Queens Soccer School Kicks Off New Classes

Soccer Friends USA, a year-round soccer school, is adding three new soccer programs in Queens: a boys' traveling team, a girls-only soccer program, and a Spanish language 'learn and play' class.

Soccer Friends USA, which provides year-round soccer classes for young athletes ages 2-16, is rolling out new programs this September, including all-girls soccer lessons, “learn and play” Spanish classes, and a travel team division for boys.

“Soccer Friends is a place for children to come to be introduced to the sport,” says Sean Peckett, coach and co-owner of the program. Since its 2010 launch, the school has expanded to include after-school programming, birthday parties, and skills clinics. “We make sure that first of all it’s fun and enjoyable for the kids,” Peckett says. “If they grow to have a passion and love for the sport through those early classes then as they get older we have those other programs to offer.”

The sport got a boost after the U.S. women’s team won the World Cup, says Peckett, and more girls are joining the program. This fall, the program will launch classes geared exclusively to girls ages 4-6 and 7-10. Held on Fridays and Sundays throughout the season, Peckett says the goal is to motivate girls to stick with the sport.

Also new this fall is the “learn and play” program geared toward ages 2-4. The class, led by Spanish-speaking coaches, incorporates Spanish-language learning into activities such as reciting rhymes and counting. Classes will be held on Fridays beginning in September at the Forest Hills location.

Older players can get their kicks by joining the new travel team, also based out of the Forest Hills facility. Boys can join the under-9, under-10, under-13, or under-14 teams and will have the chance to play and practice indoor soccer in facilities and participate in tournaments throughout Queens. The season runs Sept. 9 through June 2016.

Registration is now open for all fall programming.

Main photo by Feliz Cano