My son loves Next Level Soccer! They have really helped him improve his game and get him ready for this soccer season.

Our 8-year-old son is high-energy and loves soccer! We travel from Pinetop, AZ, just so he can attend training and "JUST PLAY" league at Next Level. From the moment he started there, his grades and focus have improved, and I can't thank the coaches and staff enough for the effort and individual support they give to all their players. What a wonderful experience we've had! read more

Next Level claim they're in the business of developing world-class people -- even more so than world-class players. That sounds admirable. One only hopes your children aren't looking to Next Level's leadership as role models. In April 2024, a coach at Next Level (I won't name him, as this review is about the club, not his reprehensible conduct) oversold private training sessions at their indoor facility. He then contacted some parents, claiming their payments had mistakenly gone into his personal account rather than his business one. While supposedly sat in his accountant's office, he asked them to resend the payment via a different app "to help him out." Regrettably, quite a few families were taken in. According to Next Level's own estimate in an email to affected families, nearly $75,000 was collected by the coach from over 50 families. The club described the coach's actions as horrible, cut ties with him, held a meeting, sent out a few emails, advised families to contact the authorities -- and largely moved on. The coach has repaid some of the money, but not all. He hasn't apologised to all those affected. In fact, at times he carried on as if he were the victim. But this review isn't about the coach himself, nor the club's immediate response. At the time, I felt sympathy for Next Level. I believed they too had been misled, and it clearly disrupted parts of their programme. Had things ended there, I wouldn't be writing this now. Next Level receive one star because they have since allowed that same coach to return -- not in a behind-the-scenes capacity, but to publicly represent them on their UPSL team. To wear their badge once more. They made this decision quietly. There was no broad communication to the affected families, no explanation, no opportunity for input. Some members of their own academy, who were fully aware of this coach's actions, had no idea he had been brought back in any capacity. And the most appalling part? Children -- some of whom were directly affected by the coach's actions -- have been encouraged to come and support the UPSL team. To cheer for the very man who deceived their families. It's utterly disgraceful. How can a club that claims to develop "world-class people" be led by individuals who show such poor judgement? Mr. SP: Remove this player from your UPSL side immediately. Then, begin the process of making amends. Start with a public apology -- one as visible and prominent as your UPSL team promotions. The community deserves that. The children deserve that. Don't you think some of them are confused by what they're seeing? What's the lesson here -- that integrity is optional if someone can still help you win football matches? If you genuinely believe in shaping world-class people, start showing us how you intend to live up to that. Otherwise, go ahead and polish that UPSL trophy. Let it shine in the cabinet -- a symbol of what you were willing to overlook to obtain it. read more