Albany Berkeley Soccer Club

★★★★★Bobby Dhadwar

My daughter started playing soccer last year, and we enrolled her in the ABSC recreational league. She quickly learned the basics of the game and, just as importantly, made new friends. The parent coaches devoted a lot of time and energy—seeing their commitment firsthand gave us a real appreciation for how much goes into volunteer coaching. This year, my daughter joined an ABSC competitive team. She adjusted well, built strong connections with her new teammates, and together they even won their NorCal bracket! She genuinely looks forward to practices and games, not just for the soccer, but also for the chance to hang out with her friends. The coaches have all been fantastic. ABSC staff stepped in to train and support her team, making a big difference—not just for the players, but for the parents, too. It’s a real relief to be able to just watch and enjoy the games, knowing our kids are in great hands. I’ve also been impressed by ABSC’s leadership. Toney, the club director, is approachable and engaged—it’s rare to find a club where parents can easily communicate directly with the director. Toney stresses that having fun comes first; improvement follows naturally, which I really appreciate. ABSC also offers scholarships to families in need, showing a commitment to making soccer accessible to everyone. One moment that really stood out: at an ABSC summer camp, Toney noticed two girls struggling to keep up during drills. He found out their cleats were too small and immediately brought over a box of properly sized soccer shoes so they could participate comfortably. That kind of kindness is above and beyond. From a parent’s perspective, I also value the club’s communication. Team managers use an app to keep everyone updated on practices, games, and any changes. The system runs smoothly thanks to dedicated parent volunteers. My daughter is excited for the upcoming season. She’s also had the chance to play as a guest with older teams, which really motivated her to keep working on her skills. For me, a great club is one where kids want to play, even after tough losses, and where the staff care deeply about the players’ well-being. ABSC definitely delivers on both counts. While our experience has been overwhelmingly positive, there are a couple of areas where the club can continue to improve: Clearer roles and responsibilities: For example, during rec, we once scrambled to find player cards before a tournament in Jack London. This past season, the team manager took on this responsibility by bringing hard copies to all games and tournaments, making things much smoother. Field conditions: Ensuring fields are in great shape is important, though I understand this depends on collaboration with the city and is sometimes outside of ABSC’s immediate control. Overall, ABSC has given our family a wonderful soccer community—and my daughter can’t wait for next season.

★★★★★Natalie Bueno

The coaches are very engaging and make it fun for the kids. My daughter was hesitant at the beginning but now loves and it and looked forward to it. Couldn’t be happier 10/10

★Julianna Riley

​Best to avoid this club, given the current leadership. Many families hear the warnings, but move forward anyway, chalking the complaints up to overly-sensitive helicopter parents. But eventually, folx see it for themselves. As an involved community member, I've seen this play out time and again. The director is toxic, treating both parents and employees with disdain. What makes it hard to walk away is that kids, families and coaches have grown tight and want to hold on to those bonds. Eventually, though, the adults reach a breaking point and kids suffer a break-up of their teams. Save yourself the heartache and check out other orgs. There are multiple local options.

★★★★★robinson hidalgo

My son stop playing soccer and after I brought him to ABSC he got engaged and started loving the sport again. In this Club the main focus is on the development of the players and his skills instead of in just winning games like in other Club around the area. This is a Club where your kid will grow up and develop good character, it’s very family oriented and the stuff and coaches are very knowledgeable and friendly

★★★★★Lily Howell

This club has been great for my two boys in comp. Rec was fun and developmental. Our experience with comp is that the coaches are dedicated and caring both to the boys soccer development but also in supporting and developed them as people. It feels both competitive and holistic. I also love all the various options of rec, competitive development, and different levels of comp. There is something for everyone.