Recreational
A possible week: one practice and a local game during a shorter season. A parent might help with transport or volunteer tasks. Ask about actual frequency and how teams are formed.
Free · Getting started
Your first steps in Washington youth soccer.
Start with what your player enjoys and the week your family can sustain. You do not need to know every league name to begin.
Club, team, league, and school: how they fit
A club is an organization that may run several teams. A team is the group your player trains and plays with. A league organizes competition between teams. School soccer is organized through schools; it is not automatically included in a club place.
A simple way to explore a team
1. Start with your player and your week
Discuss enjoyment, learning, travel, and a manageable commitment.
2. Compare nearby programs
Use the Club Atlas, then confirm current details directly with the club. A directory listing is not an available roster place.
3. Observe and ask
Some programs use tryouts or placement sessions; others organize recreational teams without a competitive selection. Ask what the exact program does.
4. Clarify the offer
Confirm the team or player pool, coach, fees, assistance, refund terms, schedule, and decision deadline before paying the club.
Which type of program should we explore?
This is a conversation starter, not a talent test or a club recommendation. Answers stay on this page and disappear when you leave.
Understand U10, U14, and seasonal ages
An age label refers to the competition’s grouping rule, not simply the child’s age today. For 2026–27, WYS uses August–July bands; MLS NEXT distinguishes its Academy and Homegrown divisions. Always check the named competition.
Age-group starting point · 2026–27 only
Choose a birth month and year—not a name or full birth date. These inputs are not saved or sent to the server. They do not create a player account.
Choose a month, year, and competition rule to see a starting band.
2026–27 WYS starting age bands
| Group | Birth-date band |
|---|---|
| U6 | August 1, 2020–July 31, 2021 |
| U7 | August 1, 2019–July 31, 2020 |
| U8 | August 1, 2018–July 31, 2019 |
| U9 | August 1, 2017–July 31, 2018 |
| U10 | August 1, 2016–July 31, 2017 |
| U11 | August 1, 2015–July 31, 2016 |
| U12 | August 1, 2014–July 31, 2015 |
| U13 | August 1, 2013–July 31, 2014 |
| U14 | August 1, 2012–July 31, 2013 |
| U15 | August 1, 2011–July 31, 2012 |
| U16 | August 1, 2010–July 31, 2011 |
| U17 | August 1, 2009–July 31, 2010 |
| U18 | August 1, 2008–July 31, 2009 |
| U19 | August 1, 2007–July 31, 2008 |
EPD/ODP remains January–December. Special oldest-player and post-season provisions require registrar confirmation. This table is not a promise of a team or permission to play in another age band.
What the family commitment might look like
Illustrative examples—not required schedules or guarantees. Program names are not standardized promises; compare the exact team.
Select
A possible week: two practices and a game, with regional travel and some tournaments. Plan for transport, communication, and occasional weekend changes. Selection and season length vary.
Premier
A possible week: several practices and a weekend match, with a longer season and travel. Clarify attendance expectations, school conflicts, tournament costs, and who handles travel.
Elite
A possible week: frequent training plus competition that may involve long-distance travel and overnight stays. Ask about rest, school, total expense, player support, and realistic alternatives.
A planning year at a glance
This is an orientation calendar: April–May tryout lead-in, then June–May planning. It is not a universal registration year or a list of official event dates. Recreational, school, league, age-group, and club calendars can differ.
- April–May · before the season
Check the program’s actual tryout and information dates; clarify offers before committing.
- June–August · early planning
Confirm the team schedule, summer plans, equipment, and family logistics.
- September–November · autumn
Recheck school commitments, travel, and how the player is settling in.
- December–February · winter
Confirm weather arrangements, rest, and any changes to training or competition.
- March–May · review and next steps
Reflect on the experience and ask about the following season. Next-year tryouts may overlap the current team’s activities.
A small cost example
Fictional arithmetic only—not actual prices or a Washington average: a $200 program fee + $60 equipment + $40 transport = $300. Another program may have completely different costs. Ask separately about uniforms, tournaments, travel, memberships, fundraising, financial assistance, and refunds.
Full costs-and-commitment planning · Parent PlusWords you may hear
- Soccer / football / fútbol
- Different names for the same game in this guide.
- Tryout / trial
- An assessment or introduction; ask how placement works.
- Roster / squad
- The team’s player list.
- Practice / training
- A session for learning and preparation.
- Match / game / fixture
- A scheduled contest.
- Academy / premier / elite
- Labels to investigate—not universal quality guarantees.
Arriving after advertised tryouts?
- Contact the club’s official program contact and ask about the exact age group, current process, and whether they accept inquiries outside the main tryout period.
- Ask whether observation, an assessment, a waitlist, or a later intake is possible; none is guaranteed.
- Explore recreational programs, school opportunities where applicable, clinics, and other local clubs while you compare options.
- Confirm any current-team obligations or eligibility questions with the responsible registrar before changing teams.
First practice or tryout checklist
- Ask which age group, season, team, and program the opportunity covers.
- Confirm the field address, arrival time, footwear, shin guards, water, and weather needs with the organizer.
- Tell the organizer it is your first visit and ask how the player will be welcomed and included.
- A first visit may include check-in, a welcome, warm-up activities, and small-sided games. Confirm the actual format with the organizer.
- Observe whether explanations are understandable, players participate, and mistakes receive constructive feedback.
- Ask about the usual week, travel, all required expenses, assistance, and the written offer before paying.
- Talk with your player afterward: was it enjoyable, welcoming, and appropriately challenging?
Sources and review date
Reviewed September 25, 2026. Confirm changing details with the relevant competition or program.
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Print produces the short first-visit checklist from the same content above.