NOT A CAMP JUST PLAY COMPETE AGAINST MLS NEXT PLAYERS NO T-SHIRTS NO MEDALS NO CERTIFICATES JUST BETTER SOCCER WALNUT CREEK · DUBLIN · SAN JOSE 2012-2014 BIRTH YEARS 16 SPOTS PER WEEK ECNL · ECNL RL · MLS NEXT $399 / WEEK NOT A CAMP JUST PLAY COMPETE AGAINST MLS NEXT PLAYERS NO T-SHIRTS NO MEDALS NO CERTIFICATES JUST BETTER SOCCER WALNUT CREEK · DUBLIN · SAN JOSE 2012-2014 BIRTH YEARS 16 SPOTS PER WEEK ECNL · ECNL RL · MLS NEXT $399 / WEEK
East Bay · South Bay · Summer 2026

CAMP
IS DEAD.

Two hours. Four days a week. 16 elite players from MLS Next and ECNL battling it out. Real small-sided matches. No drills you've done a thousand times. No T-shirts. Just the kind of competitive pickup game American soccer forgot how to make.

Birth Yrs'12–'14
Hours/Day2.0
Days/WeekM–Th
Spots16
Take a Spot
16
Players Per Week
The Idea

Most camps are babysitting with cones.
This is something else.

What's broken

If your kid is playing club or MLS Next, summer camps are a waste of their time. The drills are too easy. The competition isn't there. They come home having played soccer for five hours and learned nothing.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world's best players grew up playing pickup games every day. American kids almost never get that.

What this is

16 elite players show up. Two hours of structured small-sided games — 4v4, 5v5, rondos, tournaments. The pace is fast. The competition is real. The learning happens because the game itself demands it.

No medals. No certificates. Just better soccer.

The
Format

Built for players who already love the game and want to be tested by it. Every minute is a touch on the ball.

01

Small-Sided Matches

4v4 and 5v5 on appropriately sized pitches. More touches, more decisions, more goals than 11-a-side.

02

Play With and Against MLS Next Players

16 elite players per session, all currently rostered in ECNL, ECNL RL, or MLS Next. Real peer-level competition.

03

No Lines, No Lectures

You won't stand in a line waiting for your turn. You won't watch a 20-minute demonstration. You'll play.

04

Run by a Certified Ref

A certified soccer referee facilitates, manages, and structures every session. Plus dedicated CPR/AED-certified safety support. Insurance carried.

Who Can Register

This Is For Real Players.

To register, you must be a current rostered player on a team competing in one of the four leagues below. We verify at registration. This is the floor — not the ceiling — of who shows up.

ECNL
Elite Clubs
National League
ECNL RL
Regional
League
MLS Next
Academy
MLS Next
Homegrown

★ Roster verification required at registration. No exceptions.

Registered
Players

Three weeks of summer sessions. Each week is capped at 16 players. Pick a week below to see who's signed up — rosters update as registrations come in.

Week 1 · June 8–11 · Walnut Creek
Mon–Thu · 9:00–11:00 AM
0/16
Week 2 · June 16–19 · Dublin
Mon–Thu · 9:00–11:00 AM
0/16
Week 3 · June 22–25 · San Jose
Mon–Thu · 9:00–11:00 AM
0/16

One Week.
Four Days.

DAY 01

Mon

9:00 — 11:00 AM
Warm-up rondos, 4v4 round-robin, small-sided tournament
DAY 02

Tue

9:00 — 11:00 AM
Possession games, 5v5 with neutrals, finishing competition
DAY 03

Wed

9:00 — 11:00 AM
Transition games, 4v4+2, end-line tournament
DAY 04

Thu

9:00 — 11:00 AM
Champions League — knockout small-sided tournament with prizes
WhereWk 1 Walnut Creek · Wk 2 Dublin · Wk 3 San Jose
BringIntensity. Joy. Self expression. Integrity.
WeatherPlays rain or shine; severe weather → makeup session

The Details

Eligibility
2012-2014 birth years, with current roster spot in ECNL, ECNL RL, or MLS Next
Group Size
16 players total. That's it.
Schedule
Monday through Thursday, 9:00–11:00 AM
Location
Walnut Creek (Wk 1) · Dublin (Wk 2) · San Jose (Wk 3). Exact field confirmed upon registration.
Supervision
Certified Referee on-site every session, plus CPR/AED-certified safety support
What to Bring
Intensity. Joy. Self expression. Integrity.
One Week
$399
8 hours of play · 16 spots only
  • 2 hours per day, 4 days
  • 16 elite players total per session
  • Real small-sided games, not drills
  • Certified soccer referee on-site
  • All equipment provided except personal gear
  • Register now to secure your spot

Questions
Parents Ask

Is this really not a camp?

Not in the traditional sense. There's no theme days, no T-shirts, no certificate at the end. The format is structured but the substance is competitive small-sided games — closer to a high-intensity training environment than a typical summer camp. If you want a babysitting solution for your kid, this isn't it. If you want them to play hard with better players for two hours, it is.

Who are the elite players?

You are the elite players. You play at the highest level of competitive youth soccer in the United States. Play against rostered players from ECNL, ECNL RL, or MLS Next teams. Note: Not a Soccer Camp is independently operated and not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by MLS Next, ECNL, or any of the clubs mentioned.

What level should my kid be at?

To register, your player must currently be on an active roster for a team competing in ECNL, ECNL RL, MLS Next Academy, or MLS Next Homegrown. We verify rostership at registration. This isn't a developmental camp — it's high-level competitive play, and everyone who shows up should be playing at or near this level already.

What about safety and injuries?

Every session is run by a certified soccer referee who facilitates, manages, and structures play, plus dedicated CPR/AED-certified safety support. We carry general liability insurance with a sports rider, and a participant waiver is required at registration. As with any contact sport, injuries can happen — we take reasonable precautions, but we don't pretend the risk is zero.

Will my kid's information be public?

When you register, we publish a basic roster for that week so registrants and their families know who's playing. The default published info is first name, last initial, club, league, and position — same level of detail as a typical tournament roster. Photos and social media handles are optional and only shown if you explicitly opt in during registration. Full last names, contact info, and personal details are never published.

What's your refund policy?

Full refund up to 14 days before your week starts. 50% refund within 14 days. No refunds once the week has started, though we'll work with you on a makeup session if there's a real conflict.

Can my kid attend multiple weeks?

Yes. Each week is priced and registered separately so you can pick the weeks that fit your summer.

Why "Not a Soccer Camp"?

Because we kept hearing the same thing from parents of strong players: "soccer camps are a waste of money." Rather than building another one, we built the alternative.

Take a Spot

Register Now

16 spots in each of the three weeks. Once a week is full, it's full. We'll verify your roster spot in ECNL, ECNL RL, or MLS Next within 24 hours and send payment instructions for the $399 weekly fee.

★ Roster verification required. Players not currently rostered on an eligible team will be refunded.
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No payment collected on this form. We'll contact you within 24 hours to verify rostership and send payment instructions.