Northwest Soccer Club

Soccer players of all ages can sharpen their skills at Northwest Soccer Club, an outdoor facility that provides recreational and social soccer play for enthusiasts. Located in Leander, Northwest Soccer Club owner Justin Sharrock said the club opened in May 2013 and has about 20 teams that play in four adult leagues. The club is the realization of a lifelong passion for Sharrock, who coaches boys' soccer at McNeil High School in Round Rock ISD. "I've played soccer my whole life—since the age of 4—and I wanted to have a place in Northwest Austin because I've been playing in the men's leagues [in Austin] forever," Sharrock said. He said he played for men's teams at Temple High School and The University of Texas in the '90s. "So it was about 10 years of searching and trying to find the funds and that kind of stuff. Then we finally got the right group of guys and the right property in the northwest area," he said. Sharrock said about 240 players play in the adult leagues, which meet between 7–11 p.m. on weekdays. The club also has a Sunday evening league. Play is divided by seasons, and during winter months the club focuses on tournaments. "For example, this winter we had a men's open tournament and a coed tournament one weekend, and we had an over-30 men's tournament," Sharrock said. "We want to expand that to [include] some women and youth tournaments." Sharrock and youth trainer Johnny Bernal also host a summer youth skills academy from June to August for players in three different age groups between ages 7 and 14. Participants can choose between one or two hourly sessions per week. Club member Onochie Eguzo said he has been a soccer player since the age of 4 and is excited to have the opportunity to continue playing beyond high school. "[Sharrock has] put a small field together where you don't need a lot of people to come out, and so I play with all my friends that I played with back in high school," Eguzo said, adding that he also serves as a referee when he isn't playing. "It's fun and good exercise; now even my high-school coach comes out here to play." As the 2014 FIFA World Cup got underway in Brazil in June, Sharrock said players would come by early to catch matches in the clubhouse or talk about the day's events. "In general [the FIFA World Cup] has helped energize players out here," Sharrock said. Sharrock said he was hopeful the U.S. team would defy the odds and survive to play in the final round. But although the U.S. team's loss to Belgium on July 1 ended their World Cup run, Sharrock opted to stay positive and think about future possibilities. "With defeat there's always that glimmer of promise for the next round of young talent coming up and the whole progression of U.S. soccer—the only problem is we have to wait four years," he said.

Summer high school league

Northwest Soccer Club's summer high school league consists of 16 teams that include East View and Georgetown high schools in Georgetown ISD; Leander and Rouse high schools in Leander ISD; and McNeil, Stony Point and Westwood high schools in Round Rock ISD. Players can join varsity and junior varsity leagues. Games began in mid-June and run through August; cost is $650 per team and includes 12 jerseys and referee fees. Last year's winners were Stony Point in the varsity league and McNeil in the JV league, Sharrock said.

Adult amenities

Clubhouse renovations are underway after the club was approved for a beer and wine license, Sharrock said. The upgrades include new bathrooms, TVs and outdoor seating.

Field rental

The Northwest Soccer Club field can be rented for private events. Field rentals cost $400 a month for a weekly time slot and $750 a month for twice-weekly time slots. Northwest Soccer Club, 1304 S. Bagdad Road, Leander, 512-921-8326, www.northwestaustinsoccer.com