Got a Soccer-Obsessed Kid? Annapolis Select FC– A New Club for All 

One Club, One Passion

Lionel Messi. DC United. Ted Lasso. Soccer is having a moment in the U.S. and if the popularity of soccer jerseys my kids and their friends wear is any indication, soccer is becoming more popular in the Annapolis area, as well. 

Enter Annapolis Select Futbol Club – a new soccer club in the Annapolis area, whose mission is to “use soccer to shape our county’s youth and apply skills, collaboration, toughness, and persistence to everyday life challenges.”

What makes Annapolis Select FC standout from other clubs in the area?

• All the coaches are USSF certified professional coaches.
• All teams follow a proven curriculum developed by former professional soccer player and club founder & president Vincenzo Bernardo, who has 10+ years of experience running premier youth clubs. 
• Annapolis Select takes a “players-first outlook” with the goal of helping players to develop as people first.

Bernardo, Director of Soccer Operations, has played professional soccer around the world with teams in Italy, Austria, Guatemala, and the United States. Bernardo has found the area to be welcoming; “It was a new challenge for me starting a program in a new state, but the families are really nice and have welcomed us; we are building relationships, and we want to keep that family feeling…I see a lot of promise in this area, a lot of enthusiasm.”

I asked Bernardo his advice for soccer-obsessed kids (like mine!) and his advice is to play as much as possible whether it be in pick-up games in the neighborhood or league play, try to get 1000 touches on the ball every day.

Annapolis Select just wrapped up their inaugural season of Fall 2023 and will run  Winter Clinics before their Spring season picks up again in late March.

Check out one of these Clinics to help your kids get their daily 1000 touches in this winter!:

• 2010-2017 Boys and Girls Ball Mastery Clinic (Focuses on technical skills, especially recommended for defenders and midfielders).
  • API Indoor Court (Gambrills)
  • January 3- Feb 28 (8 weeks with Feb 14 off)
  • Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 PM

• 2015 & 2010 Boys, 2013 Boys & Girls Team Training
  • API Air Dome (Gambrills)
  • January 7-February 25 (8 sessions)
  • Sundays
  • 11:00 AM-12:00 PM– 2016-2015 Boys & Girls  & 2012-2010 Boys
  • 12:00-1:00 PM– 2013-2014 Boys & Girls

• 2010-2017 Futsal*
  • API Indoor Court 2 (Gambrills)
  • January 8- February 14 (12 sessions)
  • Mondays & Wednesdays
  • 5:00-6:00 PM

Register here for these programs.

*What the heck is futsal?

Futsal, an up-and-coming sport, is an indoor version of soccer with five players on each side. According to Bernardo, “The ball is smaller and heavier which emphasizes and expedites the development of foot skills, because you’re constantly working with all surfaces of your foot.”