Aztec Soccer
Aztec Soccer
Aztec Soccer was founded in 2000 as a premier youth soccer training club north of Boston which offers a full-scale premier organization committed to giving players the opportunity to succeed at most highest levels. The Aztec programs include Soccer Tots, Early Soccer Development, U7 Pre-Academy, U9 Academy, U10/U11 Academy teams, U12-U14 Junior teams, U15-U18 Premier teams and numerous camps and clinics.
Aztec teams play in the Northeast Soccer League (NSL) and Region 1.
Great story of an Aztec graduate in Colgate senior Kinter named Patriot League player of week.
Club Composition
There are 11 boys teams from U10-U18 and 13 girls teams from U10-U18. The Aztecs organize their team managers, coaches or goalkeepers in keeper training – on “teams.” In addition, they have a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team and they were the national finalists in 2012.
The structure of the club is broken out by three broad age groups categories: ages 1-6 (Soccer Tots); 6-11 (Academy); 12-14 (Junior Club) and 15-18 (Premier Club).
There is also an Aztec men and women’s teams during the summer: Twilight Summer League (TSL) and Eastern Mass and Women’s Soccer League (EMWSL). These teams are comprised mainly of Aztec Premier youth players and alumni but also some top players from area college and high school teams. These teams provide high level competition that allows players to prepare for their fall school seasons.
Club fees for Aztec are ~ $2,300 so in the ballpark of other soccer clubs in the area.
Camps/Clinics
For 10 years, Aztec has been developing young players’ technical soccer ability and tactical awareness and instilling a desire to play the game with a passion. The staff creates an environment for players to be challenged by activities and games while experiencing both success and setbacks. This commitment to proper youth development has created a club program with players that understand how to play the game and have a passion and desire to play soccer.
The Aztec staff brings these same principles to the Aztec Summer Camp programs.
- There is a high school camp at Governor’s Academy in Byfield
- Youth camps and clinics also at Governor’s Academy and
- A February vacation clinic at Soccer etc. in Beverly
Young Players
Soccer Tots is a child physical development program that uses a variety of fun games to delight and engage kids in a physical activity. Classes are professionally designed to develop motor skills, promote physical fitness and create soccer self-confidence. Aztec stresses a non-competitive environment and promote fun above all else. Instructor to student ratio is kept small to maximize individual development.
Tournaments
Beginning in 2012 Aztec Soccer hosted the first annual Aztec Soccer Labor Day Classic at Citizens Bank Field in Lancaster; more than 200 teams played from 20 premier soccer clubs.
Facilities
There are many Aztec training/playing facilities:
- Danvers Indoor Sports (primary location)
- Soccer ETC
- Waring School
- Pingree School – S. Hamilton; Grass; Training
- Gordon College – Wenham; Turf; Training/Games
- Governor’s Academy – Byfield; Turf/Grass; Camp/Training/Games
- Citizens Bank Fields – Lancaster; Turf/Grass; Tournament/Games
- Medford High School – Medford; Turf; Games
Website
- The Aztec Soccer website is a good menu structure making it easy to find the basics such as team information, contacts, clinics, etc.
- Links to all the major social media making it easy to follow club activities.
- There is no “search” feature which can slow down finding exactly what you’re looking for.
- “Blog” takes you to some generic soccer blog – not Aztec related at all.
- Links on the bottom of the pages all refer to the company that created/manages the site as they source out the work – which is fine and very typical.
My son has been playing with Aztec for four years.. It is a great club and they have a great facility now. My soccer player places first in soccer evaluations in our town almost every year and I think much of the credit is the soccer training he has received at Aztec. The instruction and soccer education is what has developed him into a solid, smart player. He can see the soccer field and make smart plays way above his years. My son plays club hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball and we see lots of coaches. Aztec has some of the best!
Soccer ect in Beverly is not a great facility its a dirty swamp, who ever is writing the review must be a coach or the owner. I agree with Anonymous, There are other clubs moving in the area, with people who care and know how to train, classy uniforms who cares I want my children to learn soccer not have a fashion show, that shows me where there mind is. They are the most expensive club period. also they run fun raisers every 2 weeks and guess who keep the money, Ya that’s right the for profit corp. and after they do a really poor job the team manager asks for money for a gift for the smuck coach. who sat on his cell phone the entire training session.
LOVE this club. Great facilities. Amazing talent. Classy uniforms. Very organized. Outstanding coaching. Family like environment. You name it, they have it.
great club
We’re new to Aztec this year after experiences with 3 other clubs. Conventional wisdom suggests that “its all about coaching” and with most organizations, that’s all you can expect; get a good coach, have a good experience… bad coach, bad experience. Most clubs struggle to support their coaches and challenges in facilities and schedules abound.
Aztec has been a breath of fresh air; stellar philosophy, great communication, excellent coach, assistant coach and great support for the kids across the organization. We love it! The players are serious and work hard and the parents are intense but friendly. The only shortcoming might be the practice facilities but after bouncing around last year with the largest club in the state, we’re happy with what has been delivered.
Big changes in this club the past 2 months. Hired one of the best coaches in the State has license and playing background to back up his bio. The coach has 12 State Chmpionships under his belt and too many to mention Tournament Championships. The club is on the right track and focus is on working on the talent they have and keeping it in place for the long term. My opinion the Aztecs will be in the top 5 clubs in the State in the next several years.
Aztecs are after people’s money, stacking rosters to increase profits while they treat people like crap because there is a lack of a better option in the area and they know it. I hope a strong competitor comes into the area soon to truly test their worth and provide the area with a better service.
Solid players are leaving the club because it has become a Masco farm project and the coaching staff has little or no vision for quiet talent. The expense is silly for what you get as a player and the organization seems to be in constant flux with little continuity in staffing or philosophy. Unfortunately given the geography of the North Shore there are few viable alternatives so parents will line up in droves to shell out good money to see their kids go nowhere fast. The family legacy structure and preference for serial tuition translates into marginally talented kids getting the lion’s share of time on the pitch while others sit by in frustration watching the same basic mistakes being made over and over again, year after year.
Also, Soccer Etc. is a toxic facility and should be condemned by the Board of Health.