Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer

★Maria

Desert Foothills Recreational Soccer - What a mistake! Again. Finished last season and said we wouldn’t go back. Director called requesting my husband come back for spring season. Reluctantly he did because players were requesting him on the registration forms. Right off the bat the 2 moms who wanted to be the coaches that the director did not want coaching (she told my husband that over the phone) started the first night of practice.”You need this, we should do that.” Never letting up. The 2 moms sent 6 emails and texts combined wondering if picture day could be rescheduled because girls were missing because of spring break. There were 3 different spring breaks between all the girls. What does a coach have to do with pictures? Those 2 rocket science Karens couldn’t figure that out. Then there was the complaining over not having a tent up when Karen (real name) who volunteered and brought a tent couldn’t secure it to keep it from blowing away and took it down…..but she complained about not having one. Then in her email she said she took credit for not setting it up, but continued to complain in the email about not having one. During the same game Karen walked on the field during check in and asked the teenage ref for her goalie jersey so she could play. Who does that? Then there was the email that they WOULD be on the coaches sideline when they wanted to be until they knew their daughters were safe. Two years at this club and NEVER has a parent complained their daughter wasn’t safe. The first time in 2 years at this club dealing with such toxic parents. The director was out of the country for 3 weeks and was no where around to help navigate or deal with the parent toxicity. She just returned and there are crickets. After 23 years of being involved in soccer I have never seen such a dysfunctional club and lack of care. Last fall season during the tournament our goalie was struck in the head with a knee falling to the ground, the ref allowed play to continue and the referee allowed the goal to count. The director was made aware of the incident and she did not care. The ref gave my husband a red card and then changed it to yellow when he went onto the field to check on her because she was dazed on the ground. Team player safety is a serious concern and risk with this club. Beware. I could go on about these toxic parents behavior, but it would take too long. For every game we’ve only had 1 or 0 subs while all other teams have at least 3 subs because the players miss and the club gives just enough players to make a side which doesn’t allow for many missing players. Karen complained about that also. Her first season, our fourth with this club and that has always been an issue here. Still despite that the team has grown stronger.

★Jon

I’ve been coaching with Phoenix Rising for past year and a half . I have been coaching soccer for past 23 years at all levels . We moved here and was looking for a club and we thought Phoenix Rising was THE club to go to . The club lacks leadership and organization . Our schedule changes regularly and with little to no notice . They defend their decisions but yet it puts US the coaches in a tough spot trying to communicate the last minute changes to the players . They have no clue what they are doing . Please BEWARE and proceed with caution even if it’s only st the rec level .

★N W

Beware. These people stole approx $700, amount they refused to put back on my card. They recruited us by promising to move the trainings to a different park closer to our area which they never did. I dont get any communication from the coach, my son has not gone to any of the training. . They are leeches eager for money. The coach was supposed to be an honorable dentist (Arcadia dental arts), he lied to me about the practices location. Coaching is below average... !!! they are all horrible. Don't expect your young children to come out ahead learning how to become a better player. I would not recommend Phoenix Rising to any family. Plenty of other clubs to check out, don't waste your money.

★Erin Cowan

We recently played a PRC team in a tournament and I am so incredibly disappointed in how this club is ran and what it is reaching our youth! The club teams are supposed to have an approved roster and approved additional players for tournaments…this team has THREE duplicate numbers on the field in one game. Not one, not two but three players they clearly pulled from other teams…! We ended up playing them again in the championship game and guess what, players were missing but still when this ref asked for their player cards to compare to their roster…the coach didn’t have it! No surprise to any of us! The team clearly cheats and brings on whatever players they want, which is unfortunate and disgusting way to run a club! Left a disgusting impression on my family and all of us there on how this club is ran! Life lesson for our team that not everyone plays by the rules but unfortunate that this club is teaching kids so young it’s ok to cheat to try to win and get what you want. Sad club! Wouldn’t recommend them to anyone!!

★★★★★Jessica Jablonski

Excellent club. Leadership is continually working hard to make the youth soccer experience the best it can be. Great coaches. You definitely see the progression of the kids who have been in the club for years. Even though it is a large club, feels like a family.