The NCE Soccer Blog
Player Stories, Milestones, & Moments That Matter
Progress isn’t measured in one big moment—it’s built in the countless steps along the way. Here, we highlight the players who are putting in the work, earning their opportunities, and making their mark. Some are securing college commitments, others are turning heads on the field, and all of them are proof that dedication leads to results. If you want to see what’s possible through NCE Soccer, you’re in the right place.
Hartford Athletic Appoint John Curtis As Assistant Coach
NCE Soccer founder John Curtis has joined Hartford Athletic as Assistant Coach. The former Manchester United and England defender will join the USL Championship club as assistant to new Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi for the 2020 season. Jaïdi has taken charge at Hartford...
NCE at Soccer Coliseum Tournament
It was a great weekend for NCE Soccer in Teaneck, New Jersey. NCE brought 10 teams to compete at the Soccer Coliseum’s 5v5 Tournament, five of which were girls teams and five that were boys teams. The level of talent and hard work showcased by NCE players can only be...
Welcome to the alphabet soup
Welcome to the Alphabet Soup! Why is the US Soccer Landscape so complicated? Commonly known as the alphabet soup, because of the acronyms used to abbreviate the myriad of different organizations, the US youth soccer landscape is a complex beast. Its complex political...
Attacking # 2
Key Information Phase – Youth Development Phase Theme – Playing Through Midfield Third Title – Coach players in wide areas, to recognize the optimal time to Run With The Ball (RWTB) to break defensive line and create good attacking opportunities. 5 W’s – Who – Wide...
Finding The Best Soccer Club For Your Child
How do I find the best soccer club for my child? With tryout season starting earlier and earlier, this is one question parents are constantly asking me. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. As you’ll see below, many elements, including collective goals,...
Attacking # 1
Key Information Phase – Youth Development Phase Theme – Playing Through Midfield Third Title – Coach midfield players in good possession, to play penetrative passes that break defensive lines, into attacking players feet or beyond. 5 W’s – Who –Midfield Players...
Transition # 1
Key Information Phase – Youth Development Phase Theme – Transition & Defending Title – Coach players to counter attack effectively from the middle or defensive third to exploit out of balance defenses and create opportunities to score. 5 W’s – Who –...
Gothia Captain Making Waves
NCE Gothia Cup winning captain, Taylor Jenkins is beginning to make waves across the US Soccer scene. Jenkins, who was instrumental to the NCE 2006 girls squad's success at Gothia Cup 2019, has taken her international form into her inaugural high school season with...
Football’s for Thinkers
Football's for Thinkers! Why 1 on 1 Training doesn't Deliver During the 25 plus years I’ve been involved with long-term player development, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience first-hand, how professional organizations from across the world, successfully develop...
Pro Pathway – Cooper Flax
PRO PATHWAY - COOPER FLAX Cooper Flax began training with us in Long Island back in 2015 when he was a member of East Meadow Soccer Club, NY. Cooper received training from former EPL player and NCE Founder and Technical Director John Curtis, as well as Alan O'Keefe,...
NCE Crowned Gothia Cup Champions
NCE Soccer were crowned Gothia Cup World Champions with a stunning victory over SKF Canada. Hat-trick hero Se-Hanna Mars secured was crowned MVP after a stunning performance in front of goal. Teammate Dylan Jovanovic added a brace with Taylor Jenkins and Avary Borbi...
New York, NY - National Center of Excellence Technical Director John Curtis, continued his regular contributions for Talk Sport Radio this week, with a discussion on how soccer has changed since he made his debut in 1997 to the present day. The fascinating insight can...
2018 NCE Residential Camp
Oakham, England, July 2018 - The 2018 National Center of Excellence International Residential Camp consisted of 12 days, full of amazing experiences for the 48 boys who were selected to attend. From mini festivals vs professional academies, watching professional...
NCE Appoint Goalkeeper Coach
NCE Soccer have appointed a specialist goalkeeping coach. Former Notts County coach Lee Broster will develop a specialist goalkeeping program for NCE Soccer students. He will work alongside NCE Soccer founder John Curtis from their headquarters in Fairfield but...