The School of Excellence
A full-time, high-performance soccer environment built around daily training, academic balance, and long-term player development.
The NCE School of Excellence is a full-time academic and high-performance soccer program based at Saddle River Day School in Saddle River, New Jersey.
It integrates daily training, structured competition, and long-term development planning into the school week — designed for committed players who want their education and soccer aligned, not competing.
What is the School of Excellence?
The NCE School of Excellence integrates the key parts of a player’s journey — training, games, physical development, education, and long-term planning —i nto a single, structured program. The goal is not to rush outcomes. It’s to remove unnecessary friction and build an environment worthy of a player’s commitment.
Academics
Academic progress and personal wellbeing are non-negotiable. Soccer development does not come at the expense of school.
Training is integrated into the school day to protect learning time and reduce unnecessary travel and stress.
Students receive structured academic support, clear behavioral standards, and access to wellbeing resources — including sports psychology when appropriate.
TRAINING PROGRAM
Daily training is delivered within a high-performance environment aligned with elite academy standards.
Sessions take place each weekday morning as part of the school schedule, with structured study support provided from 3–4pm to ensure academic continuity.
Development drives every decision — focusing on technical quality, tactical intelligence, professional habits, and long-term progression under qualified professional coaches.
Games Program
Competition is structured with purpose. Games reinforce training principles rather than chase standings or short-term results.
The program includes selected friendly matches, internal games, selective tournaments, and curated international competition aligned with development readiness.
Minutes and selection are managed intentionally based on individual growth and physical readiness, with performance evaluated against tactical understanding — not win-loss records.
Physical Performance Program
Long-term resilience and movement quality are prioritized to support consistent availability and sustainable performance.
Physical development is led by the Head of Physical Performance, with coordinated load management across training and competition.
Training demands are adjusted based on individual growth and maturity, while players are educated on recovery, nutrition, sleep, and hydration — supported by trusted external medical partners when required.
Selection
Selection prioritizes long-term potential, technical quality, and decision-making over early physical advantage or current size.
Assessment considers the whole player — including tactical awareness, psychological resilience, movement coordination, and coachability.
The process is transparent and ethical, with ongoing review of development and engagement, and no guarantees tied to short-term results or recruitment outcomes.
Monitoring & Feedback
Every player operates within a personalized Individual Development Plan outlining clear technical, tactical, physical, and psychological goals.
Progress is monitored through structured review cycles that involve players and families in constructive, development-focused conversations.
The program promotes ownership and independent learning, while leadership continuously monitors coaching standards and refines practices to ensure long-term quality and alignment.
Read the Full Press Release
Saddle River Day School and NCE Soccer Announce Collaboration to Develop a High-Performance Soccer Program
Saddle River, NJ — Saddle River Day School (SRDS) today announced a collaboration with NCE Soccer focused on the development of a high-performance soccer program that aligns with the School’s academic mission and commitment to student wellbeing.
The collaboration reflects a shared philosophy: that motivated student-athletes benefit most when academic rigor, personal development, and athletic ambition are supported within a single, well-structured environment. Through this collaboration, SRDS and NCE Soccer will work together to design a program that integrates high-quality soccer training into the school day while preserving the School’s educational priorities and culture.
Any future program developed through this collaboration will be guided by clear principles, including education first, student welfare, long-term development, and responsible integration of sport within an academic setting. SRDS will continue to deliver its established academic curriculum and student support systems, while NCE Soccer will contribute its expertise in coaching, curriculum design, and long-term player development.
“We are excited to partner with NCE Soccer to thoughtfully integrate high-level athletic training into our academic framework, ensuring students thrive both in the classroom and in competition.”
– Jalaj Desai, Head of School
“Our partnership with NCE allows SRDS student athletes to train at a high level while remaining fully engaged in a rigorous academic environment. It is about developing the complete athlete technically, mentally, physically, and personally.”
– PJ Petrow, Athletic Director
NCE Soccer’s involvement centers on creating development frameworks that are appropriate for a school environment and aligned with the broader educational experience, rather than operating separately from it.
“This collaboration brings together academic expertise and long-term player development. That alignment creates an environment where players can develop properly and without compromise.”
– John Curtis, Founder & CEO of NCE Soccer
Program planning will continue in close collaboration between both organizations. Additional information will be shared with the SRDS community as details are refined and next steps are confirmed.
About Saddle River Day School
Saddle River Day School is an independent, coeducational school serving students from Pre-K through Grade 12. The School is committed to academic excellence, character development, and preparing students for success beyond the classroom.
About NCE Soccer
NCE Soccer is a national player-development organization dedicated to providing professional, player-centered environments that support long-term athletic and personal growth.
Media Contact:
Gretchen Lee Kuhlman – [email protected]
Ben Dority – [email protected]
About Saddle River Day School
The NCE School of Excellence is delivered in collaboration with Saddle River Day School, an independent college-preparatory school located in Saddle River, New Jersey. Known for its strong academic standards, small class sizes, and individualized attention, SRDS provides a structured educational environment that prioritizes both intellectual growth and personal development.
The campus supports year-round athletic integration with a full-size turf field, natural grass playing surfaces, a gymnasium, weight room, and indoor training spaces — allowing academics and high-performance training to operate within one cohesive daily framework.
Together, in collaboration with NCE Soccer, the School of Excellence create a model where school and soccer are aligned giving student-athletes the structure, support, and stability required for long-term development.