Albany, NY – BWP Football Academy has announced the launch of a Pre-ECNL Academy program beginning in the 2026/27 season, aimed at boys in the U11 and U12 
age groups.
Key Details
- Program: Pre-ECNL Academy
- Launch season: 2026/27
- Age groups: U11 and U12 Boys
○ U11s – Born between Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016
○ U12s – Born between Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015
- Purpose: Create an early development pathway that prepares players for future participation in Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) competition.
What does the Pre-ECNL level mean?
The Pre-ECNL is designed to bridge the gap between grassroots academy soccer and elite national leagues. The focus is on:
- Advanced technical training and decision-making
- Higher training frequency than standard travel teams
- Competitive matches and showcases against strong regional opponents ● Preparation for ECNL or ECNL RL teams starting at U13
These programs emphasize player development over results, often including multiple weekly training sessions and structured competition schedules to accelerate growth in key developmental ages.
About the BWP Football Academy
BWP Football Academy – Blackwatch Soccer Club is a long-running youth development program based in the Albany, New York area that focuses on competitive training environments and pathways to higher-level leagues and college soccer.
What this means for players:
- Talented Boys U11s – Born between Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016 & U12s – Born between Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015 will have access to a higher-level academy environment earlier.
- It creates a clearer pathway: Pre-ECNL (U11–U12) → ECNL pathway teams (U13+).
Register here: https://bwpalbany.leagueapps.com/camps/4939366-bwp-pre-ecnl–ecnl-rl-talent-id-centers
share this post