Our mission at NLSA Surf is to provide the best experiences and opportunities for youth soccer players through an inspired, unified approach to training, competition, and community service.
- Founded
- 2007
- Ages
- U6–U18
- Plays
- Boys & Girls
- Programs
- 17
Where on the ladder
Level 4
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.
The club also played in USYS NL and NPL. Those leagues ended in July 2026 and merged into National 1, so they do not count above. The club’s site also lists New Jersey Youth Soccer, US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer. We have not confirmed those from the bodies’ own member lists, 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, ECNL Regional League Northeast, Pre-ECNL Northeast, EDP Futures. We have not placed those leagues on the ladder, so they do not count above.
See how the whole ladder worksPrograms
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.
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.
feeds into U8 competition
Girls Pre-Academy Teams
U6-U7 · 4v4
Girls Pre-Academy teams compete in 4v4 festivals throughout the fall and spring season, along with fall, winter, and spring training sessions with a NLSA Surf Senior Staff Coach.
feeds into U8 competition
Academy Teams
U8-U10
Academy teams participate in either the EDP Futures, ICSL, or Rock league, with an 8-10 league game schedule each season, competitive local tournaments, and potentially one away tournament.
EDP Futures · ICSL · Rock
Girls Academy Teams
U8-U10
Girls Academy teams participate in either the EDP Futures, ICSL, or Rock league, with an 8-10 league game schedule, local tournaments, and potentially one away tournament.
EDP Futures · ICSL · Rock
Boys Elite Teams
U11-U18/19
Elite boys teams compete in the National 1 League or EDP league, play 8-10 league games per season, and follow a high-level tournament schedule.
National 1 League · EDP
Girls Elite Teams
U11-U18
Girls Elite teams compete in the National 1 League or EDP league, play 8-10 league games per season, and participate in high-level tournaments and showcases.
National 1 League · EDP
Boys Premier Teams
U11-U18/19
Premier boys teams participate in either an EDP or similar-level league, such as Rock League or ICSL, with competitive local tournaments and one away tournament.
EDP · Rock League · ICSL
Girls 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 feeds into Girls ECNL-RL Teams
Girls ECNL-RL Teams
U13-U19
Girls ECNL-RL teams compete in the ECNL Regional League Northeast Conference against teams from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, with top-level tournaments, showcases, and ECNL Regional Events.
ECNL Regional League Northeast · US Club Soccer Mid-Atlantic State Cup
NLSA TekZone
2017 - 2010
TekZone is a free technical development program exclusively for NLSA Surf players and included as part of dues. It focuses on first touch, scanning, 1v1 skills, control under pressure, and integrated competition.
HVSA by NLSA Day Camp
players born in August 2011 through July 2019
A summer day camp at Washington Crossing Park with morning sessions and a camp T-shirt included.
NLSA Surf Pre-Season Team Camp
U8 - U15
A three-day preseason team camp at Twin Pines Turf Field designed to help players sharpen skills and build team chemistry before the season.
Beestera Soccer Camp
A full-day or half-day summer soccer camp at Twin Pines Turf with advanced technical work and elite speed and agility training.
NLSA Surf Overnight Camp
An overnight soccer camp at The Pennington School focused on soccer skills, sportsmanship, teamwork, personal growth, and lifelong friendships.
U10-U13 Summer Prep Performance Camp
u10-u13
A 90-minute camp at Top Notch Soccer in Hamilton combining advanced technical work with elite speed and agility.
High School & Middle School Summer Prep Performance Camps
Rising Middle School & High School players
An intensive summer training program at Top Notch Soccer in Hamilton focused on technical mastery, speed, agility, and preseason preparation.
AP2T Physical & Technical Training Programs
Through its partnership with AP2T, NLSA Surf offers summer clinic programs at Twin Pines Turf Field that are open to all players, regardless of club affiliation.
Tryouts
2026/27 season
Tryouts decide which travel team a kid plays on. Confirm the details on the club’s page before you go.
All: Tryouts Coordinator
Coaching
Who coaches here
29 names from the club's own staff page. The titles and licenses are what the club lists.
Brian Thomsen
Club Director, Coach
Club-wide; Girls Committee
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Connor Marino
Dir. of Soccer & Coaching, ECNL-RL Dir., Coach
Director of Soccer; ECNL-RL; Girls Committee
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Heather Driscoll
Girls (non-ECNL) Dir., Futures Dir., Coach
Girls non-ECNL; Futures; Girls Committee
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Tim Summiel
Boys Director, Coach
Boys program; Boys Committee
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Matthew Weigner
Camps Dir., GK Dir., Boys Recruiting Dir., Coach
Camps; goalkeeper training; boys recruiting
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Ben Chrnelich
Club Liason, Coach
Club-wide
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Sean Davies
Coach, FUNatics Program Director
FUNatics program; 2009/10 Girls ECNL-RL
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Vicente Farina
Coach
2010/11 Girls ECNL-RL
NLSA Surf has a professionally licensed coaching staff with decades of experience developing players at all levels.
Where they play
25 fields
The fields the club lists as its own. Directions open in Google Maps, so you can check the drive before you sign up.
NLSA Surf CentralPrimary
108 W. Franklin Ave. Suite I-17 Pennington, NJ 8534
Twin Pines Turf Field
Turf
Mercer County Community College
The Pennington School
Princeton Day School
Washington Crossing Park (NJ)
Independence Park
Black Bear Lake Day Camp
Hun School of Princeton
Pennington School Green Street
Fees
What it costs
What the club charges, from its own price list.
Add-ons
Player Registration Protection: around 7% of your registration fee.
Get in touch
How to reach NLSA Surf
108 W. Franklin Ave. Suite I-17, Pennington, NJ 8534
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.