This email is going out to CSL members which are possibly being solicited to play in a new developmental League in the fall.

Earlier this month, after a meeting with several ECNL clubs, CSL received a letter from Howard Fink of Real So Cal, which stated that the ECNL Clubs would stay in CSL under the following conditions:

(1) CSL must create a separate bracket for ECNL Clubs.

(2) The ECNL Clubs would schedule their own games and hire their own referees.

(3) The ECNL teams could never be relegated from that bracket and

(4) No non-ECNL teams could ever be promoted to their select bracket.

(5) A non-response by the deadline of Feb 22 would be considered a rejection of their proposal.

The same day that CSL received this letter and 4 days before CSL was asked to respond, a meeting was arranged by most of these ECNL Clubs to form their own league.

CSL cannot put itself in the position of anointing some Clubs with a special status merely based upon their participation in other Leagues. To do so would betray all the other participating clubs in CSL. By conferring a fixed bracket designation with no relationship to League play, would simply make CSL an organization based upon patronage and not merit. CSL allows for all of its teams and Clubs to earn their way to the highest level based upon league performance, not because of their affiliation with other circuits.

A few ECNL Clubs have now chosen to withdraw all their teams from CSL and are now starting their own developmental (non-competitive) league for their non-ECNL/Academy teams.

Despite what may be told to you, CSL did not ban these Clubs who are now withdrawing their teams from CSL. ECNL also did not mandate to these CSL Clubs that they could not continue to play in their local league.

An email listing the name of Clubs that have allegedly joined this League has also been circulated, although most of the Clubs on this list have informed CSL that they have not joined any new league, and that their club never agreed to be listed as a joining member.

CSL will regret the loss of the many fine players who play in these Clubs. But CSL cannot operate for the benefit of just a few Clubs, but has to promote and provide for the over 180 other participating CSL Clubs by providing a level playing field for them all.

To be clear, no teams that are in good standing and that wish to participate in CSL during the fall will be turned away. CSL will find a way for every team that wishes to participate in CSL, to participate in CSL.