Tryouts
Youth & DevelopmentAnnual events where players are evaluated by coaches to determine which team roster they will be placed on for the upcoming season.
Related Terms in Youth & Development
College ID Camp
Training camps hosted by colleges or third parties where high school players pay to attend in hopes of being recruited by college coaches.
Trapped Player
A player who is in a lower grade in school than their birth-year teammates (e.g., an 8th grader on a team of 9th graders), leaving them with no team to play for during the high school season.
USYS (US Youth Soccer)
The largest youth sports organization in the US, administering state associations and the ODP system.
Featured Clubs
Latest Youth Soccer News and Articles
The U.S. Girls Youth Soccer Pyramid: A Parent's Guide to League Tiers in 2025/2026
November 6, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
A parent's guide to understanding the tiered leagues in U.S. girls' youth soccer, from ECNL to recreational leagues.
Guide to the New MLS Next Divisions: MLS Next Homegrown and MLS Next Academy Divisions Explained
August 2, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
A clear breakdown of the different divisions within MLS NEXT, explaining the homegrown player rule and the academy structure.
Youth Soccer Birth Year vs School Year Change Explained
August 1, 2025
Play Club Soccer Staff
The age group cut-off date is moving from a January 1st birth year to an August 1st school year system.