San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)
San Diego Surf Soccer Club is a private, 49-year-old elite youth soccer organization operating four San Diego hubs and a national Surf Nation affiliate network of 18+ clubs, delivering ECNL competitive programs, camps, tournaments, and college/professional pathways to youth players and their families.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) does
San Diego Surf Soccer Club, operating as Surf Soccer, LLC, is a private elite youth soccer organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in Del Mar, California. The club fields ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) competitive boys and girls teams across U13-U19 age groups, supported by a Junior Academy for ages 5-8, regional/zone developmental teams, and recreational programs, all anchored at Surf Sports Park, a 20-plus-field facility with Latitude 36 Bermuda grass surfaces matching professional stadium quality. Surf operates four regional hubs across San Diego County (Del Mar, Central, South, and North) and extends its reach nationally and internationally through the Surf Nation affiliate network, which spans 18+ partner clubs across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, serving more than 13,000 players. The club has produced 21+ national championships, alumni now playing professionally in NWSL and MLS (including San Diego Wave FC and San Diego FC), and an annual pipeline of 20-27 college commits on National Letter of Intent Day.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring annual club membership and registration fees across ECNL, regional, junior academy, and recreational tiers; camps and clinics (summer, winter, spring break); tournament participation fees, including the flagship Surf Cup hosted at Surf Sports Park; and affiliate licensing and administrative fees from the Surf Nation partner network. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with structured tiering from elite ECNL subscriptions to lower-cost recreation programs. The go-to-market motion is community-led, leveraging 49 years of brand equity, regional tryouts, alumni networks, and Surf Nation affiliate referrals to acquire players, rather than paid digital acquisition. Surf WPSL, a Women's Premier Soccer League team launched in 2022, extends the product pyramid from youth development into semi-professional play.
Commercially, the organization is a founder/management-controlled private LLC with no disclosed outside equity ownership, supported by event sponsorships (PNC Bank premier sponsorship of Surf Cup), brand partnerships (Drew Brees endorsement), and a heavily credentialed coaching staff that includes a former Manchester United professional (Billy Garton) and a former San Diego Wave assistant coach (Craig Barclay). Recent strategic activity has centered on geographic expansion (FC Sol acquisition in January 2026 creating San Diego Surf North), facility capital investment (completing the Bermuda grass upgrade at Surf Sports Park for May 2026), and affiliate network integration (South Bay Surf in January 2025), consistent with a multi-year scaling agenda.
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)
- Legal name
- Surf Soccer, LLC
- Website
- https://surfsoccer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- San Diego Surf Soccer Club is a private, 49-year-old elite youth soccer organization operating four San Diego hubs and a national Surf Nation affiliate network of 18+ clubs, delivering ECNL competitive programs, camps, tournaments, and college/professional pathways to youth players and their families.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Soccer Club Services
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)
Keywords
Where San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Club Membership and Registration Fees: Recurring membership fees for youth players participating in competitive ECNL teams, regional teams, and recreational programs across multiple age groups and skill levels.
- Camps and Clinics: Revenue from soccer camps, training clinics, and skill development programs offered throughout the year including summer camps, winter camps, spring break camps.
- Tournament Participation: Revenue from participation in Surf Cup tournaments and other sanctioned competitions. Surf organizes major tournaments including Surf Cup College Showcase.
- Surf Affiliate Program: Partner club network generating revenue through brand licensing, administrative support fees, and programmatic access to Surf coaching curriculum and resources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | ECNL Competitive Teams - Elite tier for top youth players |
| Subscription | Annual | Regional/Zone Teams - Developmental competitive teams |
| Subscription | Annual | Junior Academy - Youth developmental program (ages 5-8) |
| Subscription | Annual | Recreation Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camps and Clinics |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
San Diego Surf Soccer Club delivers elite youth soccer programming through annual club memberships for competitive ECNL teams (U13–U19 boys and girls), developmental Regional/Zone teams, and a Junior Academy for ages 5–8, complemented by year-round soccer camps and clinics, the Surf Cup tournament series, Surf Select national identification, College Advisory services, and the Surf WPSL women's team. Programming is delivered across four San Diego County locations and extended nationally through the Surf Nation affiliate network under licensing and curriculum agreements.
Product overview
San Diego Surf Soccer Club is a premier youth soccer organization established in 1977, operating as a unified platform delivering elite competitive soccer programs through multiple interconnected products. The core offering is the ECNL Competitive Soccer Program for boys and girls (U13-U19), supplemented by the Junior Academy for foundational player development. The organization hosts the Surf Cup Tournament and runs the Surf Select identification program for regional and national player selection. Facilities are centered at Surf Sports Park with premium Bermuda grass fields, while the broader Surf Nation Affiliate Network extends the brand nationally. Additional offerings include Camps, College Advisory services, and the WPSL women's team, all unified under the 'Best of the Best' mission to develop players toward national teams, collegiate programs, and professional careers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Surf Nation: National network of Surf-affiliated soccer clubs across North America
- Surf Sports Park
- Surf Select
- Zone One
Products and services
- ECNL Competitive Soccer Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 21+ National Championships across multiple age groups and years
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FC Sol SoccercoreFC Sol Soccer based in San Marcos transitioned to the Surf brand as San Diego Surf North. This expansion brings Surf's elite programming to North County San Diego, providing partner organization with Surf's coaching curriculum, brand resources, and national competition pathways. Players gain access to Surf Select identification program and Surf Nation network.
- Western Washington SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Washington state, expanding Pacific Northwest presence.
- Hamilton SurfminorAffiliate partner club expanding Surf Nation network.
- South Bay SurfminorAffiliate partner club in South Bay San Diego region, officially joining January 2025.
- Niagara SurfminorAffiliate partner club in New York region.
- Central Coast SurfminorAffiliate partner club on California Central Coast.
- Kansas City SurfminorAffiliate partner club in the Midwest region, expanding Surf Nation footprint.
- PNC BankcorePremier sponsorship of marquee youth soccer events including Surf Cup. Financial institution partnership providing event funding and brand visibility.
- Valencia SurfminorAffiliate partner club in California, expanding Southern California Surf network.
- Glacier SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Montana.
- South Bay SurfminorAffiliate partner club in San Diego South Bay region.
- Inland SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Inland Empire California.
- Phoenix SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Arizona, expanding Surf brand into Southwest market.
- Pima County SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Arizona (Pima County).
- Alberta SurfminorInternational affiliate partner club in Alberta, Canada.
- Ventura SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Ventura County California.
- Las Vegas SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Nevada, expanding regional coverage in Southwest.
- NorCal SurfcoreSurf Nation's first regional club in Northern California, part of NorCal Premier league network.
- Dallas SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Texas.
- SDSC SurfminorAffiliate partner club joining Surf family.
- Ottawa City SCminorInternational affiliate partner in Ottawa, Canada.
- Ottawa City SCminorAffiliate partner club in Ottawa, Canada with international development focus.
- Solano SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Solano County, California.
- British Columbia SurfminorInternational affiliate partner in British Columbia, Canada.
- Cascade SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Pacific Northwest.
- Puerto Rico SurfminorInternational affiliate partner in Puerto Rico.
- Montana SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Montana.
- Central Texas SurfminorAffiliate partner club in Central Texas region.
- South Carolina SurfminorAffiliate partner club in South Carolina.
- West Coast Futbol ClubcoreInnovative partnership creating expanded youth soccer experiences in Southern California. Joint development initiative combining resources and expertise.
- Match Fit AcademyminorPartnership to create expanded youth soccer experiences and opportunities in New Jersey through combined programming.
- Liverpool Soccer ClubminorAffiliate partner club joining Surf family.
- Alamo City Soccer ClubminorAffiliate partner club in San Antonio, Texas area.
- USA West AllianceminorEuropean tour partnership through USA West Alliance for international player development experiences.
- Folsom Lake Soccer LeagueminorAffiliate partner club in Folsom Lake area of California.
- Santa Monica United FCminorAffiliate partner club in Santa Monica, California.
- Drew Brees (NFL Legend)minorPartnership with NFL quarterback Drew Brees for Surf Sports. Celebrity endorsement and community engagement partnership.
- LA Premier FCminorAffiliate partner club in Los Angeles area joining Surf family.
- LA Premier FCminorLos Angeles area club joining Surf network bringing additional Southern California coverage.
- Monterey Bay Soccer Clubcore18th partner organization, now known as Monterey Surf. Fifth Surf club in NorCal Premier, contributing to regional network building in Northern California. Serves over 1,000 players in Monterey County. Benefits include coaching curriculum access, The Coaching Manual premier account, Nike brand partnership access, and administrative support.
- Monterey Bay Soccer Clubcore18th partner organization, now Monterey Surf, fifth Surf club in NorCal Premier. Services over 1,000 players in Monterey County. Benefits include coaching curriculum, The Coaching Manual access, Nike partnership, administrative support.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- San Diego Wave FC: NWSL club in the same San Diego market whose pro pipeline and coaching alumni (e.g., Craig Barclay) intersect with Surf's girls program. Comparable as a women's soccer pipeline brand but operates as a professional franchise rather than a youth club.
- San Diego FC: New MLS expansion club in San Diego. Not a direct competitor for youth players (different model) but an emerging pathway partner whose roster includes Surf alumni (Duran Ferree) and who will compete with Surf for elite-coaching talent and brand attention in San Diego.
Direct peers
- Solar Soccer Club (Texas): Large Texas-based elite youth soccer club with ECNL boys/girls teams and a multi-location regional footprint. Comparable on subscription-driven competitive programming and national-championship ambitions.
- Nomads Soccer Club (San Diego): Long-tenured San Diego youth soccer club with developmental to elite teams. Direct in-market competitor for player registrations and coaching hires, with comparable fee-for-service model.
- Players Development Academy (PDA): Top-tier East Coast ECNL club with multiple national championships and a similar fee-based membership model. Provides a direct analogue in scale, ambition, and college/pro alumni pipeline.
- Crossfire Premier (Washington): Long-established elite youth soccer club in the Pacific Northwest operating ECNL programming and college showcase tournaments. Comparable model: premium facilities, regional locations, multi-decade history, alumni to college programs.
- Albion SC (San Diego / Los Angeles): Elite Southern California youth soccer club with ECNL boys/girls teams. Shares identical operating model (membership fees, camps, ECNL competition, college placement) and competes head-to-head for talent and coaches in the same San Diego market.
Broad incumbents
- LA Galaxy Academy: MLS-affiliated youth development program in Southern California providing the same elite pathway Surf offers. Overlaps on ECNL/MLS Next competition, recruiting footprint, and college/pro placement of athletes.
- LAFC Soccer Club (LAFC Academy): MLS parent club operating a youth academy pathway in the same Southern California elite soccer market. Compares directly to Surf because both run age-grouped competitive boys/girls programs feeding into a professional parent brand, competing for the same families.
- IMG Academy (Youth Sports): Multi-sport elite youth academy with a residential and day-program model and premium facility infrastructure. Relevant adjacent comparable for Surf's elite training, college placement, and facility-driven value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) social profiles
Digital presenceSan Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)
What does San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) do?
San Diego Surf Soccer Club delivers elite youth soccer programming through annual club memberships for competitive ECNL teams (U13–U19 boys and girls), developmental Regional/Zone teams, and a Junior Academy for ages 5–8, complemented by year-round soccer camps and clinics, the Surf Cup tournament series, Surf Select national identification, College Advisory services, and the Surf WPSL women's team. Programming is delivered across four San Diego County locations and extended nationally through the Surf Nation affiliate network under licensing and curriculum agreements.
Is San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) a public or private company?
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) founded?
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) was founded in 1977. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) based?
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Club Membership and Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are camps and Clinics, tournament Participation and surf Affiliate Program.
Who are San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)'s main competitors?
Regional players on record are San Diego Wave FC and San Diego FC. Direct peers are Solar Soccer Club (Texas), Nomads Soccer Club (San Diego), Players Development Academy (PDA), Crossfire Premier (Washington) and Albion SC (San Diego / Los Angeles). Broad incumbents are LA Galaxy Academy, LAFC Soccer Club (LAFC Academy) and IMG Academy (Youth Sports).
Does San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) have an API?
No public API is recorded for San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports).
What industry is San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports) in?
San Diego Surf Soccer Club (Surf Sports)'s product category is Youth Soccer Club Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKABAD, Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.