Birth year registration is based on the year in which the season ends. For example, if a season begins in the fall of 2020 and ends in the summer of 2021 (ex: 2020-21 soccer year) the players would be registered based on their birth year in the year 2020. Age groups are referred to with the age before the “U” (i.e. 10U) or 10 and under.

Falls Church Soccer Association sponsors a travel (select) soccer program. This is a competitive program for players with above average skills and a strong drive to develop their soccer abilities and love of the game. Boys and girls who are ready to play competitive soccer, want to learn new skills, are ready to make the necessary commitment to play travel soccer and are ready to be coached by a professional, licensed coaching staff will benefit from playing travel soccer.

Children too young for the Travel program (5, 6, or 7 years old) who are looking for a competitive training environment with professional coaches are encouraged to check out the Development Academy program!

Falls Church, effective Spring 2022, will run open tryouts in late April/early May for players 9 and under (9U) for the next soccer year and mid-May to early June for all players 10U-19U to form teams for the following soccer year (fall and spring). All players are evaluated during these tryouts by the team coaches and additional evaluators. Selected players are placed on appropriate teams by the coaching staff.

Players will tryout based on their birth year.

All tryouts are currently scheduled on turf, so they will be held – even in the rain. However, the safety of the players is paramount so if conditions become unsafe due to thunderstorms or field conditions, a session may be canceled or shortened. If the staff is able to determine that a session should be canceled with sufficient notice to notify all families, an email will be sent to all registered players no later than 1.5 hours prior to the start of the session. Frequently, a determination cannot be made until closer to the start of the session (or during the session). In this case, the staff will notify players and parents at the field. As mentioned in other communications, parents should remain at the field complex throughout the tryout session in case of any such schedule changes. Furthermore, there may be situations where a session is suspended due to lightning / thunder, and players are asked to wait in their cars until the weather passes. The program appreciates your patience and understanding.

Please arrive at the field at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tryout session. At each session, players must check in with a tryout volunteer at the Tryout Coordinator Station. This will allow us to properly notify the coaching staff of the attending tryout participants. When you arrive, you will check-in and be issued a number and safety pins. Please put the number on the front of your shorts. Please bring this number to all subsequent tryout sessions.
Coaches ask that players wear any white t-shirt (no Soccer logos, please), athletic shorts, shinguards and cleats. Players should bring a properly inflated ball marked with your name, water bottle.

We ask players to attend as many tryouts as possible for the teams they want to be considered for.

Players cannot tryout or play in an age group for which they are too old. Even if they miss the cutoff by one day, they cannot play ’down’ in an age group.
Falls Church Soccer Policy: No player will be selected for an older age group unless the technical staff determines that the player’s soccer development needs will not be met within their own age group. Players must receive approval from their Age Group Director to attend tryouts for an older age group team. If you are interested in playing up, please send written approval from your coach and Age Group Director to fcsa@fallschurchsa.com

FCSA offers tryouts on a rolling basis throughout the year for kids who may have missed the original dates. Please email our Academy Staff at fcsa@fallschurchsa.com to learn more about setting up a supplementary tryout.

Different age groups in travel soccer play with different game formats—and have different roster sizes. Coaches usually carry fewer players than the maximum allowed—optimizing players’ playing time in games. The following are the roster sizes for the different age groups in the Falls Church Soccer’s Travel soccer program.
(9U) & (10U)   Teams 7 vs. 7 game format 10-12 players on each team
(11U) & (12U) Teams 9 vs.9 game format 12-16 players on each team
(13U) – (15U) Teams 11 vs. 11 game format 16-18 players on each team
(16U) – (19U) Teams 11 vs. 11 game format 16-22 players on each team

1) Technical – Can a player handle the ball technically under pressure and in tight spaces?
2) Speed
     ● Pure Speed – Is the player fast from point A to B?
     ● Technical Speed – Can the player handle the ball under pressure?
     ● Tactical Speed – Can the player make fast decisions with and without the ball?
3) Character
     ● Does the player like to compete?
     ● Is he/she a positive influence on the group?
     ● Does the player possess a high work rate?
     ● Does the player bring passion and energy to the game?

Players are evaluated using several criteria. The three most important areas of evaluation are technical ability, speed, and character. Players are evaluated in these and other areas and, if selected, placed on teams that best meet each player’s developmental needs. Players that are not selected for the travel soccer program will be provided with information on other Falls Church soccer programs and teams.

Coaching assignments will be posted here prior to the start of tryouts.

The club is allocated fields throughout Fairfax by the Fairfax County Park Authority. These fields are then assigned to travel teams based on team needs and coach preference. Each travel team will have a different practice schedule.
Travel teams generally practice a minimum of twice a week during the season, for 1.25 to 1.5 hours per practice. Other programs for player development are also available to players within the travel club.

The club will determine the placement of each team in the appropriate league. Each league determines participation and divisional standings based on a team’s results during each season.

Falls Church Soccer Association strives to tier teams starting at the 9U. This can be a challenge when players are only seen a few times before teams are formed. In addition, players develop at different rates and may change in just a few months. As a result, the coaches may discuss player movement with families to determine if the movement would benefit the player.

Falls Church Soccer players have the opportunity to use the ‘club pass’ to play with other teams in the club during league games and tournaments. The Falls Church Soccer technical staff uses this option to contribute to player development by providing opportunities with different teams within the club. Designed to improve learning and development, the club pass will assist balanced competition with, and against, like skilled and like-motivated players.

Falls Church Soccer employs a licensed, professional coaching staff which is under the supervision of the club’s Directors of Coaching. All coaches are hired and paid by Falls Church Soccer. The coaches work for the club and are placed on teams to benefit the development of each player. The coaching staff is evaluated each year by the DOCs and the Age Group Directors and may be rotated among the teams for maximum player development benefits. A complete list of the program’s coaching staff, and credentials is available here.

For most teams, the fall season begins in first week of August and goes until mid-November, and the spring begins in March and goes through mid-June.

Most games are played on Saturdays and/or Sundays throughout the season. Teams usually play one or more pre-season scrimmages and 2-4 tournaments per season, depending upon the age group and competitive level of the team. Practices are from 1 to 2 hours per session (usually 1.5) and take place at least twice a week. Travel players are expected to attend all team practices and games.

Each player pays a ’registration fee’ to play travel soccer with FCSA. This player fee covers, coach salaries, league and referee fees, State and National registration fees, player insurance, player development programs, administrative expenses, staff salaries and many other expenses. We have a tiered program. There is one tier for the 9U – 12U players and then three tiers for the 13U and older players. Fees can be found on our website. In addition to player program fees each player pays a “Team Fee” that covers team equipment, tournaments fees, coach tournament travel expenses, winter/indoor/futsal league fees, etc for their team. Team fees can range from $300 – $1000 a player depending on age and team level.
Falls Church Soccer Association believes that financial status should not prevent talented players from participating in soccer. Falls Church Soccer offers financial aid for families in need. Many travel teams also do fundraise activities to offset costs.
Falls Church Soccer makes a yearlong commitment to our professional coaching staff and to our players. We expect FCSA travel players and families to make the same full-year commitment and pay all fee including team fees.

The financial aid application can be found here. Players requesting aid should apply as soon as possible – PRIOR to the start of tryouts.