Welcome back to Seacoast Connected

Hi everyone,

One of the things we enjoy most about Seacoast is seeing where the game takes our players, and how often their stories come back together along the way. In this issue, we follow Richie Aman from Seacoast to a national championship game with a remarkable connection to two other alumni.

We also kick off our Alphabet Soup series with a closer look at NECSL and how it fits into the different opportunities available to Seacoast players. And we consider a question many families will recognize: what does it mean when a player is asked to try a new position?

Portrait: University of Washington Athletics.

Three Seacoast connections, one national championship

When the University of Washington and NC State met for the 2025 NCAA men's soccer championship, three players on the field shared a connection that reached back to Seacoast United.

Richie Aman and Harrison Bertos were playing for Washington. Taig Healy was on the other side for NC State. Each had played for Seacoast, and all three would have a hand in the story of the final.

With Washington already ahead, Richie set up Joe Dale to make it 2–0. NC State fought back, and with less than four minutes left in regulation, Taig scored the equalizer to bring the game level. Then, early in overtime, Harrison scored the winner for Washington's first men's soccer national championship.

A 3–2 championship game is memorable on its own. For our community, the people involved make it something more. Three players who spent part of their soccer journeys at Seacoast found themselves shaping the same national final, even as their paths had taken them to different teams.

The connections didn't end when they left youth soccer. Richie joined Washington in 2022 and Harrison followed in 2023. During the summer of 2024, Harrison and Taig also played for the Seacoast United Phantoms team that won the USL League Two national championship. By the time they met again in the college final, Taig had moved from the University of New Hampshire to NC State, while Richie and Harrison were teammates in Washington.

Richie had been building toward that moment throughout his time with the Huskies. When Washington introduced him in 2022, coach Jamie Clark pointed to his ability to take players on and create chances. In Richie's senior season, that attacking contribution showed up in 14 assists and a Big Ten Midfielder of the Year award. The assist in the final was one more example of the role he played for Washington: helping create chances for the people around him.

His next chapter came quickly. D.C. United selected Richie eighth overall in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft and signed him in January. In March, the club announced a loan to Loudoun United for the 2026 season. D.C. United's player page currently lists him as loaned out.

We often talk about pathways in terms of leagues and levels. Stories like this remind us that a pathway is also made up of people, shared experiences and opportunities that continue long after a player leaves a particular team. Congratulations to Richie, Harrison and Taig. We'll be following where the game takes each of them next.

Read the championship match report

Read D.C. United's announcement about Richie

ALPHABET SOUP SERIES

What does playing in NECSL mean for your player?

When a player joins a Seacoast team in the New England Club Soccer League, or NECSL, what does that tell us about the competition they'll face? And as they develop, how can their experience grow with them?

In this installment of our Alphabet Soup series, we're looking at where NECSL fits within the Seacoast pathway and how the league's different flights give players and teams room to be challenged at different levels.

Where NECSL fits

In the Seacoast pathway, the New Hampshire Soccer League, or NHSL, sits directly below NECSL. Above NECSL are opportunities including the National Academy League, or NAL, and academy programs such as MLS NEXT and Girls Academy.

These opportunities are part of the wider Seacoast pathway available to players across the club. Teams at certain levels are based in specific regions, so a player may need to join a team in another region to take part in that opportunity.

NECSL is an important part of that pathway. It gives Seacoast teams opportunities to compete against clubs from across New England, with different levels of competition available within the league itself. For a family trying to understand where their player is in the club's larger picture, knowing both the league and the team's flight helps put that experience in context.

One league, different levels of competition

Within NECSL, teams are grouped into flights. Where these groups are offered, the order runs from the Regional Academy League (RAL) to Flight 1, Flight 2 and Flight 3. Younger age groups may use different labels, including Pre-RAL, and the groups available can vary by age and season.

The flight helps shape the level of challenge a team faces. As players compete at higher levels, they may find themselves under pressure sooner, facing more organized opponents and making decisions more quickly. Those experiences give players a chance to put what they're learning into practice and show coaches where they can continue to grow.

Having different flights also creates room for development within NECSL. If a team is ready for a greater challenge, we can look at moving the team into a higher flight. If the competition is not the right fit, we can look for an environment that better supports the team’s development. For an individual player who needs a different challenge, we can consider a move or additional opportunities. The aim is to match the competition to what the players need as they develop.

Development comes first

At Seacoast, our focus is on developing players, not simply collecting trophies. Results matter, and we want our teams to compete, but a score is only one part of the picture. We're also looking at what players are learning, how they respond to the game and whether the level of competition is helping them improve.

Sometimes a team needs a stronger challenge. Sometimes a player would benefit from an additional opportunity. And sometimes the most useful step is to give a player more time in their current environment to build confidence and develop. The conversation starts with what will best support the player or team.

For players ready to explore another level, Seacoast's wider pathway includes opportunities beyond NECSL as well. That is one of the strengths of being part of a club with several competitive environments: players can continue to grow, and their coaches can help them find the right challenge along the way.

NECSL's flights are one part of that picture. They help us place teams in competition that supports their development today while keeping an eye on where they can go next.

Explore NECSL and its current schedule

PLAYER & FAMILY RESOURCE

When your player is asked to try a new position

When a player finds a position they love, it can quickly become part of how they see themselves. They're a defender, a midfielder or a forward. But especially in the younger stages of the game, we want players to experience more than one view of the field.

At Seacoast, we believe those early years are an important time to build a broad understanding of the game. In 7v7 and 9v9, playing in different positions gives players opportunities to learn the responsibilities, decisions and challenges that come with each role. It helps them develop as soccer players before settling too early into a single position.

Think about a player who loves to attack. Time spent defending gives them a chance to understand how a defender reads the game, closes space and works with teammates to stop an attack. That experience can also help them recognize those same situations when they move forward again.

A player who usually defends can learn from spending time farther up the field, too. They'll experience how an attacker creates space, receives the ball under pressure and looks for opportunities to go toward goal. A player in midfield might have to connect both sides of the game, deciding when to support the attack and when to help defend.

Each experience has a purpose: helping players understand the game more fully and develop skills they can carry with them as they grow.

What that looks like will depend on the player's age, the coach and the situation. Some roles, such as goalkeeper, involve more specialized development, and a player may begin focusing on that role earlier. For outfield players, especially in the younger formats, we see real value in learning the game from different positions.

If your player is trying somewhere new, ask what felt different and what they noticed from that part of the field. If they're unsure about their role, encourage them to talk with their coach about what to focus on. A new position can take time to learn, and a little understanding and encouragement can make the experience more enjoyable.

We want our players to keep learning, finding new challenges and growing in their understanding of the game. Seeing it from different positions is one way to help build that foundation.

Further reading: England Football on trying different positions

Thank you for helping shape Seacoast Connected

Thank you to everyone who shared ideas for future issues. Your interest in alumni stories, community accomplishments and a clearer picture of the club's pathways has helped guide what we're bringing to you here. We'll keep looking for the people and stories that connect our community.

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Help us tell the Seacoast story

We love seeing what our teams and families are up to across Seacoast. With Halloween around the corner and fall weekends at the fields, we'd love to see the moments your group has shared, whether it's a tournament, a team activity or a little Halloween fun.

If you have photos or videos you'd like to share, send them our way. Please include your region, team or program, the event and date, and a little context.

Upload your photos & videos ?

Have a suggestion, a story idea or something you'd like to see in a future issue? Contact Kyle at kstimpson@seacoastunited.com. We'd love to hear from you.

Welcome back to Seacoast Connected

Hi everyone,

With the tournament weekend behind us, this issue looks at a few parts of the week around team training. We’ve included practical ideas for players who want to work on something at home, along with a reminder to leave room for rest and other interests.

There’s also a first look at Alphabet Soup, our series on the leagues and competition levels in the youth soccer pathway, an invitation to explore a trip through our WorldStrides partnership, the November 7 Futures Fall Finale, and a golf day supporting the Jarkko Tuominen scholarship.

Team sessions give players things to work on, but there are other ways to explore the game when they want to. Start with one idea, rather than trying to fit another full training session into the week.

Use a wall. In a safe space where you have permission to play, pass and receive with both feet. Try controlling the return into space before your next pass. What changes when you use your other foot or a different angle?

Make up a game. Set a target, use a couple of cones, or invite a friend. Try a move slowly, then change direction or pace. Give yourself a problem to solve instead of counting repetitions for the sake of it.

Watch one player. During a match, follow what they do before and after a pass. Where do they look? Where do they move? Bring one question or idea to your next team session.

Before adding anything, look at what the week already includes: training, matches, other sports, school and time to recover. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages variety, enjoyment and regular time off. Extra practice should leave room for those things too.

Players: choose something you’d enjoy trying. Parents: ask what they want to do, and leave room for the answer to be a day off.

Read the AAP’s advice on keeping the fun in youth sports

Some players want to talk about a game as soon as they get in the car. Others need a little time, especially after a difficult result. Before getting into what happened, try asking, “Would you like to talk about the game, or leave it for later?”

If they want to talk, start with what’s on their mind. They might be disappointed about a missed chance, pleased with something they tried, or thinking about a moment you didn’t notice. Listen before offering your own view.

You don’t need to review every mistake. A question such as “What did you enjoy?” or “Is there anything you’d like to try next time?” can give them room to reflect without turning the journey into another coaching session.

If they would rather wait, let them. You can make it clear that you’re available when they’re ready. There isn’t one conversation that works for every player. The useful starting point is giving them a say in when, and whether, to talk.

Read the University of Toronto’s ride-home guidance

Explore TrueSport’s advice after a difficult game

NECSL. NAL. GA. DPL. ECNL. MLS NEXT.

The names are familiar, but understanding how they fit into the youth soccer pathway can take a little more explaining. What does each league offer? How does the competition work? And what do the flights or divisions within a league tell us?

Alphabet Soup will work through those questions one league at a time. We’ll explain the names, the competition levels within them, and how the boys’ and girls’ routes differ. We’ll also look at the practical details families want to understand: age groups, travel, how teams are grouped and how a player’s next step is considered.

The aim is to give families useful context, with examples and straightforward explanations. We won’t try to squeeze every league into one universal ladder or assume that the same answer applies to every player.

One league at a time.

Donosti Cup, 2026.

Seacoast United’s partnership with WorldStrides Sports gives our community a chance to explore where soccer can take us. Traveling abroad as a team can bring players closer together, introduce them to new cultures and create memories that stay with them long after the final whistle. For some players, that experience can be life-changing.

Anyone interested in exploring a trip can start a conversation with their coach or regional director and help build interest within their team. WorldStrides works with coaches to develop custom itineraries, with opportunities for soccer, sightseeing and shared experiences abroad.

One upcoming example is the 2027 Donosti Cup in San Sebastián, Spain, inviting U12–U17 boys’ and girls’ teams. Further trip information and registration details are expected early next week. Families can ask Paul Turner about the appropriate route for their team.

Have an idea for your team? Talk with your coach or regional director about what might be possible, then get in touch with Paul Turner at Seacoast United.

Contact Paul Turner about team travel

7v7 Futures Fall Finale · Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Epping, NH

The club’s event page invites U8, U9 and U10 teams and lists three 25-minute opening games. The schedule is still coming soon. If this could fit your team’s end to the fall season, coordinate with your coach and use the official event page for current registration information.

View the club’s Fall Finale information

Already booked for the November 1 Revolution game? Watch for ticket delivery directly from the Revolution. The club’s ticket allocation is currently marked sold out.

2026 scholarship recipients · United Sports Foundation.

Jarkko “Jarks” Tuominen’s story began in Finland and brought him to Oregon on a soccer scholarship at Concordia University. He went on to a career in Nike Soccer, working in marketing and sales and building a close relationship with Seacoast United. The United Sports Foundation remembers him for his kindness, generosity and infectious smile.

Following his death in 2005, scholarships in his name have helped graduating student-athletes take their next step into college. Today, the Foundation and Seacoast United continue that legacy through awards recognizing academic achievement, leadership and community service.

The rescheduled Jarkko Tuominen Memorial Golf Tournament takes place Monday, November 2, 2026, at The Links at Outlook in South Berwick, Maine. Registration and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Join the United Sports Foundation for a day supporting the Jarkko Tuominen High School Scholarship.

Register or sponsor the tournament

Help us tell the Seacoast story

I’d like Seacoast Connected to show more of what’s happening across the club, and I could use your help. If you have a photo or video from a game, training session, tournament or club event that you’re willing to share, I’d love to take a look.

Photos and videos from your phone are welcome. Include your region, team or program, the event and date, a little context, and any photographer credit. Only share media you own or have permission to use, with newsletter permission from the people shown and parent or guardian permission for identifiable players under 18.

I’ll review submissions and permissions before anything is featured. Uploading doesn’t guarantee inclusion, but your contributions can help us show more of the Seacoast community.

Share your photos and videos

Welcome back to Seacoast Connected

Hi everyone,

With Columbus Day weekend coming up, we’ve pulled together the Capitol Cup and Ocean Cup schedules, along with a few food and snack ideas for those longer days at the fields. We’ve also included details on next summer’s trips to the Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the Donosti Cup in Spain.

We’d also love your help sharing more of what’s happening across Seacoast United. If you’re already taking photos and videos at games or training, you’ll find more about how to contribute below.

Capitol Cup and Ocean Cup

If your team is heading to the Capitol Cup or Ocean Cup, both schedules are now available. Use the links below to find your team’s game times, fields, and tournament information.

Capitol Cup October 9–12, 2026 · New Hampshire

The Capitol Cup schedule is now available. Choose your age group and division to find your team’s game times and fields. Some local teams may play on Friday night, so check the full weekend schedule.

View Capitol Cup schedule

Tournament and field information

Ocean Cup October 10–12, 2026 · Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The Ocean Cup schedule is now available. Choose your age group and division to find your team’s game times and fields. The tournament page also has information on the Cape Cod field locations.

View Ocean Cup schedule

Tournament and field information

Check the schedules again before the weekend for any updates, and look out for your team’s arrival and kit instructions.