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INTERESTED IN CFC ACADEMY?

Did you miss tryouts? Did the team you thought you were joining not turn out to be what you thought it was going to be? We may have a place for you with CFC Academy in 2020-21.

Please register your interest below and a member of the coaching staff will be in touch to schedule an evaluation and answer any questions.

Thank you for giving us a try!

¿Te perdiste las pruebas? ¿El equipo al que creías que te unías no resultó ser lo que pensabas que iba a ser? Podemos tener un lugar para usted con CFC Academy en 2020-21.

Registre su interés a continuación y un miembro del cuerpo técnico se pondrá en contacto para programar una evaluación y responder cualquier pregunta.

¡Gracias por probarnos!

Si necesita asistencia personalizada con el proceso de registro o tiene preguntas, nos complace brindarle asistencia individual y confidencial en español. Envíe un correo electrónico a un miembro del personal en español aquí.

STATE LEAGUE. ODP. NIKE. COLLEGE PLACEMENT.

Chattanooga FC Academy will follow all local social distancing and COVID-19 related guidelines. That means tryouts will be conducted in a non-contact environment. 

If you've been part of the CFC Academy family in the past and are interested in coming back, we want you to know you are more than welcome at tryouts. We'd love to see you again!

Travel soccer doesn't have to be excessive travel. Our top players and teams will be able to compete for state championships through TSSA State League as well as opportunities for regional and national competition. 

Just like the largest and most successful clubs in our state, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to support the community. That means the goal of our soccer club is never about profit and never will be.

CFC Academy teams will be registered through Tennessee State Soccer Association and follow the US Soccer Federation's birth-year registration mandates. As such, our teams are arranged by birth year for the 2020-21 seasonal year.

VIDEO: THURSDAY NIGHT

VIDEO: MONDAY NIGHT

Before Tryouts

For Parents
  • Read all information regarding 2020-21 Tryouts and register online. 
  • Continue to check ChattanoogaSoccer.com and related social media platforms for new information and any changes. 
  • Try to not add any extra pressure to your child before or during tryouts.
For Returning CFC Academy Players
  • Arrive in this season's navy game jersey, shorts, and socks and go straight to your assigned field. You may bypass the check-in table since returning players will not wear a bib number.
  • If you arrive early, please remain in your vehicle until 5 minutes before the start of your session. This is to prevent unnecessary congregation around the fields.
  • Wear shin guards, cleats, and bring properly inflated ball.
  • Hydrate before the session and bring water.
For New Players
  • You may wear any shirt and shorts you would like. 
  • Report to the check-in table at your assigned field to receive your preassigned bib number. Make sure you are at the correct field and the correct table. You will wear this bib number on the back of your shirt at all times during tryouts.
  • Please maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing if standing in line for check-in and wear a mask during the check-in process. You will not be required to wear a mask during the actual tryout.
  • Wear shin guards, cleats, and bring properly inflated ball.
  • Hydrate before the session and bring water.
Attendance
While attendance at all tryout sessions is RECOMMENDED, we do understand that there are schedule conflicts that sometimes cannot be resolved. You must still register your player for tryouts and notify the Director of Coaching that the player will not be present at the scheduled tryouts. 
 
Weather
In the event of inclement weather, updates will be communicated via email to registered players if any changes to the schedule are made. Updates will also be shared via CFCA's social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

During Tryouts

U12 & Younger (2012-2009)
 
Tryout: Held over two nights with each session being roughly an hour and a half in length
Evaluators: CFCA Directors of Coaching and coaching staff
Your child will be evaluated by the coaching staff in various group activities. The staff will assess current skill level, effort and potential ability. The tryout process is conducted in a relaxed environment where players are encouraged to  have fun. 
Player Selection: The number of players selected will be determined by the number of players in attendance and the quality of the player pool. Our desire is to offer a spot to every player in these younger ages. If the staff determines that another program is more appropriate for your player, we will have an individual conversation with parents.
 
U13-U19 (2008-2002)
 
Tryout: Held over two nights with each session being one and a half hours in length.
Evaluators: CFCA Directors of Coaching and staff coaches
Player Selection: Each player that attends the tryout session is evaluated in four different areas: technical, tactical, physical and psychological. For those returning players, evaluations over the course of season/year is combined with their performance during the tryout session to form the fairest assessment possible. New players are encouraged to relax and enjoy playing, and will receive a fair, objective placement.

After Tryouts

How will players be notified of their placement?
 
Players selected for a team will receive a phone call and/or email invitation within 48 hours of the final session. An email will contain instructions to complete the acceptance process. In some cases, you may receive the email before the coach call. 
 
How to accept your spot
 
Acceptance by a player and his/her family is considered binding, and each player/family is expected to make a commitment to their respective program for its duration (season/year).
This commitment includes, but is not limited to:
  • Filling a roster spot on a team for the entire year
  • Fulfilling all training, game and financial commitments
Because there are multiple teams within a particular age group, players are asked to be prepared to make a decision within 24 hours. We trust that your family has time this spring and the week of tryouts to consider potential scenarios. Therefore, the 24-hour period is designed to give you time for final discussions as a family. 
 
New Players: 
 
After tryouts are complete and teams selected, any new player who did not attend tryouts or register for tryouts wishing to join CFCA must contact the Director of Coaching to discuss eligibility and to arrange a time to be evaluated.  All required registration materials must be completed prior to a player’s evaluation. 
 
In-season Transfers between CFCA teams: 
 
Team coaches, in consultation with the Age Group Director and/or the Director of Coaching, may transfer a player up a level during the seasonal year.

Other Common Questions

Who will coach my child's team?

All coaches in CFC Academy are professionally licensed by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) or NSCAA governing body. All coaches undergo an extensive criminal background check as well as training for concussion and cardiac awareness. CFCA staff will include a diverse mix of returning coaches as well as new coaches who are moving from out of state. We are excited about the fresh ideas coming to our club! 

Will CFC Academy give my child the opportunity to compete in TSSA State League with the chance for a state championship? 

Absolutely. Being part of the state association is an important part of our development program. Teams will have a pathway to compete at the state level with an opportunity to earn a spot in USYS Regionals which opens the door to the USYS National Championship Series. To supplement the play for higher level teams, the club will register these teams in targeted competitive tournaments and/or College Showcase events.

How old do you have to be for tryouts?

Tryouts begin at the U9 age. If your child is a U7 or U8, they should consider our Pre-Academy Identification Program (IDP). The IDP is an early entry into a higher level of training and curriculum than rec soccer.  Nearly 90% of players on a travel select team at U9 came from IDP.

Do you have Non-Travel teams?

In general, the amount of travel is tied to competition level and age. The older a team is and the more advanced a team, the greater a requirement to travel. Overnight travel is rare for younger teams who are playing 7v7. An occasional day trip to nearby cities like Knoxville, Nashville, Huntsville or Atlanta is possible.

Where does CFCA train and play?

We know our families live all over the Chattanooga area so we offer training at multiple complexes. However, we do try to centralize as much as possible because our director staff will become more involved in making sure all teams receive the level of instruction and commitment you deserve. Our primary training facilities will continue to be Grimes and Camp Jordan for the 2020-21 season and beyond. We have turf agreements with Finley Stadium, Highland Park Commons, UTC, and Baylor School.  

How many times per week do teams practice?

We offer three training sessions per week. Two of these are team training and the third is club training, which focuses on additional areas of soccer development such as strength/conditioning. 

Are practices mandatory?

Team training sessions are mandatory. Club Training is highly encouraged. 

How many tournaments are teams required to play?

We require teams to play in our RiverFest Classic tournament in the fall and the Shamrock Cup in the spring. Both of these tournaments are run by CFC Academy and hosted in Chattanooga attracting dozens of clubs from multiple states. In addition, teams will generally attend one overnight tournament in the fall and one in the spring. 

How much does it cost to play for the Chattanooga FC Academy?

Fees for the 2020-21 season are the same as last year.  A payment plan with several options will make it fit almost any budget. See the descriptions of fees here.

Can I watch tryouts?

You may watch from your vehicle. Due to social distancing guidelines in place, we ask that parents help us in reducing the number of people congregating around the fields.

Is my child guaranteed a spot in the club?

We anticipate being able to accommodate all players within a CFCA-sponsored team. If our coaching staff feels like select soccer is not yet an appropriate environment for your child, they will notify that parent individually. 

What if I am willing to volunteer as a Team Manager or Treasurer?

If you have interest in volunteering as a Team Manager or Treasurer, email admin@chattanoogasoccer.com. We will notify you after the tryout process is complete.