Houston Near Town Soccer Club, Inc. (formerly West U. Soccer Club) is one of the leading youth soccer clubs in Southeast Texas. The Club has been serving the community since 1976 and is the largest, most successful youth soccer club [players ages 5 through 18] inside Beltway 8 in Southwest Houston.

Comprehensive programs are available for boys and girls ages 5-18 regardless of experience or playing level -- from beginners and recreational players through and including Division I, the highest competitive level in youth soccer. Over the past 20+ years the Club’s competitive teams have participated in many state championships and won numerous prestigious tournaments. Many of our older players also participate in their middle and high school soccer programs and our top alumni have advanced to collegiate playing levels.

Each Fall the Club fields over 150 teams and has 1,700 players. The Club also offers league programs for Spring and additionally offers summer training camps for individuals of all ages and for U-11 and older teams. The Club has over 300 STYSA-licensed parent volunteer coaches and additionally makes extensive use of professional trainers for all ages.

The Club is focused on providing a meaningful experience: fun, learning, and player development – not only as soccer players, but also as maturing youths. The emphasis for players 11 and younger is on development of individual skills. Individual player development is progressively enhanced with age through the introduction and expansion of team concepts and coordinated play. While parent coaches are used throughout most of the program except Division I, the Club makes extensive use of professional trainers to ensure proper skill development.

Player development begins with our small-sided micro program (3v3) for ages 5-7 where the emphasis is on development and fun – not winning. This is the best format for younger players. All players attend weekly camps run by paid trainers and learn basic skills and playing concepts. As players move out of the micro program, team size is increased to 8v8 and new and more advanced skills are introduced. However, the focus of the program for ages 8 & 9 remains individual player development and fun. Once players turn 10, teams play full field, 11v11 soccer (the same as adults). Club programs for 10 and older players range from recreational to the highest competitive level: Division I. Once players reach age 10 the weekly training camp format gives way to professional trainers assigned to each team.

The Club has fields and facilities at 4 locations: West U. Elementary (University Blvd. at Auden), Pershing Middle School (Stella Link, just south of Bellaire Blvd.), Rice Lab School (N. Braeswood, just west of Kirby), and South Campus (Stella Link at W. Bellfort) which is a new 75 acre campus being developed for youth sports. The micro program (ages 5-7) uses the West U. Elementary complex. Our intramural program for 8-12 uses fields at West U., Pershing, and Rice. Most teams competing in HYSA, IAL or Division I use the South Campus.

Houston Near Town Soccer is the parent organization and is administered by a Governing Board consisting of a President, Past President, and the 13 members of the Executive Committees of the three operating divisions. Express Soccer Club administers the Inter-Club Programs ages 8 through 18 for teams that play in Houston Youth Soccer (HYSA), in Inter-Association League (IAL), or in Eastern District Division I (EDDOA). West U. Soccer administers all intramural programs for ages 5 through 11. Inter/Intra Club is discussed herein. Near Town Soccer Services is the support organization that administers Registration, Fields & Facilities, Finances, Communications, and Team functions for the entire Near Town club. More detailed information including Bylaws and Policies can be found on our web site.

The Club, although almost totally run by parent volunteers, oversees an annual budget of $750,000 and that is increasing as South Campus is developed. Donations to Near Town are Tax Deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue Code (not applicable to registration fees). Donations are used to help fund the programs of the Club including development costs related to South Campus.