SDSC Surf

What the club offers

Recreational soccer includes Rancho Bernardo programming for ages 3 through 14 with Union Minis for ages 3 and 4 (coed Saturday sessions) and gender-split teams for ages 5 through 14 with volunteer parent coaches and practices on Poway Unified School District elementary fields. Rancho Peñasquitos recreation welcomes boys and girls ages 5 through 18, with a spring 4v4 format across age groups and a standard team format in fall, plus a Tot program. TOPSoccer serves athletes ages 4 and up with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities, with spring and fall sessions and festival opportunities including Pegasus Cup participation.

Competitive SoCal teams cover boys and girls from U8 through U19 under professional coaching, with many 7v7 sides, girls 9v9 teams, and third-tier and below 11v11 teams competing in the Southern California Soccer League as an NPL member circuit. Top boys teams from U13 through U18 play in the Elite Clubs National League with second teams in the Elite Clubs Regional League; U11 and U12 top teams use the Pre-ECNL track. Top girls teams from U13 through U19 play in the Girls Academy League with second teams in GA Aspire and younger pre-GA and pre-Aspire groups feeding those ladders.

Rising Stars Academy targets players born in 2019 through 2021 with professional staff, mostly 4v4 play, and optional session blocks. The Goalkeeper Academy serves registered competitive players and prospective keepers with phased training from U7 through U19 and a six-week rotating curriculum; families contact the goalkeeping director for rostering and schedules. Year-round camps and clinics for competitive players use tactical and technical games, with recurring sessions at 4S Ranch Sports Park.

Where teams train and play

Recreation uses Poway Unified elementary school fields for Rancho Bernardo team practices and Saturday Minis sessions as scheduled by coaches. Competitive training and home matches emphasize quality grass or turf venues across the region; SoCal league teams typically open training April 1 for U7 through U14 and June 1 for U15 through U18, with fall league play, optional winter State Cup windows for younger ages, and spring preparation for older groups. GA and ECNL families should expect July practice starts, three weekly training blocks during peak phases, filmed home games, athletic trainers at matches, and showcase travel for eligible teams. Camp blocks list 4S Ranch Sports Park as the venue. The club office is at 11305 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92127, with weekday morning hours and visits by appointment outside that window.

Tryouts, evaluations, and registration

Families exploring competitive placement can submit the club’s interest form with parent and player details. For the 2026–27 cycle, U15 through U19 tryouts are scheduled for the week of April 20, 2026. Targeted contacts include Jose Ocampo for girls born 2015 through 2018 and Brian Quinn for boys born 2015 through 2018 at the coach email addresses the club shares for those groups. Rising Stars Academy and listed camps register through PlayMetrics program links. General questions flow through the main office email.

Mission, philosophy, and coaching approach

The SDSC Surf Development Plan uses three zones: Zone 1 (roughly U7 through U10) builds technical foundations and love of the game; Zone 2 (U11 through U13) adds tactical ideas within the club system; Zone 3 (U14 and older) advances off-ball movement and decision-making under pressure. The mission is to create strong experiences for county families through recreational and competitive programs that deepen passion for soccer. The vision frames a Best Match environment where aligned pathways support growth, retention, and chances to compete locally, regionally, and nationally. Core expectations include community ties and school relationships, clear player pathways, disciplined and respectful behavior, and embracing challenge as part of development. Older competitive teams receive college recruiting support including a recruiting coordinator for GA and Aspire, team meetings, and informational sessions alongside external tools.