IRMO, SC (5/8/23) - SC Youth Soccer is thrilled to announce the launch of the National League Conference South Carolina (NLC-SC).

This new initiative is the result of youth soccer clubs across the state coming together, making a commitment to provide players with a safe and positive environment, an improved quality of match, and a clear pathway from recreational to competitive soccer as we seek to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States.

The NLC-SC represents a major step forward for youth soccer in South Carolina, with the overarching objective to create sustainable soccer environments for all ages and all levels of the sport to aid its growth; especially with the FIFA Men’s World Cup coming to the U.S. in 2026, where participation and popularity is expected to increase across youth soccer clubs.

“We want to help facilitate exploring, sharing and demonstrating best practices among South Carolina clubs; so that every player’s youth soccer experience will lead to a lifelong passion for the game, no matter where their journey takes them” – Walter Clapton, Executive Director, SCYS

The NLC-SC will be a ‘club-based’ and ‘team-based’ league between the ages of U13 and U19, allowing clubs that demonstrate best practice in multiple areas to have guaranteed access to the league on an annual basis, while also ensuring that teams can earn their place into the conference through promotion from the PMSL Division.

Boys Divisions: U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18, U19
Girls Divisions: U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18/19

To earn club-based status in the NLC-SC, the areas of focus include:

• Licensure of leadership and coaching staff
  
•  Formalized player development frameworks guided by the clubs’ beliefs and principles
  
•  Programming at various ages and groups, including those with disabilities
  
•  A focus on the foundation of the soccer pyramid (U4 - U12) to engage new players with the sport
  
•  Facility access
  
•  Player safety initiatives that exceed the requirements set by the National Governing Body

“As I enter my 20th year at SCYS it is brilliant to see our members working together to discuss the importance of meeting and exceeding the risk management guidelines set by U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer. When it comes to player safety, we want to set the standard.” – Bonnie Epperson, Manager, Membership Services and Player Safety

By aligning with the (USYS) National League to create a clear pathway from the South Carolina Conference, into the Piedmont Conference (GA, NC & SC), clubs will be able to better prepare to compete as they climb through competitions, ensuring players, coaches and spectators are provided with the resources to create a high-performance environment.

To improve the performance environment, league members will be provided with:

• Free and low-cost education opportunities for coaches, hosted live or through our education partner, etrainu
  
• Discounted U.S. Soccer licensing
  
•  Codes of conduct for players, coaches and spectators typical to high performance environments
  
•  Communication and match day standards
  
•  Player development frameworks to aid with seasonal and long-term planning for teams

Aside from the improved standards, the NLC-SC will provide each team competing for a chance to earn their place in the Piedmont Conference. Each year, SC is given two Piedmont Conference spots, which will now be awarded to the League Champion, and the State Cup Winner.

The National League Conference South Carolina begins this fall for teams U13 – U19, and the application process for club-based clubs is now open.

Click here to apply your club to the NLC-SC