San Francisco Elite Academy

What San Francisco Elite Academy does

San Francisco Elite Academy (SF Elite) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer club founded in 2014 to provide elite-level competitive soccer infrastructure within San Francisco. The organization operates a complete player development pathway from Micro/Rec programs for ages 4-7 through Grassroots and Orange teams for U8-U12, Pre-ECNL for U12, NorCal Premier for U8-U19, and ECNL/ECNL RL Boys and ECNL RL Girls programs for U13-U19. It is the only club in San Francisco with ECNL Boys status and the only one offering a complete U8-U19 female elite pathway, with a roster of 600+ players across age groups.

The club is led by Sporting Director Ihor Dotsenko (USSF A License, former US Soccer Technical Advisor) and a coaching staff that includes license-holders across USSF A, B, C, UEFA B, and international certifications. SF Elite utilizes the BYGA platform for registration, scheduling, billing, and communication, and integrates Sports Recruits, VEO, and Darkhorse into its College Pathway program to support NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA recruitment. Operations span 10+ training and match facilities across San Francisco and Daly City, including USF Negoesco, City College, Skyline Community College, Paul Goode Field, and multiple San Francisco Recreation & Park Department public fields.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual club dues ranging from $3,295 (Grassroots) to $4,495 (ECNL/ECNL RL), supplemented by summer camp fees ($349/week), ECNL showcase participation fees (approximately $1,400 per showcase), and tax-deductible donations supporting an annual need-based financial aid pool of $200,000-$400,000+. The club achieves revenue concentration through annual tryouts and word-of-mouth within the San Francisco soccer community, with marketing primarily via Instagram and Facebook and a Capelli Sport kit partnership covering 2026-2028.

Name

San Francisco Elite Academy

Legal name

San Francisco Elite Academy

Website

https://sfelitesc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

San Francisco Elite Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer club serving 600+ players ages 4-19 in San Francisco. It operates the only ECNL Boys program in the city and offers a complete elite pathway through ECNL, NorCal Premier, grassroots, and college-recruitment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Club and Athlete Development

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

Keywords

• Youth soccer club
• Elite soccer development
• Competitive youth sports
• College soccer recruiting
• Soccer training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Club Dues: SF Elite generates primary revenue through annual membership dues paid by player families. The dues cover professional coaching, league registration, player registration, field and referee fees, team training equipment, and training jerseys. Programs range from Grassroots ($3,295) to ECNL/ECNL RL ($4,495) annually.
2. Summer Soccer Camps: Week-long summer camp sessions offered for children ages 4-10 at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio. Priced at $349 per weekly session with morning and afternoon options available.
3. ECNL Showcase Fees: Additional revenue from ECNL showcase participation fees (approximately $1,400 per showcase) covering showcase entry, player flights, accommodations, transportation, meals, and coach travel. U16-U17 teams require two showcases annually.
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID # 35-2523738), SF Elite raises funds through community donations to support need-based scholarships and keep programs affordable and accessible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

San Francisco Elite Academy is a nonprofit youth soccer club that delivers year-round competitive soccer training, league play, and college recruiting support for players ages 4-19 across the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core offerings include ECNL Boys, ECNL RL Boys, ECNL RL Girls, Pre-ECNL, NorCal Premier, and Rec/Micro programs, with annual membership dues ranging from $3,295 to $4,495. The club also runs summer soccer camps at $349 per week and provides college pathway services, including advising and access to Sports Recruits, VEO, and Darkhorse platforms.

Product overview

San Francisco Elite Academy is a youth soccer organization offering a multi-tiered competitive pathway for players ages 4-19. The core portfolio consists of ECNL Boys Program and ECNL Regional League Programs for both boys and girls (U13-U19), complemented by NorCal Premier Soccer teams (U8-U19) and grassroots Rec/Micro Programs (ages 4-10). Add-on services include Summer Soccer Camps and a dedicated College Pathway Program that provides recruiting support through partner platforms Sports Recruits, VEO, and Darkhorse. The organization utilizes BYGA as its all-in-one registration and management platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SF Elite Summer Soccer Camps: Summer soccer camps for children ages 4-10 held at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio.
• Micro Soccer Program

Products and services

• ECNL Boys Program The most competitive boys soccer program at SFEA, offering teams from U13-U19 that compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), providing a national competition schedule and identification pathway for US Soccer Youth National Teams. Priced at $4,495 annually with 3 practices per week, Fall and Spring seasons, Winter training for U13 and U14, college recruiting tools, all games filmed, college advisor support, goalkeeper training, and access to coaches and athletic trainers.
• ECNL Regional League Girls Program High-level competition platform for female players from U13 to U19 within the ECNL Regional League structure, offering regional competition with access to national showcases and postseason play. SF Elite is the only club in San Francisco that offers a complete pathway for female players from U8 through U19 with a national platform for college exposure. Priced at $4,495 annually.
• ECNL Regional League Boys Program Regional competition tier within the ECNL structure for boys teams U13-U19, providing a pathway to the full ECNL level while maintaining regional focus to reduce travel. Priced at $4,495 annually with 3 practices per week, Fall and Spring seasons, Winter training, and Pre-ECNL and ECNL Winter League participation.
• NorCal Premier Soccer Competitive youth soccer league under US Club Soccer for Northern California, providing structured leagues across Premier, Gold, Silver, and Bronze divisions for boys and girls U8-U19. Priced at $3,495 annually for Orange Teams with 2 practices per week in Fall and Spring.
• Rec and Micro Program Foundational soccer program for Pre-K through 1st grade players (ages 4-7), offering 4v4 format with high-quality introduction to competitive soccer focusing on technique, tactical awareness, and love for the game. Sits alongside the Grassroots program ($3,295 annually) and Pre-ECNL U12 program ($3,795 annually) to form the club's entry-level tier.
• Summer Soccer Camps Week-long day camps for children ages 4-10 held at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio, offering fun soccer games, activities, and opportunities to make new friends in a welcoming environment. Priced at $349 per weekly session with morning (9am-12pm) and afternoon (1pm-4pm) options available.
• College Pathway Program College recruiting support service providing dedicated advisors, free access to recruiting platforms Sports Recruits, VEO, and Darkhorse, and connections to college showcases and scouts for NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA recruitment. Designed to guide players and families through every step of the college recruitment process, from player development and exposure opportunities to personalized support and education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110+ players placed in college soccer programs (NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, NJCAA)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ECNL (Elite Clubs National League)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSF Elite is an official member of the ECNL, participating in ECNL Boys, ECNL RL Boys, and ECNL RL Girls programs. This membership provides access to national showcases, college recruiting platforms, and the highest level of youth soccer competition in the United States. SF Elite is the only club in San Francisco with ECNL Boys status.
• NorCal Premier SoccercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSF Elite is a proud member of NorCal Premier Soccer League, a US Club Soccer member servicing competitive clubs in Northern California. All competitive teams participate in NorCal divisions.
• BYGAcoreTechnology or IntegrationSF Elite uses BYGA as its all-in-one platform for player registration, communication, scheduling, and payments. Families are required to create BYGA accounts and use the platform throughout the season.
• Capelli SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKit partnership for SF Elite's 2026-2028 jersey and uniform supply. Capelli Sport provides the club's official playing kits featuring the club's navy and light blue color scheme representing San Francisco.
• San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (SFRPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSF Elite utilizes multiple public fields managed by SFRPD including Crocker Amazon Soccer Complex, Polo Soccer Fields, Franklin Park, Kimball Soccer Field, Minnie Lovie & Ward Soccer Fields, and Beach Chalet Fields. Financial aid is aligned with SFRPD scholarship guidelines.
• Sports RecruitscoreTechnology or IntegrationFree access to Sports Recruits college recruiting platform provided to all SF Elite families as part of the College Pathway program, helping players and families navigate the college recruitment process.
• VEO / DarkhorsecoreTechnology or IntegrationFree access to video highlight tools VEO and Darkhorse provided to all SF Elite families as part of the College Pathway program for player video analysis and college recruiting.
• SF Gov / San Francisco City GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with San Francisco government to host events such as the FIFA World Cup Trophy global tour visit at City Hall, inspiring the next generation of players in the community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mustang SC: Northern California youth soccer club competing in NorCal Premier and ECNL pathways. Competes with SF Elite for elite player recruitment within the broader Bay Area and is part of the same NorCal/US Club Soccer ecosystem.
• Silicon Valley SA: South Bay-based competitive youth soccer organization with elite pathways. Competes with SF Elite in the same Northern California elite player market and is part of the same ECNL/NorCal ecosystem.
• De Anza Force: Bay Area competitive youth soccer club with ECNL and development pathways. Several SF Elite coaches (e.g., Kyle Valentine) previously coached at De Anza Force, indicating overlapping talent pools and coaching markets across the Bay Area.
• Lamorinda FC: East Bay competitive youth soccer club serving the Lamorinda corridor. Competes for the same Bay Area elite talent pool and historically attracted San Francisco families seeking higher-level competition outside the city.
• Berkeley Brazilian Soccer Club: East Bay youth soccer club with strong grassroots-to-elite development programs. Several SF Elite staff (e.g., Arlo Moore-Bloom) previously coached here, indicating overlapping labor and player markets across the East Bay/SF corridor.
• Ballistic United: Pleasanton-based competitive youth soccer club operating in ECNL and NorCal pathways. Competes with SF Elite for elite players across the greater Bay Area and is part of the same NorCal Premier league.
• San Francisco Glens: Long-established San Francisco-based youth soccer club operating competitive teams and development programs across multiple age groups. Directly competes with SF Elite for the same Bay Area player pool and families, and serves as the most immediate local alternative.
• Marin FC: Marin County-based competitive youth soccer club historically attracting San Francisco families willing to drive across the bridge. SF Elite was founded specifically to recapture this outmigration, making Marin FC a direct target competitor.

Regional players

• Burlingame Soccer Club: Peninsula-based youth soccer club serving San Mateo County. Several SF Elite coaches (e.g., Sofi Garman) previously coached here, and the club operates adjacent to SF Elite's territory on the Peninsula.

Broad incumbents

• ECNL (Elite Clubs National League): National governing body that operates the elite boys and girls youth soccer leagues in which SF Elite competes. Although a partner rather than a competitor, ECNL defines the competitive structure and showcase opportunities that SF Elite monetizes, and its broader national footprint shapes the operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sfeliteacademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/SFEliteAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfeliteacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfelitesc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 San Francisco Elite Academy