My daughter has decided that she wants to focus on soccer year round. I'd say she's pretty good but has yet to play club soccer and I'm not sure she's ready for the commitment and intensity of a big club like Albion (plus the cost commitment). I don't even know where to start with some of the other clubs but we did have a referral for Elite FC which appears to be much smaller.

Please help point me in the right direction with any insight on the best/worst clubs and experiences you may have. Thanks!

We live in SBISD and would rather not have to drive across town for training.

I know you said you're not sure about Albion, but honestly that would be my first recommendation to check out. Yes, their top teams in each age group are intense, but they have a wide variety of teams and skill levels available in most age groups. Most teams practice a couple times a week, have games on the weekend, and play in 1-2 tournaments per season.

Albion tryouts are early May if interested, and they're usually very open to having guest players train with existing teams to test it out and get more comfortable before tryouts.

We also have friends at Total Football Club who like it.

In my opinion, the biggest overall factor in your daughter's experience will be how much she enjoys her individual coach and teammates. You won't know who might be her coach or teammates right now, but if she's able to test out clubs by doing some training sessions with them, I think she and you will develop preferences quickly.

I would encourage you to reach out to multiple clubs, share your preferences and initial concerns, and see what they say.

I'd also recommend trying to keep her in at least one other activity. Just my recommendation but you know your daughter.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

---

I'd also recommend trying to keep her in at least one other activity. Just my recommendation but you know your daughter.

---

Thanks for the replies. So far I've done a little research and found Texas United, Total Football, Elite FC, and Houston Select all within a reasonable distance. There's always Albion but the $2100 seems excessive for a 10 yr old but maybe they're all like that? Any info on those other clubs would be appreciated.

Agreed about other activities. She plays basketball also but it's mostly filler and a good way to stay in shape.

We have some exposure to Houston Select, too, but mostly with boys teams. Not sure how many girls teams they field.

It's a smaller club and most folks we know have had overall good experiences. A few we know had very bad experiences, but it was directly related to a couple of coaches who are no longer with the club.

The owner is a great guy, and some of the coaches are very good as well, but the operation definitely seems to be less organized than the bigger, more established clubs. Communications are less frequent and less detailed, last minute announcements and changes seem to be more common (announcements the day before something happens, late changes to organized team activities, staffing changes, etc.), and players sometimes seemed to get moved around between teams without clear explanation to those players/families or others on the team.

My son plays on Albion & I would recommend attending the Albion tryout in May.

My daughter is current U12 and we've been with Dash for four years… overall we have been quite happy but all of the "big" clubs have their strengths and weaknesses. If you want to make this step, I can't stress enough how important it is to visit as many clubs as possible to find best fit. They will try and pressure you but ignore the sales pitches… remember that unfortunately this is big business with each player meaning quite a bit of cash to the club. Also consider trying to attend one of their games if you can... make sure their style fits your desire. There are clubs in Houston that only focus on kicking the ball long in order to catch one of their fast players and get quick goals... others that focus development of building out off the back. I have my opinions on that and maybe you do as well so verify what the clubs intentions are and be sure they are in line with your expectations.

Make sure to reach out now and find out when each clubs open practices are… that should be starting soon. You can't wait for the posted "try outs" as the reality is teams are typically already 95% set when they hold those.

I'm a long time removed from the youth soccer scene but back in the day, Albion was a very well-run club. I wouldn't hesitate to put my daughter there.

If you live in Spring Branch, Albion is right in your back yard. My daughter plays on an independent club in the Dash League and has done well. We've done some training and scrimmages with Albion, both Albion and Dash seem like well run clubs. No experience with anyone else other than KYSC which is worlds behind Dash or Albion.

Keep in mine that the top teams (usually two teams per age group) play GA or ECNL as of U13… not the more local leagues the younger and lower level teams play. You cannot use the teams your daughter has played as a proper judge of talent that plays at a club. .

Yep, I'm aware. My daughter is U12 but her team plays up in the U13.

Wow, a club sports thread on the tine board that was not instantly derailed. This is like spotting a unicorn!

EclipseAg said:

---

I'm a long time removed from the youth soccer scene but back in the day, Albion was a very well-run club. I wouldn't hesitate to put my daughter there.

---

user name checks out...



Eclipse was soccer club in Sugar Land back in the day

Makes sense. The top three Dash U12 teams actually play in boys brackets to find good competition.

It's a big step coming… sounds like she's comfortable with Albion and that is half the battle but I would still suggest joining a training session at Dash (Aveva campus for closest feel their GA) and Rise before me making a decision. I know all three teams fairly well.

Thanks for the info JJ; we're not necessarily looking for a new thing, her team is really good but since we are independent they lack the availability of depth, and for some basketball or cheer are priority. While this frustrates us, she really loves her coach and the only way I see her leaving is if he disbands the team, or if she realizes she's being held back by others.

The Albion thing was out of the blue so we are doing it for the experience and to show her other options. We've been playing Katy Youth for years and knew club was a thing, but until this past fall didn't truly understand how big it is. I'd love to see her decide she wants something bigger and better, but we can only push her so much. Would be interesting if our teams have played or will play in the future.

Sounds good! Honestly… the whole Houston soccer club scene is a mess compared to others areas of texas. I have moments that I wish we hadn't gone this far but my daughter loves it. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have in the future and I'll share what I know since we both have U12 daughters. The teams can swing a ton year to year age wise.

She wouldn't happen to be on that Katy Youth Regulators team by chance? I know they are the rare KYSC team that has stayed together this far and I've heard has some darn good players.

Yep, that's us. I think we have to move up to the State Classic League in the fall, or possibly move up to the next age group if the Dash let us, we'll see what happens…

Y'all doing that 3v3 tourney Easter weekend?

wessimo said:

---

Wow, a club sports thread on the tine board that was not instantly derailed. This is like spotting a unicorn!

---

That's bc it is for a ten year old and not a 6 year old coach pitch team. If it was for u9 you may get more hate.

No 3v3 for us. Mine is primarily focused on the keeper position now so 3v3 is not so interesting. Gonna take a rest weekend before we ramp up for State Cup.

Nahhh trust me… U12 to U13 is a major transition year in girls soccer and the recruiting fight is ongoing and drama filled. College level recruiting for 12 years olds . It's just that the people in this particular thread have reminded positive.

I'd stress working out with a few clubs for sure. My daughter went through the process and we started with a local area club and moved onto a major name ECNL squad. The training and exposure was fantastic and night and day from where we had been. Wished we had done it earlier because joining later caused issues with girls on the team. My daughter took playing time away and the claws came out and the effected girls and her friends did all they could to make her life hell.

Yep, I get that feeling too about taking someone's spot or playing time. I think at this age though, U12, the parents are going to be worse than the girls. The girl's have been really nice to her in the practices she's gone to, and a few of the parents have been very welcoming for an outsider, but I've also seen some looks from other parents. I am hoping that we can start playing with the "big club" more this spring to get everyone more comfortable with what's about to happen. My girl scrimmaged with their top teams this weekend, for the first time, and did very well in the two games…. We'll see what happens.

cypress-ag said:

---

I'd stress working out with a few clubs for sure. My daughter went through the process and we started with a local area club and moved onto a major name ECNL squad. The training and exposure was fantastic and night and day from where we had been. Wished we had done it earlier because joining later caused issues with girls on the team. My daughter took playing time away and the claws came out and the effected girls and her friends did all they could to make her life hell.

---

Wow, having raised 4 boys I never saw this but heard about it.

When we moved my youngest joined a U12 boys club team and absolutely took playing time away from other kids that were already on the team since he played every game all game and hardly left the field. Every parent on the team welcomed us and said "we're glad agracer Jr. is on the team, he's a good player and my son likes him a lot!".

Just the difference b/c boys/girls

If you are in West Houston/Katy, consider SG1.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

---

If you are in West Houston/Katy, consider SG1.

---

Would you recommend them over Dash or Albion?

If your daughter is not on a GA/ECNL team at one of the big clubs by U13 or older… SG1 seems to be a good option. I know a few over there. I think they are a nice mid range option.

Good to know. Seems like a solid club with a close enough location for us in Spring Branch.

We're looking at try out dates for the various clubs and of course they are all the same week so trying to be strategic.

Thanks for all the great info so far. I wouldn't mind this thread continuing throughout the year with updates, stories, etc on everyone's experiences.

You need to be reaching out to clubs now and joining the ongoing training sessions at each you are considering… tryouts are kind of a joke with each team already being 90% or more set by then. The real "try outs" come in the training sessions going on now.

JJWAGGIE said:

---

You need to be reaching out to clubs now and joining the ongoing training sessions at each you are considering… tryouts are kind of a joke with each team already being 90% or more set by then. The real "try outs" come in the training sessions going on now.

---

Understood. I'm coordinating with a coach at Dash now and waiting to hear back from SG1.

JJ - how's your bracket looking for State Cup? We're gonna have a tough road in the U13 bracket, going to be a huge test for sure.

Anything can happen but feel they should have a pretty good chance of making finals in Round Rock. The biggest challenge in our U12 bracket overall will be our sister Dash City North Team.. It's not a brutal bracket as most of the top regional teams have moved onto U13. We will see!

I see y'all are drawing the South team… that's going to be a really tough game. Lots of talent sitting on that team. I don't know too much about the Legacy team to be honest. Good luck!

What age group is your daughter and what campus are you trying out at?

She's 2011 and we're looking at Dash West. Coordinating with Michael Quinn on when she should come to a session.

Mikeyshooter said:

---

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

---

If you are in West Houston/Katy, consider SG1.

---

Would you recommend them over Dash or Albion?

---

One thing that I've found is that nobody is 100% happy with their club situation.

We enjoyed our time at SG1 but they were taking the club in a different direction which led to our team basically being ignored because we were older. I actually agree with what they are now doing but we couldn't stay. They have a few ECRL teams and will probably be able to get into ECNL in the near future.

We are currently part of a start-up club called Houston City. The coaching is fantastic but the club management is going through some growing pains. My daughter is going to try out for Dash and HC and see what we think.

Perfect. Exactly who you should be talking too for Dash West.