Elvaton Soccer Program Thrives On Fundamentals

Nestled between Millersville and Severna Park, off East West Boulevard, is Elvaton Park, a pristine Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks gem. Located at 311 Dogwood Drive in Millersville, the park has tennis courts, a playground, a pavilion, walking trails, and soccer, baseball and softball fields.

Since 1958, the Elvaton Recreation Association has provided year-round sports leagues for thousands of youth.

Anthony Perry, Elvaton’s soccer commissioner now in his sixth season since the fall of 2024, leads the “booming” soccer program. When Perry took the helm, the program had 30 kids. This spring, he expects more than 150 kids ranging in age from 5–14, with players in Junior Academy and an Elite Development Program (EDP).

Perry credits the exponential growth of the soccer program to a strict focus on development versus winning, and instruction provided by licensed, highly trained, professional coaches for players of all ages and stages.

“We’ve all seen it before. Your child’s experience, even in a great program, depends on getting a great coach, which is determined by a lottery,” Perry said. “Here, every team has a paid professional coach whose focus is on each player, not on winning. We use the U.S. Soccer curriculum and teach skills and development based on stages.”

He added, “Last year every one of our 14-year-old players made their high school teams, not because we focused on winning, but because of the high degree of individual player, technical and skill development from our professional licensed coaches.”

Professional coaches lead weekly practices, with parent coaches serving as assistants, who lead games and reinforce the skills taught that week and prior. Following the U.S. Soccer curriculum and working with professional coaches on what to teach depending on age and stage, Perry said kids gain confidence, bravery and creativity on the field.

“In a typical soccer world, a parent coaches and probably wants their kid to be the star, right?” Perry questioned rhetorically. “Coaches build reputation on how they win, so they play the best players. We don’t do that. We tell parents no matter where their child is skills-wise, we will work with them and they will get better. The harder you train and the longer you stick with it, the better you’ll be.”

Perry recalls the excitement a young goalkeeper felt following a brutal 10-0 shutout. “Did you see that really good save I made?” the goalkeeper asked, forgetting the 10 shots that got past him. “Man, I played great!”

Perry replied, “Yes! I did. That was awesome. Great job!”

“I believe most programs talk about our approach, but we are really doing it. That’s why we are growing. That’s why we are a compelling option,” Perry said. “I can confidently say that any kid that joins our program is going to have a positive experience and grow as a player.”

Elvaton’s soccer program is expanding so much that Perry now sees siblings joining. And he’s heard from parents that they are relieved they don’t have to worry about being asked to coach but are happy to assist.

“Our primary goal is to teach kids that whether in soccer or in life, whatever they want to do, they will get better at it with the right deliberate practice and the right focus,” Perry said. “There is no limit on what our kids can accomplish and how good they can be.”

Elvaton Recreation Association spring registration for sports including baseball, softball and soccer is now open at www.elvatonrec.org.