If you've searched for McAllister Park soccer fields, you probably got a map pin and not much else. The pin tells you where the park is. It doesn't tell you who plays there, when, or what a weeknight practice looks like from the sideline.
That's what this guide covers. Apex United FC trains at Anderson Fields at McAllister Park, so I'll walk you through the park, what to expect on a practice night, and how to tell if a club that trains here fits your family.
McAllister Park is one of the biggest city parks in San Antonio. According to the City of San Antonio, it covers 976 acres on the north side, between Jones Maltsberger Road and Wetmore Road.
Most of that land is open space. The park has about five miles of paved trails and more than 10 miles of natural dirt trails used by runners and mountain bikers. There's a playground, a dog park, picnic areas and pavilions. It also has Little League baseball fields and soccer fields, which is why a lot of north side families already know the place before their kids ever play a game there.
For a youth soccer family, the size matters. You're not squeezed onto a school field between other teams. There's room to warm up, room to park, and room for younger siblings to burn off energy somewhere other than the sideline.
Our training home is Anderson Fields at McAllister Park. If you're putting it into your phone, use the park's address: 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247. Anderson Fields doesn't have its own listing on Google Maps, so the park address is the one that gets you there.
We're on the field Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings during the outdoor season.
When the weather turns, we move indoors. Off-season games happen at Let's Play in Live Oak, so players keep touching the ball through the winter instead of taking three months off.
If you've never done club soccer before, here's the honest version of a weeknight at the park.
Pack more water than you think your kid needs. San Antonio evenings stay warm well into the fall, and a 90 minute session is a lot of running. Shin guards, cleats and a ball go in the bag every time. A labeled water bottle saves you from buying a new one every month.
Bring a folding chair for yourself. Parents who stay usually set up along the sideline, and the ones who've been doing this a while always have a chair in the trunk.
Plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. That gives your child time to lace up, say hi to teammates and get to the coach before warm ups start. Kids who arrive late spend the first part of practice catching up, and it shows.
You're welcome to watch. Most parents do, at least for the first few weeks. Some walk the paved trails during practice and come back for the last 20 minutes. If you've got a younger child with you, the park gives them somewhere to go besides your lap.
One request from the coaching side: let the coaches coach during the session. Cheer all you want. Save the instructions for the car ride, and even then, ask your kid what they learned before you tell them what you saw.
McAllister Park sits close to the airport on the north side, with access from Jones Maltsberger and Wetmore. For a lot of families, that's a short drive.
We see families come in from across north San Antonio, along with Live Oak, Universal City, Converse, Schertz and Cibolo. Apex United was founded in Converse, and plenty of our families still drive in from the NE side. If you're on that side of town, our Converse and Schertz parent guide covers the area in more detail.
The test I'd use is simple. Do the drive once at 5:30 on a weekday. If it feels fine, three nights a week will feel fine. If it already feels like a chore, it'll feel worse by November.
The park is a great place to play. The club still matters more than the field. A few questions worth asking any program that trains here, including ours:
If you're still comparing clubs, start with our guide on how to choose a youth soccer club in San Antonio.
Yes. It's a City of San Antonio park. Some areas, like the Little League fields, are managed by the groups that use them, but the park itself is public.
No. You're welcome to come watch a session on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday evening. If you'd like a coach to look out for you, send us a message first and we'll make sure someone says hi.
Athletic clothes, shin guards and cleats if they have them. If they don't have cleats yet, sneakers are fine for a first visit. Bring water either way.
Indoors at Let's Play in Live Oak during the off-season.
The best way to judge a club is to stand on the sideline and watch. Come out to Anderson Fields at McAllister Park on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday evening, see how the coaches run the session, and ask your kid afterward what they thought.
Ready to visit? Contact us or call (210) 845-7203, or see our programs for age groups and details.
Apex United FC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer club founded in Converse, Texas, training at Anderson Fields at McAllister Park in north San Antonio. We work with players born 2013 through 2020.
