Carolina Elite Soccer Academy

What Carolina Elite Soccer Academy does

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) is a privately held, full-service youth soccer club founded in 2004 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The club operates a complete U6-to-U19 player development pathway spanning volunteer-led Recreation, transitional Center of Excellence and Junior Academy programs, and a competitive Travel Program with multiple tiers (Select, Challenge, ECRL, and ECNL). CESA has been a member of the Elite Clubs National League since 2009 and its top girls teams compete in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference; the 2006 Boys won the ECNL National Championship in 2021. The organization operates across multiple regional brands — CESA Greenville, CESA Spartanburg, CESA Tri-County, CESA Asheville, and CESA Pachuca — with eight field complexes serving the Upstate South Carolina region and adjacent markets.

CESA's core technology stack consists of the PlayMetrics registration and club management platform and the OTTO Sport website/content management system. These third-party SaaS tools handle program registration, payment processing, scheduling, communications, and field-status updates across all locations and programs. The club's underlying infrastructure is the field complex network itself, including the MeSA Soccer Complex in Greer as the primary venue for recreation games, camps, tournaments, and ECNL events.

CESA generates revenue through a diversified set of fee streams: seasonal recreation program registration ($90-$475 per player depending on program and location), competitive travel team fees (ECNL/ECRL/Challenge/Select), supplemental camps and elite training ($150-$340 per player), tournament entry fees ($695-$895 per team), and an annual College Combine ($150 per player). Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer through the PlayMetrics online platform and physical field delivery; there is no reseller or B2B channel. Customer segments are fragmented family households, with marketing driven by website, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), sponsor cross-promotion, and community word-of-mouth within the Upstate South Carolina soccer ecosystem.

Name

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy

Legal name

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy

Website

https://carolinaelitesc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy is a privately held youth soccer club founded in 2004 in Greenville, SC, operating a full U6-to-U19 player development pathway — Recreation, Junior Academy, Travel, and ECNL — across multiple regional locations in the Upstate South Carolina market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Elite Performance Training Centers (High-Performance/Pro Prep) (MPAKAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Youth soccer training
• Competitive travel soccer
• Recreation soccer programs
• College recruitment combine
• Soccer tournament hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Recreation Program Fees: CESA generates revenue through seasonal recreation program registration fees ranging from $90 to $475 depending on program type, location, and registration timing (early vs. late). Programs include U6 through U19 age groups.
2. Competitive/Travel Program Fees: Revenue from competitive travel programs including ECNL, ECRL, Challenge, and Select teams, with associated club fees and team fees.
3. Supplemental Programs (Camps, 5v5 League): Fees collected for day camps, summer elite training, 5v5 leagues, and preseason team camps offered throughout the year.
4. Tournament Entry Fees: Revenue from hosting the Adidas Spring Challenge tournament and ECNL Preseason Friendlies, with entry fees ranging from $695 to $895 per team.
5. College Combine Registration: CESA collects $150 per player for its annual College Combine event that connects prospects with college coaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) is a full-service youth soccer club offering programming from U6 to U19, including volunteer-led recreation programs, transitional Center of Excellence and Junior Academy programs, competitive travel teams across ECNL/ECRL/Challenge/Select levels, year-round camps, hosted tournaments (Adidas Spring Challenge, ECNL Preseason Friendlies, 5v5 Leagues), and an annual College Combine for player recruitment exposure. The club operates across Greenville, Spartanburg, Tri-County, Asheville, and Pachuca, with ECNL membership since 2009.

Product overview

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy is a full-service youth soccer club offering programming from U6 to U19. The organization operates a tiered program architecture: Recreation serves as the foundational entry point with volunteer-led in-house competition, feeding into the Center of Excellence and Junior Academy transitional programs. From there, players advance to the Travel Program with multiple competitive levels (Select, Challenge, ECRL, ECNL), with top-level ECNL teams competing nationally. Supplemental offerings include year-round camps (Day Camps, Summer Elite Training, Preseason Team Camps, Spartanburg Camps), tournaments (Adidas Spring Challenge, 5v5 League, Triumph Preseason Friendlies), the annual College Combine for recruitment exposure, and the Upstate Performance Project for athletic development. The club also operates satellite programs in Spartanburg and Tri-County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Upstate Performance Project (UPP): Athletic performance enhancement program for CESA players
• Center of Excellence
• Junior Academy
• ECNL Program

Products and services

• CESA Recreation Program Volunteer-led in-house youth soccer program for ages 4-19 covering U6 to U19 age groups. Includes 2-day options for U6/U8 (two practices per week, no games) and standard programs with two practices per week plus one Saturday game. Open to players of all ability levels.
• Center of Excellence Transitional program for advanced recreational players moving toward competitive soccer, covering U7-U12 age groups. Includes two 1.5-hour training sessions per week plus weekend technical training and games in CESA Recreation and Academy Leagues.
• Junior Academy Program for advanced recreational players transitioning to competitive soccer, serving U9-U12 age groups. Players train three times per week under an open training policy that allows additional development opportunities; serves as the pathway to travel and ECNL programs.
• Travel Program (ECNL/ECRL/Challenge/Select) Competitive program offering multiple team levels for U9-U19 players: ECNL (national, U13-U19), ECRL (regional), Challenge, and Select. ECNL/ECRL teams practice three times per week; Select teams twice per week. Top-level girls teams compete in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference.
• ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) Program Member of the Elite Clubs National League since 2009, offering U13-U19 boys and girls teams national-level competition in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference. Includes goalkeeper training and coaching staff development. CESA's 2006 Boys won the ECNL National Championship in 2021.
• CESA Day Camps Soccer camps for ages 6-13 held at MeSA Soccer Complex. Offered during Spring Break (March) and Summer (June, August) with half-day (9AM-12PM) and full-day (9AM-3PM) options featuring licensed coaches and age-appropriate curriculum.
• Summer Elite Training Program Intensive summer training for U9-U19 players with up to 12 sessions emphasizing technical development in small-group environments. Includes goalkeeper training and small-sided games for real-world competition practice. Sessions run 5:15-6:45pm for U9-U19 boys and girls.
• Preseason Team Camps Pre-season camps for Center of Excellence, Junior Academy, Travel, and ECNL/ECNL-RL teams running July-August 2026, priced at $150 per player. Serves as kickstart preparation for the Fall 2026 season. Includes a $15 sibling discount for additional CESA Preseason Camp participants.
• 2026 CESA Adidas Spring Challenge Tournament Annual tournament held May 2-3, 2026 for Jr Academy and travel teams (U9-U15 boys and girls) with entry fees ranging from $695 to $895 per team depending on age format. Entry deadline April 14th, 2026.
• 5v5 Summer & Winter League Seasonal 5v5 league for U9-U19 players held during summer and winter months. Features a games-only format with minimum 6 games at MeSA Soccer Complex. $95 per player before May 10th; $120 after (late fee). Includes registration, insurance, referee fees, field use, and league administration. Max roster size of 10.
• CESA College Combine Annual college exposure event held since 2005 for male and female college soccer prospects. The 2026 event is scheduled for January 19th. Includes training sessions led by college coaches, small-sided games, goalkeeper-specific sessions, and parent informational meetings on the recruiting process. Provides exposure to coaches from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NCCAA schools. $150 per player.
• CESA Triumph Preseason Friendlies Annual ECNL preseason event held August 8-9, 2026 at MeSA for boys and girls ECNL, ECRL, NPL, and USYS National League clubs. Entry fee $695 covers one game Saturday plus one game Sunday. Application deadline July 24th, 2026.
• High School Prep Program Fall-only program for high school-age players (U15-U19) at Varsity and JV levels to develop skills training and competing with school teammates. Includes twice-weekly training and Saturday games; CESA staff coached. $425 early registration (by May 14th) / $475 after.
• CESA Spartanburg Camps Soccer camp programming offered in the Spartanburg satellite location for youth players in the surrounding community.

Quantifiable outcome

• ECNL National Championship — 2006 Boys won the ECNL National Championship in 2021, the first in CESA history
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Elite Clubs National League (ECNL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA has been a member of the Elite Clubs National League since 2009. ECNL is recognized nationally as the most productive player development arena for aspiring youth soccer players and comprises over 90 clubs nationwide. CESA's top U13-U18 girls teams compete in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference, with the goal of competing for national championships. The relationship provides CESA players with elite national-level competition and college recruiting exposure.
• Elite Clubs Regional League (ECRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA fields ECRL (Elite Clubs Regional League) teams that compete regionally. ECRL is the regional tier of the ECNL platform, providing a development pathway for players not on ECNL national teams.
• US Club SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA is affiliated with US Club Soccer, one of the two national governing bodies for youth soccer in the US (alongside US Youth Soccer). Affiliation provides access to US Club Soccer player registration, tournaments, and national competition pathways.
• United States Soccer Federation (USSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the national governing body for soccer in the United States. USSF affiliation enables international clearance processing for players born outside the US.
• US Youth SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA is affiliated with US Youth Soccer, the largest youth soccer organization in the US. US Youth Soccer affiliation provides access to state and regional competitions including SCYSA leagues and USYSA National Championships.
• SCYSA (South Carolina Youth Soccer Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA is affiliated with SCYSA, the state-level governing body for youth soccer in South Carolina. SCYSA affiliation is required for participation in state-level leagues including the Challenge League and Classic League in which CESA's Challenge and Select teams compete.
• Davis OrthodonticsminorOthersSponsorship partner listed on the CESA website. Davis Orthodontics provides financial or in-kind support to the club in exchange for branding visibility at the facility and on club communications.
• St. Francis Sports MedicineminorOthersHealthcare sponsor providing sports medicine services or sponsorship support to CESA. Listed as a sponsor and as a healthcare partner with St. Francis Health System.
• St. FrancisminorOthersSt. Francis Health System sponsors CESA with branding visibility throughout the club's facilities and communications.
• Brooks Derrick (Accident & Injury Law)minorOthersLegal services sponsor providing financial or in-kind support to CESA in exchange for branding visibility.
• Fox Rothschild LLPminorOthersLaw firm sponsor providing financial or in-kind support to CESA in exchange for branding visibility.
• Southern FirstminorOthersRegional bank sponsor providing financial or in-kind support to CESA.
• Piedmont Orthopaedic AssociatesminorOthersOrthopaedic healthcare sponsor providing sports medicine support or sponsorship to CESA.
• Cornerstone ConstructionminorOthersConstruction company sponsor providing financial or in-kind support to CESA in exchange for branding visibility.
• ResurgentminorOthersSponsor of CESA, nature of business not specified in source materials.
• Professional Party RentalsminorOthersParty rental company providing in-kind support (equipment rentals) for CESA tournaments and events.
• PepsiminorOthersBeverage sponsor providing product support for CESA tournaments, camps, and events.
• AdidasmoderateOthersOfficial equipment and apparel sponsor for CESA. Adidas branding appears on the Adidas Spring Challenge tournament and is prominently featured on the club's tournament materials and apparel offerings. Fine Designs provides customized tournament apparel on-site.
• Lloyd's SoccerminorOthersLloyd's Soccer (1018 S. Batesville Rd., Greer, SC 29650, 864-848-6805) is the exclusive provider of official CESA recreation uniform jerseys. Families must purchase uniforms from Lloyd's Soccer.
• Greenville Rec DistrictminorOthersGreenville Rec District partners with CESA as a community recreation organization, with branding on the CESA website.
• Upstate Performance Project (UPP)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCESA partners with Upstate Performance Project for supplemental athletic performance training programs. UPP provides sports performance training services to CESA players through a linked program on the CESA website. CESA maintains a dedicated page linking to upstateperformanceproject.com.
• PlayMetricscoreTechnology or IntegrationCESA uses PlayMetrics as its club management and registration platform for all programs including recreation, travel, camps, tournaments, and college combines. All online registration, payment processing, and program management is conducted through PlayMetrics with club-specific registration token URLs embedded throughout the website.
• OTTO SportcoreTechnology or IntegrationCESA's website (carolinaelitesc.ottosport.ai) is built and hosted on the OTTO Sport club management platform. OTTO Sport provides the underlying website infrastructure, content management system, and some program registration functionality for CESA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Charlotte Soccer Academy: Charlotte, NC-based ECNL member youth soccer club offering the same full U6–U19 player-development pyramid (recreation, academy, travel, ECNL). Closest geographic and competitive comparable to CESA, competing for Upstate-region talent and ECNL Mid-Atlantic visibility.
• Wake FC: Raleigh/Wake County-based ECNL member youth soccer club operating recreation, academy, and ECNL travel tiers across the Triangle. Comparable program structure and ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference participant, competing for the same talent pipeline as CESA.
• NCFC Youth (North Carolina FC Youth): Raleigh-Durham-area ECNL member club affiliated with North Carolina FC, operating U6–U19 programming across recreation, academy, and ECNL tiers. Directly comparable multi-program structure and ECNL positioning in adjacent Carolina market.
• Southern Soccer Academy: Georgia-based ECNL Boys member club operating academy and travel/ECNL programs with comparable player-development philosophy and regional recruitment focus in the Southeast.
• United Futbol Academy: Georgia-based ECNL-affiliated youth soccer club offering full recreation-through-ECNL programming. Comparable multi-tier club structure with regional Southeast focus and similar go-to-market in tournament hosting.
• Concorde Fire: Atlanta-area ECNL Boys and Girls member club running the full player-development pathway including recreation, academy, and travel/ECNL. Comparable ECNL tier positioning and similar multi-program architecture in a Southeast market.
• Charlotte Independence Youth: Charlotte-area youth soccer club affiliated with USL League One Charlotte Independence, offering competitive travel and academy programs. Comparable Carolina market presence and travel-tier competition for elite players.
• TSC Hurricane: Tennessee-based ECNL member club offering full U6–U19 programming with multiple competitive levels and college recruitment focus. Comparable multi-tier structure, similar competitive positioning within the Southeast.

Others

• Elite Clubs National League (ECNL): National governing league of which CESA is a member since 2009. ECNL is the primary competitive and regulatory platform for CESA's top tier, and its member-club network (~90 clubs nationwide) represents both the competitive set and an enabling ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Atlanta United FC Academy: MLS-affiliated elite development academy operating at the top of the youth soccer pyramid in the Southeast. Sets the competitive ceiling for elite-tier players in the region, indirectly shaping recruitment and coach hiring across CESA's market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CESA2004
• Facebookfacebook.com/CESA2004
• Instagraminstagram.com/cesa_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-elite-soccer-acad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carolina Elite Soccer Academy