Club soccer tryouts checklist for parents

For the 2026 fall season. Tryouts cluster in May–July.

Club soccer tryouts sneak up on families every spring. Most LA-area clubs hold tryouts May through July for teams that start in the fall, and the good teams fill fast. Here is exactly what to do before, during, and after, and the questions parents most often forget to ask.

4–6 weeks before

• Make a short list of 2–3 clubs within a realistic weekday drive (not just the famous one).
• Register for each club's tryout online, dates and pre-registration links go up in spring.
• Know your child's birth year and correct age group (U-something = fall birth-year math, ask the club if unsure).
• Set your real all-in budget: club fee + uniform kit + tournament/travel.

What to bring on tryout day

• Cleats, shin guards, a ball (size 3/4/5 by age), and two water bottles.
• Arrive 20–30 minutes early to check in and warm up unrushed.
• A plain training shirt, avoid another club's gear.
• Let your child play their game. Sideline coaching from parents helps no one.

Questions to ask the coach or director

• Which team/flight would my child be on? The single most important question, level fit makes or breaks the year.
• How many practices per week, and where? Confirm the exact weekday commute.
• What is the all-in cost for the full year? Get tournaments and travel included, in writing.
• What is your playing-time and development philosophy at this age?
• When are offers made, and how long do we have to decide?

After tryouts: comparing offers

• Don't accept the first offer out of relief. Give yourself the full deadline.
• Compare on the four things that matter: level fit, distance, true cost, and schedule.
• Watch a practice of the actual team before you commit, not a highlight game.
• Trust the drive test: the club you can sustain beats the club that impresses at a tournament.