The state of Washington is turning heads nationally in soccer circles as people within the local soccer community develop, operate and promote leagues of amateur elite adult clubs. It’s all done with a sense of purpose and a feeling of contolling the destiny of how the game is organized and celebrated within our state borders. Mostly, its about opportunity for players to play as adults and for club owners to keep their soccer money at home where they can grow the game at the community level, and a chance for supporters to raise their #HomeTownColors.

Olympic Force General Manager Micah McMonagle, whose club will soon have teams in all three Washington leagues (EPLWA, WISL, NWPL) knows why these leagues matter. “Players that want to play, that want to improve, that could be great but may not have had the level of luck or recognition required to get to that next level, can do so with these clubs and represent their local communities in the process,” he says. “They can gain real quality game experience, they can get high level training from great coaches, they can receive regional recognition within the leagues for their performances that can open eyes to the next levels.”

EPLWA Quick Facts

Established 2013. First season 2014.

30,000 fans have attended matches over two seasons

2 players have been directly invited to MLS Combine

Washington’s college teams are seeing benefits from players getting summer experience

League has been awarded 4th Division USA status

Teams have made front cover of sports sections in newspapers

EPLWA is highest level available in 5 of 8 markets league plays in

Teams play in stadiums with best-available state referees

Several players have already gone from EPLWA directly to pros

Hometown soccer culture / supporters groups are growing around the state

Fees lower than national league(s)

EPLWA.com

McMonagle and Olympic Force owner Bill Wright are currently working on rolling out the Northwest Premier League (NWPL.) It will be the third league for elite adult players to continue their careers in Washington. It will be the first one for women.

“The NWPL is introducing new teams to the state for women’s soccer that did not exist before,” says Wright. “These are all new leagues that tackle a missing element and have introduced teams that did not previously exist. All of these teams have their place and successes. The EPLWA has players playing in D-1 schools and others have played up to new teams from there. WISL players have played in the MASL. NWPL players will be made up of D-1 players as well as those that have graduated and still enjoy the game at a higher level.”

NWPL Quick Facts

Patterned after EPLWA

First known Washington statewide elite league for women

Over 10,000 girls play high school soccer in WA

Over 600 women play college-level soccer in WA

UW’s Lesle Gallimore on the creation of the NWPL: “Awesome!”

Debut planned for May 2016

Clubs to be announced in January

Fees lower than national league(s)

NorthwestPremierLeague.com

There are some in the Washington soccer community that see these new leagues as ‘rec leagues,’ but the level of play, players, attendances, website presences and media coverage clearly show they are much more. In short order the Evergreen Premier League has shown that being in charge of our own soccer destinies breeds hometown pride, a sense of accomplishment, and certainly looks great to outsiders, who have praised the men’s outdoor league. Not only that, but players are learning, advancing…and supporters cultures are growing.

“The whole idea and base behind creating the Olympic Force club is to provide a place for players to play and grow that otherwise wouldn’t be available,” says McMonagle. “In Washington, we have youth leagues at the bottom, colleges in the middle, the Pumas just above that with the Sounders and S2 being the top level of play for the men. When you look at it, it is similar for the women. Youth leagues and clubs, college, Women’s Sounders and the Reign. It’s well and good and there is a definite difference between the levels. However, there are huge gaps as well. Between the youth club level and the Kitsap Pumas/Women’s Sounders there is a gap there. A lot of players don’t get to play at college or weren’t lucky enough to get the financial aid needed to get them to that level. Some players want to play and don’t have a level to play at. In addition, you have some college players that really want to finish school so they can’t play for groups like the Pumas due to eligibility restrictions. This is where the Olympic Force as well as other EPLWA and NWPL clubs provide options that wouldn’t be available otherwise. ”

WISL Quick Facts

Established 2014. First season 2014-15

7 indoor teams providing over 140 roster spots

Some clubs have been operating over a decade

Players are scouted by Pro MASL Tacoma Stars

2014-15 Final played before sellout crowd in Tacoma

Fees lower than national league(s)

WISLnews.com

If Washington was its own country, it would fit right in to how football is developed around the world. “All you have to do is look across the Atlantic to the English Premier League to see why this is important,” McMonagle continues. “Players blossom at different times. They always have, at every sport. Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16 year old kid and couldn’t be stopped by anyone but his own temper. Fast forward 18 years and you see Jamie Vardy, a no-name late bloomer, who has all the sudden snatched the stardom within the league. I would guess that without all the different levels of play available in England, he probably wouldn’t be where he is today. He was able to keep playing and keep trying because of the available levels for him to do so. That’s what we are trying to provide and why leagues like the EPLWA and NWPL are important. Flat out, it gives good players a chance to play good ball. In the end, it provides the community with a chance to support their local players and gives those players an opportunity to better themselves as people and as players.”