SOCA (Soccer Organization of the Charlottesville Area)
Overview
Founded in 1982, SOCA is the dominant youth soccer organization in western Virginia, serving over 6,000 players seasonally across Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Augusta County, Waynesboro, and Staunton. In 2015, SOCA merged with Augusta FC to expand its geographic reach.
SOCA’s elite travel program (branded as “Skyline Elite SC” for operational purposes) is widely recognized as the strongest and most successful youth travel program in Virginia west of Richmond.
Financials
EIN: 52-1336900. Specific 990 revenue/expense data not retrieved in current research.
Teams & Players
6,000+ players seasonally. Programs span U4-U19 across recreational and competitive tiers.
Competitive fee structure (from website):
- U13-U14 SOCA Elite: $1,875/season
- U15-U19 SOCA Elite: $1,695/season
- U11-U12 SOCA Blue: $1,795/season
- U11-U14 White/Red/Gold: $1,569/season
- U15-U19 White/Red: $969/season
League Affiliations
- VPSL / ECNL Regional League (top teams U13-U19)
- Pre-ECNL Regional League (VPSL — U11-U12 Blue teams)
- Virginia Club Soccer League (VCSL)
Facilities
- South Fork Soccer Park — 5 bermuda grass playing fields. Home of Skyline Elite SC and SOCA Travel programs.
- SOCA Field House — Indoor facility in Belvedere community north of Charlottesville. 60 x 40 yard enclosed playing field on synthetic turf. Accessed from Rio Road.
Owning an indoor facility is a significant competitive advantage in a region with limited indoor soccer options.
Leadership
- Matt Wilson — Executive Director
Competitive Position
SOCA dominates western Virginia with no meaningful competitor. The nearest elite clubs are in Richmond (1 hour east) or Northern Virginia (2+ hours north). This geographic isolation creates a natural monopoly on elite youth soccer talent in the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville corridor.
The club’s ECNL-RL affiliation through VPSL provides access to state-level elite competition without requiring the overhead of a full ECNL national program.
SYNRGY Relevance
Interesting bolt-on acquisition. 6,000 players with geographic dominance in western Virginia. Owns an indoor field house (rare asset). Low competitive pressure. However, the Charlottesville market is smaller and less affluent than NOVA or Richmond, so per-player economics may be lower.
Best acquired as part of a broader Virginia platform strategy — SOCA would complement a NOVA or Richmond anchor acquisition by extending geographic coverage across the state.
Open Questions
- What are SOCA’s actual 990 financials (revenue, expenses)?
- What is the relationship between “SOCA” and “Skyline Elite SC” — same entity or separate?
- What is the indoor field house’s financial contribution (rental revenue)?
- How many competitive travel teams does SOCA field?
- Is there any interest from leadership in acquisition or partnership?