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! Pick a sport and read on to find kids’ leagues in your area and when to get registered.
Updated by Kate Hagan Gallup
So, you’ve got a kid that likes to move. One day, after a few too many sessions of “catch me, Mom!” at the local park, you have a light bulb moment — sports! This kid needs sports. And maybe there’s a local neighborhood league in which you could sign them up. We’re here to tell you that, yes, there absolutely is a sports league — many, in fact — in your neighborhood that would love to have your kid on the field or court. But they’re surprisingly hard to track down. You can always ask other parents in your neighborhood for suggestions, or ask at your local school (even if they are not run by Portland Public Schools, many leagues are affiliated with PPS in some way or another). We’ve rounded up some of the most beloved Portland-area sports leagues, and we’ve even tracked down registration deadlines and other helpful info. In other words, this is your kids-sports CliffsNotes — one to stick on the fridge and keep forever, or at least until your kids are old enough to figure it out for themselves.
SOCCER
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 fifth 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, winter 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. Players are encouraged to donate used uniforms and equipment to support the club gear swap and affordable access.
Ages: 4 years to eighth grade
When to sign up: Fall registration deadlines end in August, but late registration may be available. Register for winter by mid-January and for spring by late March.
Seasons: Fall, winter and spring
Area served: Southeast 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. Scholarships may be available for recreational and academy program members. Check online.
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, plus summer camps
Area served: Southwest 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 typically runs for six weeks April-May; registration TBA.
Seasons: Fall and spring
Area served: Generally serving 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. Scholarships may also be available.
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 March 1. Spring registration opens in August.
Season: Fall and spring
Area 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 in June and closes in mid-July. Waitlists may be available.
Season: Fall
Area served: Most kids are from the Mt. 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: 4-19
When to sign up: Spring registration opens in January; fall registration is typically open in August, with the season beginning in early September.
Season: Fall and spring. Friday night Academy classes are available fall, winter, and spring. Summer workshops are also available.
Area served: The entire Portland-metro area
Southeast Soccer Club
One of the oldest soccer clubs in Portland, Southeast Soccer Club, or SESC, was one of the founding clubs of the now-massive Portland Youth Soccer Association.
Ages: 5-14
When to sign up: Recreational soccer registration for the fall is mid-May to mid-August. 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: Southeast Portland
i9 Sports
i9 is a national organization that supports tons of community leagues in and around Portland, as well as in Gresham and Vancouver. It’s easy to use their site to search by zip code and see what’s available close to you. And in addition to year- round programs, there are are Nike Kids summer camps.
Ages: 3-12
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 and fall
Area served: Clackamas, Gresham, Tigard, Beaverton, Southwest Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Parkrose, North 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 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
Area served: Portland Indoor Soccer Center (Southeast Portland), The Plex (Southwest Portland/Beaverton) and Salmon Creek Indoor Sports (Vancouver).
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: 2-9
When to sign up: Rolling
Season: Year-round
Area served: Locations throughout the metro area
Eastside Timbers/Thorns
Describing itself as “Oregon’s largest competitive and recreational soccer club,” 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.) Limited scholarships may be available for Gresham residents.
Ages: 7-18
When to sign up: Register June-August for the season. Register in April for May tryouts.
Season: 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: 6-18
When to sign up: Register in April for May tryouts. You may register for supplemental tryouts; programs run throughout the year
Season: Competitive league is a year-long commitment.
Area served: Beaverton, Tualatin, Sherwood and 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: 6-18.
When to sign up: Tryouts are in early May for competitive and developmental teams.
Seasons: Spring, summer and fall.
Areas served: Portland metro. Programs are based out of Buckman Field and Portland Christian High School.
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. 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: Limited and year-round seasons.
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. In addition to seasonal soccer, the group is part of the Fields Project, which works to bring safe and accessible soccer play spaces to the North Portland 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, plus summer camps
Areas served: The fifth district of Portland
BASEBALL / SOFTBALL
Southeast Portland Little League
Offering both baseball and softball, this popular little league organization serves a huge area of Southeast Portland, from inner Southeast all the way to Woodstock.
Ages: 4 to 14
When to sign up: Registration dates vary by year; register in mid-summer for the fall season and in winter for the spring season
Seasons: Fall and spring
Area served: Southeast Portland
SW Portland Little League
SW Portland Little League has both softball (for girls) and baseball (co-ed). They also participate with T-Mobile to offer financial aid up to the full registration cost for families who need it. (Applications for 2026 open.)
Ages: 5 to 12
When to sign up: January for spring, August for fall.
Seasons: Spring season is the formal league; “Fall Ball” is more informal and focused on skill development.
Area served: Southwest Portland in the entire Ida B. Wells High School feeder areas, including Bridlemile Elementary
Wilshire Riverside Little League
Wilshire Riverside Little League serves schools including Alameda, Beaumont, Faubion, The Ivy School, Madeleine, Sabin, St. Rose, Vernon and Woodlawn.
Ages: 4 to 12
When to sign up: January and February for spring, and August for fall and fall registration for winter softball clinics.
Seasons: Spring (ages 4-12) runs March through early June, Fall Ball (third to sixth grade only) runs late August through October
Area served: North and Northeast Portland
Hollywood Rose City Little League
Hollywood Rose City Little League strives to create a positive, supportive and inclusive community for players, families and coaches. Kids do not need to try out if they are playing T-ball, single A or double A.
Ages: 4 to 16
When to sign up: Spring registration is typically December to early March; fall registration is in August
Seasons: Spring and fall
Area served: Eligible schools include Irvington, Beverly Cleary, Laurelhurst, All-Saints, Rose City Park, Roseway Heights Middle School, Le Monde, Portland Montessori and Da Vinci Middle School
i9 Sports
Use the i9 Sports site to search by zip code to check out what baseball and softball leagues are close to you. I9 seeks to differentiate themselves by embedding sportsmanship lessons in their weekly practice plans and by looking to pair practice time with game time.
Ages: All ages, from “pee wee” to “senior youth”
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 and fall
Areas served: Clackamas, Tigard, Beaverton, SW Portland, West Linn, Parkrose, North Portland and Vancouver
Portland Cal Ripken Baseball
Founded in 2013, Portland Cal Ripken is a subset of the national Cal Ripken Baseball organization, and offers additional boundary and game flexibility over more traditional leagues.
Ages: 5 to 15
When to sign up: Check website for details
Seasons: Fall (developmental) and spring (standard season), plus an 8-10 week fundamental series for beginners
Area served: North, Northeast and Southeast Portland. This includes all of the Portland Public and David Douglas/Centennial School districts, plus some additions.
Cleveland Youth Baseball & Softball
This amateur sports team is a 501c-3 nonprofit baseball/softball program for kids.
Ages: 4-14
When to sign up: July for Fall Ball (for kids in grades 3-8); November for Winter Workouts (for grades 3-8) and November 1 for Spring (all ages)
Seasons: Fall and spring
Area served: Southeast Portland. All players welcome, not just those within the Cleveland High School boundary. Home games are played in the Sellwood, Westmoreland, Eastmoreland and Woodstock neighborhoods.
Westside Youth Baseball
Westside offers field sizes and rules that are specifically designed for the physical and mental skills of different age groups. Programs are separated by skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Navigate based on your preferred location.
Ages: Grades 3-8
When to sign up: See website for specific locations and programs
Seasons: Spring and summer
Area served: Portland’s westside; there are 24 community-based programs including West Hills, Tigard, Beaverton, Aloha, and even all the way to the Coast.
Cedarmill Little League
Cedarmill Little League is one of the largest leagues in Oregon.
Ages: 4-12
When to sign up: June for Fall Ball, December/January for spring
Seasons: Fall and spring
Area served: Cedar Mill Little League Boundary school zone
The Yard
While not a youth league, The Yard offers a fun atmosphere with classes, camps and training for girls and boys, focused on hitting or pitching. This can be a fun place to get an assessment, take a lesson or attend a camp to jumpstart your season. Kids get lessons taught by former collegiate or professional baseball and softball athletes.
Ages: 7-18
Area served: Locations in Milwaukie and Beaverton and summer camps in Hillsboro.
Lastly, you can check with your local high school baseball or softball coach as many school teams are associated with specific youth programs. Pro tip: If your kid loves baseball or softball, definitely check out this Tigard training facility.
BASKETBALL
Flash League
Flash stands for Fun, Learning, Accountability, Sportsmanship, and Hustle. This recreational league offers a chance for girls and boys from grades K-4 to play in a fun, teaching-based environment. The league puts a great deal of emphasis on the experience of kids including a fog tunnel and player introductions, half time “shows,” and referees who seek to both teach and officiate. One of the cool things about this league is that you can sign up as an individual or you can bring a full or partial team.
I9 Sports
Based all over the Portland Metro area, I9 Sports offers recreational basketball for boys and girls of all ages — beginning with their “Pee Wee” division and going up through “Senior Youth.” I9 seeks to differentiate themselves by embedding sportsmanship lessons in their weekly practice plans and by looking to pair practice time with game time.
Goldenball
Goldenball is a Portland Parks & Recreation managed youth basketball program for girls and boys in grades 3-5. Their recreation program is based on good sportsmanship and the development of basketball fundamentals. This program offers a chance for kids to play in middle school or high school facilities around the city — giving it a more “official” feel. You sign up as a team and secure a spot as a team, rather than signing up at the individual level, which gives you the ability to manage all the details of your squad. Teams provide their own ‘uniforms’ for this program. Youth sports have full funding in Mayor Keith Wilson’s upcoming budget, and registration information should be posted in late September for the 2025-26 season.
Beaverton Hoop YMCA
YMCA Recreational Basketball Leagues serve over 2,000 families throughout the Westside of the Portland-Metropolitan area. Their recreational and developmental leagues are designed to give players of all skill levels from ages 3 through 8th grade the opportunity to succeed on the court and to build relationships with their coach and teammates off it. Members, non-members, experienced players or first-timers — anyone can hoop! Their competitive league for grades 5-12 is considered one of the best in the state. Sherwood and Clark County YMCAs also offer basketball leagues.
Developmental basketball training is available to grades 5-7 boys and girls at Beaverton and Clark County. Competitive basketball traveling teams offer opportunity for boys grades 5-12 and girls grades 5-8 at the Beaverton location. Financial assistance is available through the YMCA’s open door policy.
Southeast Portland Girls Basketball
Founded in 2013, and now made up of 27 teams, this girls’ basketball club is non-competitive in early elementary grades, but does get more competitive as kids get older. Scholarships are available; the club believes that, “Any girl who wants to play, can play, regardless of her family’s economic situation.” Programs are offered year round for grades 1-8 and registration for the 2025-26 opens soon.
PIL / PPS Clusters
Portland Public Schools offers pretty robust team sports offerings, and it’s great to take advantage of them when your kids are old enough (they serve 6th to 8th grade). It’s also a good way to get on the radar of your local school’s coaches, if your child hopes to play high school basketball. Contact your local public middle school for more information.
CROSS COUNTRY / TRACK
PIL / PPS Clusters
Got runners in the family? Let them race! Cross country is open to all.
Ages: Sixth to eighth grade
When to sign up: Register for cross country in July, with practice beginning mid August, or for track and field in mid-January.
Seasons: Fall for cross country, spring for track and field
Area served: Anyone within the bounds of Portland Public Schools
PP&R + Foot Traffic Youth Track
Portland Parks and Recreation teamed up with local running store Foot Traffic to create this fun-focused lineup of intro-to-track offerings for kids. Sign up for clubs or camps, or simply show up to their fall season meets.
Ages: Second to eighth grade
When to sign up: Early spring programs run March through April
Season: Fall
Area served: Northeast Portland at Grant Park, Westside/Cedar Mill at Terra Linda Park, Southeast Portland at Sellwood Park
VOLLEYBALL
PPS / PIL
Let your kids learn to bump, pass and block. Volleyball is a cut sport, meaning not all youth will make the team.
Ages: Sixth to eighth grade
When to sign up: Register in July. Tryouts begin in August.
Season: Fall
Area served: Anyone within the bounds of Portland Public Schools
Portland Parks and Recreation
PP&R welcomes all skill levels into their volleyball programs. It’s important to note that this program currently has registration limits, so register early if you can.
Ages: Third to 12th grade
When to sign up: Fall registration is open mid August through mid September.
Seasons: Fall and spring.
Area served: Anyone within the bounds of Portland Public Schools. Games are played at Fernwood Middle School.
FOOTBALL / FLAG FOOTBALL
PPS / PIL
Get your kids revved up about their local PPS cluster by joining in the flag football fun offered every fall through Portland Public Schools’ interscholastic league.
Ages: Kindergarten to eighth grade programs available through partnership with the Tualatin Valley Youth Football League.
When to sign up: Registration for fall opens in late May/early June. Practice begins early August.
Season: Fall
Area served: Anyone within the bounds of Portland Public Schools
Next Level Flag Football
Based out of Jesuit High School, Next Level sports is a California organization introduced in Portland in 2022.
Ages: Kindergarten to seventh grade
When to sign up: Games are played March through May
Season: Spring
Areas served: West Portland communities including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Aloha, Lake Oswego, Tigard and Tualatin. Games are played at Jesuit High School.
i9 Sports flag football
Search by zip code on the website to see the closest flag football leagues.
Ages: 4 to 14
When to sign up: Summer registration is April to June; fall registration is June to August; spring registration is January to March.
Season: Spring, summer and fall
Areas served: Clackamas, Gresham, SE Portland, Tigard, Beaverton, SW Portland, Lake Oswego, Parkrose, North Portland and Vancouver
General Helpful Links
Portland Parks & Rec Youth Sports