Why Shadow?
Four Pillars: Development • Competition • Community • Enjoyment
How Do You Select a Youth Soccer Club?
Quality Leadership & Coaching Staff, Historical Success and Professionalism!
What does the title “Premier” really mean from club to club?
The title of “Premier soccer” has been thrown around for many years. About five years ago there was really only one way to justify calling yourself a “Premier Team” or “Premier Club” and that was to go through the Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) League Placement Tournament at U14. There were 4 levels of Premier soccer, Division 1, 2, 3 & Developmental (or Division 4). To truly be a Premier team you had to play in one of those “State Premier Leagues,” which is where the name originated.
Now the soccer landscape in the state of Washington has changed and the title of “Premier Soccer” has no real meaning as there is no unifying league that can help validate that title. Clubs, including our own, still use the “Premier” label as it is a way to convey a more competitive level of soccer.
However, if players are looking to play in the most competitive league in the state, then all you need to do is look at where our Spokane Shadow teams are competing. The Regional Club League (RCL) consists of the 21 most competitive, well organized clubs in the state. Clubs that are in the RCL must meet certain criteria as a club in order to even be considered for membership. The standards are high and require a focus of player development over anything else. Once becoming a RCL Club, its teams are placed based on performance and evaluation by the club.
It is always our intent to place teams in leagues that will both present the players with a challenge as well as allow them to see some success. The Spokane Shadow is the ONLY RCL club from Spokane and is only one of three RCL clubs in all of Eastern Washington (Yakima and Tri- Cities the others). Crossfire, Eastside, Northwest Nationals, Washington Premier and Seattle United are some of the clubs from the west side that compete alongside Shadow in the RCL.
All other clubs that use the “Premier Soccer” label do not participate in the most competitive leagues as a club regardless of what the Premier title may imply. Many of them do not even participate in leagues run by Washington Youth Soccer and are actually participating in leagues run by US Club Soccer. Washington Youth Soccer is the only soccer organization directly affiliated with US Youth Soccer which is the largest member of US Soccer. If you were to rank the available leagues in Washington by the club strength that participate in each, then the RCL would be the highest competitive league available to Washington youth soccer players.
grow the Club membership while remaining competitive. We encourage all interested players to experience the Shadow tryout process, as long as you are willing to make the necessary commitment to the Club upon your selection. If you have no intention of accepting a roster spot if you are invited, please do not tryout. 
Soccer Association. We participate in the most competitive leagues offered in Washington State and have achieved a #6 state ranking. Spokane Shadow is the only Inland Empire member of the Regional Club League (RCL). 
