About NCE Soccer

NCE Soccer is a supplemental youth soccer development pathway for players ages 8–18 that includes structured training, camps, tournaments, and international tours.

Unlike a traditional club, NCE works alongside a player’s existing team to provide additional high-level development opportunities through selective programs.

NCE stands for National Center of Excellence.

The name reflects the organization’s commitment to raising developmental standards nationally through structured, high-performance training environments.

No. NCE Soccer is not a recreational or travel soccer club.

It is a selective player development pathway that supplements a player’s primary club environment through advanced training, competitive events, and international exposure.

NCE Soccer serves boys and girls ages U8 through U18.

Programs are age-specific and developmentally structured to align with long-term player development principles.

ENCE Soccer differs in three key ways:

• Supplemental Model – Players remain with their home clubs.
• Selective Entry – All players must be assessed.
• Integrated Pathway – Training, Camps, Tournaments, and International Tours operate within one structured system. 

The focus is long-term development rather than short-term team results.

NCE Soccer offers:

Center of Excellence (COE) Training→

• Weekly supplemental training for selected players ages 8–18 within our structured development environment.

Pro Pathway Camps→

• Residential elite camps featuring professional academy coaches.

College Pathway Program→

• Monthly training and showcase events with college coaches.

Position-Specific Clinics→

• Focused sessions for attacking, midfield, defending, and positional roles.

International Tours→

• Competitive tours to England, Italy, Brazil, and other football nations.

Tournaments→

• Invitation-only showcase events for high-level competition.

School of Excellence→

• A full-time high-performance academic and soccer environment designed for serious student-athletes seeking integrated long-term development. The School of Excellence combines elite daily training, academic education, and professional standards within one structured pathway.

Each program is part of the broader NCE development pathway.

The Center of Excellence (COE) is NCE Soccer’s core weekly training program. Selected players train in structured sessions focused on:

• Technical execution
• Tactical decision-making
• Physical development
• Psychological growth
• Social competencies

COE Training supplements a player’s club schedule.

NCE's Pro Pathway Camps are selective residential camp where players train under professional academy coaches from Europe and South America.

The camps include:

• Multiple daily training sessions
• Competitive match play
• Performance feedback
• Exposure to international coaching standards

Players are grouped by age and ability level.

The College Pathway Program prepares high school players for collegiate soccer recruitment. It includes:

• Monthly advanced training
• College showcase events
• Direct interaction with college coaches
• Education on the recruitment process

The program supports long-term college placement preparation within the broader College Pathway framework.

Yes. All players must be assessed before joining any core NCE program. Assessments typically occur at seasonal NCE Soccer Tryouts. Players outside current regions may submit video footage and a soccer résumé for review.

Selection ensures appropriate training standards. View upcoming NCE Soccer Tryouts.

NCE Soccer is selective by design.

Entry is limited to players who demonstrate appropriate technical ability, tactical understanding, and developmental potential. This maintains training intensity and competitive balance.

NCE Soccer operates regional training centers across multiple U.S. states. Current locations include:

• California Soccer Training→
• Connecticut Soccer Training→
• Florida Soccer Training→
• New Jersey Soccer Training→
• New York Soccer Training→
• Pennsylvania Soccer Training→
• South Carolina Soccer Training→
• Virginia Soccer Training→

Training venues vary by program and season.

Families can view detailed regional information on each state page above.

NCE Soccer operates in select U.S. regions including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Families can explore their local state page to view training schedules, venues, and upcoming NCE Soccer Tryouts.

Players outside these regions may still participate in Pro Pathway Camps and International Tours.

NCE Soccer was founded by John Curtis, a former professional footballer who played for Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City.

Curtis holds a UEFA A License and a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) A License. Following his professional playing career, he focused on long-term youth player development, building NCE as a structured pathway designed to raise developmental standards in American soccer.