So your child wants to play soccer? Albuquerque is an amazing hub for soccer-loving kids, with choices for every age and level. Figuring out the right fit for your child can be confusing, so here is a primer about youth soccer in Albuquerque.
Soccer for Young Kids
For the youngest Burqueños, a variety of organizations offer introductions to soccer fundamentals.
i9 Sports
Starting at age three, children can explore soccer with i9 Sports. The program is a great option for families who only have weekends available for extracurriculars. Teams practice the same day as their games, typically on Saturdays.
Soccer Shots
Soccer Shots offers programs for kids ages 18 months to 8 years old around the region. It is another great weekend option as classes are typically offered on Saturdays. Kids learn the fundamentals of soccer and basic skills like coordination, balance, dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Lil’ Kickers
Lil’ Kickers programs also start at 18 months old and go through age nine. Toddler classes use fun activities to begin developing skills like coordination and balance. Older children can practice soccer fundamentals and participate in game-like situations.
AYSO
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is a national group that offers soccer for all ages, starting with the Playground level at three years old. AYSO has several different regions throughout the Albuquerque area, so visit their website to find yours.
Ready for the next level? Recreational Soccer
Like most sports, soccer teams are organized by a participant’s age and birth year rather than grade. So, as you prepare to register your child for a soccer team, double-check the organization’s birth date requirements.
For many families, AYSO, Zia Soccer, and i9 are a great soccer middle ground. All three programs have volunteer coaches and ensure playing time for all participants.
AYSO Core
In AYSO Core, kids ages 5 to 19 play Saturday games and one or more weekday practices. Teams are co-ed at the youngest and oldest age groups, with the rest separated by gender. Teams practice and compete in games over about eight weeks in the fall, then take a break from November through February. In March through May, teams reconvene for the second half of the season. AYSO teams practice and play at multiple parks around the Albuquerque metro, so check their website to find your nearest organization.
i9 Sports
i9 Sports also offers outdoor and indoor soccer programs for up to ages 14. Teams practice on Saturdays, before games, rather than during the week. Sessions typically last six to seven weeks and are offered throughout the year at parks around the city.
Zia Soccer
Zia Soccer features nine weeks of weekday practice plus eight non-competitive scrimmage games on Saturdays. They offer a fall and a spring soccer season. Games are at Altura Park and Prada del Sol Park.
Level Up: Club Soccer
Club soccer may be the next step for players ready to seriously commit to soccer.
Competitive club soccer is a larger investment in time and money, typically requiring multiple practices a week and occasional travel outside of the Albuquerque region.
Club teams require try-outs, so players are not guaranteed a spot on a team. Players can try out for multiple teams to find the best fit for their personalities, goals, and abilities. Depending on the club, there can be large differences in expectations, time commitment, financial commitment, travel, and the guiding principles of the coaches and club. Talking with other “soccer parents” is one of the best ways to figure out which club might be a good fit.
Teams hold try-outs over multiple days in May or June, and then the season runs the length of the school year. Coaches can invite returning players to remain on their team for subsequent seasons.
Duke City Soccer League is where you’re likely to find the most competitive level of soccer being played in the ABQ area. Games are played at the Santa Ana Soccer Complex in Bernalillo, which is a gorgeous facility with a view of the Sandias, but it can require a significant drive depending on what part of town you live in (and how the traffic in Bernalillo is moving that day). DCSL includes multiple club teams in the Albuquerque region, including AYSO United (AYSO’s club team), Classic Futbol Club, Elite FC, NM Rapids Soccer Club, and New Mexico Soccer Academy.
The Northwest Rio Grande Soccer League is the metro area’s other primary club soccer league, featuring the Alameda, Bernalillo, Corrales, Rio Rancho United, South Valley, Valencia Del Rio, and Westside United soccer clubs. This league is most convenient for families who live in the northwest parts of the city, as most practices and games are held in those areas.
