Steel United Washington offers competitive playing opportunities in the northern region, and we promise the same level of care, professionalism and commitment to all of our teams. Based around our “Kids First” philosophy, the club provides an environment that will challenge every player to reach their full potential, on and off the field, and an atmosphere that supports the growth and long-term development of every individual player.

VIEW OUR TEAMS

Every Steel United coach is held to the highest standard and is committed to the development of all players within their teams. Our year-round Coach Development Program ensures that we stay focused, motivated and driven to be the best we can be.

Teams within the club are formed on a selective basis utilizing annual tryouts to identify players with the strongest potential to develop within a serious, competitive environment. Each team’s goal is to strive to compete at the highest level of play appropriate for the individuals within the team. The club has a very high standard of commitment, effort, and dedication from both players and parents, and we constantly ensure these standards are fully acceptable to all participants.

9U-10U
This 10-week program is designed to teach fundamental ball skills and strategy in a fun and positive atmosphere. We introduce goalkeepers at this age group. Weekday practices consist of two training sessions for approximately one hour led by a parent-volunteer coach — a warm-up, 2-3 technical drills, and a small-sided scrimmage.  9U and 10U play one 50-minute 7v7 game on Saturdays (10 games in Puget Sound Rec League). Offside is enforced, scores and standings are kept. No headers. All players play a minimum of 50% each game.

11U-12U
This 10-week program’s primary objective is to develop technical ability through ball skills and increased touches of the ball. The goal is to develop key skills such as juggling, settling and trapping the ball such that a player can control the ball and the game. Our players learn various technical skills so that they can be confident in taking on one or more defenders at a time, while both maintaining control of the ball and attacking the goal. Weekday practices consist of two training sessions for approximately one hour led by a parent-volunteer coach. 11U and 12U play one 60-minute 9v9 game on Saturdays (10 games in Puget Sound Rec League). Offside is enforced, scores and standings are kept. Headers are not allowed at 11U. 12U players may head the ball. All players play a minimum of 50% each game.

13U-14U
This 10-week program moves to full sided (11v11). A greater focus on passing, movement without the ball, field positioning and finishing are added to the practice plan. Practice sessions designed for teaching specific positional play are part of the training sessions. There is a stronger focus on moving in unison and communicating on the field. Weekday practices consist of two training sessions for approximately one hour led by a parent-volunteer coach. Offside is enforced, scores and standings are kept. All players play a minimum of 50% each game (10 games in Puget Sound Rec League).

The Steel United National Program is a unique player experience for Steel United boys and girls from across the country to come together, train and play in an intensive atmosphere. The National Program provides our elite players opportunities beyond their local Steel United team and experience an even higher level of competition and play. Players are exposed to a professional level program and experience what it is like to participate in that type of atmosphere.

The National Program starts with the identification process where players are nominated by their local Head Coach and Director of Coaching. Our National Director Of Player and Coach Development then will visit each club in the Spring to view all the players in the age group at each club and to evaluate the nominees and potentially add any players to the list. In consultation with the Directors of Coaching, the National Director of Player and Coach Development selects 24 players in each age group and gender to attend the National Program Camp, which is held at the beginning of August. Beyond the camp, the 24 players can be selected for additional tournaments and tours both domestically and internationally.

At the camp players will experience the following:

• Technical Training
• Tactical Training
• GPS/Heart Rate Training
• Yoga
• Swimming (if available)
• Cardio/Weight Training
• Video Analysis
• Data Analysis
• Player Progress Report
• Intra Squad Scrimmages
• Position Specific Training

Goalkeeping is a very specialized and unique position in soccer, and it requires a very different set of skills and understanding of the game. Our Goalkeeping Academy is set up for our Steel United goalkeepers to learn and develop their knowledge and skills. We will work to find players suited to play the position and then develop them into outstanding goalkeepers.

We are very particular on technique and will require keepers to have proper technique at all times. This will allow them to make every easy save easily, every hard save look easy and then have the ability to make the great saves. We will work hard, but also make sure the keepers have fun.

As part of the program, there are game evaluations of the keepers. We determine goals for the keeper and help them reach these goals, whether this is a particular technique or to play college soccer.

Our Director of Goalkeeping Rob Buck has been coaching for 30 years, the last 10 with Franklin Pierce Soccer Club and now Steel United. In addition, he has been playing goalkeeper for 30 years. Rob hopes to pass his passion and love for the game and goalkeeper position on to our keepers.

Steel United hosts tournaments in Washington and goes above and beyond to provide an experience that benefits coaches, players and their supporters. Every tournament is planned in detail to ensure the Steel Soccer Tournament Experience is positive and memorable. We prioritize a balanced sporting experience, with an atmosphere that encourages competition but also displays our core values of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity and Commitment. We are currently working on our Fall 2020 and 2021 tournament schedules which will be released soon.