What ages and program levels does First Touch Soccer cover?First Touch Soccer clinics target boys and girls from about age seven upward, with occasional younger participants when a session fits. DC Youth Futbol Club adds a Development Program for ages five through ten and Select travel teams for roughly ages seven through sixteen, and can include older teens when those brackets are offered.
First Touch Soccer
Washington, District of Columbia
About
First Touch Soccer is a small, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in Washington, D.C. in 2007. It focuses on sharpening individual technique and game understanding for elementary- and middle-school-age players across the D.C. metro area through seasonal clinics rather than a massive house-league operation.
Clinics and training style
Spring, summer, and winter indoor clinics welcome boys and girls from about age seven upward, with younger children sometimes accepted when space and maturity fit the session. Groups stay intentionally small—often capped around twenty to twenty-five players—with roughly a six-to-one player-to-coach ratio so staff can coach individuals and pairs, not crowds. Sessions blend skill teaching with game-like activities and multiple small-sided formats so players stay moving instead of standing in long lines. The curriculum stresses the first touch—receiving cleanly, turning, and using the next touch to pass, dribble, or shoot—along with creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership habits.
DC Youth Futbol Club pathway
The same circle of leadership also supports DC Youth Futbol Club (DCYFC), launched in 2012 for families ready for more structure and travel. DCYFC runs roughly twenty boys’ and girls’ Select teams for ages roughly seven through sixteen and a Development Program for ages five through ten aimed at players who want extra technical work with an eye toward Select placement later. Select sides compete in two competitive travel leagues across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. The Development Program trains Tuesday afternoons in Northwest Washington, D.C., and holds Sunday intra-squad scrimmages; registration and program details are handled through DCYFC channels.
Mission beyond the field
Clinic rosters have included children from many countries, languages, and backgrounds. Roughly nine tenths of nonprofit revenue flows to charitable work in education, animal welfare, homelessness response, and local school programs, with the remainder supporting soccer programming.
Leadership and coaching
Volunteer officers and board members include Mitch Dubensky as president, Vincent Tersegno as treasurer, and board members Kevin Farmer, Gregory Lawrence, and Jesus Martinez. On-field staff have included coaches such as Matthijs Maruanaya, Ben Maalouf, Marcelus Jones, and Piers Kirk, blending professional and collegiate playing backgrounds with youth mentoring.
How to take the next step
For First Touch clinic seasons, families use firsttouchsoccer.org to find new blocks as they open. For DCYFC Select tryouts, Development Program enrollment, or summer camp information, families email the executive director at joao@dcyouthfutbolclub.org or the president at mitch@dcyouthfutbolclub.org so staff can share current age-group needs and schedules.
Explore more teams
Compare First Touch Soccer with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader District of Columbia programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where does training take place?First Touch Soccer runs seasonal outdoor and indoor clinic blocks around the D.C. metro area with small-sided setups that change by season and venue. DCYFC’s Development Program trains Tuesday afternoons in Northwest Washington, D.C., and uses Sunday intra-squad scrimmages; Select teams travel within DMV leagues, so practice and match sites follow the club’s seasonal field plan.
How do tryouts or placement work for DCYFC Select teams?Select teams are filled through a tryout process that emphasizes commitment, discipline, and technical readiness. Families email joao@dcyouthfutbolclub.org or mitch@dcyouthfutbolclub.org to ask about current openings, age groups, and scheduled evaluation opportunities rather than walk-on placement.
What is the club’s coaching philosophy?Training treats soccer as both decision-making (“chess”) and spacing (“geometry”): players work on receiving angles, movement without the ball, and small-sided games that rehearse real match problems. Staff emphasize individual skill, supportive teamwork, and love of the game across recreation, school, and travel contexts.
What is the nonprofit mission?Beyond athletics, First Touch Soccer operates as a 501(c)(3) that directs roughly nine tenths of nonprofit revenue toward education, animal care, homelessness support, and local school programs, with the balance funding soccer instruction.
How can families contact staff?For DC Youth Futbol Club tryouts, Development registration, and camp questions, email joao@dcyouthfutbolclub.org (executive director) or mitch@dcyouthfutbolclub.org (president). For seasonal First Touch clinic blocks, use firsttouchsoccer.org for schedules and registration windows.
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