It’s surprisingly hard to navigate sports league sign-ups if your child has never played before. But we’ve done the legwork for you! Read on to find kids’ leagues in your area and when to get registered.
Lincoln Cluster Youth Soccer
Comprising the Forest Heights Soccer Club, Hillside Soccer Club, Skyline Soccer Club and the Vista Soccer Club, this cluster serves a huge area of Portland’s westside. If your kid is headed for Lincoln High School, this club is for you!
Ages: Kindergarten to 5th grade
When to sign up: Believe it or not, fall registration opens mid-May and closes mid-summer. You can register through mid-September based on availability, but you’ll pay a late fee. Spring registration opens in January and closes late February; late fees accepted through mid-April.
Seasons: Fall and spring.
Area served: Portland’s westside.
David Douglas Soccer Club
This light-hearted recreational soccer club is focused on soccer-for-the-fun-of-it. All practices take place on fields within the David Douglas School District.
Ages: Four years to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Register for fall by August 17, for winter by mid-January and for spring by late March.
Seasons: Fall, winter and spring.
Area served: SE Portland.
Foothills Soccer Club
The largest soccer club in Southwest Portland, Foothills offers both recreational soccer for 4- to 14-year-olds and academy soccer for older kids.
Ages: First to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Registration for fall opens in May with an August deadline. Registration for spring opens in January, with a March deadline.
Seasons: Fall and spring.
Area served: SW Portland.
Hollywood Soccer Club
Offering a low-key “Kinderkicks” program for the littlest players, and more serious fun for older kids, this recreational soccer club emphasizes fair play and building a culture of encouragement, fun and teamwork. Scholarships and a cleat exchange program make it accessible, too.
Ages: Kindergarten to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Register for fall by August 1. Spring registration is open in August.
Seasons: Fall and spring.
Area served: Generally located in Northeast’s Hollywood neighborhood, though families outside of Hollywood can participate.
Holy Redeemer Soccer Club
Practicing on a home field located at the intersection of North Dekum and North Williams in Portland, this recreational league doesn’t require attendance at either Holy Redeemer Church or Holy Redeemer School — they invite all members of the community to join the fun.
Ages: Kindergarten to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Registration opens in June. Register by August 5 for the fall season.
Season: Fall.
Area served: North Portland and beyond.
Irvington Soccer Club
Practicing at Irving Park and Irvington Elementary School, this recreational soccer club is a neighborhood must-join!
Ages: First to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Register for fall by August 1 and for spring by February 24. Spring registration opens in August.
Season: Fall and spring.
Areas served: Primarily serving Irvington, King, Boise-Elliot, Humboldt and Harriet Tubman neighborhoods, but open to everyone regardless of location.
Mt. Tabor Soccer Club
This recreational soccer club serves kids from 13 schools around the Mt. Tabor area.
Ages: Kindergarten to eighth grade.
When to sign up: Registration opens around the end of the school year and closes in mid-July.
Season: Fall.
Area served: Most kids are from the Mount Tabor area, but no one is turned away.
United PDX
In 2018, the Bridlemile Soccer Club and Northeast United Soccer Club merged to form United PDX and become one of the largest soccer clubs in the city. They offer a wide variety of programs for kids, from competitive to recreational and everything in between.
Ages: 4 to 19.
When to sign up: Spring registration opens in January; check website for fall registration (still open in August).
Season: Fall and spring.
Area served: The entire Portland-metro area.
Southeast Soccer Club
One of the oldest soccer clubs in Portland, SESC was one of the founding clubs of the now-massive Portland Youth Soccer Association.
Ages: 5 to 14.
When to sign up: Recreational soccer registration for the fall is mid-May to mid-July. Competitive program tryouts begin in early April and run through early May. Spring registration is typically mid-February to mid-March.
Seasons: Fall and spring.
Area served: SE Portland.
i9 Sports
i9 is a national organization that supports tons of community leagues in and around Portland. It’s easy to use their site to search by zip code and see what’s available close to you.
Ages: 3 to 12.
When to sign up: Summer registration is open April to June, fall registration is open June to August; spring registration is open January to March.
Seasons: Spring, summer, fall.
Areas served: Clackamas, Gresham, Tigard, Beaverton, SW Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Parkrose, N Portland and Vancouver.
YMCA Indoor Soccer
Low-key and friendly, three Portland-area YMCA locations offer an entirely indoor intro to soccer for the youngest players.
Ages: 3 years to second grade.
When to sign up: Rolling.
Seasons: Fall, winter and spring.
Areas served: Beaverton, Clark County and Sherwood YMCAs.
Lil’ Kickers
Focused on the joy of movement and the most basic of skills, Lil’ Kickers is a completely non-competitive soccer program offering things for the littlest players, like parent-and-child classes for toddlers.
Ages: 18 months to 9 years.
When to sign up: Rolling.
Season: Year-round.
Areas served: Portland Indoor Soccer Center (SE Portland) and The Plex (SW Portland/Beaverton).
Soccer Shots
This international organization, with franchises throughout the U.S. and Canada, is a good option for little kiddos. It’s easy to search their website by zip code to find camps and classes near you.
Ages: 2 to 9.
When to sign up: Rolling.
Season: Year-round.
Area served: Locations throughout the metro area.
Eastside Timbers/Thorns
This club offers competitive teams that play all over the state and have produced college and professional athletes. Players must register for tryouts. (Developmental and recreational leagues also offered; see their websites for more details.)
Ages: 7 to 18
When to sign up: Register June-August for the season. Register in April for May tryouts.
Seasons: Competitive league is a year-long commitment with twice-a-week training starting in June. Eastside offers recreational spring and fall teams.
Area served: Portland’s eastside.
Westside Metros
This club also offers competitive teams that play all over the state and have produced college and professional athletes. Players must register for tryouts. (Developmental leagues also offered; see their websites for more details.)
Ages: 6 to 18
When to sign up: Register in April for May tryouts. You may register for supplemental tryouts.
Seasons: Competitive league is a year-long commitment.
Area served: Beaverton, Tualatin, Sherwood, The Gorge
Portland City United Soccer Club
This competitive club is for enthusiastic athletes who want to take their skills to the next level — and want to have fun while doing it!
Ages: 6 to 18.
When to sign up: Tryouts are in early May for competitive and developmental teams.
Seasons: Spring, summer and fall.
Areas served: Portland metro.
Bridge City Soccer Academy
This all-girls club uses the game as a “vehicle to empower young women of all backgrounds to succeed.” Their premier squad competes at the highest levels, and their introductory levels help young players to develop the skills to compete in elite programs as they get older.
Ages: 8-18
When to sign up: Check the website for tryouts and registration dates. Registration is open in August. Official tryouts are usually held during the month of May, but depending on the age group, they have kids join throughout the year as well.
Seasons: Fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Areas served: Portland metro.
North Portland Soccer Club
North Portland Soccer Club’s goal is to make youth soccer more accessible to a diverse community.
Ages: 5-14
When to sign up: Fall registration is open from the second Sunday of July to August 1. Spring registration opens the second Friday of May through July 31.
Seasons: Spring and fall.
Areas served: The 5th district of Portland.
Looking for a different sport? Check out our full youth sports guide.
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