Family-Fun Activities: Best Tampa Club Soccer Teams
When I moved to Florida in October of 2022, my priority was to find the best Tampa club soccer teams for my son. Finding a club for my son superseded finding a permanent place to live. My wife and son planned to move down in August of 2023. My son played competitive soccer in New Jersey and finding him a soccer home in the Tampa area would make his transition smoother and easier.
The great thing about Tampa, besides the temperature and beaches, is that it is a hotbed of soccer and soccer clubs! As I researched, I was ecstatic to find so many options.
Moving from NJ where most teams are competing for players in a condensed geographic area, the one thing I didn’t realize was how important geography was going to be in my search. Tampa and Saint Pete are spread out and I didn’t factor in Driving from West Chase to Brandon in rush hour for practice.
Also, the share size of the state made our first year in club soccer very different for us. Driving two hours from one end of New Jersey to the other is far different than traveling from Tampa to Jacksonville or Miami for a tournament.
All in all, though, our first years’ experience was fantastic.
Who are some of Tampa /St Pete’s Best Tampa Club Soccer Teams?
Florida Premier began in 1979 in Pasco County and has grown to have 9 campuses in Temple Terrace, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, and Brookville. Florida Premier offers many top-flight competitive teams with some top-notch coaches. One of the Coaches Florida Premier was also the Head Coach of the Carrollwood State Champions Varsity Soccer team.
The West Florida Flames are even older than Premier and founded in 1975, The Flames have two-main campuses in Brandon and East Lake. This club has 5000 players across the Tampa Bay according to its website. This is the team my son played for in 2023/2024 season. The Flames have great coaching, facilities and a family feel. One of the coaches, Jorge YoYo Zavala even coached the Virgin Island National Team Soccer team. The parents on this team were fantastic and understood the place Youth Sports have in society.
Tampa Bay United– TBU has three campuses, two in Tampa and Wesley Chapel. This team, like the others, has a Boys and Girls program. TBU has several alumni playing in college and the Professional Ranks. The club fields teams at many competitive levels but has a history of fielding top-level competitive players and teams.
Chargers– The Chargers have three campuses in Clearwater, Lakewood Ranch, and Tampa. The Chargers have over 3800 players on 90 competitive teams. The Chargers came out of a merger with several teams in the 1970s.
There are many more teams in the Tampa Bay area and I urge you to find a team that best fits your family and child’s needs. Just like schools, every team isn’t for everyone.
13 Fun Tampa Summer Camps For Kids
South Tampa Summer Art Camp Series
These themed art camps focus on the exploration of art material through hands-on guided learning.
Ages: K-5th grade
Where: Mitchell Elementary, 205 S Bungalow Park Ave, Tampa, FL 33609
How much: $139.99 per camper per session. $25 non refundable deposit to hold spot
When: June 3 – June 6th, June 10 -13th, June 17 -20th
Registration deadline: May 15, 2024Register here
Pasco County Summer Day Camps
Kids can enjoy 7 weeks of fun with games, sports, arts and crafts, movies, guest speakers, field trips, and more!
When: June 10-July 26 (no camp July 4 & 5)
Ages: 5-13
Where: Pasco Middle School, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, Veterans Memorial Park, Wesley Chapel District Park
How much: $325.00 per camperRegister here
Firehouse Youth Centre Summer Camps
All summer camp registrations include a Busch Gardens and Adventure Island Pass used weekly during summer camp.
Ages: 3rd – 8th grade
When: May 29 – August 2
Where: 1511 US 301 South Tampa, FL
How much: Registration $150/ Weekly $150 (Early registration gets $50 off, ends 4/15)Register here
