SOA- Standard of Athletics
3.0(32)3.0 out of 5 stars, 32 reviews San Antonio, TX
About SOA- Standard of Athletics
The "SOA- Standard of Athletics" offers outdoor sports programs for children (e.g., 6U soccer, 8U basketball). While one parent reported a "Great!" summer program that was professionally coordinated with pleasant directors, clean facilities, and COVID/CDC compliance, the majority of reviews highlight severe organizational issues, poor communication, and unreliable service delivery, leading to frustrating and often unsafe experiences for children and parents.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families who prioritize strict adherence to COVID/CDC protocols and clean indoor facilities (if the positive experience reflects typical indoor league conditions).Parents seeking a summer program that *might* be professionally coordinated, but be aware of the high risk of poor organization.6U soccer8U basketball
Why families love it
- Summer programs have been described as professionally coordinated (Review 4).
- League Directors can be pleasant and professional (Review 4).
- Gym facilities, when used, were reported as cleaned and sanitized (Review 4).
- Adherence to COVID/CDC Regulations was noted by one parent (Review 4).
- Professional and coordinated league operations (based on one review)
- Pleasant and professional League Directors (based on one review)
Insider tips
- **Refunds**: Understand SOA's no-refund policy (credit only) for unrendered services by the organization before paying. Be prepared for potential financial loss if a program is cancelled or not delivered as expected.
- **Communication**: Be proactive in seeking schedules and updates, as communication from coordinators may be non-existent or last-minute.
- **Scheduling**: Prepare for significant game delays (15-30 minutes common) and last-minute schedule changes (e.g., game times 48 hours prior, field locations 15 minutes prior).
- **Field Conditions**: Inquire specifically about the condition of the assigned fields and availability of restrooms/facilities, especially for "east side" locations.
- **Attire**: Bring plenty of water and consider layering or lighter clothing, as thick, double-sided jerseys may cause overheating.
- **Coaching**: Verify coach consistency and presence, as no-shows and insufficient coaching staff have been reported.
Good to know before you go
- If you expect reliable communication, consistent coaching, and adherence to schedules.
- If you are unwilling to accept a "credit only" policy for services the organization fails to provide.
- If field quality, safety (e.g., long grass, stickers, proximity to unsafe areas), and access to basic facilities (restrooms) are high priorities.
- If your child is susceptible to heat-related issues, given reports of thick jerseys and no accommodations.
- Any program specifically managed by coordinator Ashley Burrell or where Marcus is the point of contact for issues.
- Value
- Paid $115 for an 8U summer league, which was not delivered. Value is extremely poor for the majority of reviewers, as children gained "no experience" and services were either unrendered or poorly executed. The company's policy of offering credit instead of refunds for their own failures significantly diminishes value for money.
- Accessibility
- No accommodations mentioned
- Safety
- Adherence to COVID/CDC Regulations (mentioned in one positive review).
What parents say
"Fraud, scam, and money grabber - reporting to BBB and others We paid $115 for 8U and they won’t give us a refund as they cannot render services we purchased (8U basketball) due to them not having a team after a coach bailed on them. They will take your money and they “might” find a team for you. If they can’t they will “credit you”. Attached are their terms and conditions and it does not describe when they are unable to render services. It does say when the player cannot participate. My son can and is ready. They are not. The Director, Marcus, said only the owner can make this decision. Whe"
3 years ago
"Do not recommend. Extremely unorganized, one coach for three different teams, and she didn’t even show up to the last two weeks of games and practices. There was no set schedule to when games would be, and game times were not sent out until about 48 hours before games, making it difficult to make any other plans for the weekend. The referee was always late to the game, and there was only one game where a representative of SOA was actual on the premises. Not worth the money, no experience was gained for my child through this past season."
5 years ago
"Less than one star is what I would give this "organization". Not only are they not organized they don't seem to care what happens with your child or the sport they're in after they receive your money. My nephew played soccer for their 6U team and it was terrible. We were assigned a coach that never showed up to coach any of our games and at practice he would be "coaching" if/when he showed up over 20 kids at a time on one practice field. The association assigned us Ashley Burrell who was the worst coordinator. I nor any of the parents on the team upon talking to them received any communicatio"
7 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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