The Detroit City FC Downriver Youth Program has been kicking up local interest in the world’s most popular sport for the past six years. The program, eligible to boys and girls ages 2-18 in both competitive and developmental teams, has more than doubled in participation since kicking off in 2018.

“We now have 32 teams with around 325 competitive players and another 600 players on our developmental/recreational teams and that’s about double from what we started with six years ago,” said DCFC Downriver Club Director and Staff Coach Jon Evans. “We are very pleased with the growth in these programs.”

Detroit City FC Downriver offers different programs designed for boys and girls looking for recreational playtime, or who want to build skills for competition.

Soccer Tots (U3-U5) teaches fundamentals to children just starting out and is focused on balance, coordination, socialization and emotional development. Activities with bubbles, parachutes, cones, and other sensory toys build skills for balance, coordination, running, tracking, kicking, and changing directions — all building blocks needed for playing soccer.

“With parents by their side, our youngest players feel safe to explore new experiences and create new relationships while learning in a fun and dynamic environment,” Evans said.

The Foundations Program (U5-U10) and Developmental Program (U10-U19) develop skills of players, preparing them for travel competitions if they are interested in taking it to the next level. Developmental teams are open to all players who are not currently playing in the Foundations program or are not rostered on one of the competitive travel teams between the ages of 10-19.

All programs are recreation-based and emphasize the fun of playing soccer.

Detroit City FC Downriver’s Competitive Program, which offers multiple boys’ and girls’ teams at all age levels from ages 7-19, are for advanced team development in soccer through a detailed progressive curriculum of instruction specific to developmental needs at each age group level.

They also have a USL Academy Team (U13 and U15).

The Detroit City FC Downriver competitive program has had plenty of success over the years. Most recently, the U18-U19 boys team won the Canton Cup last spring and the 2010-11 girls’ team won the WAZA Tournament in Monroe.

Evans, 35, a 2007 graduate of Woodhaven High School, earned his Bachelor of Science in integrative studies with a minor in exercise science at Oakland University. He’s in his eighth year coaching at DCFC.

He has coached high school soccer in Trenton and Riverview, and most recently with Grosse Ile and has had plenty of success on the pitch. Evans has helped build a dynasty with the Grosse Ile boys’ soccer program as the team’s varsity head coach. The Red Devils have been to the D-3 State Finals five times since 2018 and were state champs in 2019 and 2020.

The Detroit City FC Youth Program offers financial assistance to anyone in need and they keep registration open late to allow for more players to participate.

"We want to provide soccer opportunities for everybody, no matter what their circumstances might be,” Evans said. “We want to help kids reach their goals in soccer.”

For more information, log onto dcfcdownriver.com.