South Carolina Surf

What the club offers

Little Surfers introduces the youngest players to ball skills, balance, and coordination in short, engaging sessions. Junior Surfers adds structured training and small-sided games on a six-week rhythm, with an included program shirt and a bridge toward pre-academy. Pre-academy serves U8–U9 players inside South Carolina Youth Soccer, emphasizing love of the game, repetition on the ball, and comfort in 1v1 moments. Academy covers U10–U12 with more complex technique, transition play, and an introduction to the club game model while still competing in South Carolina Youth Soccer.

Boys competition-phase teams span U13–U19 with access to ECNL Boys Southeast, ECNL Boys Regional League Southeast, and South Carolina Youth Soccer pathways. Girls competition-phase teams span U13–U19 with access to ECNL Girls Mid-Atlantic, ECNL Girls Regional League Carolinas, and South Carolina Youth Soccer pathways. Both competition phases stress demanding training, clarity in the four moments of the game, and decision-making as numbers on the field increase.

Spring-break and summer camps welcome mixed skill levels, including age-limited spring-break weeks for players roughly 6–14 and multiple summer themes aimed at birth-year bands around 2011–2020 in camp offerings, such as finishing, directors-led weeks, World Cup-themed play, and 1v1-focused work. Free ECNL girls and boys identification sessions split U13–U15 and U16–U18 signup in AthleteOne; players may attend from other clubs, but current ECNL or ECNL Regional League athletes from outside South Carolina Surf cannot participate.

Where teams train and play

Shea Family Fields at 3790 Ashley Phosphate Road in Charleston is the club’s home base: a turf complex with lights, scoreboards, restrooms, and parking. Introductory programming also uses McAlister-Smith, Shea Family Fields, Cathedral Academy, and First Baptist for Junior Surfer training and game blocks. Additional training or match venues referenced for older groups include Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, the City of North Charleston Athletic Center, and a Fishburne Street site in downtown Charleston, so families should expect more than one site as age groups and seasons change.

Tryouts, registration, and age-group planning

Prospective competitive players for the 2026–27 season register for evaluations through AthleteOne once an account is active; exact tryout dates are communicated when finalized. Evaluations will follow the new seasonal age bands that return to an August 1–July 31 grouping starting in 2026–27, replacing the January–December birth-year window that had been standard under the earlier U.S. Soccer mandate. Staying eligible across U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, NPL, and ECNL competitions requires following that shift, and South Carolina Surf staff are planning roster reviews, school-year-aligned training, and clear timelines for families.

Mission, philosophy, and player support

The mission centers on developing people first—building character and life skills alongside athletic growth—while placing players in strong regional and national leagues when they are ready. The vision calls for a positive culture where every athlete is pushed to become their best self on and off the field. Off-field support includes college recruiting guidance for boys and girls, parent and coach toolkits, and a scholarship application for families who need tuition relief.

Intro program pricing and camp notes

Little Surfers has carried a $150 program fee with a shirt included, while Junior Surfers has carried a $175 fee for six trainings and six games with a shirt included; Cathedral Academy locations have been offered free of charge in those program descriptions. Camp fees vary by product in the camp store, so families should confirm the active price when enrolling. AthleteOne is also used for camp registration alongside tryouts.