The Nowland Premier Soccer Academy (NPSA) Foundation is aiming to offer free recreational soccer in Mercer Island, Bellevue and Renton.

In premier soccer on the Eastside, quality is typically correlated with cost, said Adam Nowland, founder and director of NPSA and the NPSA Foundation. The new league hopes to change that, removing the financial barrier and also raising the standard of recreational soccer.

The foundation is launching the NPSA Spartans, an innovative youth recreational soccer program in the Puget Sound Premier League (PSPL) that will kick off in late summer for the 2016 fall season. The goal is to open soccer to everyone, specifically those families who have been held back by the rising costs of youth sports.

“In the United States, soccer has become an expensive sport that requires families to pay in order to play for an established club,” according to an NPSA press release sent March 29. “While paying for coaching services is a reality in today’s market, this pay-to-play model has greatly limited the number of children who can participate in the game.”

The league will accept ages U8 to U14 boys and girls. Registration opened April 1. Teams will be organized by gender, age and school, with the goal for friends to play with friends, said club administrator Ami Packard.

NPSA started on Mercer Island about two and a half years ago, and the foundation came shortly thereafter when Nowland noticed not only a growing demand, but a void in underserved kids playing the beautiful game.

“The NPSA Foundation has so far provided a free, professionally coached training program to over 200 players since our inception in fall 2015,” Nowland said. “We have also provided full scholarships to six players that now compete at the premier youth soccer level. However, we believe there is so much more we can do to make youth soccer accessible to all.”

The foundation raises money through donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising and matching programs. It is also looking for volunteers and donations of gear, like cleats and shin guards, for players in the new free league.

“We’re looking to our partners and suppliers,” Nowland said. “We’re working hard to facilitate that, because registration isn’t the only cost.”

NPSA will be the professional organization supporting the teams and volunteer coaches. It will provide a unified curriculum and structure where players and teams can develop and have fun. This structure will also provide an opportunity to players who are ready to take the next steps in their soccer development.

Through the partnership with NPSA, the current PSPL Recreational League will expand to the greater Eastside.

“We are very excited to join with NPSA Foundation to help create more opportunities for kids to play soccer who may be left out due to financial considerations,” PSPL President Stanley Holmes said in a statement. “Soccer should be accessible to all young players regardless of income and we believe the NPSA Spartan program is a great first step to making sure this happens.”

The foundation will continue to provide training in the off-season, and currently meets at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays at Robinswood Park. Nowland and Packard invite families to stop by the park and check out the program to learn more, or to contact npsagivesback@gmail.com or see www.npsafoundation.com.