Surf Soccer Nation
Surf Soccer Nation operates an affiliate network of 55+ youth soccer clubs across North America, licensing the Surf brand, coaching certification, the Surf Select player identification pathway, and premium tournaments (including Surf Cup) to affiliated clubs and the families they serve.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersDel Mar, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Surf Soccer Nation does
Surf Soccer Nation (legal entity: Surf Nation, LLC) is a Del Mar, California-based private youth soccer organization founded in 1978 that operates an affiliate-network business model. The company does not directly operate clubs itself; instead, it licenses the Surf brand and a suite of integrated programs to 55+ independent youth soccer clubs across North America (United States and Canada), spanning geographic clusters from Rhode Island to Hawaii. Affiliated clubs pay recurring membership fees and gain access to the Surf brand, administrative and marketing support, and the company's proprietary programming stack.
The core technology is the Surf Nation ecosystem, which combines the Surf Select player identification and development pathway (including a newly launched Platinum tier), the Surf Champions League competitive structure, the Football Focus and MiMentor coaching education platforms (including Director of Football certification), and a premium tournament portfolio anchored by Surf Cup — described as the top showcase event in the U.S. — alongside the Manchester City Cup, Club America Cup, Surf College Cup, Copa Surf Series, and Girlazo Festival. Recent integrations include Taka for video/performance analysis and VEO for automated video capture.
Surf Nation generates revenue through four primary streams: (1) recurring subscription-style affiliate membership fees paid by partner clubs, (2) transaction-based tournament and event participation fees, (3) Surf Select program fees from elite players and families, and (4) merchandise sales through a SoccerPost-operated online storefront. Customer segments include elite-aspiring youth players, the affiliated clubs themselves (B2B), coaches seeking certification, and parents. The corporate entity operates with a lean 24-person headquarters team, with the broader operational footprint delivered through the affiliate network.
Surf Soccer Nation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Surf Soccer Nation
- Legal name
- Surf Nation, LLC
- Website
- https://surfsoccernation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Surf Soccer Nation operates an affiliate network of 55+ youth soccer clubs across North America, licensing the Surf brand, coaching certification, the Surf Select player identification pathway, and premium tournaments (including Surf Cup) to affiliated clubs and the families they serve.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Surf Soccer Nation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Soccer Club Network
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), 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
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE), Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)
Keywords
Where Surf Soccer Nation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Del Mar
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Surf Soccer Nation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Club Affiliate Membership: Youth soccer clubs pay to join the Surf Nation affiliate program, gaining access to the Surf brand, administrative tools, marketing support, player development resources, and the Surf Select program for their members.
- Tournament and Event Fees: Revenue generated from hosting premium youth soccer tournaments including Surf Cup, Club America Cup, Manchester City Cup, Surf College Cup, and the Copa Surf and Surf Challenge Series. Teams pay participation fees to compete in these events.
- Surf Select Program: Elite player identification program where selected players pay to participate in national camps, international tours (SuperCup NI, Northern Ireland), and elite showcase events against top competition worldwide.
- Merchandise Sales: Online shop (SHOP link to SoccerPost) selling Surf Nation branded merchandise, apparel, and soccer equipment to member families and fans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Club Affiliate Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Surf Soccer Nation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Surf Soccer Nation operates a nationwide affiliate network of 55+ independent youth soccer clubs under the Surf brand, licensing them the Surf identity, administrative tools, marketing support, and access to the Surf Select elite player identification pathway. The organization also produces a portfolio of premium youth tournaments (Surf Cup, Surf College Cup, Club America Cup, Manchester City Cup, Copa Surf Series, Surf Challenge Series), delivers coach education through Football Focus and MiMentor, and runs player development services such as Surf Performance.
Product overview
Surf Soccer Nation operates as a comprehensive youth soccer ecosystem consisting of a core club network (Surf Nation) and multiple integrated programs and events. The core offering is the Surf Nation community/network that provides affiliated clubs with enhanced player opportunities, coaching development, administrative tools, and marketing support. The Surf Select program serves as the elite player identification pathway, with the Surf Select Platinum Program as its premium tier. Surf National Champions League provides competitive league structure. The tournament portfolio includes flagship events (Surf Cup, Surf College Cup, Club America Cup, Manchester City Cup, Girlazo Festival) and regional series (Copa Surf, Surf Challenge). Supporting offerings include Football Focus for coach education, MiMentor for coaching development, Surf Performance for athletic training, and a Member Portal for participant access. The ecosystem serves youth soccer players from grassroots to elite competition, with a focus on college recruiting pathway support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Surf Select: Exclusive nationwide player identification and development program
- Surf Champions League
- Surf Cup
- Surf College Cup
- Club America Cup
- Manchester City Cup
- Girlazo Festival
- Football Focus
- MiMentor
Products and services
- Surf Nation Affiliate Club Program Annual membership program for independent youth soccer clubs to affiliate with the Surf brand, gaining player development resources, coaching education, marketing support, and access to premium tournaments and the Surf Select player identification pathway.
- Surf Select Program Elite player identification and development program for top-performing youth soccer players within Surf Nation, providing showcase opportunities, national camps, and international tours against top competition.
- Surf Select Platinum Program Elite tier within the Surf Select player identification pathway offering enhanced development opportunities for top-tier youth soccer players.
- Surf Champions League National competitive league structure for Surf Nation member clubs, providing high-level tournament play and national championship opportunities for affiliated club players.
- Surf Cup Tournament Premium youth soccer showcase tournament recognized as the top showcase event in the USA, hosting top teams and providing college recruiting visibility.
- Surf College Cup Tournament event focused on college recruiting, connecting youth soccer players with college coaches and scholarship opportunities.
- Club America Cup International youth soccer tournament hosting top professional academies including Club America, delivering premium competitive experiences for Surf Nation players.
- Manchester City Cup Global youth soccer tournament featuring Manchester City and other professional academy participation, bringing international competition opportunities to Surf Nation players.
- Girlazo Festival Event specifically for female youth soccer players, delivering best-of-class competitive experiences as part of Surf Nation's commitment to girls' soccer.
- Copa Surf Series Regional youth soccer tournament series with regional editions (Copa Surf New England, Copa Surf Valley, Copa Surf Western Washington) operated within the Surf Nation network.
- Surf Challenge Series Regional challenge tournaments within the Surf Nation network, including Surf Challenge Folsom Lake and Surf Challenge Montana.
- Football Focus Content Series Web series and content platform providing educational resources and coaching development materials for youth soccer coaches within the Surf Nation network.
- MiMentor Coaching Platform Coaching development platform offering professional courses for Surf Nation coaches, including the Football Directors Course and Director of Football certification program.
- Surf Performance Training and development services focused on enhancing youth soccer players' athletic performance and on-field development.
- Surf Summit Annual conference event bringing together Surf Nation member clubs, coaches, and administrators for educational sessions, networking, and organizational development.
- Surf Select Mental Performance Program Mental performance coaching service within Surf Select led by sport psychologist Dan Abrahams, providing Zoom-based mental framework development focused on Activation and Attention for elite youth soccer players.
Quantifiable outcome
- 122 college commits in single National Letter of Intent Day; 311 college commits for Class of 2022
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Surf Soccer Nation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Surf Soccer Nation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Surf Soccer Nation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Goal Side MediaminorPartnership to enhance college recruiting support for Surf Nation member clubs. Goal Side Media provides video and media services to help players with recruiting materials.
- US Sports CampscoreStrategic partnership announced in March 2025 combining Surf Nation's club network and elite events with US Sports Camps' soccer camp programming and distribution capabilities.
- TakacoreStrategic partnership to elevate youth soccer performance analysis. Taka provides video and performance analysis technology to enhance player development across the Surf Nation network.
- MiMentorcoreMiMentor platform powers Surf Nation's Football Focus program and Director of Football certification courses. Provides coach education and professional development across the Surf Nation network.
- NikeminorFeatured partner logo on Surf Nation website, suggesting merchandise or equipment partnership for branded apparel and soccer gear.
- Soccer PostminorOfficial merchandise shop partner (surf.soccerpost.com) providing Surf Nation branded apparel and soccer equipment to member families.
- AthleteOneminorPartner logo displayed on Surf Nation website, suggesting athlete management or services partnership.
- AthleteTravelminorTravel services partner providing competition and tournament travel logistics for Surf Nation clubs and families.
- Global Sports ExperiencesminorPartner for international tournament and travel experiences, helping facilitate Surf Nation's international event programming.
- International DAminorPartner organization for international development academy connections and overseas soccer opportunities.
- Manchester CityminorProfessional club partnership for Manchester City Cup tournament, bringing elite academy competition to Surf Nation events.
- Club AmericaminorMexican professional club partnership for Club America Cup tournament, hosting top professional academy teams from around the world.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves32 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Surf Soccer Nation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Girls Academy (GA): National league platform for elite girls' youth soccer clubs. Competes with Surf Nation for girls' club affiliations, especially relevant given Surf's Girlazo Festival sub-brand.
- Challenger Sports: Youth soccer training, camps, and club network operator. Direct competitor in the youth soccer training and club programming space, especially relevant given Surf's new US Sports Camps partnership.
- US Club Soccer: National youth soccer organization and league operator serving competitive clubs. Direct competitor to Surf Nation for affiliate club affiliations and tournament sanctioning.
- ECNL (Elite Clubs National League): National youth soccer league platform serving elite clubs across the U.S. Direct competitor to Surf Champions League for elite competition pathways and showcase exposure.
Emerging players
- MLS NEXT: Major League Soccer's elite youth development platform offering direct professional-academy pathways. Emerging competitor targeting the same elite player identification and development space as Surf Select.
- IMG Academy: Premier multi-sport training and boarding academy offering elite youth soccer development. Comparable in player-development outcomes and college placement positioning to Surf Select's premium tier.
Broad incumbents
- US Youth Soccer (USYS): National governing body affiliated with U.S. Soccer providing broad amateur youth soccer structure. Broad incumbent competing for affiliate clubs and sanctioning authority, but less specialized in elite showcase.
Regional players
- National League (USYS/National League): USYS-operated national competition platform for member clubs. Comparable as a national youth soccer competition tier but governed through a different federation structure than Surf Nation.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Surf Soccer Nation social profiles
Digital presenceSurf Soccer Nation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Surf Soccer Nation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Surf Soccer Nation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Surf Soccer Nation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Surf Soccer Nation 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 Surf Soccer Nation
What does Surf Soccer Nation do?
Surf Soccer Nation operates a nationwide affiliate network of 55+ independent youth soccer clubs under the Surf brand, licensing them the Surf identity, administrative tools, marketing support, and access to the Surf Select elite player identification pathway. The organization also produces a portfolio of premium youth tournaments (Surf Cup, Surf College Cup, Club America Cup, Manchester City Cup, Copa Surf Series, Surf Challenge Series), delivers coach education through Football Focus and MiMentor, and runs player development services such as Surf Performance.
Is Surf Soccer Nation a public or private company?
Surf Soccer Nation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Surf Soccer Nation founded?
Surf Soccer Nation was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Surf Soccer Nation based?
Surf Soccer Nation is headquartered in Del Mar, United States, in the North America region.
How does Surf Soccer Nation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Club Affiliate Membership is the primary driver. The others are tournament and Event Fees, surf Select Program and merchandise Sales.
Who are Surf Soccer Nation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Girls Academy (GA), Challenger Sports, US Club Soccer and ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). Emerging players are MLS NEXT and IMG Academy. US Youth Soccer (USYS) is listed as a broad incumbent. National League (USYS/National League) is listed as a regional player.
Does Surf Soccer Nation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Surf Soccer Nation.
What industry is Surf Soccer Nation in?
Surf Soccer Nation's product category is Youth Soccer Club Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.