At NLSA Surf, every player matters and so we look to place our players and teams in the most developmentally appropriate and challenging environment for league, cup, and tournament play.
- Ages
- U6–U18
- Plays
- Boys & Girls
- Programs
- 8
Where on the ladder
Level 2 to Level 5
Each level below lists the leagues this club plays in. Your kid's level depends on the team they make. The six levels are our own reading of public league play. They are not an official ranking.
Sanctioned by New Jersey Youth Soccer (US Youth Soccer). The club also played in NPL. That league ended in July 2026 and merged into National 1, so it does not count above. The club’s site also lists US Club Soccer. We have not confirmed that from the body’s own member list, so we do not call the club sanctioned. It also lists pre-ECNL, NPL Mid Atlantic Premier League, Mid Atlantic Premier Foundational League, ICSL, Rock League, USYS/NJYS, Mid-New Jersey, EDP Futures, ECNL Regional League Northeast, Pre-ECNL Northeast. We have not placed those leagues on the ladder, so they do not count above.
See how the whole ladder worksCollege & pro pathway
Where the players went next.
We counted these from public commitment lists and trackers, not from the club’s own claims.
The counts come from public commitment trackers, club lists, league records, player pages, and the rosters of 2,244 NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA programs. One player counts once per school. “Division unverified” means we matched the school but could not confirm the program level. We never print a current youth player’s name.
Programs
The programs, age by age
These come from the club's site, grouped the way the club groups them. Your kid starts in the one that fits their age.
Elite Teams
U11-U17
Elite teams can expect a high-level tournament schedule and compete in the National 1 League or EDP league. They may also compete in the US Club Soccer Mid-Atlantic State Cup.
National 1 League · EDP
Premier Teams
U11-U17
Premier teams can expect a competitive tournament schedule and participate in either an EDP or similar level league, such as Rock League or ICSL. They may compete in the NJYS State Cup.
EDP · Rock League · ICSL
Academy Teams
U8-U10
Academy teams can expect a competitive tournament schedule and participate in either the EDP Futures or ICSL league. They play an 8-10 league game schedule each season and may attend an away tournament.
EDP Futures · ICSL
Pre-Academy Teams
U6-U7 · 4v4
Pre-Academy teams compete in 4v4 festivals throughout the fall and spring season, with fall, winter, and spring training sessions with a NLSA Surf Senior Staff Coach.
ECNL-RL Teams
U13-U19
Girls ECNL-RL teams compete in the ECNL Regional League Northeast and participate in top-level tournaments, showcases, and ECNL Regional Events throughout the country.
ECNL Regional League Northeast
Pre-ECNL Teams
U11-U12
Girls Pre-ECNL teams compete in the Pre-ECNL Northeast and participate in top-level tournaments, showcases, and Pre-ECNL events throughout the country.
Pre-ECNL Northeast
Academy Teams
U8-U10
Academy teams can expect a competitive tournament schedule and participate in either the EDP Futures, ICSL, or Rock league. They play an 8-10 league game schedule each season and may attend an away tournament.
EDP Futures · ICSL · Rock League
Pre-Academy Teams
U6-U7 · 4v4
Pre-Academy teams compete in 4v4 festivals throughout the fall and spring season, with fall, winter, and spring training sessions with a NLSA Surf Senior Staff Coach.
Tryouts
2026/27 season
Tryouts decide which travel team a kid plays on. Confirm the details on the club’s page before you go.
Multiple venues · Washington Crossing State Park, Hun School Turf, Pennington School Turf, PDS Baker Turf, MCCC Stadium Turf, Twin Pines Turf (see schedule)
Free (pre-registration required)
Coaching
Who coaches here
36 names from the club's own staff page. The titles and licenses are what the club lists.
Brian Thomsen
Club Director
Connor Marino
Director of Soccer
Tim Summiel
Boys Program Director
Heather Driscoll
Girls Program Director
Justin Haskell
Boys Player Development Director
Jake Kemery
Girls Player Development Director
Matt Weigner
GK Training Staff
Jamie Skarupsky
GK Training Staff
Where they play
8 fields
The fields the club lists as its own. Directions open in Google Maps, so you can check the drive before you sign up.
Washington Crossing State Park
Twin Pines Turf
Turf
Hun School Turf
Turf
Pennington School Turf
Turf
PDS Baker Turf
Turf
MCCC Stadium Turf
Turf
Mercer County Community College Stadium Turf
Turf
Iron Peak Sports & Events
Fees
What it costs
What the club charges, from its own price list.
Get in touch
How to reach NLSA Surf
NLSA Surf 108 Straube Center Blvd., Box G-12, Pennington, NJ 08534
Is NLSA Surf the right move for your kid?
Tell us about your kid and we’ll rank this club against every other option inside your drive time, on level, cost, and where its players end up.