The National Women’s Soccer League is introducing a pair of combines for prospective players at both the college and youth levels.

The combines will give players a chance to showcase their talents while giving teams scouting opportunities in the absence of a draft.

The NWSL collective bargaining agreement reached with its players’ union in 2024 eliminated the league draft, which was traditionally held in January. This year was the first without one. The CBA also included unrestricted free agency for all players.

The combines will take place over three days in December. The dates and location have not been released by the league.

One combine will be for players ages 18 to 23, and the other will be for players ages 13 to 17. About 60 players will be invited to each combine, the league said.

The players will be selected based on input from a network of scouts and experts across all levels of soccer as well feedback from clubs, the league said.

The youth combine is meant to identify potential professional players. While the league currently does not have an academy system or formal development pathway, some individual teams have academies.

“As the women’s soccer landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a Combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment,” Karla Thompson, the NWSL’s director of youth development, said in a statement. “This initiative is about widening the lens of who gets seen and ensuring that talent, wherever it resides, has a continued pathway to our league.”

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer