Surf and Match Fit Academy Create Expanded Youth Soccer Opportunities in New Jersey
#SURFSOCCERNATION – Growing to grow the game of soccer, SurfNation is a powerful affiliate program with like-minded youth soccer clubs across the USA.
Surf Cup Sports has kicked off an innovative new partnership with Match Fit Academy to create New Jersey Surf – a collection of teams and clubs that will span from the grassroots and the community levels to the elite playing level of the ECNL. Match Fit Academy will be the elite player pathway for all players within NJ Surf.
The goal is to create a new, complete soccer organization focused on creating the “Best of the Best” experiences and opportunities for every age with a pathway for every player to pursue their dreams.
Match Fit will remain an independent club and brand but will become a key partner within Surf Nation, a nationwide collective of mission-driven youth soccer clubs across America. Surf Cup Sports’ SurfNation is an affiliate program with more than twenty youth soccer clubs across the USA.
All clubs within New Jersey Surf will have access to the Surf Brand, Surf Nation Community, and administrative and marketing tools.
In addition, all players with NJ Surf will have access to the elite Match Fit brand as well as the Surf Select Program, a nationwide player identification, and development program within Surf Nation. 2020 Surf Select opportunities for New Jersey Surf players include the Northern Ireland Super Cup, an East Coast Select Camp and a Surf Select team placement in Surf Cup.
“In becoming a Surf Nation affiliate member, we feel a part of an innovative movement in youth soccer that focuses on true player development from grassroots to the elite levels of play.”
Chris Leahey, Executive Director Match Fit Academy
“We were attracted to Match Fit based on their leadership team, their mission-driven focus to build soccer players the right way and their focus on the pathway to college,” said Brian Enge, CEO Surf Cup Sports. “We’re excited to see how we can positively impact more youth soccer players.”
“On behalf of my business partner Malcolm Murphy and I, we are extremely proud of partnering with Surf and to bring their partnership model to the state of New Jersey,” said John Calcaterra, Co-Owner and Director of Operations Match Fit Academy. “We feel our mission of true player development perfectly aligns with Surf and their tremendous leadership team.”
”The NJ Surf model will provide a true pathway for player progression from grassroots through to the Match Fit Academy Boys and Girls ECNL program and into Surf National select teams,” said Chris Leahey, Executive Director Match Fit Academy.
“The leadership at Surf demonstrated almost an identical ethos that we’ve built our reputation on over the last twenty years — a focus on developing players and teaching vital life skills in the process.”
Chris Leahey
“Being able to utilize the vast resources of Surf, as well as the networking of all the Surf partner clubs, we are now able to expand upon our mission of developing quality players within our own market in NJ.”
Read: SURF SC AFFILIATE PROGRAM HELPS YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS THRIVE
Match Fit Academy competes in US Club and is well recognized for its highly competitive youth soccer program. Match Fit teams have won several ECNL championships including:
- 2018 – U17 Boys ECNL Northeast Conference Champions
- 2018 – U15 Boys ENPL Eastern Playoff Champions
- 2016 – U16 Boys US Club Soccer National Champions
- 2016 – U15 Girls ECNL North American Division National Champions
In addition, Match Fit Academy teams have performed well on a national level as well:
- 2015 – U16 Girls ECNL National Semi-Finalist
- 2014 – U18 Girls USYS National Finalist
