HAYMARKET, VA, October 22, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Stanley Alves has been recognized for achievement in soccer player development.

Mr. Alves has distinguished himself as an expert in soccer player development, building a career marked by innovation and resilience. In 2023, he founded Champions Premier in Falls Church, Virginia, where he mentors younger players, provides film analysis, advises players and parents on college and professional pathways, and operates an invite-only training program. This initiative is expanding to include girls and offers virtual mentorship nationwide. His approach addresses the gap between non-Major League Soccer academies and club teams and the professional level, providing opportunities for talented youth who may otherwise be overlooked.

Mr. Alves founded Champions Premier about three years ago to give players what he wished he'd had: professional-level, individualized training focused on game IQ, plus real guidance on how to get seen. Since then, more than 2,000 players have trained with the program. Several have gone on to youth national team camps, Division I and prestigious Division II schools, and the professional level.

Champions Premier has since grown into a three-level pathway. Homegrown, the virtual program, forms the base of the pyramid. Champions Premier, the invite-only on-field program, is the middle. At the top is Champions Campus, a full-time academy for the best high school–aged players in the DMV, launching in 2027.

As a player, Mr. Alves competed at three college levels: Southern New Hampshire University (NCAA Division II), Dean College (NJCAA) and UMass Lowell (NCAA Division I). After college, he trained with professional teams in Portugal such as Sertanense and Sintrense, which were in the country's third divisions at the time. Back home, his strong play for the New England Revolution U23s earned him the chance to train with the Revolution first team and play in reserve-team games against local sides. That opportunity didn't come by chance: Mr. Alves reached out to the U23 head coach again and again until he got a look. He later signed with the Richmond Kickers in USL League One, and in 2022 he received a contract offer from Loudoun United in the USL Championship.

Having been at almost every level of the game, Mr. Alves knows what each step requires. He also knows that most doors only open if the player is willing to knock on them.

When his playing days ended, his wife, Kylie, became a huge part of everything that came next. Starting a business from nothing takes confidence, and Mr. Alves says he wouldn't have had the confidence to do it without her backing him. She believed in his vision before anyone else did, and he credits much of Champions Premier's success to her.

Above all, Mr. Alves is a follower of Christ. Looking back, he believes many of the opportunities he had should not have been accessible to him. He didn't have the connections or a family that knew the system. His faith is the foundation of everything he does, on the field and off it.

Earlier in his journey, from 2017 to 2019, Mr. Alves worked as a strength and conditioning coach at Young's Performance in Lowell, Massachusetts. This position allowed him to integrate exercise science principles into athletic training for developing players.

Throughout his career, Mr. Alves has demonstrated resilience, a quality shaped by watching his mother build a successful business as an immigrant in Massachusetts. He counts her example among his most meaningful achievements, alongside his soccer accolades. That same example — along with the mentors who guided him — informs the effort he puts into mentoring young players who aspire to play at the NCAA level or professionally, and it shaped his own success.

Mr. Alves's academic background includes a bachelor's degree in exercise science and sport and fitness administration/management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he graduated in 2019 after competing at the Division I level. Prior to that, he earned an associate degree from Dean College and completed coursework at Southern New Hampshire University.

Mentorship has played a pivotal role throughout Mr. Alves's life. At age 19, guidance from a professional player revealed the importance of exposure for reaching higher levels of competition, a lesson that now informs his own work with young athletes. He also acknowledges the influence of Dave — the owner of the men's league team Tauros — and Joe — who leads Stadium Performance in Boston — on his approach to leadership and athletic development.

Mr. Alves' commitment to service is evident through his involvement with several civic organizations. As a volunteer with Toros Men's League Team, he helps support initiatives benefiting the homeless and children in Africa. He previously volunteered at St. Paul's Soup Kitchen from 2018 to 2019 and served as a food organizer for Framingham Food Pantry between 2014 and 2016.

Throughout his playing and coaching career, Mr. Alves has earned several honors. In 2019, United Soccer Coaches named him to its All-Region team, and he received America East All-Conference First Team honors and the America East Helping Hand Award. A year earlier, in 2018, he earned an additional America East All-Conference Honor. His earlier recognition includes a National Junior College Athletic Association All-New England selection in 2015.

Born in Boston, Mr. Alves grew up in Massachusetts alongside his mother and brother. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys snowboarding and continues to play for the Toros Men's League Team. Looking ahead, he aims to guide high school players he has coached toward placement at Division I or academically prestigious Division III schools based on their soccer abilities, helping them reach National Collegiate Athletic Association or professional levels.

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