Naperville Soccer Academy - Tradition of excellence
NSA's HISTORY & FUTURE VISION
The Naperville Soccer Association was founded in 1986 by Jeff Bradley, who has remained the Club President since its inception. Jeff Bradley formed NSA because he has three daughters who began playing soccer in the late 1970s and he coached all three girls. He headed the Naperville park district travel program in the early 1980's, where his teams and daughters won 4 State Cup Championships. In 1982, he coached his oldest daughter's U14 team and they won the Illinois State Cup championship and went to The Midwest Regionals in Minnesota. The following year in 1983, he coached two teams that won the Illinois State Cup Championships and his U10 girls team, his youngest daughter's team, was the first ever Illinois team to win a U10 State Cup in 1983. His middle daughter's team of the U13 girls also won State Cup and he took both of these two teams to the Midwest Regionals in 1983. Another State Cup Championship was won in 1984 and Jeff Bradley soon realized that there were not the same traveling opportunities for the girls as the boys (through the only available program of travel soccer with the local park district at the time) so he formed the non for profit organization of NSA in 1986. It was the first Competitive soccer club in the area since all children played “traveling team” soccer through the park district.
NSA has a national reputation as one of the top soccer programs in the State of Illinois not only because of its long history and the number of top championship teams, but because of our Club culture of integrity, honesty, hard work and ethics. NSA is nationally known by college coaches and recruiters since we are one of the longest running soccer clubs and because of our many national tournament wins, State Cup, Regional and even National Championships. NSA’s name and reputation is also very well known and respected because of the hundreds of NSA players that have played in colleges around the country and hundreds of players that have received scholarships. NSA even has alumni who have gone on to play for National Teams and professionally with the Chicago Red Stars. Over the past 38 years, NSA has provided a competitive and fun atmosphere for over 10,000 area children to learn the game of soccer, the balance of being on a team and the life lessons that come with hard work, practice, persistence, compassion, success, failures and teamwork. NSA prides itself on being the first traveling soccer Club in the area and the only Club to have a family history invested in maintaining its integrity.
NSA's 38 Year Old history
NSA soon grew to incorporate a boys' program in 2002 and it has had the pleasure of serving over 10,000 area youth soccer players in the past 38 years. In NSA’s first year, Jeff Bradley coached the U16 girls team to its first Illinois State Cup Championship and the team went on to the Midwest Regionals. His daughter, Clare Bradley, was on that first inaugural team. The following year of 1987, NSA again won two State Cup Championships and again went to Regionals, with Rachel being on the U14 team and Clare on the U19 team. Since then, NSA has won 33 Illinois State Cup Championships, had another 17 State Cup finalist teams, 9 Midwest Regional Championship teams and 2 National Championship teams. Jeff Bradley and his wife, Susan, operated the NSA for over twenty two years and Jeff is still the NSA President. Over the past 40 years, Jeff Bradley has coached over 50 soccer teams and he has taken these teams to tournaments all over the country, Canada and even to play in England in 1985. He was born in England, where he grew up playing football, and his passion for soccer was and is the foundation for the beginning of NSA and it continues to this day.
His daughters have also been involved with the day to day operations at NSA for over 28 years with the various positions of Coaches, Administrators, Treasurer, Secretary, Field and Referee Coordinators and other positions. The Bradley family has proudly served the soccer community with NSA's long standing history and reputation and has dedicated over 38 years to provide area youth the opportunity for the best travel soccer club experiences. Clare Bradley-Lubek graduated from Naperville North HS in 1988, played Varsity soccer for all 4 years and won two IHSA High School Championships at North and several State Cup championships with NSA. She then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1992 and graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1995. She was a State’s Attorney/ Prosecuting Attorney for 12 years until moving back to Naperville and again being involved with NSA. Clare has been the NSA Administrator and Secretary for 8 years and she has two children who played NSA soccer. Rachel Lukitsh graduated from Naperville North in 1992, played Varsity soccer for all 4 years and also won an IHSA High School Championship. Rachel began coaching at NSA in 1994 and went on to coach in the State Cup finals in 1995. She has two children who played with NSA. Sarah Bradley graduated from Naperville North in 1986, played Varsity soccer for all 4 years and won two State Championships and several NSA State Championships. After graduating from college, she coached many teams in the early 1990s and became the Club's Administrator for ten years beginning in 2006. Her three children have played with NSA and all three received college soccer scholarships.
NSA is NOT a big box soccer Club that’s main objective is to make money and have the most number of teams or the most number of players. NSA does not “pool” its players so that a child never gets to feel part of a “team” but instead bounces around from rotating teams' games and practices. Instead NSA was founded on the principle of providing quality opportunities for youth soccer development, which it still adheres to today. NSA wants its players to feel a part of a team and a Club that teaches the fundamentals of soccer and also the fundamentals of life. The NSA culture is for its players to achieve success, whether that is in winning games, tournaments, scholarships or friends. NSA wants to know all of its players by name and not just as a number on a roster. NSA has implemented its Character Development model so that children are taught more than just soccer skills. NSA is also implementing its Player Development model and we are excited to join with the US Soccer Federation’s donation program, PassBack, to donate used soccer gear to underserved communities.
NSA is a soccer Club to BE a part of and not just "feel a part of" by simply wearing their Club gear because you’re on a roster. NSA offers a quality soccer Club from a family that knows why it was formed in 1986 and that cares about its players, coaches and its innovative programs. NSA wasn’t formed to become the largest soccer “business” with a hundred teams and to have players that are pushed through a turn-style program. Rather NSA was formed to provide children with better opportunities for them to learn how to play soccer and to grow as an individual. NSA not only provides the competitive opportunities and teaching of technical skills, but also the culture of excellence, pride, togetherness, integrity, tradition and fun. NSA’s mission is to continue to provide these top opportunities, the best soccer skills, lessons and experiences, and the top level coaching, teams and success for players on and off the field. NSA instills the character building tools and foundation that every parent hopes that their child can build upon for success in soccer and in life.
NSA'S LATEST STATE , REGIONAL & NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
3 National Titles
33 State Cup Championships
10 Midwest Regional Championships
100's of players awarded college scholarships
