Yecenia Torres never played soccer growing up, but she was always around it. Now, her 7-year-old daughter plays it regularly.
“Since she was little, she’s always liked soccer,” Torres said in Spanish. “She grabbed a ball and started kicking it ever since she was 2 years old.”
Her daughter is part of a youth league program in Claremore. Torres has seen the sport grow with more leagues and programs aimed at the youth, but she says it can be overwhelming finding the right one.
“We’ve been to tournaments, we’ve met some other clubs from across Tulsa … There’s too many,” she said.
We spoke to soccer coaches and directors about how to navigate choosing the right option for your child.
Picking a program
Torres selected her daughter’s program because of the proximity to home. She started her in the Lil Kicks program, an introductory to the sport for young players, at Claremore Soccer Club.
From there, Torres said, her daughter was placed onto a team where she’s training to join a soccer academy.
Kendall Quillman, director of the Lil Kicker’s program at SoccerCity in east Tulsa, usually recommends parents try everything before deciding on a program.
“So kind of like with our Little Kicker’s program, we have our free trials. Clubs should offer free practices,” Quillman said.
A recreational program might be a “hit or miss,” she said, since it depends a lot on the volunteer coach you get.
If there’s a great parent volunteer who knows how to coach, you might have an “amazing experience.”
“If you get somebody who’s never coached, what if a cheerleading mom, like, they don’t know anything about soccer,” Quillman said. “They may be a great role model for the kid, but you might not get all the instruction that you’re looking for, but you’re going to get the team aspect.”
Once a child moves into club soccer, parents should be looking at pricing, location, where they play games and the coaches.
“There are a lot of different things,” she said. “I always say ask a thousand questions and make sure you’re positive before you commit to anything.”
The benefits of soccer youth programs
Torres has seen her daughter become more disciplined and learn how to express her emotions on the field.
When she’s frustrated, Torres knows her daughter can cope on the field.
“We’ve noticed that it’s helped her a lot with her behavior, her discipline,” she said. “We’ve noticed that it’s very positive for her.”
Quillman said coordination, balance and social development are some of the biggest benefits she sees for younger players.
“One of the biggest things with the youngest ones is just how they are socially interacting with others and listening and following directions to somebody that is not their parents,” she said.
The program will eventually teach children to not use their hands when playing soccer and help them control emotions when they don’t win every game.
“Having to continue to love something and want to work at it to get better at it is kind of where you start to see the kids who really love soccer because even if they’re not winning, they’re still in it,” she said.
Tom McIntosh, head men’s soccer coach at The University of Tulsa, said soccer is a great foundational sport for children no matter how long they play.
“It’s one of those sports that teaches you how to use your feet, how to move, how to run, while doing it with the soccer ball,” McIntosh said.
In a typical summer, he’ll see around 700 to 800 kids participate in their summer camps.
Caleb Sewell, general manager for FC Tulsa, said it’s important that kids remain active during the summer.
“We want them in soccer, we want them out in our camps and meeting players and positive influences and creating mentors and seeing these guys up close,” Sewell said. “And thinking one day I can (become a pro), so they can go home and work towards that.”
Where to find youth soccer programs
FC Tulsa offers camps, clinics, youth and adult leagues. You can reach them at (901) 515-6501 or email them at rrodriguez@fctulsa.com.
SoccerCity Tulsa offers summer camps, youth and adult leagues and a Lil’ Kickers program. You can reach them at (918) 249-0044 or stop by their location at 5817 S. 118th E. Ave.
The University of Tulsa partners with Mac’s National Soccer School to offer summer camps. The university has an upcoming youth advanced soccer camp for ages 9 to 14. You can register online here.
West Side Alliance Soccer Club offers youth development, youth academy, competitive youth programs for children. You can reach them at (918) 629-4476 or use their player interest form to connect with them.
Are we missing any places offering soccer programs, clubs or leagues for the youth? Send us an email at connect@tulsaflyer.org.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
