Youth Soccer Clubs and Programs
Anchorage and the surrounding area, which includes Eagle River and Chugiak, offers several clubs for aspiring soccer players. There are larger clubs offering a more competitive atmosphere with more coaching resources and smaller clubs aimed at having fun with friends and developing skills. See the bottom of the page for an explanation of Comp vs. Rec soccer.
Alaska Youth Soccer Club, started in 1986, has both recreational and competative teams for ages 2.5-18. They host the Far North Invitational Tournament held in Anchorage each July and also offer camps. Visit https://www.anchorageyouthsoccer.org/ for more info.
The Cook Inlet Soccer Club is one of the oldest and largest clubs in Anchorage. It offers both competetive and recreational teams for youth ages 3-18. Find more information at: https://cookinletsc.com/
The YMCA offers summer youth soccer May through July. It relies on volunteer coaches, usually parents and can be a lot of fun. If you are looking to see if your kid likes soccer, this is a good place to start. https://ymcaalaska.org/programs/sports-and-recreation/youth-soccer/
Alaska Rush is one of the larger clubs in Anchorage and is part of the nation wide Rush network of soccer clubs. It offers competitive teams for ages 8 and up in addition to recreational leagues for ages 2-9. They also offer camps and the annual Alaska Airlines Cup Tournament held in June. Visit their website for more information: https://akrush.com/
North of Anchorage, Chugiak has a soccer club for youth offering competive teams. They host an annual 5v5 tournament the end of June. Visit https://chugiaksoccerclub.com/ for more info.
CSA offers summer recreational programs for kids age 3-14. They depend on volunteer coaches and practice at Hanshew Elementary. You can find out more at https://www.clubsportsalaska.com/clubsportsalaska/MaySoccer
The AYSA is the governing body of youth soccer in Alaska and is a member of United States Soccer Federation, and US Youth Soccer. They run the Alaska State Cup in August each year held in Fairbanks or Kenai. They also offer the Alaska Indoor Soccer League (futsal) October-December. Their website offers lots of information about clubs, tournaments, referees, and coaching. Visit: https://www.alaskayouthsoccer.org/
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A note about competative vs. recreational teams. Recreational (Rec) soccer involves teams and games that emphsize fun, inclusiveness and skill development. Usually the fees to join are minimal and coaches are volunteers. Competative (Comp) soccer is for the more serious players who want to develop their skills and play against more experienced teams. Coaches are generally certified and are paid to coach. The costs to join are substantially more, both in time and money. Often, travel is involved with Comp soccer.