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LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PLAY IN THE SPRING?

New to the Chattanooga area? Want to try us again? Or, try us for the first time? Click here to complete our Player Interest Form. A coach or staff member from CFC Academy will be in touch within 48 hours.

TSSA Policy 26 Disclaimer: This form is intended for unregistered players only. An unregistered player is someone not part of a club within the Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA). Players registered with a club that is not a TSSA affiliate may be eligible to join CFC Academy at any time.

 

Under new leadership, Chattanooga FC Academy is committed to improving the culture of club soccer by providing more value and more accountability to teams at every level. 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.

CFCA 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 2019-20 seasonal year.

Before Tryouts

Checklist for Parents
  • Read all information regarding 2019-20 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.
Checklist for Players
  • On the first day, plan to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the tryout start time to allow for check-in time, traffic and locating the appropriate field. You will not need to arrive that early for the remaining days.
  • Players are to check-in at the appropriate table and receive their Nike tryout t-shirt and number. This assigned identification number must be worn on the tryout shorts at ALL sessions. 
  • Wear shin guards, cleats, and bring properly inflated ball.
  • Wear solid color shorts and socks (navy, black, or gray). 
  • Hydrate before the session and bring water.
Attendance
While attendance at BOTH 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 (2011-2008)
 
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 (2007-2001)
 
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 by their coach within 24 hours of the final session. We will call the first number listed on the registration form. After the call you will receive an email will contain instructions to complete the acceptance process. In some cases, you may receive the email before the coach call. But the coach call will still take place. 
 
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: 
 
The Director of Coaching staff may transfer a player between CFCA teams 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 CFCA continue to play in TSSA State League and other leagues?

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.

Will there continue to be a program for U7/U8 players?

Yes. We pioneered the Identification & Development Program (IDP) for Chattanooga and will continue this successful part of our club. 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 or 9v9. An occasional day trip to nearby cities like Knoxville, Nashville, Huntsville or Atlanta is possible.

Where will CFCA train and play next year?

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 facility will continue to be Camp Jordan for the 2019-20 and beyond. The club has a lease for a large portion of the complex and works closely with the City of East Ridge. Upgrades are currently underway for the fields and facilities leased by CFCA. Teams will also continue to train at other leased facilities, including Grimes and Middle Valley. We have turf agreements with Finley Stadium, Highland Park Commons, UTC, and Baylor School. In addition, Chattanooga Football Club has announced plans to develop additional turf facilities for community and CFCA use. Field space and facilities will only improve for CFCA in the future!

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

Fees have been reduced by 13-20% from last year.  A payment plan with several options will make it fit almost any budget. Players may also apply for full and partial scholarships to be awarded based on financial need. See the 2019-20 annual club fees here.

Who is in charge of CFC Academy?

Our new Director of Coaching is Steve Hirayama. Steve returns to Tennessee after holding director positions at some of the largest clubs in Texas and Florida, including ECNL and US Soccer DA clubs. Steve knows how to build a staff and he knows how to improve a club culture. This new leadership will help CFCA evolve into a more modern club that is more responsive to the needs of our membership. Read more about him here.

Can I watch tryouts?

You may. We do recommend that parents stay away from the sidelines and immediate area. This is out of consideration for other players. The more adults standing close to the action, the more stressful and less natural the environment can feel for players.

Is my child guaranteed a spot on a team?

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.