ECNL

ELITE CLUBS NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) is widely known as the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform for both boys and girls student-athletes.

Valley Surf competes in the ECNL on both the Boys side of the club, ages U13-U19.  Valley Surf joined the ECNL in 2022. 

The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) is one of the premier youth soccer leagues in the United States. It focuses on developing young soccer talent.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • ECNL Boys – Northern California Conference. 
  • Available for U13 through U19
  • High Level Competition
  • National showcases across the country 
  • College Pathway

ECNL features top youth soccer clubs from across the country. The league is known for its competitive environment, where the best young players compete regularly against each other.

The league emphasizes player development over results. This includes a focus on technical skill, tactical understanding, and overall athletic growth, preparing players for collegiate, professional, and international levels.

ECNL organizes several showcase events throughout the year, where players can perform in front of college scouts, national team coaches, and other talent evaluators.

Many ECNL players go on to play soccer at the collegiate level. The league has a strong reputation for producing players who succeed in college soccer and beyond.

The ECNL has played a significant role in elevating the standard of youth soccer in the United States. It has provided a platform for talented players to compete at a high level and gain exposure to college and professional opportunities. The league’s success has contributed to the overall growth of soccer in the U.S., especially in the development of future national team players. 

The ECNL was formed with one driving purpose: to improve the developmental environment for elite soccer players.

 

In order to accomplish this, the ECNL has several specific objectives:

 

  • Increase the frequency with which the top players in the country have the opportunity to compete against each other.
  • Decrease the number of uncompetitive games for the top players in the country so that these players can train more frequently.
  • Increase the collegiate recruiting exposure for top players.
  • Provide an alternative identification program for these players to be identified for US Soccer Youth National Teams.
  • Every member club of the ECNL is dedicated to accomplishing these objectives. By coming together into the ECNL, ECNL member clubs can help to make the changes necessary to accomplish these objectives far more quickly, efficiently, and effectively.

Within the last two years, more than 55 ECNL players have signed USL Academy contracts to train and compete professionally within their club or with a club affiliate while still also playing youth soccer.  ECNL clubs like North Carolina FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Louisville City, and more are using those contracts to provide youth players training and games with professional players while still maintaining their NCAA eligibility. 

 

Beyond those 55 athletes who have signed USL Academy contracts, 40 more ECNL players have signed full professional contracts in the past two years. Graduates from ECNL clubs have gone on to MLS, USL, Liga MX, Serie A, Bundesliga and more. Players such as Jackson Hopkins (VDA to DC United), Jimmy Slayton (FSA to Hartford Athletic), Marck Cruz (San Diego Surf to Chivas de Guadalajara), Giovanni D’Agostino (Arlington Soccer to FC Bologna) and Evan Rotundo (San Diego Surf to FC Schalke 04) have paved the way for others to make the same jump as they have, and serve as role models for the next generation of ECNL athletes. As the league continues to grow, the representation of players from these clubs in the best soccer leagues in the world will only expand. 

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WHY CHOOSE VALLEY SURF?

No matter how advanced a club’s philosophy or how ambitious its vision, success on the field ultimately comes down to the quality of its coaching staff.

 

At Valley Surf, we are proud to feature one of the most accomplished and diverse coaching staffs in the region—bringing experience from the youth, collegiate, professional, and international levels of the game.

 

Our coaches hail from over six different countries, each bringing a unique background, perspective, and approach that reflects the global nature of the sport. From grassroots to the highest levels, their combined insight helps shape players in a well-rounded, adaptable way.

 

We also feature coaches with NCAA collegiate coaching experience, providing unmatched guidance for players preparing for the next level. Whether navigating the college recruitment process or aiming for identification opportunities, our coaching staff equips players with the tools to reach their goals.

We believe better coaches equals better players and we believe we investing in both.

River Islands Sports Complex is the proud home of Valley Surf, serving as the heart of our club’s operations.

 

Located in the master-planned River Islands community in Lathrop, this top-tier facility features high-quality Bermuda grass fields and a layout designed to support both player development and an exceptional experience for families and visitors. It provides the ideal environment to train, compete, and grow—both on and off the field.

 

The complex regularly hosts major events including Surf Cup qualifiers, college ID camps, and league showcases, while also serving as a day-to-day home for our training sessions, club matches, and Surf programming. Its central location within one of the fastest-growing areas in the country makes it easily accessible for families across the Central Valley.

 

One of the greatest advantages of calling River Islands Sports Complex home is the consistency it offers. With club-managed access and scheduling, families know exactly where and when they’ll train—months in advance. This reliability allows our players to focus on their growth and allows families to plan their lives with ease and confidence.

ECNL features top youth soccer clubs from across the country. The league is known for its competitive environment, where the best young players compete regularly against each other.

Throughout the course of the season, our Elite Clubs National League and Regional League teams travel to compete in national events that are hosted in different states. At these national events, our teams are matched up against first-class competition located in various regions of the United States – each of which represent some of the best clubs that youth soccer has to offer.

 

For a list of national events that our Boys ECNL & ECNL RL and Girls ECNL RL could participating in visit the links below: 

 

Our goal is give high school-aged players and their parents with the necessary tools to navigate the uncharted territory of college recruiting. Our core philosophy of our recruiting program takes into account:

 

  • The applications and application process associated with applying for academic scholarships;
  • The application process and required  documentation that is associated with applying for financial aid;
  • The process associated with choosing the best two-year and four-year institutions for your player so that their athletic and academic aspirations are met.
  • Taking into account the environmental needs of each player so that their targeted schools best suit their individual, personal needs. 

 

Valley Surf will be with membership throughout this process, providing helpful resources on guidance and what type of mindset a player and parent needs when considering college programs.

 

College is more than a name on a diploma and we want players to know that this is about YOU.

The impact of Valley Surf reaches far beyond wins and trophies.

 

We believe our true purpose lies in serving our communities—using soccer as a tool to connect, uplift, and inspire. From River Islands (Lathrop) to Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, and beyond, we’re committed to creating access to the game through camps, clinics, and community outreach.

 

At the heart of our philosophy is the development of young people into strong, thoughtful individuals. Our programs are designed to build better people first—who in turn become better players. Through meaningful relationships, leadership opportunities, and service-driven experiences, Valley Surf empowers youth to grow, lead, and make lasting contributions in their communities.

Valley Surf Soccer Club proudly uses BYGA as the club’s preferred centralized platform for membership communication.

 

BYGA is Silicon-Valley designed revolutionary club management software that has transformed the way youth soccer clubs are managed. What sets BYGA apart from competitors is its powerful features that are intelligently connected, resulting in new-found management efficiencies that help families plan with less stress and club’s operate with more efficiency. 

 

The BYGA Difference provides families with some of the following advantages: 

 

  • Game schedules and training schedules automatically populate on the web and to users smartphones. 
  • Club-based communications are streamlined and sent out to the masses in a centralized form.
  • BYGA allows for users to utilize a photo-sharing function that can be used to distribute in-game action shots and team-centric content. 
  • Team chat functionality allows players, managers, and coaches to better communicate with one another to avoid any future miscommunications or mishaps.
  • BYGA is both web-based and mobile application-based, brining the ease of accessibility to your home and when you’re on-the-go.

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