy

Raleigh, NC (January 11, 2024) – This year, North Carolina FC Youth celebrates a remarkable milestone – 50 years of fostering soccer talent for youth across all ability levels and enriching the greater Triangle area community. Throughout its history, NCFC Youth estimates it has positively impacted the lives of over one million players through local programming, outreach initiatives, and tournament hosting, which provides opportunities for youth from across the globe to be scouted and recruited for the next level of play. The 50 ^th anniversary will be marked by reflections throughout the year and fundraising events to support NCFC Youth’s Financial Aid Fund - ensuring all kids have access to the game now and for the next 50 years.

The anniversary year is already underway, but it will officially kick off at NCFC Youth’s Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 tournament on January 27. Tournament registration is open through January 22. Shortly after, NCFC Youth will unveil a campaign to announce and solicit nominations for players, coaches, teams, and other contributors to be recognized as part of a 50 ^th Anniversary All-Star Commemorative Team. The year will culminate with a fall gala event at the Angus Barn Pavilions on October 23.

What has grown into the largest youth soccer club in North Carolina and the largest youth-to-professional soccer club in the country was started by a group of parents with kids who simply wanted to play soccer. Steve Almasi, Pat Hamilton, Bill Holleman, and Bill Plunkett founded the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) in 1974, and it became a magnet for other independently run soccer programs in the area. Most recently, in 2017, Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA), and North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) entered into an historic collaboration, which rebranded CASL to NCFC Youth. The club now hosts more than 16,000 unique players each year through recreation and competitive programs. The on- and off-field operations are supported by more than 1,700 staff, seasonal coaches, volunteer coaches, and many community partnerships.

Memorable Moments

1980 : Capital Area Classic Association (CACSA), the competitive soccer league at the time, revamped and took over the local soccer tournament, the Raleigh Shootout, initiating the evolution of the 21-team event into what is now the club’s expansive visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, which attracts over 1,500 teams globally and more than 1,000 college coaches over four weekends of play.
1981 : WRAL Soccer Park, made possible with the support of Jim Goodmon and Capitol Broadcasting Company, opens with 14 fields.
1987 : WRAL Soccer Park owned and operated by CASL expands to 21 fields.
1995 : The '77 Spartans girls' team, coached by Izzy Hernandez, wins the first USYS National Championship for North Carolina and CASL, achieving a historic comeback in the final and later inducted into the NC Soccer National Champions Hall of Fame in 2013. CASL teams would go on to win National Championships in 2003, 2011, 2012, and 2016.
1999 : Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA) formed under the leadership of John Rennie, head men’s soccer coach at Duke University (1979-2007).
2000 : Two of CASL’s founders, Pat Hamilton and Bill Holleman are inducted NC Soccer Hall of Fame.
2002 : NCFC Youth partnered with SAS Institute and Carolina Courage to open the 10,000-seat SAS Soccer Park (now WakeMed Soccer Park), a major venue for North Carolina Football Club and host site for over 33 ACC and 19 NCAA soccer championships since its opening.
2017 : CASL’s contributions to Raleigh, its citizens, and its history were forever memorialized with an induction into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.
2019 : NCFC Youth is one of 20 companies recognized with Triangle Business Journal’s “Corporate Philanthropy Award.”
2021 : NCFC Youth, in collaboration with the Town of Knightdale, Wake County, and Wake Stone Corporation, opened Wake Stone Athletic Park, a 5-field complex supported by land donation and grants, serving local and tournament needs, with NCFC Youth contributing to its development and maintenance.
2023 : NCFC Youth is honored by the Greater Raleigh Convention & Vistors Bureau with the John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award for its significant impact on Wake County's community and hospitality industry.

“Celebrating 50 years of NCFC Youth is not just about marking a milestone, it’s about honoring the journey of this organization that has supported the development of thousands of youths in our community on and off the field,” said Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth. “This anniversary is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved, from our founding members and devoted staff over the years, to the youth who step on our fields, to our community partners, to our coaches past and present, and everyone in between.”

NCFC Youth reaffirms its dedication to being a community partner for the next 50 years, consistently distributing over $400,000 annually in financial aid to ensure inclusive play opportunities. The club's Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 tournament, entirely charitable, has raised more than $100,000 for nonprofits aiding youth health, education, and underserved communities. Additionally, outreach initiatives like TOPSoccer and La Liga, and field development in all parts of our community, extend the club's commitment to broadening access to soccer to populations often underrepresented in youth club soccer.

Spring recreation league registration is now open through January 19 – no experience is required for participation in this league. To secure your spot or learn more about NCFC Youth, visit NCFCYouth.com .

About NCFC Youth :

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 16,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

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Josh McKinney Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 16:42:47 GMT

Josh McKinney Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame

RALEIGH, N.C. (December 6th, 2023) – NCFC Youth is excited to announce that Josh McKinney has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame for the 2024 class. He will be inducted at a ceremony May 4 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, along with Tim Howard, Francisco Marcos, and Tisha Venturini-Hoch.

McKinney has been a coach in the Classic program with NCFC Youth for over ten years. He becomes the first member of the Extended National Teams to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

McKinney, who was born with cerebral palsy, was a captain of the U.S. National 7-a-side Paralympic Team (now the U.S. Men’s CP National Team). He retired after 124 caps and 81 goals over 19 years, including appearances at three Paralympics (1996, 2004 and 2012). He captained the team 72 times, and as a 17-year-old in 1996, he scored a team-high five goals to lead the U.S. to a best-ever fourth-place finish at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta.

Paralympian Josh McKinney Elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame

National Soccer Hall of Fame Announces the Four Members of Its 2024 Class

Daniel Sellitti Named NCFC Academy Director

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:05:15 GMT

NORTH CAROLINA FC YOUTH PROMOTES DANIEL SELLITTI TO NCFC ACADEMY DIRECTOR

John Bradford to remain on staff as an advisor to the program

CARY, N.C. (DATE TBD) – With the recent announcement that John Bradford is promoted to head coach and sporting director of North Carolina FC, NCFC Youth is excited for Daniel Sellitti to take the reigns as the NCFC Academy Director effective immediately. John Bradford, who has served as the NCFC Academy Director since 2006, will stay on as an advisor to the NCFC Academy and maintain a critical role in the developmental pathways of the program’s top talents.

Sellitti joined NCFC Youth in 2019 as an ECNL boys coach. He quickly made a name for himself on and off the field and built a positive reputation among his coaching peers, players, and parents. He joined the NCFC Academy staff in Fall 2022, where he began coaching teams across multiple age groups, oversaw player development within the Pre-Academy program and U13 age group, and was the Director of the NCFC Academy Homestay program.

"I am thrilled to step into the role of Academy Director for North Carolina FC Academy. A huge thank you to Gary, Paul, and John for their support and confidence in me,” said Sellitti. “I'm eager to continue our journey towards excellence in soccer, building on our strong foundation and shaping a bright future for the academy."

Sellitti’s experience across youth, college, professional, and national teams will continue to be advantageous to our players and fellow coaches. Prior to joining NCFC Youth, Sellitti was an Assistant Men’s Coach at Mt. Olive (2018-2019) and Concord University (2016-2018). He has spent time as an assistant coach with the North Carolina FC U23 (USL-2 league) and North Carolina FC (returning to USL Champions league in 2024). More recently, Sellitti received the opportunity to support the national teams in Puerto Rico. He is an Assistant Coach for the Puerto Rico Football Federation (2021 – present) and serves as the Sporting Director for the Federation (2022 – present), where he oversees recruitment and development of the men’s and women’s senior and youth national teams. Experience across the soccer landscape will benefit the collegiate and professional aspirations of NCFC Youth players, in addition to providing a well-rounded coaching portfolio - adding new on-field and player development perspective.

“Daniel [Sellitti] is primed and ready to continue building on the great program John [Bradford] has led over the years,” said Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer. “Daniel’s familiarity with the current players, our culture, and youth-to-pro development opportunities will make it a seamless transition. Our entire Academy staff is excited for Daniel and eager to follow his direction for the program. Our connection will remain strong to our professional club with John [Bradford] as the Head Coach and Sporting Director, and we are thrilled to keep him formally involved in our Academy as an advisor. We’re grateful for the many years he devoted to NCFC Youth.”

As a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Sellitti graduated from Marshall University with a B.A. in Business Administration. He earned advanced degrees in both Health Promotions (M.A. from Concord University) and Nutrition & Human Performance (M.S. from Logan University). Sellitti is currently pursuing is USSF “A” License.

NCFC Youth Showcase Series Featured on WRAL and CBS17

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:30:45 GMT

NCFC Youth Showcase Series Featured on WRAL and CBS17

Raleigh, N.C. (Nov. 21st, 2023) – NCFC Youth was recently featured on WRAL News and CBS17 as the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series has created an estimated economic impact of over $27 million dollars for Raleigh. The Showcase Series, which began with the Girls Jr. Showcase, Boys Jr. Showcase, and Boys College Showcase, and will conclude Nov. 30th - Dec. 3rd with the Girls College Showcase, are expected to fill over 30,000 hotel rooms and draw over 900 college coaches to the area.

CBS17 and WRAL News recently featured the NCFC Youth and the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, highlighting the impact that both create in the area. Check out those stories here:

CBS17 - Youth Soccer Showcase brings in thousands of players nationwide to Triangle

CBS17 Video - NCFC Soccer Showcase Series Attracts Thousands of Teams and Visitors to Triangle Area

WRAL News - Youth soccer showcase series expected to generate millions in the Triangle area

NCFC Youth Set to Kickoff the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:03:23 GMT

NCFC Youth Set to Kickoff the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series

From visitRaleigh.com :

Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 31, 2023) – The visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series is the largest annual youth and amateur sporting event in Wake County. The event returns for kickoff November 4-December 3, 2023, with WRAL Soccer Park serving as the headquarter venue and utilizing multiple surrounding area fields. North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) Youth’s annual visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series commences with the Girls Junior Showcase on Saturday, November 4. Several prominent youth and collegiate soccer events will take place simultaneously in the area including the ACC Women’s Soccer Championship , ACC Men’s Soccer Championship and the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship (College Cup) . Combined these events exemplify why Wake County will become the center of the soccer universe over the next month.

NCFC Youth is one of the country's largest and most notable soccer clubs and has been a longstanding contributor to area tourism. The club was recently honored with the prestigious John B. Ross Leadership Award at the 2023 GRCVB Annual Meeting in recognition of their remarkable contributions to both Wake County tourism and the local community. This recognition comes as the club approaches its 50th anniversary in 2024, marking nearly a half-century of dedicated service.

“We are looking forward to welcoming teams from across the country for our annual visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series. The generations of leadership at NCFC Youth have built up the event from a single weekend in 1982 to an event that now spans 4 weekends,” said Gary Buete, NCFC Youth CEO. “The growth and support of our hospitality community – from hotels, and restaurants, to entertainment around town – along with the investment into field development throughout our area has helped ensure that our tournament can sustain for years to come and that visitors have a great experience while they are here.”

As the largest youth sporting event held in the Triangle, NCFC Youth’s visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series is expected to attract more than 1,350 teams from across the country to play over four weekends of competition. Around 1,000 college coaches are expected to attend for recruiting purposes, bringing an estimated total of over 72,000 visitors to the Greater Raleigh area, equaling over 32,000 total room nights and an estimated $27.8 million in economic impact.

“The visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series is a massive economic impact event for this market,” said Scott Dupree, Executive Director of the GRSA. “In fact, it’s the largest annual sporting event anywhere in the Triangle, based on hotel room nights, and there really isn’t a close second. It’s a signature event with a sterling reputation nationally, and we are proud to partner with NCFC Youth in order to help make it happen.”

The complete lineup of events can be found here .

Marshall Hodge Named To United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 13:53:55 GMT

Marshall Hodge Named To United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30

Raleigh, NC (October 19th, 2023) – NCFC Youth is excited to announce that U11-12 Girls Classic Director Marshall Hodge was named to the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30.

Director of Soccer, Paul Forster stated, “I am delighted Marshall has been selected for the USC 30 Under 30 Program. As a club we prioritize hiring talented young coaches and directors. This will be a great opportunity for Marshall to continue his development as a coach and director. I know Marshall will embrace the opportunity and use the knowledge he gains from participating in the program to benefit the players, coaches, and families in our club.”

The 30 Under 30 program, established in 2013, announces a class each year of 15 female and 15 male coaches who have demonstrated leadership in both developing soccer players and enhancing the game. The program is designed to be a year-long education and mentorship opportunity for young coaches in the profession. Coaches are paired with mentors and other young coaches, are able to attend convention and education courses at a discounted rate, as well as joining a group of 30 Under 30 alumni.

“I’m very grateful for the daily and unique opportunities I have with NCFC Youth and NC Courage Academy,” said Hodge, “Being a part of the 30 Under 30 program will hopefully take me another step closer to my goal of providing our young players with a positive, fulfilling experience as athletes and people.”The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

NCFC Youth Welcomes Daniel Treus to Goalkeeping Staff

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:35:17 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Daniel Treus to Goalkeeping Staff
Stephen Palmer named new Goalkeeping Director; Giovanni Solis entering his 5 ^th year with Club

NCFC Youth is excited to announce the addition of Daniel Treus to our Goalkeeping Department as an Assistant Director. Treus joins Stephen Palmer, now Director of Goalkeeping, and Giovanni Solis, Assistant Director of Goalkeeping, to round out the full-time goalkeeping staff.

Daniel Treus, Assistant Director of Goalkeeping

Treus comes to NCFC Youth from New York where he spent the past few seasons (2021-2023) with the New York Red Bulls. Treus held multiple roles at the Red Bulls including Youth Programs coach, Operations Assistant, and most recently, Academy Assistant Goalkeeper Coach. Treus brings experience in curriculum development, player analysis and film study, and coaching and talent development that will serve the entire goalkeeping department and its players well.

Treus is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta (B.S., Sports & Business Management). He’s bilingual (fluent in Spanish), and he currently holds his USSF “D” License and USC Goalkeeping Diploma. He is currently working on earning his USSF “C” License.

Treus will work alongside Director of Goalkeeping, Stephen Palmer, and Assistant Director, Giovanni Solis to support the club’s continued development of goalkeepers.

Stephen Palmer, Director of Goalkeeping

Palmer, originally from Birmingham, England, joined NCFC Youth in August 2022 as an Assistant Goalkeeping Director. During his first year with the club, Palmer worked with the NCFC Academy and NC Courage Academy goalkeepers, while also overseeing the progression & development of Classic Goalkeepers. As he transitions to his new role, he’ll be working with Treus and Solis to support the development needs of all goalkeepers at NCFC.

Prior to joining NCFC Youth, Palmer spent nearly 10 years with the New York Red Bulls where he held multiple roles including U23 Goalkeeping Coach, Assistant First Team Goalkeeping Coach, Pre-Academy and Academy Goalkeeping Coach. He brings a wealth of experience in both player and goalkeeper youth to pro Development.

Giovanni Solis, Assistant Director of Goalkeeping
Solis will enter his 5 ^th year with the club in January 2024. He’s been a staple of our goalkeeping department the past 4 years, providing training and development feedback to Classic, ECNL, Academy level goalkeepers as well as the U23 teams. He’s also the primary lead on camps, Clinics, and Supplemental Training opportunities for goalkeepers.

Originally from Clayton, Solis is a product of the club. He was a goalkeeper within the Classic program (U14-U18) before being invited into the NCFC Academy his senior season. He went on to play collegiately at Louisburg College, UNC-Asheville, and Appalachian State.

The Goalkeeping Department is supported throughout the year by more than a dozen part-time goalkeeping coaches who are passionate about supporting the growth and development of all goalkeepers – from the grassroots level up through the Academy.

NCFC Youth Joins the Fight Against Breast Cancer for Month of October

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:47:25 GMT

NCFC Youth Joins the Fight Against Breast Cancer for Month of October
Players to Wear Pink Socks with Portion of Sales to Support Pretty in Pink Foundation

For the month of October, NCFC Youth is going pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are engaging our 16,000+ players, 1,500+ coaches, parents, and extended network to be part of the conversation around breast cancer, education & awareness, research, and treatment. In addition, we will be supporting and spotlighting the Pretty in Pink Foundation, an NC founded organization supporting North Carolinians in their treatment of breast cancer.

1 in 8 women in her lifetime, approximately 13% of the female population in the U.S, will get breast cancer. We know many have already faced the toughest battle in the fight against breast cancer, some are in it now, and some will be down the road.

To join in the conversation and fight against breast cancer, NCFC Youth is encouraging players to wear pink socks for training the month of October. If full teams choose to, they are also permitted to wear pink socks during games this month. Our staff will also be supporting the awareness campaign through a pink logo shirt that you will see on the sidelines throughout the month. We also encourage parents and spectators to show us your pink while you cheer on your players and teams this month.

In addition, NCFC Youth has collaborated with soccer.com to donate a portion of all pink socks purchased through soccer.com to Pretty in Pink Foundation . Pretty in Pink Foundation’s mission is to provide uninsured and under-insured breast cancer patients in North Carolina with financial assistance for quality, life-saving medical treatment. Of the nearly, 11,600 North Carolinians expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, nearly 20% of them will qualify for Pretty In Pink’s Foundation support and will require a collective $6 million to support the treatment needs of these individuals.

Socks are shipping on the same day from soccer.com, so it’s not too late to join in and support. To purchase your socks through soccer.com, click here. Use code NCFC5 at checkout for $5 shipping . Note, players can wear pink socks they have or that have been purchased from somewhere else, but only socks purchased through soccer.com will support our collective donation to Pretty in Pink Foundation. If you’d like to make a direct donation to Pretty in Pink Foundation, click here.

We will continue to add different ways we are joining the conversation during Breast Cancer Awareness Month as we move throughout the month. We’ll have personal stories to share, opportunities to support with your own “pink purchase”, and more.

Here are some fast facts about breast cancer from BreastCancer.Org:

Breast cancer accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer in the world.
In 2023, it is estimated there will be nearly 298,000 cases of breast cancer in women, representing 15% of all new cancer cases in the United States.
Men can also get breast cancer; in 2023, it is estimated that there will be 2,800 new cases of breast cancer in men
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women, and female breast cancer is the 4 ^th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
Research and treatment advancements have raised the five-year survival rate to 90.8% (2013-2019 data)
For close to forty years, the nation has observed October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

We are glad to use our platform and reach to engage in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign and amplify various messages from community health partners and organizations (like Pretty in Pink Foundation) who are committed to the treatment of and fight against breast cancer. Through this campaign, we want to celebrate the lives of those who have fought breast cancer and remind those that are fighting or will fight, that they have an army of 16,000+ players and their families, coaches, and many more supporting them in their journey.

WakeMed Adds Additional Locations

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 21:44:01 GMT

WakeMed Urgent Care & Emergency Departments

Know Where to Go for Care: Orthopaedic Urgent Care or Emergency Department

Injured knee, sprained ankle or possible broken bone? Where is the best place to get the care you need? Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out where to go in the event of an orthpaedic injury.

The vast majority of orthopaedic injuries can be safely treated at an urgent care. As long as there isn’t severe arm or leg deformities, excessive bleeding or life threating concerns, urgent care is the best option for treatment.

Through a collaboration with Wake Orthopaedics and WakeMed Urgent Care , patients have an affordable and efficient alternative to the ED for the most common orthopaedic injuries. At orthopaedic urgent care , you can get immediate, specialized treatment for:

Sports injuries
Sprains, strains & discolorations
Fractures
Ligament tears
Cast or splint issues
Cuts/lacerations
Painful, swollen joints
Pediatric injuries

If you think your injury may be life-threating ALWAYS choose the emergency department instead of an urgent care. The emergency department is a better choice for more severe orthopaedic injuries and offers expanded resources for treatment if:

Your arm or leg is severely crooked
Bone has broken through the skin
There has been significant blood loss
There are other complicating factors such as multiple injuries, severe concussion or head injury

For a quick reference guide to keep on hand, download (hyperlink) this Urgent Care & Emergency Department map.

NCFC Youth Honored with Prestigious John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:04:15 GMT

NCFC Youth Honored with Prestigious John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award at 2023 GRCVB Annual Meeting

Recognizing Nearly Half a Century of Excellence the Award Celebrates NCFC Youth's Commitment to Soccer and Wake County Tourism

Raleigh, NC (August 17, 2023) - In recognition of its outstanding contributions to the Wake County tourism industry and community, North Carolina Football Club Youth (NCFC Youth) was honored with the esteemed John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award at the 2023 Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting today.

NCFC Youth is well-known as the nation's largest local-serving youth soccer club. Beyond its commitment to nurturing soccer talent, it has continually driven Raleigh's tourism sector forward. NCFC Youth is responsible for many state-, regional- and national-level events each year in Wake County. The notable visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, which attracts more than 1500 teams and 700+ college coaches across four weekends of play, brought in an impressive $27.4 million in visitor spending to Wake County last year. This event alone accounted for a remarkable 30,000 hotel rooms booked across the region.

The award also celebrates NCFC Youth’s longstanding commitment to serving as a valuable community partner. The club distributes more than $400,000 each year through financial aid to qualifying players and families to ensure all kids have access to play. The club’s annual Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 tournament is a 100% charitable event that has raised over $100,000 for deserving non-profit organizations supporting the health, education, and broader underserved population needs of the youth in our community. NCFC Youth also operates outreach programs such as TOPSoccer and La Liga to provide more opportunities for access to the game. Another celebration is on the horizon as NCFC Youth prepares to commemorate its golden jubilee in 2024, marking 50 years of sporting excellence and community impact.

Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth, expressed his gratitude, stating, "We are deeply honored to receive the John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award, a recognition that not only celebrates our commitment to soccer but also our dedication to Raleigh and the wider Wake County community. This award is a testament to the hard work and passion of every individual at NCFC Youth. As we approach our 50th year, we remain committed to increasing access to the game, fostering young talent, hosting premier events, and continuing our positive impact on the local community and economy."

The John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award was established in 1996 to recognize an outstanding executive management-level individual (or group) who displays exceptional leadership skills to positively impact the Wake County hospitality industry and community. The award is given in honor of John Ross, who was the GRCVB Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1995-96. The award exemplifies the courage, leadership, dedication, and inspiration that Ross portrayed in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years.

About NCFC Youth:

Since 1974, NCFC Youth has been committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 16,000 players and 800 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com .

NCFC Youth in Australia

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:05:09 GMT

NCFC Youth Players and Families in Australia!

With the help from WorldStrides , NCFC Youth organized a trip for 70+ players and families to Australia to have the ultimate fan and player experience. Four groups from different NCFC Youth teams went on this incredible journey: Recreation, Challenge, ECNL/ECNL RL U13/U14, and ECNL/ECNL RL U15+. These groups spent two weeks in the outback where they saw amazing sights like the Sydney Opera House, attended FIFA Women's World Cup matches, caught some waves at Bondi Beach, played matches against local Australian youth clubs, met Paddington the Koala, and had the ultimate Aussie experience.

Our players had a great time and made extraordinary memories and friends while they were down under. Click here to hear what our players favorite moments in Australia .

Dick's Sporting Goods Shop Weekend (August 11 - 14)

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:48:50 GMT

Save the date! Dick's Sporting Goods Shop Weekend will be August 11th - 14th. Get 20% off in-store using this coupon at checkout.

Get all the gear and apparel you need for the Fall 2023 season!

NCFC Youth Announces Partnership with Soccer Parenting

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:16:20 GMT

NCFC Youth Parents to Receive Free Membership to Soccer Parenting Resource Center

We are thrilled to announce a transformative partnership between NCFC Youth and the Soccer Parent Resource Center (SPRC). The Soccer Parent Resource Center is a comprehensive platform providing valuable resources, expert guidance, and a supportive community for parents of young athletes in the world of youth soccer.

At NCFC Youth, we believe in nurturing not only the talents of our young players but also the supportive network of parents who play an integral role in their development. Through our partnership with SPRC, we are committed to empowering parents with the knowledge, resources, and community they need to be exceptional soccer parents.

The benefits of the Soccer Parent Resource Center platform are extensive and will be accessible to all parents within our club at no cost. Here's what our valued parents and coaches can look forward to:

Expert Guidance : Gain access to a treasure trove of expert advice, articles, and resources from seasoned coaches and professionals in the youth sports realm. Equip yourself with invaluable insights to support your child's athletic growth and overall well-being.

Age-Appropriate Content : The SPRC platform tailors its resources to meet the specific needs of young athletes at different stages of development. Whether you have a budding soccer star or a newcomer to the sport, you'll find relevant and age-specific information.

Engaging Webinars : Join live webinars hosted by experts, where you can participate in interactive sessions and get answers to your burning questions. These webinars are designed to address common challenges and provide personalized advice to help you navigate your role as a soccer parent effectively.

Vibrant Community Forum : Connect with fellow parents and families in our NCFC Youth community through the SPRC's dedicated forum. Share experiences, exchange ideas, and create lasting connections with others who understand the joys and challenges of being a soccer parent.

All parents who opted into the program during their registration will automatically have accounts created for them on the Soccer Parent Resource Center platform. Please check your spam folder to ensure you receive the account instructions. Anyone can join for free (including parents who opted in but don’t see the account instructions) using the NCFC Youth Free Registration link .

To explore this game-changing partnership and access the plethora of resources available, please visit our dedicated Soccer Parent Resource Center webpage .

Thank you for being an essential part of the NCFC Youth family. Together, let's elevate the soccer experience for our young players and build a stronger, connected community of soccer parents.

NCFC Academy Staff Announces 2023-2024 Coaching Staff

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:35:50 GMT

NCFC Academy Staff Announces 2023-2024 Coaching Staff
Gabriel Colon & Rusty Scarborough Join Academy Staff

John Bradford, NCFC Academy Director and North Carolina FC Head Coach, announces the 2023-2024 Academy Coaching and Leadership Staff, which includes two new additions: Gabriel Colon and Rusty Scarborough. Colon will be the NCFC Academy Youth Development Director and team coach and Scarborough returns to NCFC as an Academy Staff Coach.

Colon joins NCFC Youth from Richmond United where he served as Club Administrator for the U23 Men’s team and the U13-U19 Boys program. He served as Head Coach within the club for teams within the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), Club Champions League (CCL) Pro23, and U.S. Soccer Development Academy. He has a track record during his time with New York Red Bulls (2014-2015), Orlando City Youth (2015-2016), Florida’s Olympic Development Program (2019) and Florida Rush (2016-2019; 2020-2022) of developing players that have gone on to play in professional academies, youth national teams, and professional clubs.

“I am excited to add Gabriel Colon to our NCFC Academy Staff in the newly formed role of the Youth Development Director. Gabriel has a strong track record of player development and team success,” said Bradford, NCFC Academy Director. “His recent success with his Richmond United U17 and U16 teams both advancing to Round of 16 of the ECNL National Playoffs, and the 17’s winning today’s ECNL National Championship, is a clear testament to his ability to coach his players to achieve both individual and team success.”

In addition to his team coaching responsibilities, Colon will be the Youth Development Director. Th is a new role within the program where Colon will have technical oversight of the Pre-Academy & U13-U14 Age groups, running combined trainings, and supporting the player pathway throughout the Academy and the entire club. The Youth Development Director Role is part of the ongoing reorganization of the NCFC Boys Academy Program, as well as the club’s reimagined emphasis on top player development.

Colon is originally from Florida and has devoted himself to his coaching education and development. He has his USSF B License, USYS National Youth Certificate, Argentine Football Association B License, United soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, among others.

The NCFC Academy will also welcome back Rusty Scarborough to the program beginning Fall 2023. Scarborough is a veteran coach in the industry, with more than 4 decades of coaching experience, which included a 9-year span (2005-2014) at NCFC Youth (then CASL). During his coaching tenure, he also spent time with Charlotte Independence (2019-2022), IMG Academy (2014-2019), among others while also taking on head coach roles at the college level with Greensboro College and NC Wesleyan.

Scarborough’s on-field success is marked by 14 North Carolina State Championships, 4 USYS Regional Final appearances, 5 National Championship appearances with the US Soccer Development Academy and ECNL, and making the NCAA post-season tournament 4 out of 5 years in his college coach run. He is a 12-time Coach of the Year across varying levels of play. Scarborough holds his USSF A License, Director of Coaching Diploma, and Advanced National Diploma.

"I am excited to join NCFC and the Academy program. NCFC has proven to be one of the top clubs at every level, Youth to Professional. After being at CASL (now NCFC Youth) for 9 plus years, I am honored to rejoin one of the best staffs in the country,” said Scarborough. “In my 41 years coaching, I have been blessed and honored to work with so many great young female and male players, and I look forward to working with NCFC players this season.”

The NCFC Academy and Pre-Academy Staff is rounded out by returning coaches Daniel Sellitti, Jay Williams, Ramon Gallardo, Jr., Cory Elenio, Christopher Harrington, Dewan Bader, and local university coaches and professional players.

See below for the full list of 2023-2024 NCFC Academy Coaching and Leadership Staff:

NCFC Boys Academy Program (U13-U19 Age Groups) Team Coaches

U19 NCFC Academy Team (2005/2006) Christopher Harrington

U17 NCFC Academy Team (2007) Daniel Sellitti

U16 NCFC Academy Team (2008) Christopher Harrington

U15 NCFC Academy Team (2009) Daniel Sellitti

U14 NCFC Academy Team (2010) Gabriel Colon

U13 NCFC Academy North Team (2011) Gabriel Colon

U13 NCFC Academy South Team (2011) Dewan Bader

Additional NCFC Boys Academy Program (U14-U19 Age Groups) Assistant Coaches

Wellington “Pecka” Paeckert – North Carolina FC Professional Player

Carlos Somoano – UNC Men’s Soccer Head Coach

George Kiefer – NC State Men’s Soccer Head Coach

NCFC Boys Pre-Academy Program (U11-U12 Age Groups)

U11 NCFC Academy North Team (2013) Ramon Gallardo, Jr. & Cory Elenio

U11 NCFC Academy South Team (2013) Dewan Bader & Jay Williams

U12 NCFC Academy North Team (2012) Ramon Gallardo, Jr. & Cory Elenio

U12 NCFC Academy South Team (2012) Rusty Scarborough & Jay Williams

Staff Changes & New Hires Going into 2023-2024

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:53:49 GMT

Key Reorganization includes New Role of Director of Coaching Education & Development, New Faces in Director Roles, and New Hires to the Club

NCFC Youth is wrapping up a record breaking 2022-2023 season on-field that welcomed 16,000+ youth players across all levels, regions, and ages of play. These 16,000+ players are led on-field first and foremost by our 1,600+ volunteer and seasonal coaches and supported by our amazing staff and directors who are dedicated to ensuring NCFC Youth lives our mission of providing positive, high quality soccer opportunities at all levels of play.

Included here are some announcements to share as we look forward to welcoming our players, coaches, and families back for the Fall 2023 season:

Bradley Morrison takes on the new role of Director of Coaching Education & Coach Development . Morrison is a USSF A Licensed Coach who has been coaching in our Boys Academy program. Come July 1, he will be invested in supporting all programs in the club with a focus on coach development. This is the first time the club has designated a single hub for all coaching education and coach development. Coaches, and ultimately players, will benefit from a centralized place for development & education, information and resources, learning opportunities, and more.

Kendall Fletcher White moves into ECNL Girls Program. White will coach the U13 & U19 ECNL Girls teams in 2023-2024, while also supporting other teams in the program as an assistant coach. She will officially start in her new role on August 1. She is currently enrolled in her USSF A License course as she continues her coaching education and development. White grew up playing in the club, was a standout at UNC Chapel Hill, and has logged many professional appearances across international and domestic professional women’s leagues.

Hannah Sink is Durham Chapel Hill Girls Classic Director. After dedicating the past year to players, coaches, and families in our Recreation department, Sink is excited to transition into a Regional Director role with the club. She’s been coaching in the Juniors & Classic programs while working in the Recreation department, so this will be an easy transition as she works closely with the Durham Chapel Hill players, coaches, and families to create a great all-around experience. She will continue to be supported by Cindy Cone in this role.

Taylor Adcock returns to full-time as NC Courage Younger Girls Director. Taylor has spent the past few seasons as a team coach for the U12 NC Courage and focusing on her family, which includes her two children, Raymie and Oakes. Beginning July 17, Taylor will be back in a full-time role as the U11/U12 NC Courage Girls Director. Adcock just completed her USSF B License, and we are excited to have her back and engaging with more of our girls players and their families. Taylor is an alum of NCFC Youth. She went on to play at Campbell University and then professionally before returning to the game as a coach.

Brett Malone’s role expands to include being the Elite64 (E64) Boys Director. In addition to serving as the U13-U19 Boys North Regional Director, Malone will be the E64 Boys Director. E64 clubs have a proven track record of developing players and reputations for putting the players first on and off the field. NCFC Youth is proud to be part of this program on the boys side, where prominent clubs across the country have made a commitment to making it a strong program. Malone has his USSF A License, and prior to taking on a Regional Director Role, Malone has been the Recreation Director, Challenge Director and Staff Coach in Classic & ECNL Boys.

Raphael Galliou to be Holly Springs & Fuquay Varina Classic Director. Raphael has spent the past few seasons in our Recreation department as an area administrator, while also coaching in the Juniors & Classic programs. Prior to joining NCFC Youth full-time, Galliou was a part-time coach in the Juniors program. His passion for coaching began while he was attending Appalachian State University, and he started coaching at High Country Soccer Association while there. He played youth soccer in France and Germany and is an NCFC Youth (CASL 96 Premier Black) Alum. Galliou has his “C” Coaching License and is preparing to sign up to pursue his “B” license soon.

Cindy Cone will be taking on a new role within the club as she continues her commitment as the President of U.S. Soccer. Cone will continue to support Hannah Sink in her transition to Durham Chapel Hill region until her new role is announced.

The Recreation Department welcomes new hires Christine Rocchio, Glendon Young, and Danny Carlyon . Christine has supported our Recreation department on a part-time basis and has also been a coach in our Juniors program. She has hit the ground running within our Recreation department since she started June 12. Glendon joined NCFC Youth as a seasonal staff coach 18 months ago and has been coaching in our Juniors and JDP programs. He moved to the U.S. in 2020 from Jamaica and spent some time working with Soccer Shots prior to joining us full-time. Danny moves into a full-time role after being a part-time seasonal coach in our Juniors and Classic program for several years. All are in the office and excited to bring their passion for the game to our Recreation players, families, and coaches.

More announcements will be made as we get closer to the fall season and round out our staff for the 2023-2024 year.

2008 Red North G Headed to US Youth Soccer 2023 National Presidents Cup!

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:22:31 GMT

2008 Red North G and Coach Derek Leader Head to the 2023 National Presidents Cup

2008 Red North G and Coach Derek Leader are headed to the United States Youth Soccer 2023 National Presidents Cup in Wichita, Kansas! The team has worked incredibly hard this season and the girls are excited to compete against teams representing their regions from across the country including Colorado, Utah, Illinois, Missouri, and more.

The video above is an inside look on how the team prepares to bring home the National Championship! The video features Tryne Morgan, Daphne Wagner, Jacqueline Leader, Audrey Keith, and Coach Derek Leader.

Congratulations and good luck!

Meet Our Summer Marketing Intern

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:07:14 GMT

Meet Our Summer Marketing Intern, Ashley Macfarlane

Hey Everyone! My name is Ashley Macfarlane, and I am one of the NCFC Youth Interns this summer. I assist with the NCFC Youth Marketing team and love all things social media! I am a rising sophomore in college and play Division 1 soccer at The University of North Carolina at Asheville.

NCFC Youth has definitely made a significant impact on my life. It has helped shape me into the person I am today. I began my soccer career at the age of five, in the CASL Recreation program. This is where I found my true love of soccer! I continued to play in the Challenge program and played for two different teams over three seasons total. Then, I decided to transition into the Classic/ECNL program. This is where my love of soccer turned into a passion and obsession. I had amazing coaches that helped me develop my skills and learn how to strive for greatness.

My journey has taught me so much. I have learned perseverance, consistency, determination and teamwork. I have also been taught to respect and trust the process. I began my soccer career on the lowest team and worked my way up! Working hard to achieve your goals is an incredible life lesson and something NCFC Youth has fostered in so many other players over the years. I believe that it is vital and important when playing any sport to always remember that "everything happens for a reason." My journey was absolutely amazing, and I would not trade it for the world!

Once I realized that I wanted to continue my career past high school and play collegiately, I consulted with NCFC coaches and staff. NCFC Youth was a great support system throughout the recruiting process, especially during covid when there was less playing and more time to really focus on personal goals and growth. With help from various coaches, I committed to a great school and the perfect program for me!

NCFC Youth not only gave me the opportunity to train, compete, and develop, but the connections I made within this club are those that I will cherish forever. I met some of my best friends, was introduced to amazing people, and taught by knowledgeable coaches. My experience has been so positive that I decided to return home after my freshman year of college to intern with NCFC Youth. I have the pleasure of working with such an incredible team within the club. In addition, I have been able to help coach and work with younger players in the club for the last five years. I have assisted with the Kickstarters program, Summer Camps, Recruiting events, various volunteer opportunities, tryout clinics, and more! I believe that if you are willing and able that you should try to give back to young players and develop a love of soccer for others in the community. It is a rewarding experience for you and the next generation of players as well!

Remember.... if you see me at the fields, make sure to swing by and say hello. I am excited to be involved this summer with NCFC Youth and I look forward to more memorable adventures. WORK HARD AND DREAM BIG!!!

First Ever Connections for Girls

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:05:49 GMT

First Ever Connections for Girls

We had our first ever Connections for Girls, June 19th - 23th which focused on helping female athletes' with their technical, physical, and psychological development. The girls participated in training sessions run by an all-female staff which consisted of drills, scrimmages, and other technical work. During training breaks, participants heard from incredible speakers and got to learn/grow their knowledge about topics like nutrition, body positivity, benefits of stretching, pros and cons of being a professional athlete, building confidence, and more. Girls got to interact with our speakers and participate in Q&A sessions and ask them about advice, their experience and specialities.

Such a great week with a fantastic group of girls and many experiences. Thank you to all the guest speakers for coming out and to all our participants!

Learn more about Connections for Girls here

Participants heard from the following speakers throughout the week:

Cindy Parlow Cone: Current (and first) female President of U.S. Soccer; highly decorated U.S. Women’s National Team Player (World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medal winner), Four-time All American at UNC, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, NCFC Youth staff coach, For full bio, click here.
Emma Thomson: Current NC Courage Assistant Coach, England youth national team player, former professional soccer player, former college coach, standout collegiate player. For full bio, click here.
Kendall Fletcher : Home-grown talent who played with the club as a youth player, graduated from Apex High School, then on to UNC in 2002 where she was an impact player during her 4 years and was a starter on the 2003 NCAA Championship team that went 27-0-0 on the season. Played professionally in the United States and internationally. Current NCFC Youth staff coach for our ECNL program entering the 2023 season.
Hanna Gardner : Former NCFC Youth player and standout defender for UNC Tarheels women’s soccer 2012-2016. Helped lead the Tar Heels to 2012 NCAA National Championship. All-ACC Freshman Team Selection. Team Captain during her Redshirt Senior Year. Member of U.S. U20 National Team player. Recently played on team US Women at The Soccer Tournament. Currently Operations Associate for Goals for Girls, which uses soccer to teach young women leadership and inspire community change.
Luke Hudson, PT, DPT, CSCS - Director of Sports Rehab & Injury Prevention Wake Orthopaedics: Luke Hudson will lead the girls through the FIFA 11+ warmup designed to reduce injuries by up to 50 percent when performed correctly in addition to sharing some specific information to girls players and injury prevention.
Lindsay LaBennett: Lindsay has made her mark in the sports space working at Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent management company. She graduated from North Carolina A&T and received her Master's at Ohio University. She is currently the AVP of Equity & Inclusion in the company, working with brands, athletes, and properties. She'll share her passion for supporting young women finding their voice, showing up for each other, being an ally for each other on and off the field, and more.
Kristy Campbell: Kristy is a former NCFC Youth player who went on to play at UNC Charlotte, where she logged 90 minutes in every match during her senior (2022) year anchoring the back line. During her time at UNC-Charlotte, she was an impact player from her Freshman year, named Team MVP, and selected to the All-Conference Freshman Team.
Jess Silverman, PsyD : NCFC Youth has teamed up with Voice in Sport to bring in Jess, a Licensed Clinical Sports Psychologist, to discuss "Comparison in Sport" - this session will explore why we are inclined to compare ourselves to others, the impacts of comparison, and most importantly, how girls can develop confidence in themselves, their bodies, and their abilities.
Reilly Beatty, MS, RD, CSSD : Reilly is a registered Sports Dietician and Performance Nutritionist. She's a former NCFC Youth player and owner of Reilly Beatty Sports Nutrition LLC. She'll share information and resources on fueling your body for success on and off the field, increasing energy, optimizing nutrition and more!

NCFC Youth Turns 50 in 2024

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:24:04 GMT

In 2024, NCFC Youth turns 50! As we prepare for this landmark year, we are unveiling a new 50th Anniversary logo to carry us through the 2024 year. The logo will roll out on uniforms for the Fall 2023 season as we make the turn into the new year.

We'll spend the next half of the year sharing our 50th Anniversary plans and celebrations with all of you. We'll need your help along the way to share pictures, videos, and stories.

You can stay up to date on all things 50th Anniversary at www.NCFCYouth.com/anniversary . Be a part of this milestone (former CASL, TFCA, & NCFC Youth players, coaches, parents, staff, etc.) and help us build an alumni database and dig up your old pictures/videos.

Submit your information and help us archive our history here

Celebrating 50 years of soccer fun, community, innovation, passion, and excellence in the greater Triangle area. Get an inside look into our 50th Anniversary logo which will be featured on our Fall 2023 uniform kits.

Spring 2023 Shield Award Recipient Night

Tue, 16 May 2023 15:47:42 GMT

Spring 2023 Shield Award Night

On Saturday, May 6th, 2023 we had an exciting night at our seasonal Shield Award Night! More than 850 players have been recognized this season for their display of NCFC Youth’s core values: Have fun, commit to excellence, cultivate community, encourage innovation, and demonstrate passion. More than 530 of those recipients attended and got on-field recognition during halftime at the North Carolina Courage match! Recipients got to attend Fan Fest before the match to receive their Shield Award memento and take part in inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, vendors, interactive games and more. At half-time, our Shield Award recipients were recognized in front of a stadium of friends, family, and fans! The NC Courage also had fifth largest regular season crown in club history this night with the help of our Shield Award recipients, their family and friends in attendance.

Congratulations to our Shield Award Recipients!

Thank you to our Shield Award sponsor, Blue Cross NC, for helping us recognize players for their sportsmanship, positive attitude, respect and more. See the full list of recipients here.

Get a look into Shield Award Night by clicking here!

WakeMed Urgent Care & Emergency Departments Wake Orthopaedics Urgent Care

Fri, 05 May 2023 15:36:31 GMT

Have an Injury this Season? WakeMed and Wake Orthopaedics are Here for You

Injured knee, sprained ankle or possible broken bone? Where is the best place to get the care you need?

Sometimes it’s obvious when to head to the emergency room. At other times, it can be more difficult to tell. Together with WakeMed, Wake Orthopaedics brings dedicated orthopaedic urgent care to the community, serving children and adults, seven days a week (including after-hours and holidays) in multiple Wake County locations providing an affordable and efficient alternative to the ER for the most common orthopaedic injuries. We offer a seamless connection to WakeMed for any patient needing specialty care or further treatment.

The vast majority of orthopaedic injuries can be safely treated at an urgent care . As long as there aren't severe arm or leg deformities, excessing bleeding or life-threatening concerns, orthopaedic urgent care is the best option for treatment. The orthopaedic providers at Wake Orthopaedics are experienced in treating all parts of the body and sports-related injuries including:

Sprains & strains
Fractures
Ligament tears
Cast or splint issues
Cuts/lacerations
Painful, swollen joints
Pediatric injuries

If you think that your injury may be life-threatening ALWAYS choose the emergency department for care. The emergency department is a better choice for more severe orthopaedic injuries, and it offers better resources for treatment. For children with significant injuries, such as larger cuts, a broken bone through the skin, or angulation deformities of their arms and legs, the emergency room offers appropriate sedation and the most comfortable and stress-free treatment environment. Also, unlike urgent care locations, emergency departments are open 24/7 and feature the widest range of services and access to medical specialists.

Download this quick reference guide to help you figure out where to go in the event of an orthopaedic injury or emergency.

Thank you to our partners at Wake Med and Wake Orthopaedics for keeping our players safe and well.

North Carolina FC Signs Twelve NCFC Academy Players to USL Academy Contracts

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:03:36 GMT

North Carolina FC Signs Twelve NCFC Academy Players to USL Academy Contracts

CARY, NC (April 26, 2023) – North Carolina FC has signed twelve players from the NCFC Academy to USL Academy contracts, the club announced today. Raul Avalos Jr., Keanan Bader, Andrew Fox, Tyden Frame, Lazaro Gonzalez Jr., Lucas Kelly, Brendan Lambe, Christian Lee, John McDowell, Cristian Milazzo, Jack Rodelli, and Danny Valle are eligible to play in first-team matches in USL League One while maintaining their college eligibility.

“I’m so proud of these individuals for earning this opportunity with North Carolina FC and our first team,” said North Carolina FC head coach John Bradford. Many of these players have been in the NCFC Youth and NCFC Academy system for many years and their continued development on and off the field has been a joy to see. This has become a great celebration for our club every year to recognize a significant milestone in each of these players young careers. I appreciate the support of our club’s leadership, in both the Professional and Academy / Youth environments, to continue to uphold our Youth-to-Pro mission for top player development.”

Raul Avalos Jr. joins North Carolina FC from the D.C. United Youth Academy and has represented El Salvador at the youth level. The cousin of North Carolina FC defender Nelson Flores Blanco, Avalos has spent time training with the first team since joining the Academy three months ago.

“I felt I have improved a lot in the three months training with the first team since I joined NCFC,” Avalos said. “All the guys are great players and great people, and they help guide me and give their feedback on what I can improve. Coach Bradford & McGinty have been a big help in my development with the first team.”

Keanan Bader has been a part of the NCFC Academy for five seasons, notably scoring three goals and picking up two assists in U16 ECNL Nationals Group Play. Bader is committed to play college soccer at UNC Greensboro after graduating.

“Being in the professional environment has helped my development in a number of ways,” Bader said. “Technically, the game is played at a higher pace which can be really hard to adapt to. Tactically, there are more complex movements and things you have to think about while you play that aren’t always apparent at the youth level.”

Andrew Fox is in his third season as a part of the NCFC Academy and was named to the NCFC Leadership Team in both 2021-2022. The defender is committed to play college soccer at NC State, joining many fellow NCFC Academy alumni.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to play with the North Carolina FC first team,” Fox said. “I am looking forward to challenging myself and learning from the players on the team. The talent of the first team players as well as the speed and precision of play, and quick decisions have helped me grow as a player and have helped me prepare for college.”

Tyden Frame is one of the longest tenured NCFC Academy and Youth members, having been in the Youth for 13 years and the Academy for seven. The younger brother of first team member Cole Frame, Tyden plays further back in the midfield.

“Training and playing in the professional environment has helped my speed of play greatly,” Frame said. “The difference in time between the U19 level and the pro level on the ball is significant. The opportunity to train with our pro team has helped me learn to think faster and anticipate the game more and more which has helped me perform even better for our U19 Academy team.”

Lazaro Gonzalez Jr. is in his sixth season with the NCFC Academy and is also committed to play college soccer at NC State. Gonzalez has received USMNT youth call ups, training with the youth system at multiple camps.

“It’s truly a blessing to have signed with the North Carolina FC first team,” Gonzalez said. “Having played for this club for many years and getting this opportunity is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Lucas Kelly was the captain of the Charlotte FC U17 team but made the decision to move to the NCFC Youth and Academy systems. Now committed to play soccer at Liberty University, Kelly has made the Generation Adidas Cup and MLS Next playoff quarterfinals in his career.

“It is an amazing opportunity and blessing to sign an academy contract with NCFC and have the chance to train and be surrounded by high level players and coaches,” Kelly said.

Brendan Lambe is in his seventh season with NCFC Youth and fourth with the Academy. The midfielder is also committed to play college soccer in the ACC but is headed out of state to the University of Virginia.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to sign with the NCFC first team and to train and play at a level that will help me be successful in the future,” Lambe said.”

Christian Lee has been in the NCFC Youth system for 12 years and the Academy for seven. Lee has captained both the U15 and U16 Academy teams and was named ECNL Mid-Atlantic First Team All-Conference in both U16 and U17. The midfielder is committed to play at UNC Charlotte.

“I’m very grateful and blessed to be granted with this opportunity,” Lee said. “This opportunity provides a platform for me to train in the best environment in the area, and further my development as a player and person.”

John McDowell is in his seventh season with the NCFC Academy and has spent much of the preseason training with the NCFC first team. McDowell is the NCFC Academy captain, has been named recipient of the Hamilton Sportsmanship Award twice, and has been named to the ECNL National Camp Best XI. The midfielder is committed to play college soccer at UNC.

“Training in the professional environment everyday has helped me to develop my game both mentally and physically,” McDowell said. “With the faster speed of play, I am forced to think and move faster on and off the ball. I am able to see the actions of my pro teammates, asking questions and learning from them. I strive to be a full time pro some day, so adapting to the environment and then making an impact at that level is important. As I've grown closer to the players, I have been able to have detailed conversations about specific things I can improve on. Being a midfielder, I like to hang around the other midfielders during small group work to train various cuts, turns, and other actions that these players have had success with at a high level. Being in this environment and playing with this group continues to provide ongoing opportunities for improvement and development.”

Cristian Milazzo has been with the NCFC Youth system for 16 years, and the Academy for seven. He has been a five-time recipient of the Hamilton Sportsmanship Award/Shield Award, was a 2022 Mid-Atlantic Cup Champion at U19 level and has made seven appearances in USL League Two with the U23s.

“Having the opportunity to sign an Academy Contract with the first team at North Carolina FC means the world to me,” Milazzo said. “I have been a part of this club for as long as I can remember and this has always been one of my biggest goals growing up in the Academy. When I was little I was a Carolina Railhawks season ticket holder and have been a big supporter of this club all throughout my life, so having this opportunity now is such a massive honor and privilege that I do not take lightly. I hope to help the team be successful in every way that I can so that the fans have a lot to cheer about this year.”

Jack Rodelli has been with the NCFC Academy for six seasons. The midfielder is committed to play college soccer at Wofford.

“To sign an academy contract with the club I’ve grown up with is an incredible feeling and an opportunity that I am grateful for,” Rodelli said.

At just 15-years-old, Danny Valle is the youngest of the 2023 Academy signings. Valle has been with NCFC Youth for five seasons and the Academy for four. In the 2023 preseason, Valle scored in a first team match against NYCFC II.

“I am extremely happy to get this opportunity to sign with the first team,” Valle said. “My journey begins here.”

College Commitment 2023

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:24:40 GMT

NCFC Youth's College Commitment Night

On Sunday, April 16th, 2023 we celebrated some of our college committed seniors at our College Commitment Night at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. We had over 50 seniors commit this year from our Academy, ECNL, ECNL RL, and Classic programs. Some of our players, John McDowell (U19 NCFC Academy), Luke Lillis (2004/2005 ECNL), and Kayly Pastrana-Vega (2004 Elite G) presented and shared beautiful stories with us about their experiences and time with our club. Such an incredible and memorable evening celebrating the accomplishments of these players. Parent, coaches, and staff members came from all of the Triangle to come support and wish our seniors luck as they prepare to play at the college level.

Congratulations to all of our college committed seniors! We wish you luck in your futures and look forward to seeing the places you go!

Click here to view the full list of our college committed seniors

Dick's Sporting Goods Shop Weekend - Get 20% Off at Dick's Sporting Goods!

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:06:46 GMT

Dick's Sporting Good's Shop Weekend

Get 20% off at Dick's Sporting Goods!

This season, NCFC Youth’s exclusive Dick’s Sporting Goods shop weekend is February 17th -20th . Over these four days, families will receive 20% off store-wide (in-store). The in-store coupon is valid at all Triangle area Dick’s Sporting Goods locations. Take advantage of this great offer to gear up for the spring season and shop for any other sporting goods needs. Dick’s Sporting Goods Shop Weekend coupon

TOPSoccer Buddy, Gabby Sadosky, Shares Her Experience

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:55:10 GMT

NCFC Youth Player, Gabby Sadosky, Shares Her Memorable Experience as a TOPSoccer Buddy

By: Presley Johnson, NCFC Youth Ambassador

Hi, I’m Presley Johnson, and I play for U19 NCFC ECNL, am an NCFC Youth Ambassador and a TOPSoccer buddy. I took the time to interview Gabby Sadosky. She currently plays for NCFC Youth on U15 NCFC ECNL and is also a TOPSoccer buddy. I interviewed Gabby about her awesome experience being a TOPSoccer buddy. TOPSoccer is an outreach program for soccer. It is a recreational sports program for children with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Gabby and I have both really enjoyed being a TOPSoccer buddy and we hope this blog catches athlete's attention to become a buddy as well. Below you can find my interview questions and Gabby’s responses.

What do you enjoy most about being a TOPSoccer buddy?

I enjoy being a TOPSoccer buddy for so many reasons such as the impact it makes. Being a TOPSoccer buddy is showing these kids how amazing they are and helping them play soccer. I really enjoy it because it gives me 1 on 1 time to help someone with soccer who may not be receiving that help with soccer. I really enjoy being a buddy because you get to know your athlete and know them as a person and you're really gaining a friend.

What is your favorite memory being a TOPSoccer buddy?

My favorite memory of my soccer buddy was in our final game my buddy picked the ball up and scored a goal. Another volunteer then told me about how my buddy always looks into my eyes and smiles when I talk to him. This was a very wholesome moment for me because it made me realize the importance of how you can help make these buddies so happy.

How long have you been playing soccer?

I have been playing soccer for 10 years.

How did you get involved with the program?

I got involved with TOPSoccer through other friends who had done it before and really enjoyed the program.

What location do you help with TOPSoccer?

I help with the WRAL location.

Would you recommend TOPSoccer to your friends?

Absolutely! I think everyone should get involved with the program because it is very rewarding for both the buddies and the athletes. I had a really good experience this season and think everyone should come check it out.

How long have you been a TOPSoccer buddy?

I have been a buddy for one year.

Thank you, Gabby, for for sharing your experience with me and being a part of the TOPSoccer program!

Click the link below to learn more and get involved with NCFC Youth's TOPSoccer program .

Christopher Harrington Joins NCFC Boys Academy Staff

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:02:04 GMT

Christopher Harrington Joining NCFC Youth and the NCFC Boys Academy Program
Harrington will bring his international experience to NCFC in January 2023

NCFC Youth is excited to announce Christopher Harrington as the newest addition to the NCFC Boys Academy Staff. Harrington will start with the club in the new year, where he will take over as Head Coach for the U14 & U17 NCFC Academy teams. Additionally, he will work with the North Carolina FC 23’s (USL-2) and the North Carolina FC 1 ^st team as an assistant Coach.

Harrington comes to NCFC Youth from Iceland, where his last role was Head Coach of KR Reykjavík in the Besta Deild (The Top Professional league in Iceland). Prior to being named the Head Coach of the 1 ^st team for KR Reykjavík, Harrington held roles in the KR Academy as the Head Coach of the U19 Academy Team and U16 Academy Teams. During his time at KR Reykjavik, multiple academy players progressed to the first team and several earned selection to Icelandic Youth National Teams. He is also currently a remote Scout for Hobro IK in Denmark (NordicBet League) where he is responsible for covering players below the age of 24 in the Scandinavia region. Prior to KR Reykjavik, Christopher worked in Academy Programs and Professional Clubs across Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, serving as Head Coach, Academy Director, and Academy Team Head Coach.

“I am thrilled to add Christopher Harrington to our North Carolina FC Academy Program and North Carolina 1 ^st Team staff going into 2023,” said John Bradford, NCFC Academy Director and Head Coach of North Carolina FC. “Through conversations with Christopher to fully understand his coaching philosophy and viewing his trainings, it was clear that his focus on individual player development, matched with team success, is an excellent fit for all levels of our club at North Carolina FC. I’m confident our players will benefit from his addition to our staff.”

Originally from Ireland where his soccer playing days started, Harrington eventually came to the United States to play collegiate soccer at Lambuth University (2005-2009). Harrington then went on to play professionally in Canada and Iceland and after retiring from playing, he began coaching in Tennessee. In 2016, he was the youngest head coach in the NPSL when he oversaw Memphis City FC.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone at NCFC for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the NCFC family. After going through the process and speaking several times to John Bradford, it was clear to me that his and the club’s philosophy aligned with my values and beliefs,” said Harrington. “It is refreshing to see a club believe in and put so much into its Academy and the players, in order to progress them into the 1 ^st team or beyond. In terms of the setup of the club with facilities, structure, and most importantly good people, NCFC is on par with some of the top clubs I’ve ever seen. I am looking forward to getting started and giving everything for the players that I will work with and the club as a whole.”

Harrington received his BSc in Health & Human Performance, with a minor in Sports psychology. He also has earned his UEFA A License(Irish fooball association), UEFA A Youth Elite License( KSÍ-Icelandic FA), FAI (Irelend) Futsal Certification, and many other accreditations.

NCFC Youth Alum, Evan Retzlaff, A Part Of History

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:58:13 GMT

NCFC Youth Alum, Evan Retzlaff, A Part Of History

This past weekend, Johnson and Wales University (JWU) Charlotte Men’s Soccer made history by winning the USCAA National Championship for the first time and NCFC Youth alum, Evan Retzlaff, was a part of it. Evan started playing with CASL/NCFC Youth when he was 5 years old. He started with our Recreation program before he moved up to Classic and then finally the ECNL Regional League. Through NCFC Youth, Evan was able to participate in State Cups and compete in Regionals. Through the years of training and opportunity to compete in meaningful events, Evan felt well prepared to transition to the college game.

JWU Charlotte Men's Soccer program started in 2015, and Evan joined the team in 2019. He currently is a Junior and serves as a co-captain for the soccer team.

Evan and his teammates went to Nationals with one goal, which was to bring the cup back to Charlotte. JWU Charlotte competed against Berkeley College (NJ) for the USCAA National Championship. JWU Charlotte scored 2 goals midway through the first half and continued to pressure Berkeley who were very strong in possession. In the 70th minute, JWU Charlotte added a 3rd goal. Soon after, Berkeley scored a penalty kick and quickly followed with a second goal, making the score 3-2. With 5 minutes remaining, JWU Charlotte added a 4th goal, sealing the victory.

Tommy Retzlaff, Evan’s father, says, “The intensity of the matches at Nationals was through the roof - the guys really stepped and thrived in the event - they were unphased by the excitement and hype of the environment”.

Evan and teammates were over the moon after his team pulled the victory! He says, “Winning the final was surreal!

We love seeing our alumni shine and seeing the accomplishments of college programs. Congratulations to Evan, JWU Charlotte, and the JWU Charlotte Soccer program and players!

Thank you Tommy Retzlaff, Evan's father, for providing us the information and play by play of the game. Tommy is a coach in our Classic (2007 Premier G) and Challenge (2011 NCFC Spirit G) programs and he's also a part of our Coaching Education Cohort.

Pre-College Development Academy Joins the visitRaleigh.com Boys College Showcase Combine

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 20:57:56 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Pre-College Development Academy (PCDA) to the visitRaleigh.com Boys College Showcase Combine

NCFC Youth is excited to welcome Pre-College Development Academy (PCDA) to the visitRaleigh.com Boys College Showcase Combine in December. As the presenting sponsor of the Combine, PCDA will have a strong on-site presence during the combine and the tournament weekend, be featured on the combine training shirts, and be engaged with our combine players at different points throughout the session.

“We are thrilled to partner with such a prestigious tournament and look forward to helping many student athletes as we open the doors for PCDA-Raleigh in 2023,” said PCDA founder Ryan Hodgson. “We are always looking to share our model with prospective student athletes. Now more than ever, high school graduates are fighting an uphill battle to find a spot on a college soccer team and to earn meaningful minutes. If they don’t, their development can stagnate leading to high dropout rates or transferring to another institution. PCDA was created to allow students to attend college but play with PCDA over a 10-month period. We have taken the US collegiate model, combined it with a professional academy system, all while preserving eligibility. This means a student athlete can leave PCDA as an academic college junior, but an athletic freshman with the experience of a junior soccer player or higher.”

PCDA is the first network of post-high school residential interconnected soccer academies in the United States. Their goal is to bridge the gap between youth soccer and each individual player’s “next level”. Whether it’s playing in college, academy soccer overseas, or pursuing a professional career, PCDA gives players the opportunity to continue developing on and off the field without sacrificing their eligibility. PCDA offers / will offer locations in Raleigh (NC), Charlotte (NC), Murfreesboro (TN), Atlanta (GA), and Denver (CO).

NCFC Youth expects nearly 300 high school aged players from across the country at the combine in December. Registered players are divided up into teams, train with college coaches, and then play games for extra recruiting exposure to college coaches in attendance.

“We look forward to having PCDA engaged with our combine participants this year,” said Katharine Eberhardt, NCFC Youth Chief Marketing & Development Officer. “We know the journey to the ‘next level’ looks different for every player and roadblocks may stand in the way of reaching that next step – whether it’s academics, physical development, the effects of the pandemic and transfer portal on recruiting, or anything else. PCDA is a new avenue for players to consider in their soccer journey.”

For post-high school graduates who want to play in college, PCDA offers a platform to start college classes while preserving athletic eligibility. Most PCDA athletes take college classes towards a bachelor’s degree. To learn more about PCDA or to apply, visit www.PreCollegePDA.com or talk with a staff member during the tournament.

About PCDA:
The Pre-College Development Academy was introduced in the United States in 2021. PCDA has been created with parts of various programming from around the world. In the US, the focus is on student athletes while in Europe, programs like this exist as an insurance policy to capture late developers. PCDA is the perfect environment to allow high school graduates to start their college academic careers while also further developing in a year-round soccer program preserving their collegiate eligibility. PCDA's goal is to allow student athletes time to further develop and mature before they take on the difficult journey of becoming a successful collegiate athlete or beyond.

First Virtual Session with Voice in Sport (VIS): "Controlling the Controllables"

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 20:19:17 GMT

First Virtual Session with Voice in Sport (VIS): "Controlling the Controllables"
Free for all NCFC Youth girls players age 13+

Our first virtual session with VIS is Sunday, November 13th at 7pm . The topic will be "Controlling the Controllables" with Dr. Sonali Wason . As athletes at any level, there are many different challenges you face on a day to day basis and it's important to learn how to control these distractions to reduce anxiety and stress. Dr. Sonali Wason will walk our players through a distraction management worksheet and go through real life challenges/distractions they face day to day and how to properly manage them.

About Dr. Wason: currently practices as a psychological assistant at Advantage Psychology and Mental Performance Center in Los Angeles, California and provides psychological assessment, mental health counseling, and sport psychology services to adolescents and adults, including high school, collegiate, and professional athletes.

Space is limited; sign-up early to reserve your spot!

Click here to learn more about VIS

NCFC Youth Teams Up with Voice in Sport

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:57:49 GMT

NCFC Youth Teams Up with Voice in Sport

Providing girls players age 13+ access to mentors and experts in sport psychology, nutrition, and women’s health.

NCFC Youth is excited to team up with Voice in Sport (VIS) , a global sports company that provides girls and women in sport access to trained experts in sport psychology, sports nutrition, and women-specific health, as well as mentorship from college and professional athletes, and educational content written by women athletes.

VIS is a safe online space for girls and women (ages 13-23) in sport. All eligible NCFC Youth girls players (age 13+) across all programs will be invited to join VIS, which operates a free platform that will give our girls players access to VIS podcasts, VIS articles, community forum, peer discussions, digital journals, vision boards, and mentoring/group sessions with VIS trained experts and athletes across all of sports.

In addition, NCFC Youth will host private large group sessions throughout the year at no additional cost to players. Session topics could be related to mind, body, nutrition, sleep, advocacy, and/or journey in sport. NCFC Youth will be working with our program directors, coaches, and players to understand more about what they want to learn and from whom (health expert, pro athlete, college athlete, etc.).

“We are excited to offer our girls players this extra layer of support and development off the field,” said Katharine Eberhardt, Chief Marketing & Development Officer. “We know that girls face unique challenges in their development – from dealing with bodily changes and caring for your body, to confidence, mental health, and anxiety, to everything in between. We are not experts in all of these, but Voice in Sport has a catalog of resources, experts and mentors who can help address these topics head on and provide relatable and real-life tips for our players in a safe space.”

Outside of the free membership and the extra opportunities NCFC Youth is providing, players can opt to elevate their membership to access additional resources.

NCFC Youth will be communicating with girls’ players directly inviting them to sign-up for VIS through a special link. This special link will join you up with our “NCFC Youth team” in VIS, giving players access to the extra, sessions provided by the Club. If you are girl player (age 13+) and want to get a head start on signing up, you can create your free account on VIS here and keep an eye out for the invitation to join our team in a separate email.

If you sign up now , you might be able to join in on a FREE large group session on “Acceptance” hosted by Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history (11 time Olympic Medalist, 2-time World Champion). Space is limited!

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About VOICEINSPORT

VOICEINSPORT, the global sports company, provides a community-based platform for digital services in mental health, nutrition, sport science and mentoring from pro athletes to keep girls and women in sport. The VOICEINSPORT membership comes with free access to original articles written by women athletes, weekly podcasts, advocacy tools to drive change and a community forum. Paid services include a mentoring platform designed to increase the visibility to pro & collegiate athlete role models and access to both clinical & non-clinical sessions with the top 80 experts in sport psychology, sport nutrition and women’s health. Founded in 2019, VOICEINSPORT is based in NYC and is self-funded by sports industry Executive and Advocate Stef Strack . Visit voiceinsport.com for the latest company news and follow @voiceinsport on Instagram , TikTok , Snap , Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Click here to view the VIS Getting Started Guide

NCFC Youth Welcomes Stephen Palmer and Nick Holt to Full-Time Staff

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:57:16 GMT

NCFC Youth Welcomes Stephen Palmer and Nick Holt to Full-Time Staff

NCFC Youth is excited to announce the addition of Stephen Palmer to our Goalkeeping Department as an Assistant Director and Nick Holt to our Classic Program as the U13-U19 South Girls Director. Palmer and Holt bring a combined 24+ years of experience at the youth and professional level.

Stephen Palmer, Assistant Goalkeeping Director

Palmer, originally from Birmingham, England, began his career at Kidderminster Harriers FC as an Academy Goalkeeper Coach in 2008, followed by his role as the First Team Goalkeeping Coach and Academy Goalkeeping Coach at the Stratford Town Football Club. After moving to the United States, Palmer served as a Regional Coordinator for the New York Red Bulls before assuming additional roles including, U23 Goalkeeping Coach, Assistant First Team Goalkeeping Coach, Pre-Academy and Academy Goalkeeping Coach. He brings a wealth of experience in both player and goalkeeper youth to pro Development. Palmer currently holds his USC Level 3 Goalkeeping Diploma, FA Goalkeeping Level 2, UEFA C License and is currently pursuing his UEFA B License

Palmer will work alongside Director of Goalkeeping, Wezly Barnard and Assistant Director, Giovanni Solis to support the club’s continued development of goalkeepers. His primary focus will be with our Academy while also overseeing the progression and development of our Classic goalkeepers.

Nick Holt, U13-U19 South Girls Director

Holt has been with NCFC Youth (ECNL Elite/Premier Girls) since 2021, and we are excited for his transition to a full-time role as the U13-U19 South Girls Director. He began his career in Alabama as the Director of Soccer Operations and the Varsity Boys and Girls Head Coach at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa. Following his time at ACA, he became the Director of Facilities and Operations as well as a Girls Staff Coach at Hoover Soccer Club. Holt then made his way back into the school setting as the Director of Operations and Head Varsity Coach at Hewitt Trussville High School while also coaching ECNL Composite Girls for Birmingham United/Alabama FC under Ben Parks and Andrew Brower. Before coming to NCFC Youth, Holt served as the General Manager of Operations (West), Social Media Coordinator, and ECNL Regional League Girls Staff Coach at North Carolina Fusion. In addition to his responsibilities as the U13-U19 South Girls Director, Holt will continue coaching in our Girls ECNL Elite/Premier program and with the NC Courage U23s. Holt holds his USSF C License.

With the addition of Nick Holt, Pete Sadin will now serve as the U13-U19 North Girls Director and the Girls ECRL Director. Both Palmer and Holt have begun their new roles and are actively making an impact as we kick off the season.

Nicole Turner and Dan Cohen Join NCFC Youth Staff

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:43:51 GMT

Turner & Cohen bring diverse soccer and business backgrounds to the club

NCFC Youth welcomes Nicole Turner and Dan Cohen to its full-time staff. Turner officially started in May as the Camps & Events Coordinator. She will also be a Classic Staff Coach and is slated to coach the ’06 Gold & ’07 Red North Girls teams this fall. Cohen, who started his post as Tournaments and Facility Events Director on July 6, will also be coaching the ’06 Red North Boys this year.

“I’m excited to welcome more talented, well-rounded people to NCFC Youth. Nicole and Dan came to NCFC Youth from across the country, further showing our club as a destination for the best staff and coaches in the game,” said Gary Buete, NCFC Youth CEO. “Nicole is already having an immediate impact on our summer camps program, managing nearly 2,000 kids and staff through a great experience, and Dan will be kicking off his tournament run with the 3v3s this weekend and jumping into the fall tournament preparation mode right away.”

Turner comes to NCFC Youth from Real Salt Lake – Arizona. She has a wealth of on-field and business experience inside and outside of the game to add depth to NCFC Youth’s overall operations. While in Arizona (2019 – 2022), she wore many hats including Field Director, Registrar, and Head Coach. She was the coach for the elite U14 & U16 girls competitive teams. Off the field, she was responsible for registrar duties, training/game fields, and training schedules. In 2021, she was named Arizona Soccer Association’s Competitive Coach of the Year. Prior to joining Real Salt Lake – Arizona, she was the Director of Coaching & a Head Coach with the PYSL Blast (3013 – 2017), where she was responsible for strategic planning for the club’s vision and oversaw the club’s 30+ teams and coaches.

Outside of the soccer office, her experience over the years as a Management Analyst, Client Operations Manager & Consultant, and Operations Director with various companies will undoubtedly improve the efficiency, communications, and operations at NCFC Youth – in its core business, in the programs (camps) she directly oversees, and on a micro-level among her teams. Turner currently is an Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University. She’s a consultant with the Mind Champs Performance Consulting Group, a company she co-founded to offer individual and team development programs for coaches and athletes at all levels. And, she’s actively a Senior Consultant with the Eduardo Borquez Company, which trains, coaches, and consults for businesses to help them improve. In these capacities, Turner’s leadership, organizational, communication, and visionary skills will have an immediate impact on NCFC Youth and her players.

Cohen has his UEFA B coaching license and brings diverse coaching and business experience to NCFC Youth. Originally from England, Cohen has been involved in the game across the pond and in the states for more than 10 years. Most recently, he was with the Charleston Soccer Club (2020-2022). While there, his work ethic, leadership, and business acumen were recognized and rewarded as he quickly climbed the ladder and began to take on additional responsibilities. One of his primary roles was Director of Facilities & Events, which included running College ID events, Tournaments, and other supplemental programs. In addition, he was the Boys NPL Director for the club and managed and executed the club’s graphic design, marketing, and media needs. In 2021, his role grew into the Director of Operations, which gave him further leadership on the business side of the organization with budgets, contracting, facilities management, and HR. This experience will serve Cohen well in his role at NCFC Youth where he will be handling the day-to-day of all in-house tournaments and contributing to the long-term vision to make NCFC Youth and WRAL Soccer Park a destination for teams and events.

Cohen’s 10-year career in the industry is flooded with experience around the world coaching and managing clubs and events. Prior to joining the Charleston Soccer Club, he was with the Global Premier Soccer (GPS) in (South) Carolina and New Jersey as Technical Director, head coach, Director of Operations, and eventually Franchise General Manager for GPS Carolina. He has experience as PE teacher, summer camp coach, clinic director, and even referee. This vast experience connects him to various stakeholders in the game (players, parents, coach, referee) that not only translates well to coaching teams and communicating with parents, but also in the tournament space where he’ll navigate all that comes with executing large scale events.

Nicole and Dan report directly to Bryan Bachelder, former Tournament & Events Director, who took on a new leadership role within the club as Director of Administration.

2021-2022 Lane Meyer Scholarship Recipients

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 19:14:11 GMT

For the past nearly 10 years, I’ve had the honor to serve on the Lane Meyer Scholarship committee. I never knew Lane, whose life was tragically cut short on June 5, 2011 in a car wreck. But, through my involvement on the committee, I’ve gotten to know who Lane was and all that he exemplified through his parents (Bob and Lynn), other committee members, and meeting scholarship applicants each year who reflect the traits that made Lane such a special young man – academic excellence, athletics, friendships, and service.

After Lane’s death, Bob and Lynn were committed to keeping Lane’s memory alive so the Lane Meyer Scholarship was born. Each year, two NCFC Youth players (one boy and one girl) are eligible to each earn a $2,500 scholarship to support their plans at college. The Fund is supported through donations and an annual golf tournament held at Heritage Golf Club in Wake Forest.

This year, the worthy recipients of the NCFC Youth (CASL) Scholarship in memory of Lane Meyer are Hailey Baldwin and Austin Williams.

Meet Hailey Baldwin
NCFC Youth team: 03 NCFC Express FC (Challenge Girls)
College: UNC Chapel Hill
About Hailey: Hailey has played for the NCFC Challenge league for most of her soccer career, with a few rec seasons in between, and played 4 years of high school varsity soccer at Cary High School, serving as team captain last year. She started playing with NCFC when she was 6 and has loved all of her teams and coaches! At Cary High School, Hailey was on the leadership team of IDEA Club, a student led activism club, President of American Sign Language Club, a member of the National Art Honor Society, and a Student Ambassador. She started a nonprofit website to help students with autism find jobs her sophomore year and volunteered throughout high school for Cary Teen council. Hailey will be attending UNC Chapel Hill to study Psychology and Spanish, and she plans to obtain a Physician’s Assistant degree in Psychology to eventually open her own practice.

Meet Austin Williams
NCFC Youth team: 04 NCFC Storm (Challenge Boys)
College: UNC Chapel Hill
About Austin: Austin played soccer for Sanderson High School for all 4 years. He played NCFC Challenge soccer with the 04 NCFC Storm for 9 years where he met some of his best friends. He graduated summa cum laude from Sanderson High School where in addition to varsity Soccer, he was involved in student council, National Honor Society, Academy of Finance and DECA. In addition to his love for playing soccer, he loves fishing, and hanging out with friends. He is an active member of Midtown Community Church where he volunteers in the children’s ministry.

Congratulations to both Hailey and Austin – much deserved. Our future is bright with these two leading the way and the many other outstanding applicants who submitted applications for the Lane Meyer Scholarship. The Scholarship will re-open through the North Carolina Community Foundation next Spring for Fall 2023 college-bound seniors.

Written By Katharine Eberhardt

Derek Leader Joins NCFC Youth Staff as Girls ECNL Director

Thu, 26 May 2022 13:37:50 GMT

Derek Leader Joins NCFC Youth Staff as Girls ECNL Director
Veteran Coach to Begin in July 2022

Leader comes to NCFC Youth from Arizona, where he is finishing up his role as a Program Director and ECNL coach with the Utah Royals FC Arizona youth club. With more than 30 years of coaching experience across the youth, Olympic Development Program (ODP), collegiate, and professional levels, Leader will have an immediate impact on the ECNL Girls program, coaches, teams, and players.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead the NCFC youth ECNL girls program,” said Leader. “My family and I are looking forward to arriving to the Triangle. I want to thank Gary, Paul, Bobby and Pete for their interest and trust in me. The high standard of the club has existed for many years, and I cannot wait to get started and join the players and staff on the field.”

At the youth level, Leader developed players at some of the most recognized clubs across the country including IMG Soccer Academy, Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and Concorde Soccer Club, prior to being in Arizona. During his 12-year tenure at IMG, he coached 2 MLS Rookies of the Year (Kyle Martino and Michael Parkhurst), 1 NWSL Rookie of the Year (Erika Tymrak), and a Women’s MAC Hermann Trophy Winner (Anne Maakinen). He was inducted into the IMG Soccer Academy Hall of Fame in 2010.

In addition to the youth game, his coaching career is marked by various stints in the collegiate game at both Division I and Division II programs. Leader served as the Assistant Women’s and Men’s Coach at Ashland University (DII), Associate Head Women’s Coach at Southern Methodist University (Division I), Head Women’s Coach at Georgia State University (DI), and Head Women’s Coach at Grand Canyon University (DI). His experience with collegiate players will be a valuable resource to NCFC Youth ECNL players who aspire for the next level of play.

His experience also extends to the national level as a former US Soccer National Instructional Staff and National Scout.

Leader earned his Bachelor of Education from the University of Akron. He holds multiple coaching licenses including his USSF A License and United Soccer Coaches Premier License.

Leader is recognized across the country by colleagues, and here’s what they had to say:

What Others Are Saying

“NCFC has scored big with this hire. Derek is an outstanding coach and a first-class person. His expertise in player and team development will only enhance what is one of the top youth clubs in the country.”

Chris Petruculli, Chicago Red Stars NWSL Coach

“Derek is a fantastic coach with a high level of integrity. I am thrilled that he has the opportunity to lead the NCFC Youth ECNL program. He possesses a strong work ethic and has a great knowledge of the game. He has the experience and contacts to aid the program and players. I look forward to seeing how he helps further develop the youth players at NCFC.”

Mark Krikorian, Former Head Coach at Florida State Women’s Soccer

“Derek Leader is an awesome hire for NCFC. Derek is one of the top coaches in the country. He is knowledgeable, passionate, and a great teacher of the game. Derek is a very caring person who will help develop all areas of a youth soccer player!”
Robbie Church, Duke University Head Women’s Soccer Coach

NCFC Academy Staff Announces 2022-2023 Coaching Staff

Fri, 13 May 2022 14:32:28 GMT

NCFC Academy Staff Announces 2022-2023 Coaching Staff

Daniel Sellitti and Ben Speas Join NCFC Academy Coaching Staff

John Bradford, NCFC Academy Director and North Carolina FC Head Coach, announces the 2022-2023 Academy Coaching and Leadership Staff, which includes two new additions: Daniel Sellitti and Ben Speas.

“I’m excited to bring in additional talented coaches into our NCFC Boys Academy Program staff with the additions of Daniel Sellitti and Ben Speas,” said Bradford. “Both coaches bring experience coaching players at high levels and have a passion for player development that will

be extremely valuable to our players in the NCFC Boys Pre-Academy and Academy Programs.”

Since joining NCFC Youth in 2019 as an ECNL (boys) coach, Sellitti has made an immediate impact at the club. His talent and potential have been recognized by club leadership as he’s quickly earned additional responsibilities including being the Assistant Coach with North

Carolina FC U23’s (USL-2 League) and Men’s professional team (USL-1 League). He has also served as the Director of the NCFC Academy Homestay program, which successfully scouted, recruited, and hosted its first player this year, and he created a video production service to help players with their college recruitment process.

Sellitti’s experience in coaching and player development includes collegiate and international experience. He was the Assistant Men’s Coach at Mt. Olive (2018-2019) and Concord University (2016-2018). He is currently the Sporting Director of the Puerto Rican National Teams program, where he serves as an Assistant Coach with the Puerto Rico Men’s Senior National Team and U20 men’s and women’s youth national teams. In his role, he is also responsible for recruiting and scouting players for youth and senior national teams.

As a new full-time staff coach with the NCFC Academy, Sellitti will be the Head Coach of the 13 North and 16 Academy team. He will also oversee player development within the Pre-Academy program and the U13 age group, which includes oversight of Individual Development Plans and combined trainings across North and South regions.

Ben Speas has been coaching with NCFC Youth since retiring from a 9-year professional career in 2020. Speas was a 2-time NCAA National Champion with Akron (2010) and UNC (2011). His standout college career took him to the MLS, where he signed his first professional contract

with the Columbus Crew in 2012. He played 3 seasons with the Crew before professional opportunities with Minnesota United, Indy Eleven, and North Carolina FC.

Alongside his professional playing career, Speas starting coaching in the youth and collegiate game. In addition to coaching at NCFC Youth, he brings high level youth coaching experience from Indiana Fire Academy and Columbus Crew Academy, as well as collegiate coaching from his time as an Assistant Coach with the UNC Men’s team.

Speas will coach the U12 NCFC Pre-Academy South Team and help the NCFC Boys Academy Program overall.

Additionally, Bradley Morrison will add to his responsibilities as he assumes the role of Director of College Recruiting. NCFC Youth has created this role to oversee the communication, education, and assistance to all NCFC Youth players and families throughout the college

recruiting process.

The NCFC Academy and Pre-Academy Staff is rounded out by returning coaches Michael Milazzo, Tom Harris, Bradley Morrison, Ramon Gallardo, Jr., Cory Elenio, Shane Mecham, Jay Williams, and local university coaches and professional players. Current NCFC Academy Coach, Dewan Bader, remains on staff with the NCFC Boys Academy Program with more details to be shared soon.

See below for the full list of 2022-2023 NCFC Academy Coaching and Leadership Staff:

NCFC Boys Academy Program (U13-U19 Age Groups) Team Coaches

U19 NCFC Academy Team (2004/2005) Tom Harris

U17 NCFC Academy Team (2006) Michael Milazzo

U16 NCFC Academy Team (2007) Daniel Sellitti

U15 NCFC Academy Team (2008) Tom Harris

U14 NCFC Academy Team (2009) Michael Milazzo

U13 NCFC Academy North Team (2010) Daniel Sellitti

U13 NCFC Academy South Team (2010) Bradley Morrison

Additional NCFC Boys Academy Program (U13-U19 Age Groups) Staff Coaches

Wellington “Pecka” Paeckert – North Carolina FC Professional Player

Carlos Somoano – UNC Men’s Soccer Head Coach

George Kiefer – NC State Men’s Soccer Head Coach

NCFC Boys Pre-Academy Program (U11-U12 Age Groups)

U11 NCFC Academy North Team (2012) Ramon Gallardo, Jr. & Cory Elenio

U11 NCFC Academy South Team (2012) Bradley Morrison & Shane Mecham

U12 NCFC Academy North Team (2011) Ramon Gallardo, Jr. & Jay Williams

U12 NCFC Academy South Team (2011) Ben Speas & Shane Mecham

Asst. Coach - Carlos Somoano

NCFC Boys Academy Program Leadership

Academy Program Director John Bradford

Asst. Academy Program Director Tom Harris

Goalkeeping Director Wezly Barnard

Goalkeeping Staff Giovanni Solis

Director of Scouting & Recruitment Henry Gutierrez

Homestay & Education Program Director Daniel Sellitti

Flexible School Training Program Director Dewan Bader

Director of College Recruitment Bradley Morrison

Marshall Hodge Joining NCFC Youth as U11-U12 Classic Girls Age Group Director

Wed, 11 May 2022 16:20:50 GMT

Marshall Hodge Joining NCFC Youth as U11-U12 Classic Girls Age Group Director
North Carolina product will start on July 1, 2022

NCFC Youth welcomes Marshall Hodge to full-time staff as the U11-U12 Classic Girls Age Group Director. In his new role, which starts July 1, Hodge will also be involved in the Juniors program as the Assistant Director for the Girls Juniors North program. This overlapping role will create a strong connection between Juniors and Classic and support overall player development.

Hodge comes to NCFC Youth from the Piedmont Triad Football Club in High Point, NC where he served as the Girls (U11-U19) Director (2018-2020) and most recently as the club’s Technical Director (2020-present). In addition to coaching high-level teams with the club, Hodge developed and created player development curriculums, implemented coaching standards and communication practices, and supported the club’s overall operations including tryouts, parent education opportunities, and more.

"Marshall Hodge has been a tremendous asset to our soccer club here at PTFC,” said Piedmont Triad FC Director of Coaching, David Upchurch. “His ability to connect with players and parents has helped us accelerate individual and team development on many fronts. Marshall's coaching style, professionalism, and attention detail will truly be missed by us here at PTFC. I have no doubt that NCFC will provide an incredible environment for Marshall to further his soccer coaching journey. We wish him nothing but the best!"

Originally from Bermuda Run, NC, Hodge grew up playing club soccer in North Carolina with the NC Fusion Development Academy, NC ODP, and Region III ODP. His player career took him to Roanoke College (B.S., Biology; 2015-2018), where was an all-conference selection and standout mid-fielder for the maroons. He continued to play professionally after college for two seasons with Tobacco Road FC (USL League 2).

Hodge is currently a Region III ODP Staff Coach and has his USSF “C” coaching license, and he is planning to apply for and obtain his “B” license this fall.

“It's an honor to join a club with the history and tradition of NCFC Youth,” said Hodge. “I look forward to helping ignite and maintaining a passion for the game in our coaches and young players. It is my goal to create a learning environment that fosters their confidence, competence, and creativity in order to explore that growing passion.”

NCFC Youth Announces Updates to Full-Time Staff

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 14:24:20 GMT

NCFC Youth Announces Updates to Full-Time Staff

NCFC Youth is excited to announce new roles for current full-time staff members and the addition of Derek Leader to our ECNL Girls Program. The changes support promotion and growth from within our organization and a focus on attracting top talent from across the country. With combined experiences at the national, collegiate, high school and club level, these coaches and staff represent more than 85 years of experience in the game. The wealth of knowledge that each brings will continue to propel our players, programs, and organization forward.

In the coming week, we will highlight each of these staff members in more depth showcasing their experiences, accomplishments, and more.

“There is nothing more rewarding than promoting staff from within our organization,” said Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer. “We have a great staff in place and with these changes, I know the quality of our programming will improve. I am delighted Derek is joining our team and know he will be a great addition for the ECNL Program and our staff overall. I look forward to supporting each of these staff members in their new roles and know they will work all tirelessly to support the players they coach and oversee.”

David Maddren, NC Courage Academy Director

After being named the Interim Director of the NC Courage Academy in January, Maddren is named the NC Courage Academy Director, effective immediately. Maddren has served as an NC Courage staff coach since 2018 and has been with the club for more than 7 years. He also has experience coaching for 3 years at the collegiate level at Mississippi College and led the Carolina Railhawks Del Sol Development Academy in 2017. Maddren is also a USSF A Licensed Coach.

Derek Leader, Girls ECNL Director

Leader comes to NCFC Youth from Arizona where he is finishing up his role as an Program Director and ECNL staff coach with the Utah Royals FC Arizona youth club. He brings more than 30 years of coaching experience across the youth, ODP, collegiate, and professional level. At the youth level, Leader developed players at some of the most recognized clubs across the country including IMG Soccer Academy, Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and Concorde Soccer Club, prior to being in Utah. His career also includes 8 years as an NCAA Division I head coach and 4 years as an NCAA Division I assistant coach. At the national level, Leader is as a former US Soccer National Instructional Staff and National Scout. He is a USSF A Licensed Coach and will begin his role with NCFC Youth in mid-June.

Bobby Johnston, Classic Director

Effective immediately, current Girls ECNL Director, Bobby Johnston, is now NCFC Youth’s Classic Director. Johnston has served 3 years as the NCFC Youth Girls ECNL Director and has been with the club for more than 8 years. He has over 28 years of coaching experience that have taken him to various youth clubs across the east coast including 2 years with the IMG Academy. Johnston’s experience at the college level includes 5 years as a NCAA Division I associate coach and 5 years as an NCAA Division II head coach, which will serve him well in his role developing players at NCFC Youth. Johnston is also a USSF A Licensed Coach.

Jamie Corti, Challenge Director

Jamie Corti takes on new role as Challenge Director beginning May 1, following 2 years as NCFC Youth’s Marketing and Program Coordinator. Her impact has extended across tournaments, camps, and marketing, while coaching in the Girls Classic U11 program. Prior to NCFC Youth, Corti served as the Recreation Program Manager at Loudon Soccer in Virginia, and she has extensive coaching experience at the collegiate level including stints at Campbell University, University of Central Florida, Virginia Commonwealth University, and UNC Greensboro. Corti also holds a United Soccer National Diploma.

Brett Malone, U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director

Current Challenge Director, Brett Malone, migrates to a new role in the Classic program as the U13-U19 North Boys Director. Malone started at NCFC Youth as the Recreation Director before taking over the Challenge Program in 2017. Prior to NCFC Youth, Malone worked with Baton Rouge Soccer Club as the Academy Director and Recreational Director of Coaching. Malone has been a coach with our Boys ECNL program since 2018, and is a USSF A License Coach.

David Rodriguez, NC Courage Academy Staff Coach

David Rodriguez, current U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director, assumes new role with the NC Courage Academy as a staff coach. Rodriguez has more than 10 years of coaching experience at both the club and collegiate level, with roles at NCFC Youth since 2014. In addition to serving as the U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director, Rodriguez has coached in the NCFC Academy program since 2017, and recently worked as an Assistant Coach with the North Carolina FC U23 team. Rodriquez is also a USSF B Licensed Coach.

North Carolina FC Inks Eight NCFC Academy Players to Amateur Contracts

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:55:50 GMT

CARY, NC (April 6, 2022) – North Carolina FC has signed eight players from the NCFC Academy to academy contracts, the club announced today. Haroun Conteh, Drew Kerr, Marvin Mariche, John McDowell, Jake Shannon, Samuel Terranova, Rohit Thakur, and Caden Tolentino will be available to train and play in first-team matches while maintaining their college eligibility.

“ This is becoming such a special and significant day for our club and these deserving players each year,” said Head Coach John Bradford. “I am pro ud of the top developmental pathway that we are able to provide to multiple deserving NCFC Academy players with our professional team. All eight of these players have worked extremely hard and have earned these opportunities to be members of North Carolina FC men’s team in 2022. I’m excited to see them contribute to our team’s success this year and to accelerate their individual development.”

Haroun Conteh, a Phoenix, AZ native, signs an academy contract in his first year with the NCFC Academy. The defender is also the first participant in the NCFC Youth Homestay Program to sign an amateur contract with the first team, joining NCFC from Real Salt Lake Academy.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity,” Conteh said. “It means a lot to have the club believe in me this much. I am excited to be a part of this club, and I can’t wait to accomplish many more things here.”

Midfielder Drew Kerr has signed an academy contract for the second year in a row, having signed an amateur contract with the first team in 2021. Kerr has spent six years in the NCFC Academy and is committed to play at Duke University. The 17-year-old made his professional debut with NCFC last season in a match against Toronto FC II. Kerr also appeared in NCFC’s 2022 season opener, playing 27 minutes against Tormenta FC last weekend.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity to play at the highest level and to continue my development in the professional environment,” Kerr said. “I look forward to learning each and every day under this great staff and talented players.”

Likewise signing an amatuer contract for the second time, Marvin Mariche made his professional debut with the first team during the 2021 season and will return for 2022. In 2018, Mariche was called up to the U15 US Youth National Team camp, bringing his YNT experience to the first team. The forward has played for the NCFC Academy for four years.

“Onto year two,” Mariche said. “I can only thank God and everyone who has helped me get to this point, I am very grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, NCFC.”

Midfielder John McDowell signs an amateur contract for the first time this season. Prior to joining the first team, the Chapel Hill native has been a part of the NCFC Academy for 6 years, captaining the U-13, U-14, U-16, and U-19 academy teams and receiving the Hamilton

Sportsmanship Award in 2017 and 2021. McDowell is committed to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I am very happy and excited to be a part of the North Carolina FC's first team,” McDowell said. “I look forward to making an impact and helping the team be successful."

Midfielder Jake Shannon has also signed an amateur contract with NCFC, coming on the heels of his first year in the NCFC Academy and his fifth year with NCFC Youth. The Apex native is committed to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and was previously named to the 2020/2021 ECNL All Conference Mid-Atlantic First Team.

“Five years ago I was on the fifth team at NCFC, and today I celebrated signing an academy contract with the pro team,” Shannon said. “I hope younger players can hear my story and feel encouraged to keep working hard and to follow their dreams. I want to thank the club for this opportunity and I want to thank my coaches, teammates, and family for their ongoing support.”

Goalkeeper Sam Terranova will play alongside fellow NCFC Academy product Nicholas Holliday and NCFC U-23 alumni Will Pulisic this season. The Fayetteville native has been a member of the NCFC Academy for six years and recently committed to play collegiately at NC State University, and signs with the first team for the second time.

“I am so excited to sign with the first team again this year,” Terranova said. “This has been my club since I was 12, and I am proud to say I have been able to play in goal for NCFC at every level including USDDA, ECNL, USL Academy, and USL League Two. I am working every day to achieve my goal of making my USL League One debut for the club.”

Forward Rohit Thakur also signs his second academy contract with NCFC after four years as a member of the NCFC Academy. Thakur made his professional debut with the club last season, appearing in a match against New England Revolution II. The Morrisville, NC native is committed to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“After being at the club and coming through the academy system, to be able to sign and have this opportunity for the second year is special,” Thakur said. “I’ve been able to learn so much in the first team environment and become a much more confident player.”

Caden Tolentino joins the first team roster for the second time, having also signed an academy contract with NCFC in 2021. The midfielder made his professional debut in a match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves last season, and recently appeared in a match against Tormenta FC this season. Tolentino is committed to play collegiately at NC State University.

“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to sign an academy contract,” Tolentino said. “I would like to thank my family, friends, and all those that have helped me in this journey. I would especially like to thank the coaching staff for believing in me, trusting in me, and most of all helping me get to this point. Being in with the pro team is a true joy, while still being a great learning setting. Even with it being my second year, I am being pushed to my limits. The pro guys have been mentors to me, especially Pecka, Max, and Jordan, helping me to see the game in a different light. I feel something special about this team and am extremely excited to see what the future holds.”

Maxwell Shell Awarded NCYSA TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:50:28 GMT

NCFC Youth's own, Maxwell Shell, won NCYSA TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year!

Maxwell is a sophomore at Green Level High School and has been playing soccer since he was 4 years old. He is currently on '06 Gold South and was awarded TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year in the Spring of 2022. Maxwell’s favorite thing about TOPSoccer is his buddy, Carson. Carson always puts a smile on Maxwell's face and brightens his day.

Maxwell and Carson have built a strong bond that extends outside of TOPSoccer. Carson attends Maxwell's NCFC Youth and high school games and cheers exuberantly for him! Carson loves yelling, “Go Max”!

When asked how Maxwell feels about winning TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year, he says, “I’m humbled...I really enjoy my Sunday afternoons with Carson and being on the field with all the TOPSoccer buddies and athletes. Receiving an award for doing something that has been so meaningful to me just seems like icing on the cake. To be honest, I didn't even know the award existed until I received notification that I won it. Carson's mom was so thoughtful to take her time to nominate me”.

Maxwell, Carson, and their families are so grateful for the TOPSoccer program and the friendship it has built.

Carson’s mom, Ashley Shaffer, is extremely grateful for Maxwell.

Ashley Shaffer's letter to Maxwell and the TOPSoccer Program:

“It has been such an amazing experience for my son as well as our WHOLE family. We are thrilled to have found this organization as we always strive to push Carson to try new things all while feeling a sense of acceptance and success.

My son, Carson is 10. He was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. Autism brings many challenges, especially when it comes to trying new things. Despite this, we decided to give TOPSoccer a shot. Having had not so great experiences with extracurricular activities in the past, we felt that the many hours he has had to sit at a soccer field and watch his twin sister play, THIS was going to give him a turn. We wanted it to be something he was comfortable with and had the potential to be a positive experience. TOPSoccer was that and so much MORE!

Into our lives came Max. I remember sitting and watching Max with Carson at the first practice and thinking to myself “We have REALLY hit the jackpot with this big buddy!”. He was so natural, patient, kind, AND fun! We knew from that moment this was going to be a positive experience for Carson. To see Max, give all he had to make this 1 hour of Carson’s week a great experience was truly the best feeling as a parent. That is where their friendship began! Watching them on the field is truly a special thing. The way they interact is priceless! The many high fives, silly dances, flexing their muscles with each other, laughs, races all the way across the field are truly the highlight of Carson’s week. Carson always looks forward to Sundays, in fact during the season he would ask EVERY SINGLE DAY “Mom, how many days until Sunday? How many days until I see Max?”. As the season progressed so did their friendship. Not only did Max show up for Carson on Sundays, but he did throughout the week too. He would often email just to check in and see how Carson’s week was going. As the season drew to an end, Max even asked if we would be willing to bring Carson to meet up with him to play soccer over the summer. This is just one example of how Max was committed to being a part of Carson’s life.

We were fortunate enough that Max was able to come back again for the Fall season. Again, their bond was so apparent, and it was yet another successful and positive experience for Carson. Just like all friendships evolve, this season our family wanted to make more efforts to be just as involved in Max’s life outside of TOPSoccer. We enjoyed going to his high school soccer games, meeting his teammates and friends, and spending time getting to know his family. Max and his family even come to support my daughter in her games as she is in her first year on the Classic level with NCFC.

When I describe to others how our experience with Max has been, it’s almost impossible not to tear up. I often describe him with the expression “He’s just THAT kid!”. He is exactly the type of role model I want for Carson and my daughter. He shows respect, responsibility, commitment, compassion, and empathy for others. He has made such an impact in not only Carson’s life, but in the life of our whole family. We are and will forever be grateful for the kindness he and his family have shown us."

Congratulations Maxwell, from all of us at, NCFC Youth!

Shoutout to Accentuate Staffing for helping us find Power of Positive stories!

TOPSoccer is proudly sponsored and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC!

Willie Davis Announced as NC Courage U23s Head Coach

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:26:25 GMT

Courage Volunteer Assistant Coach and NCFC Youth Girls Academy Assistant Director to Lead the Inaugural Season

CARY, NC (February 15, 2022) – The North Carolina Football Club today announced Willie Davis as Head Coach of the NC Courage U23s ahead of their inaugural season in the United Soccer League (USL) W League. The announcement comes on the heels of the North Carolina Football Club’s expansion into the W League .

“We are fortunate to have an exemplary professional NWSL team like the NC Courage, as well as a top youth program in NC Courage Academy to continue our overall pathway for women soccer players in this area,” said Davis. “All and all, the NC Courage standard has been a benchmark for the women’s game, and we plan to continue that trend with our newly formed U23 W-League Courage team. We always strive to achieve standards of excellence at both the youth and senior women’s team levels, with the hope that we have programs that our players, families, and staff are honored to be part of, and that’s our plan for the U23 team as well.”

NC Courage U23 W League team will be operated in partnership with the NC Courage and will participate in the South Atlantic Division, which includes six total clubs across North Carolina and South Carolina. The team will compete in a 10-week season that kicks off in May, with all home games taking place at WakeMed Soccer Park. The roster will be composed of mostly NC Courage Academy players and collegiate players with ties to the NC Courage Academy and NCFC Youth. To view the latest USL W League schedule, click here .

Davis brings a wealth of knowledge to the U23 Courage team having coached at both the youth and collegiate level. During his time with the Franklin Pierce University men’s team, helped lead the team to the DII NCAA National Finals in 2005 and 2007, winning the title that year. Davis then went on to coach with the Louisiana State University Tigers women’s team from 2009 – 2011. In addition to his collegiate career, Davis has more than 20 years of experience coaching at the youth level.

In his five years with NCFC Youth, Davis has been involved in the highest levels of youth soccer with the Girls ECNL (coming to Raleigh N.C. to take over the girls NCFC ECNL Directors role from 2017-2019) and NC Courage Academy programs (2020-present).

During the inaugural season, Davis will be supported by Emma Thomson (NC Courage First Team Assistant Coach), Ashley Williams (NCFC Youth ECNL Coach) and Wezley Barnard (NCFC Youth Director of Goalkeeping).

NC Courage U23 W-League Roster Selections

The NC Courage U23 W-League is thrilled with the overwhelming amount of player interest since the announcement was made that NC Courage will compete in the USL W-League’s South Atlantic Division in 2022. Due to the high demand and interest, NC Courage will not hold open tryouts. Instead, roster selections will be based on invitation only. The invite process is underway with the hopes that the 2022 roster will be completed in the coming weeks. Should you have any questions, please contact Willie Davis at Willie.Davis@NCFCYouth.com

About the USL W League

The USL W League is a pre-professional women’s soccer league dedicated to creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development on and off the field. With 43 teams from 20 different states prepared to participate in this summer’s inaugural season, elite women’s soccer players will have the opportunity to train in a competitive environment and be part of a stronger pipeline between college and professional soccer.

Director of Soccer, Paul Forster, Joins NC Courage as Assistant Coach

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:41:02 GMT

North Carolina Courage Announce Updates to Technical Staff

Paul Forster Joins First Team as an Assistant Coach, Molly Dwyer Hired as Player Experience Manager, and Vannessa Fulcher Promoted to Director of Equipment Operations

CARY, NC (February 14, 2022) - The North Carolina Courage have named Paul Forster as an assistant coach, the club announced today. Molly Dwyer has also joined the technical staff as the team’s Player Experience Manager, and long-time equipment manager Vannessa Fulcher has been promoted to Director of Equipment Operations.

Forster brings a wealth of coaching experience to the first team, holding his USSF A License and currently serving as the Director of Soccer for North Carolina FC Youth, a role he has held since 2015. In addition to his responsibilities with NCFC Youth, Forster has worked as the Director of Analytics for the men’s soccer team at North Carolina State University since 2017. Previously, he served in assistant coaching roles with Wake Forest University, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NC Wesleyan College, and the State University of New York at Buffalo. Forster is happily married to his wife, Yexenia, and has two daughters Amelia (17) and Eva (13) who both play in the NC Courage Youth Academy.

“I am delighted to be joining the NC Courage staff as an assistant coach,” Forster said. “I am grateful to Sean and Curt for giving me the opportunity to work with the first team. I very much look forward to working alongside Sean, all of the staff connected with the first team, and of course, the group of fantastic players that will represent the Courage.”

Molly Dwyer has also joined the technical staff as Player Experience Manager. Prior to joining the Courage, she worked as the Director of Soccer Operations at the University of Portland and also spent time as an assistant women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina at Asheville while simultaneously working as their Director of Operations. Dwyer graduated from Furman University as a four-year member of the women’s soccer team with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Communication Studies. Most recently, she earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Northumbria University, and has also trained with Sunderland AFC Ladies and Racing Louisville FC.

Vannessa Fulcher has been promoted to Director of Equipment Operations in her sixth season with the Courage, formerly working as an Equipment Manager for the first team. Fulcher graduated from East Carolina University with her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies, and has experience working as an equipment manager at Marshall University, Florida Atlantic University, and Texas Christian University after first becoming a certified equipment manager in 2014.

Emma Thomson Join Courage as Full-Time Assistant Coach

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 20:04:35 GMT

CARY, NC (February 3, 2022) - The North Carolina Courage today announced that Emma Thomson has joined the team as a full-time assistant coach. Before her promotion, Thomson worked as an assistant coach during the 2021 season while coaching with the NC Courage Girls Academy since June of 2020.

“I'm thrilled to be named assistant coach of the NC Courage,” Thomson said. “It's an honor to work with such incredible women on a daily basis and I'm excited to be part of the team's new chapter; celebrating past accomplishments while building for future successes. I want to thank Curt and Sean for this opportunity as well as NCFC Youth and the fans for their continued support.”

Thomson boasts a wealth of coaching experience at many different levels. Her coaching career began at St. John’s (NY) followed by a six-year stint as the Assistant Women’s Coach at George Mason University in Virginia. While there, she was active with youth clubs in the area including Braddock Road Youth Club and FC Virginia’s Development Academy prior to joining NCFC Youth. Thomson started at NCFC Youth with the Girls ECNL program before joining the NC Courage Development Academy staff.

“In the short time she was with NCFC Youth, Emma had an incredible impact on our girls’ program and our players,” said Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer. “Her advancement to the professional ranks is a testament to her coaching abilities, and we are glad we could play a part in her development from youth to pro. We wish her all the best, and we look forward to catching her in action on the NC Courage sidelines this season.”

Originally from Nottinghamshire, England, Thomson grew up playing for Doncaster Belles in the FA Women’s Premier League and represented England in the youth national team pool. Emma moved to the US in 2008 to attend Penn State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. A four-year starter and two-year captain for Penn State Women's soccer, Thomson helped the Nittany Lions to four NCAA Tournament appearances, collecting four Big Ten Championships and one Big Ten Tournament Championship and was named the 2011 Defender of the Year. In 2015, Thomson earned her Masters in Sports Management from St. John's (NY) 2015, also serving as a graduate assistant with the Women’s Soccer team.

“We are very excited to add Emma to our full time staff,” said Head Coach Sean Nahas. “She is eager to take on this role and fully embrace the professional game. She established a good relationship with our players in her first year, and being able to add that consistency to our staff was very important. We look forward to having her on board and providing a great environment for our players.”

USL Welcomes NC Courage U23’s to W League

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 19:03:28 GMT

NC Courage U23’s team will be operated in partnership with NCFC Youth

TAMPA, Fla. & CARY, N.C. – The United Soccer League (USL) today announced the North Carolina Courage U23’s as the latest club to join the USL W League. The club out of Cary, North Carolina will begin play in 2022 as part of the league’s inaugural season.

“We are excited to be a part of this new league that will bring so many more opportunities for talented young athletes and coaches in our area to take their careers to the next level,” Curt Johnson, Chief Soccer Officer of the North Carolina Football Club said. “Developing a world class youth to pro pipeline, as well as a pathway for coaches, is a priority of ours on the women’s side of our club and this is an important investment toward that goal. North Carolina is home to some of the most talented youth and collegiate athletes in the country, and we look forward to providing them with an elite training environment through the NC Courage U23’s W League team to help them reach their full potential.”

NC Courage U23’s team will be operated in partnership with NCFC Youth and will be comprised of mostly college players, as well as players from the academy. The W League season will run from May to July and the Courage U23’s team will play home games at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC.

“We are thrilled to welcome the North Carolina Courage organization to the W League for our inaugural season,” said Betsy Haugh, USL Director of Women’s Soccer Operations. “The Courage has shown a tremendous commitment to the women’s game, and we look forward to working with them as they continue their investment by fielding a team in the W League. Together we will provide more player development opportunities for girls and women looking to achieve their dreams in the sport of soccer.”

The North Carolina Football Club is the largest youth-to-pro club in the nation and is comprised of the NC Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League, North Carolina FC in USL League One, North Carolina FC’s U23 squad in USL League Two and now the Courage U23’s team in the W League. NCFC Youth offers a full spectrum of opportunities for players ages 2.5-19 from recreation and intermediate to the highest levels of elite competition.

“Adding a W League team to our existing programming is another step in the right direction for our club and fills the gap in an area we have yet to serve,” said Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer. “The W league will provide a natural next step for our current and former players from the club and to continue working toward their career aspirations in the women’s collegiate and professional game. We cannot wait to take the field this summer.”

To learn more about the North Carolina Courage, visit www.NCCourage.com or follow the club on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Blue Cross NC and North Carolina FC Youth Announce Partnership to Support Youth Development

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 17:37:28 GMT

Blue Cross NC to serve as the official health insurance partner of NCFC Youth

NEWS RELEASE

Blue Cross NC Media Line : 919-765-3005

Blue Cross NC Online Newsroom : http://mediacenter.bcbsnc.com

For Immediate Release: November 18, 2021

Blue Cross NC and North Carolina FC Youth Announce Partnership to Support Youth Development

Blue Cross NC to serve as the official health insurance partner of NCFC Youth

DURHAM, N.C . – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth) have announced a new strategic partnership to foster youth leadership and strengthen local communities through athletics in the Triangle area.

Along with improved social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills, research in young students found that those who participated in vigorous physical activity did approximately 10% better in math, science, English, and social studies.1 By partnering with the largest soccer club in the state, Blue Cross NC is expanding healthy play opportunities for the next generation of future leaders.

“At Blue Cross NC, we know having the time and space to play is a key component of a healthy childhood,” said Reagan Greene, vice president of marketing and community engagement at Blue Cross NC. “By partnering with NCFC Youth, we’re able to encourage healthy lifestyles for young soccer players and their families across North Carolina.”

A major component of this partnership focuses on a shared commitment to cultivate diverse, inclusive and healthy communities. Blue Cross NC will support the following community outreach programs:

La Liga Del Sol : Alleviates financial, cultural and communication barriers to make youth soccer more accessible to a diverse make-up of players.
The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) : Offers player development opportunities and peer mentoring for differently-abled athletes up to age 18.
Durham Police Athletic League (DPAL) : Provides soccer opportunities to underserved communities while building healthy relationships between kids and law enforcement officers.

“NCFC Youth knows soccer provides benefits to participants that are greater than what is reflected in the box score. Players learn teamwork, self-confidence, social skills, leadership, and sportsmanship among many other traits, while also building a foundation to lead healthy lives” said Gary Buete, NCFC Youth CEO. “We are excited and grateful for our partnership with Blue Cross NC who shares our vision of a healthier community and supports our ability to expand opportunities and access to the game and benefits playing can have.”

Each season, Blue Cross NC and NCFC Youth will also celebrate outstanding players with the Shield Award. The award will be given to one player from each team who embodies NCFC Youth’s core values of fun, community, excellence, innovation and passion on and off the soccer field.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is committed to making health care better, simpler and more affordable. We have been driving better health in North Carolina since 1933, working to tackle our communities’ greatest health challenges. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About NCFC Youth:

Founded in 1974, North Carolina FC Youth is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Raleigh, NC committed to providing positive, high quality soccer opportunities at all levels of play for youth and their families and to serving as a valuable community partner. With more than 13,500 players and 1,000 coaches, it is the largest club in North Carolina offering a full spectrum of soccer programs including recreation, youth academy, challenge, classic, Elite Clubs National League, community outreach programs, and tournaments. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for both players and coaches alike to grow on and off the field. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com.

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[1] Effect of Physical Education and Activity Levels on Academic Achievement in Children , Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2006

Tournament Successes

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 20:58:54 GMT

Congratulations to our latest tournament Champions and Finalists!

Please email all successes and team photos to Georgia.Kelley@NCFCYouth.com.

visitRaleigh.com Girls Junior Showcase

11 NCFC White South G - Finalists

11 NCFC White North G - Champions

10 NCFC Courage Pre-Academy - Finalists

10 Pre-ECNL NCFC Navy - Champions

2010 White North G - Finalists

10 NCFC Gold South G - Finalists

09 Elite G - Finalists

09 Gold North G - Champions

08 ECNL G - Champions

08 Premier G - Champions

Capital Fall Classic

U19 WF Orioles - Finalists

Nick Jaramillo Hired as Assistant Director of Goalkeeping

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:07:10 GMT

Nick Jaramillo Hired as Assistant Director of Goalkeeping

Jaramillo brings experience from the youth, collegiate, and professional game

September 16, 2021 – Raleigh, NC NCFC Youth announces the addition of Nick Jaramillo to the Goalkeeping staff as the Assistant Goalkeeping Director. With experience at the youth, collegiate and professional levels, Jaramillo will join Director of Goalkeeping, Wezly Barnard, and Full Time Goalkeeping Staff Coach, Gio Solis, beginning September 20, to support and guide the development of NCFC Youth goalkeepers.

Jaramillo comes to NCFC Youth after two years with South Georgia Tormenta FC where he oversaw and managed the goalkeeper training for the USL1, USL2, and USL Academy teams. In this capacity, Jaramillo held many roles including Goalkeeper Coach and Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach for Tormenta FC (USL League One), Director of Goalkeeping (USL League Two), and Academy Head Coach and Technical Director with Tormenta FC USL Academy.

"Nick is going to be a valuable addition to the NCFC Youth goalkeeper program and an asset to the NCFC Youth staff. With his work ethic and positive personality, Nick will be able to continue to build the strong culture within the goalkeeping program,” said Wezly Barnard, NCFC Youth Goalkeeping Director. “He brings a lot of experience from various levels of the game including youth, college, and professional. I am looking forward to the impact he will have at NCFC as the Assistant Director of Goalkeeping. I have a great relationship with Nick, and I am excited to work with him to continue to grow and move the program forward."

Before Tormenta FC, Jaramillo’s coaching journey took him to Young Harris College, where he served 3 seasons as the men’s assistant coach (2016, 2017, 2019) and the women’s interim head coach (2017). He has experience in coaching both men and women, as he held another Assistant Coach post for the Barry University women’s team (2018), where he helped lead the team to a 16-1-1 season, conference regular season champions, and conference tournament champions.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Jaramillo’s experience in the United Soccer League (USL) adds depth and experience to NCFC Youth, which has a similar youth-to-pro pathway in place. Jaramillo’s most recent experience with USL Academy, USL1, and USL2 Tormenta FC teams is built on previous USL2 experience. Jaramillo was an Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach with the Des Moines Menace (2019). This professional experience coupled with his collegiate and youth coaching roles will be a great asset to our players.

Nick received his B.S. in Psychology from Young Harris College (2018), and he has his National C License (US Soccer) and Advanced National Diploma (NSCAA). Husband to Laura and father to Landon and Noah Jaramillo.

NCFC Youth to Recognize Players each Season with Shield Award

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:05:01 GMT

NCFC Youth to Recognize Players each Season with Shield Award

Shield Award Recipients will be Recognized for their Demonstration of NCFC Youth’s Core Values which embody Fun, Community, Excellence, Innovation and Passion.

Beginning this season, NCFC Youth will recognize one player from each team who embodies and demonstrates our core values through his/her behaviors on and off the field through a new seasonal player award – The Shield Award.

The Shield Award, which is proudly sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), builds on past seasons where players were recognized through the Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, which was initiated by the late Pat B. Hamilton, a founder of the Raleigh Soccer League (a predecessor to NCFC Youth), and continued in his memory to recognize players for their good sportsmanship. The Shield Award broadens the criteria for submission to showcase not only sportsmanship but also additional attributes and values that can lead to personal growth on and off the field for the player and the team.

Recipients of the Shield Award represent what the NCFC “shield” (i.e., logo) represents through our established core values:

Have Fun : A player that promotes a love and enthusiasm for the game; this player brings positivity to training and games and can often be seen with a smile on his/her face.

Cultivate Community : A player who builds relationships through teamwork, trust, respect, and sportsmanship; encourages teammates regardless of the outcome or personal performance; respects opponents, referees, and coaches; this player is a leader and peer role model.

Commit to Excellence : A player who works hard and is committed to achieving his/her personal goals while supporting the team; this player works hard despite the score and shows up to training with a desire to learn and improve.

Encourage Innovation : A player that embraces personal growth on and off the field; a creative thinker; a player who is always up for a challenge; willing to make mistakes to try new things and improve.

Demonstrate Passion : A player that represents the shield (i.e., NCFC Youth), their team, and him/her-self with pride at all times.

These five core values are central to our mission and what we hope all our players experience and gain through participation in soccer.

“Like so many who came before us since our founding in 1974, we know that sports, in particular, soccer, can teach life skills and build personal character traits that players carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Gary Buete, NCFC Youth CEO. “The Shield Award brings our core values and these lessons to the surface and into the conversations among players, parents, and coaches. Our goal is to have 100% participation from coaches each season, and we are looking forward to recognizing our inaugural Shield Award recipients at the NCFC men’s game on October 30th.”

Through this award, NCFC Youth and Blue Cross NC are excited to celebrate, recognize, and share the positive impacts playing soccer can have on the development of our players and youth in the community.

“The spirit of the Shield Award aligns perfectly with our mission to make North Carolina communities stronger, healthier, and more inclusive for all,” said Reagan Greene Pruitt, Blue Cross NC Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement. “We’re excited to recognize youth in the community who demonstrate sportsmanship, leadership, and dedication both on and off the field.”

Every coach is asked to submit a player for the award – whether by coach decision or a team/player vote. This player will be the recipient of the “Shield Award” for their team in that season, and he/she will be recognized club-wide. All recipients will also have the opportunity to attend and be recognized during an NCFC or NC Courage professional game in front of family, friends, and the larger soccer community.

Coaches will receive communication through PlayMetrics in the coming days with next steps on how to submit your team’s Fall Shield Award recipient.

Spring Registration Now Open

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:05:46 GMT

Spring Recreation

Spring 2022 Recreation Registration is NOW OPEN!