ECNL-RL & NPL: A Look Back at Fall Season’s Promotion Races

With all Fall league matches finished, NorCal Premier Soccer is now in its winter break with the spring fate of all ECNL-RL and NPL teams decided.

With NorCal’s unique competition structure that features promotion and relegation, several teams have moved up to higher leagues, while some have been moved down in order to form more competitive divisions after each season.

“The promotion and relegation process allows any team, regardless of the club they play at, to reach the highest levels of play in youth soccer,” said NorCal NPL Commissioner Kelcey Chaidez. “For teams in the NPL that means reaching the ECNL-RL, something that every team strives to do, and can achieve based on merit.”

Most ECNL-RL divisions have currently reached their halfway point as the U15-U19 age groups feature yearlong seasons, however for the U13 and U14 divisions, eight NPL teams per division have been promoted to each spring-only ECNL-RL.

The complete process, which varies between each division and age group, is laid out here.

In the NPL for the older age groups, teams have all finished their fall seasons and have therefore earned a spot in a spring NPL division.

Furthermore, the winners of the U16, U17, and U19 NPL 1 divisions have also secured placement in this summer’s NPL Finals, set to be held next July in Denver.

Those qualifying are Eastshore Alliance (U16 Boys), Alameda Soccer Club (U16 Girls), Albion SC Merced (U17 Boys), MVLA (U17 Girls), IR Academy (U19 Boys), and Santa Clara Sporting (U19 Girls).

“Congrats to all the teams who have earned spots in the NPL Finals,” Chaidez said. “It’s a true honor to represent their clubs and NorCal in a competitive environment that brings in teams from all across the country.”

For more information about the ECNL-RL, click here. For more information about the NPL, click here.