SEATTLE (December 12, 2011) -- Highline Premier FC, the advanced development club of the Highline Soccer Association, and Crossfire Premier Soccer Club, Washington State’s largest premier level soccer institution for boys and girls under 19 years of age, have announced an exciting new affiliation between the two clubs. The announcement launches a relationship that will offer benefits to both clubs’ players.
The affiliation between Crossfire Premier and Highline Premier is to collaborate and leverage the clubs’ strengths to foster players’ developmental and competitive opportunities, improving the overall youth soccer experience for both clubs’ players, coaches and families. Among the main goals of the affiliation are to create opportunities for players that would otherwise not be available to them and to establish more advanced player training programs.
Highline Premier FC Club President Stuart Mathews said, “Highline Premier Football Club is very excited to be affiliating with Crossfire Premier, the most widely recognized premier level youth soccer institution in the Northwest. Both clubs have carefully structured this relationship in ways to maintain what is unique to each but to benefit their membership. It will mean more top caliber youth players capable of competing at the highest national levels and showcasing that talent coming out of the Northwest.”
Crossfire Premier Coaching Director Bernie James added, “I have been an admirer of Highline Premier’s approach to developing their players. Alex Weaver’s recent hand-selection by the English Football Association (“The FA”) as one of only sixteen (16) coaches globally to attend their prestigious inaugural FA Elite Coaching License Course affirms he is a top national-level youth soccer educator. This relationship reflects mutual respect and both clubs’ willingness to affiliate in ways that benefit the players and truly provide them the best opportunities available.”
Highline Premier is committed to delivering not only a first-class player development environment, but also in establishing and executing personalized player development roadmaps that meet the unique and varying needs of its players. This affiliation translates into access to more high-quality outlets for development, competitive play and tournament showcase opportunities at the highest levels for Highline Premier’s most capable players. It provides for supplemental opportunities throughout their development that will permit them to continue local instruction within the club at the younger ages with periodic participation in supplemental activities.
Highline Premier Coaching Director Alex Weaver noted, “In a relatively short period of time, Crossfire Premier’s management team has raised the club to become one of only eight (8) clubs throughout the US (and the only club in the Northwest) with national “top 25” rankings for BOTH its boys and girls programs. Crossfire’s vision and the high standards they have met for competitive play have substantially improved the national-level opportunities for more players in the Northwest.”
About Crossfire Premier
The Mission of the Crossfire Premier Soccer Club is to promote the game of soccer by providing the highest possible level of technical and tactical training, skill development, competitive team play, and to provide highly skilled and capable players with an opportunity to further excel in the sport. It is Crossfire’s goal to become and to be recognized as a consistently successful Premier Soccer Club within Washington State, within our region, and throughout the United States. Crossfire Players, Coaches, Managers and Member Families will strive to be an asset to the sport of soccer and to the community in which they live. Crossfire Premier Soccer Club is Washington State’s only Nike Premier Soccer Club. To learn more, visit http://www.crossfiresoccer.org
About Highline Premier FC
Highline Premier Football Club, based just south of Seattle, Washington USA, is the official advanced development club of Highline Soccer Association (HSA). HSA is comprised of five member members devoted to promoting the game of soccer through programs and play options that serve over 3,000 youth in the Highline area of West Seattle, West Highline, Sea-Tac and Des Moines/Midway. Highline Premier provides the highest possible level of professional technical, tactical and skills development training to qualified youth players, assisting them in fulfilling their potential as highly skilled and capable players and creating opportunities for them to play at the highest levels, both in the state and beyond, commensurate with their abilities. Highline Premier players learn the necessary life skills to obtain future success whether it is in athletic competition or the professional work place. The Highline Premier community of players, coaches, staff, club volunteers and member families endeavor to be good stewards of the sport of soccer and to the community in which they live. To learn more, visit http://hpfc.cornerkicksystems.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Affiliation between Crossfire Premier and Highline Premier
What is the purpose of this affiliation?
The affiliation between Crossfire Premier SC and Highline Premier FC is to collaborate and leverage the clubs’ strengths to foster our players’ development and competitive opportunities, improving the overall youth soccer experience for our players, coaches and families.
Are Crossfire Premier and Highline Premier Clubs merging?
No.
How does this help Crossfire Premier and its players?
Crossfire Premier is the Northwest’s most highly widely recognized premier level soccer institution for boys and girls. This affiliation means access to more top caliber youth players capable of competing at the highest national levels and showcasing that talent coming out of the Northwest.
How does this help Highline Premier and its players?
Highline Premier is committed to delivering not only a first-class player development environment, recognized in its market, but also in establishing and executing personalized player roadmaps that meet the unique and varying needs of its players. This affiliation translates into access to more high-quality outlets for development, competitive play and tournament showcase opportunities at the highest levels for Highline Premier players. Crossfire Premier is one of only eight (8) clubs throughout the US (and the only club in the Northwest) with national “top 25” rankings for BOTH its boys and girls programs*. Crossfire Premier has set the standard for competitive clubs in this corner of the country. Crossfire Premier has also achieved membership not only in the US Soccer Development Academy program (USSDA, men) but the Elite Clubs National League program (ECNL, women). This relationship is about creating exciting opportunities and development roadmaps for players. This affiliation establishes a direct pathway between Highline Premier and the leading youth soccer club in the Pacific Northwest but also establishes a pathway for our most capable players into the top elite youth soccer programs available to U.S. youth, not to mention opportunities with Inter-Milan (F.C. Internazionale), recognized as one of the top five professional soccer clubs worldwide.
* Soccer America’s Top 30 Boys & Girls Youth Clubs, December 2010
How does this strengthen my Highline Premier team?
The experience that certain Highline Premier players will earn in top, national-level competitive play through this affiliation will be brought back to benefit their team environment. Anytime a player returns to his/her team with top-shelf playing experiences such as these, it only benefits the entire team.
Are the clubs going to charge me more for this affiliation?
No.
Will I have to train outside of where I train today?
The affiliation does not alter what the clubs’ teams do or where they train. Some players that are identified by the Coaching Directors may periodically be invited to train together in each other’s geographical locations.
Does this affiliation mean we are going to have a different uniform?
No.
Are there transfer of funds tied to this affiliation?
No.
Are there changes in board composition or governance structure tied to this affiliation?
No.
How long is the affiliation slated for?
This affiliation is crafted for the long-term benefit of both clubs’ membership. It will continue as long as both parties are pleased with its progress.
Is this affiliation for certain players or for all players?
The affiliation is initially first and foremost for a small number of top players at each age. As such, there are elements of the affiliation reserved for such players that are periodically identified by the clubs’ Coaching Directors. However, there will be other elements of the affiliation that will be unveiled in the near future that will benefit all interested players.
Is Crossfire Premier going to take Highline Premier’s top young players?
The intent of the affiliation is to provide Highline Premier’s top young players supplemental opportunities throughout their development that will permit them to continue local instruction within the club and periodic participation in supplemental activities through this affiliation. In consultation with both club’s Coaching Directors and member families, a few older age players (U14+) across the club may qualify to compete for slots on Crossfire Premier top teams during each annual team formation process. In turn, Crossfire Premier’s top players have access to its elite programs, including the US Soccer Development Academy program (men), the Elite Clubs National League program (ECNL) for women and to higher level exposure and training with Inter-Milan (F.C. Internazionale), one of the world’s top professional soccer clubs.
What is the relationship between Inter-Milan and Crossfire Premier?
Inter Milan (F.C. Internazionale, http://www.inter.it), one of the top professional soccer clubs in the world, entered into its first US youth soccer club partnership Crossfire Premier in 2010. This partnership offers players and coaches access to – and involvement with – one of the top soccer clubs in the world. The relationship is focused on coach and player development. Crossfire Premier Coaches travel to Italy and study with the Inter coaching staff. Inter coaches join Crossfire Premier for selected events to work with Crossfire coaches and players. Through their partnership, Inter has the chance to observe and assess young American talent. 
