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Players First

Players First Licensed Club

Schwaben AC Chosen As Players First Licensed Club!

Schwaben AC is has been approved as a US Club Soccer Players First-licensed club, one of only 82 clubs in the country and only 1 of 3 in the state of Illinois. We’re honored to be nationally recognized on the forefront of raising the standards of youth soccer, as a Players First-licensed club. Players First is built on five pillars: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. Message from US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne:

Dear Schwaben Athletic Club families and community,

With great pride, I’d like to inform you that Schwaben Athletic Club has been recognized as a Players First-licensed club. After a rigorous application process, your club has proven to provide an exceptional, player-centered environment and upholds the high standards of this license.

Being a member of a Players First club signifies that you are a part of a club that is providing support in five key areas: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. It also means that your club creates a positive, holistic experience for every child participating in the club.

On the club website, you will now find the Philosophical Commitments of a Players First club:

  • Players First represents a club’s commitment to placing the long-term interests of each individual player at the heart of every decision in structuring, operating, and managing a club. 
  • Players First represents a club’s commitment to providing a holistic approach in player development for all of your players, recognizing that the soccer experience must include lessons and opportunity both on the field and off.
  • Players First represents a club’s commitment as professionals in youth development to expect ongoing learning, education and development from all staff members in order to ensure that players have the benefit of best-in-class information and resources in teaching and training young athletes.
  • Players First represents a club’s commitment to engage with and educate parents to help them understand and embrace the appropriate expectations and roles for them in their child’s overall soccer and athletic development experience.

The ultimate goal of Players First licensing is to create and maintain this culture in youth soccer and your club is now officially one of the national exemplary leaders.

We thank you for being a part of this culture and movement in youth soccer. The most important individuals involved in Players First clubs are the parents and families, and we deeply appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Kevin Payne
CEO/Executive Director