All photos courtesy of NCFC Youth.
NCFC’s yearly tournament event hosts high-level youth clubs from across the country over four weekends
By Kyle Marie McMahon
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and U.S. interest in soccer is growing exponentially. A For Soccer marketing company study shows that a third of the U.S.’s soccer fans have become interested in the sport over the past five years—and that number is growing by 400% every year. Some of that growth can be attributed to the rise of Major League Soccer, television shows like Ted Lasso and events like The Soccer Tournament (TST), which is held in Cary. But an additional element to the rise in popularity is due to the increase in youth athletes taking interest in the sport.
This weekend,the North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) Youth organization will wrap up the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, which takes place over a series of four weekends every November and December at WRAL Soccer Park and other fields around the Triangle and surrounding areas. NCFC Youth plays a pivotal role in nurturing young players and giving them opportunities to develop skills, build confidence and make friends. Chief marketing and development officer Katharine Eberhardt attributes soccer’s skyrocketing popularity to clubs that encourage new players to try out recreational-level soccer at any age. “It’s grassroots-level growth, and the base is community programs,” she says.
NCFC Youth hosts events like the Showcase Series, not just to support soccer athletes but also to help the growth and visibility of the sport. The series brings together club teams from around the country to compete in a round-robin tournament for bragging rights and a chance to showcase their abilities. The junior showcases took place the weekends of November 9–17 for girls and boys under 15. The college showcases (ages 15–19) take place in December. The girls competed December 5–8, and the boys will play December 12–15.
“The Showcase Series presents a rare opportunity for young athletes to compete against teams from across the country, exposing them to diverse playing styles and strategies essential for their growth and development in the sport,” Eberhardt says. “Playing against top-tier talent encourages players to elevate their game and develop resilience, teamwork and competitive spirit.” Teams are meticulously matched to ensure even playing level to keep games close and show off each player’s skill. This year’s showcase is hosting 1,567 teams, an increase of 171 teams from last year, with 33 different states and Canada represented. The farthest team came from Calgary!
For athletes nearing their final seasons of play at the high school level, the Showcase provides the opportunity to be scouted and possibly recruited, allowing them to continue their soccer career at the college level. This year’s showcase saw approximately 1,000 coaches from all levels, including top-ranked Division I schools for soccer. And with so many coaches in attendance, players are connected with schools they might not have known were even opportunities, offering them a chance to shape their athletic and academic futures.
This series is an important opportunity for coaches as well. Because so many talented high school players are playing in the same place, coaches are able to evaluate many of them at one event. NCFC also utilizes GotSoccer.com to live stream all the games, giving coaches the ability to see all the talent even if they cannot attend the event.
The timing of the showcase is ideal in many ways. For girls, it’s the end of the club season. For boys, it’s the kickoff. And our central location to top universities provides these high school students an opportunity to tour campuses and explore the Triangle. The local community benefits from the Showcase as well. With over 32,000 hotel room nights booked and an estimated $28 million in economic impact from the series this year, it’s clear that soccer is a boon for Wake County.
This tournament is one of several major soccer events that take place in the Triangle, which is quite the hub for soccer. As well as being home to United Soccer League’s NCFC, it’s the National Women’s Soccer League’s NC Courage, both of whom play at WakeMed Soccer Park, a state-of-the-art complex that hosts a variety of high-level soccer events from TST to the College Cup. The College Cup is the yearly collegiate tournament to determine the Division I national champion. The women’s tournament took place December 9, with UNC winning the championship over Wake Forest. The men’s College Cup final will take place on December 16.
If you or your child are interested in soccer, the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series is free to attend—you may just want to bring a chair (and try not to get in the way of the coaches). It’s a great way to support local athletes, which included around 30 NCFC youth clubs during the girls college week alone. It’s also a great way to support the sport as a whole and encourage its growth and the love of the game for future generations.
