Aztecas Youth Soccer Camp

Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy offers year-round indoor and outdoor soccer practices and games. It also uses peer and adult mentors, counseling, healthy lifestyle choices, career support, educational activities, and mentoring.

Programs

• Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy — 13-20 · Year-round indoor and outdoor soccer practices and games · Uses soccer, peer and adult mentors, counseling, healthy lifestyle choices, career support, educational activities, and mentoring.
• Annual KIDS' SOCCER CAMP — 8-15 · Week-long soccer camp · Aztecas players and peer mentors are trained as trainers and give back to the local community as coaches/trainers.

At a glance

• General schedule: Year-round; participants are actively engaged in soccer practices and games during evenings and weekends year-round.

About the provider

Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy was started in 2008. Its mission is to reclaim the lives of at-risk youth who struggle with gangs, violence, poverty, and drugs in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Participants and families take part in classes and events including gang interventions, health classes, field trips, and service activities that give back to the community.

• Speakers' Bureau — Head Coach and Aztecas Founder Gina Castaneda speaks to groups about preventing and reducing gang-related violence; peer mentors and advisors also speak to community groups, including youth groups.

Works directly with young males referred to the program due to gang affiliations, violent lifestyles, or a high risk of developing them. Most are already probationers. About 15% are from local school districts and the local County Office of Education. All players and peer mentors are Pajaro Valley residents, primarily from south Santa Cruz County; more than 90% are from very low income families.

Last updated October 9, 2026.