What to Bring to Soccer Tryouts (and What Coaches Look For)
By the CleatPal team · Updated · How we check facts
Short answer: bring cleats, shin guards, a size-appropriate ball, plenty of water and a plain light or bright shirt, and register online before you arrive. Coaches watch for ball skills, effort, how a player listens and responds to mistakes, and how they talk with teammates, not just who scores.
Key takeaways
- Ball, shin guards and water are the must-haves. FC Dallas Youth lists all three for every tryout session.
- Register ahead. Many DFW clubs require online registration by a parent before the tryout.
- Arrive early. FC Dallas asks players to arrive 20 minutes before their session.
- Coaches look at attitude and coachability as well as skill.
- Parents usually watch from outside the fence. Save feedback for later, and keep it to a hug.
What should my child bring to soccer tryouts?
Use this checklist the night before.
Must-haves
- Cleats that fit and are already broken in. Tryouts are not the day for new shoes.
- Shin guards, worn under socks.
- A soccer ball, pumped up, with your child's name on it.
- Water, more than you think. Bring a full bottle and a spare.
- A plain light or bright shirt, unless the club says otherwise. FC Dallas asks non-members to wear a light shirt. A bright color helps coaches spot your child.
- Soccer socks and shorts.
Smart extras
- A snack for after, like fruit or a granola bar.
- Sunscreen and a hat for waiting between sessions.
- A small towel.
- A spare pair of socks.
- Turf shoes or trainers, if the session might be on turf.
- A light jacket for evening sessions in early spring.
Paperwork
- Registration confirmation. Screenshot it in case of bad cell signal.
- Any medical or consent forms the club asks for.
- Proof of age, if the club asks. Know your child's age group for the new season. See our birth year chart.
- For USYS teams at FC Dallas, players and parents sign a fact sheet page from the team manager.
What should my child wear?
Wear normal practice gear: shorts, socks, shin guards and cleats. For the top, follow the club's instructions. If there aren't any, pick a plain shirt in a light or bright color. Avoid wearing another club's jersey.
How should we handle the Texas heat?
Many DFW tryouts run from April to early July, and late-spring evenings can still be hot. Cook Children's, the Fort Worth children's hospital, gives this advice for young athletes:
- Drink when thirsty, and watch for urine that is clear to very light yellow.
- Wear lighter clothing.
- Use shade and take frequent water breaks.
- Avoid the hottest part of the day in Texas, roughly 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when you can.
Some sessions run late in the day. FC Dallas's 2026 select tryouts ran from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Still, send extra water.
What should my child eat before a tryout?
Eat a normal meal with carbs and some protein about 2 to 3 hours before. Skip heavy, greasy, very sugary or high-fiber foods just before playing. They can cause cramps or an upset stomach. Drink water through the day, not just at the field.
What do coaches look for at soccer tryouts?
Coaches are building a team. They watch the whole player, not just the best moment.
| What coaches watch | What it looks like on the field |
|---|---|
| Ball skills | Close control, dribbling in tight spaces, clean first touch |
| Speed and agility | Quick bursts and sharp changes of direction |
| Effort | Jogging between drills, first back from water breaks, chasing back after losing the ball |
| Coachability | Listening, eye contact, trying the coach's instruction right away |
| Attitude | Staying positive after a mistake, no sulking or blaming |
| Communication | Calling for the ball, encouraging teammates |
| Confidence | Standing tall and calm, without showing off |
Your child will make mistakes. Everyone does. Coaches care a lot about what a player does next.
How can my child stand out at tryouts?
- Arrive early and warm up. Be passing a ball with someone before the session starts.
- Introduce yourself. A quick hello and thank-you to the coach goes a long way.
- Listen fully. Keep the ball still while the coach talks.
- Talk on the field. Call for passes. Cheer on others.
- Keep going. Lost the ball? Win it back.
- Play where asked. Coaches may try players in a new position. Do it with a good attitude.
- Sleep well the night before. Rest is part of getting ready.
What should parents do during tryouts?
- Register on time. At FC Dallas Youth, only a parent can complete registration, and the player can't.
- Stay outside the fence. FC Dallas lets only players and staff past the gate.
- Don't coach from the sideline, and don't approach the coaches during the session.
- Afterwards, skip the analysis. A hug and "I loved watching you play" is enough, team or no team.
- Ask the club your questions separately. Use our 12 questions to ask a club, and check the DFW club fee guide so you know what an offer will cost.
What happens after the tryout?
Each club handles offers its own way. Some teams fill most spots right away. At FC Dallas select tryouts in 2026, most teams were finalized on the first day, and players without a team were told to contact teams directly. Many clubs also let players keep trying out with individual teams after the main sessions. If your child doesn't get an offer, ask the coach what to work on, and look at other clubs with open spots.
When are tryouts in DFW?
Most DFW club tryouts run from late April to early July. Our 2027 tryout timeline lists the most recent dates we could verify for local clubs.
Next step
Find clubs near you in our DFW program directory, and check each club's page for its latest tryout notes.
Sources
- FC Dallas Youth: ECNL tryouts (registration, arrival, what to bring)
- FC Dallas Youth: select tryouts (what to bring, team placement)
- Cook Children's: preventing heat illness in youth sports
- Veo: what coaches look for at tryouts
- Berkshire Soccer Academy: preparing for tryouts, tips for parents and players
