TRYOUT
FAQS

We suggest the following: Please do not coach your child during tryouts. They are nervous enough and don't want to hear you yelling out instructions. Be on time. This will help both you and your child relax before the tryout begins. Work with the ball and start running a few weeks prior to tryouts. Any extra workout is beneficial. Dress properly for the tryout as well as the weather, including proper footwear, shin guards, and water. Attend as many of the tryout days as possible. Make sure your child is hydrated and have eaten properly before coming to tryouts.

Generally all players will play a minimum of 50% of every game. It does not make sense to pick players and then not play them. Playing time is done on merit and the only time we're playing time varies is during State Cup where emphasis shifts towards success and winning cups. The coach will work with the player to find the best position for them and the team.

You and your player will be called within 24 to 48 hours of the final tryout by a coach with an offer for a team at Eastside. Players who do not make a team at Eastside FC will be notified via email.

No. You only need to register and pay once regardless of what team or teams for which your child attends a tryout. Once players are registered at the correct age group, they are added to a master list and are eligible to attend any and all tryout sessions listed for their age group.

For information on dates, times and locations of Eastside FC tryouts, please visit the Eastside FC Tryout page.

Depending on the age group, teams can have 14 to 18 players per team. Our youngest age groups may have up to 10 players.

Yes, Eastside FC offers financial aid to help cover the cost of registration. Families must apply prior to tryouts. The forms are located on the Tryouts page near the top.

Yes. Most of our players at Eastside FC play high school soccer and our ECNL and RCL seasons accommodate the high school season.

Yes, as with all premier soccer teams, there are additional costs like uniforms, team-related fees, and travel costs. Please consult with a coach or current parent to get a better idea of total costs.

The majority of our teams train at Preston Park. Occasionally, Preston-based teams will use Bellevue College and Issaquah’s Central Park. Bellevue-based Eastside FC teams will train and play primarily at locations in the Bellevue School District. (e.g., Robinswood, Wilburton, Newport Hills, Hidden Valley, Tillicum MS, Highland MS, Odle MS, Bellevue HS, Sammamish HS, Interlake HS, Newport HS and Bellevue College).

Generally, our teams practice three days a week for an hour and a half for each session. Coaches can add and remove training sessions and alter training session durationat their discretion.

The registration cost for Eastside FC is in line with all premier soccer clubs. This covers registration, coaching fees, and all Eastside FC field and club management for the entire year.

All of our teams, both Bellevue- and Preston-based, are coached by licensed professionals and have strong playing and coaching backgrounds. As the coaches are announced for the upcoming season, they will be posted on our Coaching Assignments page.

We like to see all kids at as many tryouts as possible but also realize that sometimes schedules do not work out. Please contact us and will get you in touch with the coach to discuss any conflicts.

We have some of the most experienced evaluators in the state and while they do a good job of seeing a player’s potential, sometimes kids get nervous. It is a good idea to encourage your child to be as relaxed and as active as possible so we can see more of them in a short time.

Yes. They must communicate with their coach and effectively manage their schedule.

We try to make the kids as comfortable as possible. We do not spring any complicated drills on them; they simply play soccer.

Teams are formed based on ability, with the ECNL forming the top team in each age group from U13 and up. Red teams will form the top team in U11 and below, with White, Blue, and Grey teams formed, based on numbers.

Yes, players can be identified and invited into the program at any time throughout the year.

Yes! The Emerging Talents Program is intended to augment a player’s current programming choices. So whether you are playing another sport or also taking part in an existing EFC program such as Juniors, Friday Teks or a summer camp offering, the Emerging Talents program is meant to serve as additional training, not a replacement.

Training sessions will be held on Sunday afternoons / evenings at Preston Park. For each 4-month session, the full schedule will be communicated and published at the outset of the training period.

Yes, if EFC staff feels that the development of a player within the Emerging Talents Program would be best served by moving full-time into the U8 RCL program, the player(s) will be provided that option. Because there is some crossover between the programs, with current U8 RCL players also taking part in the Emerging Talents Program, there is ample opportunity to assess players’ development.

Yes! The Emerging Talents Program training sessions are scheduled to not conflict with U8 RCL training. In fact, we hope many U8 RCL players decide to take part and gain an extra day of differentiated training each week.

If interested in the Emerging Talents Program but not currently taking part in any Eastside programming, players can contact the club for an evaluation. You will be directed to one of our currently operating programs where EFC staff will be able to assess the player for inclusion. Additionally, EFC staff can take players into the program for an evaluation upon recommendation from other coaches.

No, there are no set rosters for the Emerging Talents Program, so players in the program can miss training sessions when there are schedule conflicts.

Vestibulum congue facilisis leo sit amet bibendum. Sed hendrerit tellus neque, quis sagittis erat hendrerit vitae. Praesent vitae ipsum erat. Donec non arcu vulputate turpis rhoncus placerat. Nulla interdum vitae nisi volutpat eleifend. In consectetur odio urna, nec tempus lacus blandit nec. Sed et posuere tortor. Praesent vestibulum bibendum metus vitae convallis. Nullam ac sodales dui. Donec eleifend mauris eget metus lobortis, sit amet tempor diam pellentesque.

Of course! Eastside FC Promise Player Development programming including Camps & Clinics, Juniors, and other offerings like Goalkeeping are available to all Eastside FC players, regardless of where they train.

Yes! Players on RCL teams, whether they are based in Bellevue or Preston, are monitored by our coaching staff and may receive merit-based opportunities to train with a higher team. Many Eastside FC ECNL and ECNL RL players have moved up from RCL teams.

Yes and yes. Eastside FC encourages families to choose the best opportunity and location for their player. Bear in mind, Preston-based Eastside FC will compete across multiple leagues including RCL, and the higher-level ECNL and ECNL-RL. Bellevue-based Eastside FC teams will compete exclusively in the RCL. We encourage players to try out for the Eastside FC team that best appeals to their goals and aspirations. Eastside FC will conduct joint tryouts for both locations. Please see our Tryout Page for more information.

All Eastside FC premier teams (both Preston-based and Bellevue-based) that play in the RCL will be placed in the competitive division that best suits their needs. Each team will develop their own competitive record of accomplishment which will determine future league placement. All ECNL and ECNL-RL teams will train and play at Preston Park.

Bellevue-based teams play in Washington's RCL.

Bellevue-based Eastside FC teams will train and play primarily at Bellevue College. This year there will be much more consistency in where teams train and play. When Belleuve College is not available, Bellevue-based teams will train and play at other convenient locations in and around Bellevue, including Robbinswood Park.

Yes. Fee structures will be consistent across all Eastside FC teams.

Eastside FC has Bellevue-based teams to serve families who may not want to make the drive to Preston but want to have the full Eastside FC experience.

For the upcoming season, we will field a team at every age group from U8 to U19. In some instances, there may be two Bellevue-based teams at a particular age group. At this time, we will not be offering girls soccer in Bellevue. If and when demand increases on the girls side, we will add girls teams.

At some point, yes. At this time, we are gauging demand and have determined that the player pool in Bellevue may not support girls teams in Bellevue. If you are interested in your daughter playing on a Bellevue team, please register for tryouts and select "Bellevue" for your preferred location. If there are not enough girls to field a team at a particular age group, we will kindly refund your tryout fee, or work with you to place your daughter on a Preston team, or at a partner club like Issaquah FC.

Yes. Tryouts for Bellevue-based Eastside FC teams will occur in Preston. See the full tryout schedule which includes dates, times and locations.