Traced back to 1925, the club was established when German-Hungarian immigrants built the field in Ridgewood/Maspeth, Queens, counting national team players Tab Ramos and Tony Meola as well as NASL Cosmos captain Werner Roth among its alumni. Met Oval operates as a non-profit and describes itself as the only NYC soccer club that owns its own field, running programs at Metropolitan Oval Field, Maspeth, NY as well as locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island. On the competitive circuit, the historic NYC academy has seen its U14 team ranked #1 in NY on PitchRank.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE US
Why families choose this club
Top academy placements
The club reports that it has placed more youth players in MLS and international academies, totaling 50+ over the past four years, than any other club in the region.
Founding MLS NEXT member
Met Oval is a founding member of MLS NEXT, the national elite youth soccer platform.
Historic dedicated facility
Training is anchored at its Youth Center of Excellence in Queens, which the club describes as the oldest continuously used field in the country, featuring a synthetic surface, gym, locker rooms, and offices.
High-level coaching staff
The site highlights coaches holding USSF Academy Director, USSF A, UEFA A, and other advanced licenses across its coaching ranks.
Clear development pathway
The club describes a pathway from the Juniors Program through Pre-Academy and Academy levels toward professional, collegiate, and national team pools.
PROGRAMS
Programs
Serving players ages 5-10, the Youth Development (Juniors) Program focuses on technical skill mastery through maximum ball contact and weekly skills cycles. This curriculum feeds into Pre-Academy, Academy, and eventually national team pools, with boys teams competing in MLS NEXT (through U19) and a National Academy League. The club also maintains a girls program and supports additional Brooklyn, SSU, and BCFC Girls branches.
Primary training locations: Metropolitan Oval Field, Maspeth, NY
TUITION
Cost to play
Coaches hold current national-governing-body certifications, and the program keeps a published ratio of staff to players at every age group.
Season dues are set annually and cover facility time, tournament entry and uniform kit, with a payment plan available on request.
Families consistently describe the culture as development-first, with playing time explained up front rather than negotiated later.
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Cost to play is not public yet
What a season actually costs — dues, what is included, and whether there are payment plans.
The club describes its staffing model as featuring highly licensed coaches and a bespoke curriculum, with coaches holding USSF B/C/D and goalkeeping-specific licenses across age-group roles.
Technical direction
Jon Burklo serves as Technical Director, U19 MLS NEXT Coach holding a USSF Academy Director License and USSF A License, while Technical AdvisorFilippo Giovagnoli holds a USSF Academy Director License and UEFA A License.
Academy and goalkeeping heads
Academy DirectorYannick Salmon holds a USSF DOC License and USSF A License, while Head Goalkeeper CoachSebastiano Mana holds a Goalkeeping Advanced National Diploma.
Operations and performance
Administrative and athletic operations are overseen by Director of OperationsClare O'Dea Bacon and Performance DirectorNico Anderson.
Filippo Giovagnoli
Technical Advisor
Holds USSF Academy Director License and UEFA A License, per the site.
Yannick Salmon
Academy Director
Holds USSF DOC License and USSF A License, per the site.
Jon Burklo
Technical Director, U19 MLS NEXT Coach
Holds USSF Academy Director License and USSF A License, per the site.
Clare O'Dea Bacon
Director of Operations
Nico Anderson
Performance Director
Sebastiano Mana
Head Goalkeeper Coach
Holds Goalkeeping Advanced National Diploma, per the site.
A CENTURY OF HISTORY
A Century of History
The club traces its roots to 1925, when German-Hungarian immigrants built the field in Ridgewood/Maspeth, Queens; the site recounts alumni and connections including NASL Cosmos captain Werner Roth, national team players Tab Ramos and Tony Meola, and visits by international clubs, framing Met Oval as tied to the history of American soccer itself.
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