Tryouts
Annual tryouts in May — free to register and open to all Fairfield residents.
Overview
Players are evaluated during FUSA's annual May tryouts for placement on travel teams for the upcoming season. Roster notifications are typically communicated to families by June.
Pre-registration is required; walk-up registrations are not permitted.
New to travel soccer?
Travel soccer is designed for players who are interested in developing their skills beyond the recreational level through professional coaching, structured training, and competitive league play. FUSA teams compete in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Southwest District (SWD) against clubs throughout Connecticut. Home games are played in Fairfield, while most away games are within a 30–45 minute drive, though occasional longer trips may be required. Players are expected to regularly attend practices and games and make a commitment to their team throughout the fall and spring seasons.
How to Register
- 1 Create or log in to your PlayMetrics account (opens in new tab).
- 2 Register your player for tryouts (free).
- 3 Indicate if your player is a goalkeeper.
Full-Time Goalkeepers: Must attend the Goalkeeper Evaluation Session and at least one tryout date. Part-Time Goalkeepers: Are strongly encouraged to attend the Goalkeeper Evaluation Session and both tryout dates.
Tryout Schedule
Tryouts for the 2026–2027 season have concluded.
Thank you to everyone who participated! Team rosters have been finalized, and roster notifications have been sent to all registered players.
Missed tryouts but still interested in joining FUSA? Register for our waitlist. If a roster spot becomes available, the FUSA Registrar will contact you with next steps.
Player Tryouts
U8 (1st/2nd Grade)
May 5th · Woods
4:30–6:00
May 7th · Tomlinson
4:30–6:00
U9 (3rd Grade)
May 5th · Woods
4:30–6:00
May 7th · Tomlinson
4:30–6:00
U10 (4th Grade)
May 4th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
May 6th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
U11 (5th Grade)
May 4th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
May 6th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
U12 (6th Grade)
May 5th · Woods
6:15–7:45
May 7th · Tomlinson
6:15–7:45
U13 (7th Grade)
May 4th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
May 6th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
U14 (8th Grade)
May 4th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
May 6th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
U8 (1st/2nd Grade)
May 5th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
May 7th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
U9 (3rd Grade)
May 5th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
May 7th · Oldfield
4:30–6:00
U10 (4th Grade)
May 5th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
May 7th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
U11 (5th Grade)
May 5th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
May 7th · Oldfield
6:15–7:45
U12 (6th Grade)
May 4th · Dwight
4:30–6:00
May 6th · RLMS
5:00–6:30
U13 (7th Grade)
May 4th · Dwight
4:30–6:00
May 6th · RLMS
5:00–6:30
U14 (8th Grade)
May 4th · Dwight
4:30–6:00
May 6th · RLMS
5:00–6:30
Day-Of Instructions
Arrive 10 minutes early
Check in and get warmed up before your session starts.
What to bring
Ball, water bottle, shin guards, and cleats.
Drop off or stay in your vehicle
Players must be unobserved by parents during evaluations to ensure fair assessments.
Weather cancellations
Cancellations are communicated via email and PlayMetrics as early as possible.
Player Evaluations
Returning Players
In-season assessments + tryouts
Evaluated by coaching staff at the start and end of both the fall and spring seasons. These assessments are combined with tryout results to produce an overall ranking score.
New to FUSA · All U8s
Tryout performance only
Players new to FUSA, including all incoming U8 players, are evaluated based on their tryout performance and assigned a ranking score accordingly.
Injury or Approved Exception
Most recent in-season assessments
Returning players unable to participate in tryouts due to injury or other approved circumstances are evaluated using their most recent in-season assessments.
FUSA uses this evaluation process to help ensure team placements are objective, consistent, and focused on providing the best developmental environment for each player.
Team Formation
Player development is the primary goal when forming FUSA teams. At the U8 level, teams are generally balanced to provide a positive introduction to travel soccer and maximize development opportunities for all players. Beginning at U9, FUSA uses a tiered team structure. Teams are formed based on player evaluations and registration numbers, allowing players to train and compete with others of similar ability and developmental needs.
The number of teams and team levels offered in each age group varies from year to year based on registration numbers and player evaluations. While team structures may evolve over time, FUSA remains committed to prioritizing player development, sportsmanship, and long-term growth over short-term results.
Team placements are completed one team level at a time, beginning with the highest team (Black) and continuing through each subsequent level (Red, White, etc.). For example, Black team rosters must be finalized before Red team offers can be extended, and Red team rosters must be finalized before White team offers can be extended. As a result, delays in accepting or declining roster offers can impact the placement timeline for all players within an age group.
Placement notifications typically begin in late May, with the goal of completing team formation by mid-June.
Tiered Team Structure
Format & Roster Size by Age Group
U8
1st–2nd Grade
Format
7v7
Roster
12–13
U9
3rd Grade
Format
7v7
Roster
12–13
U10
4th Grade
Format
7v7
Roster
12–13
U11
5th Grade
Format
9v9
Roster
14–16
U12
6th Grade
Format
9v9
Roster
14–16
U13
7th Grade
Format
11v11
Roster
18–20
U14/15
8th Grade
Format
11v11
Roster
18–20
Note: Team structures may vary by age group and season based on registration numbers and player evaluations. Not every age group will have every team level each year.
Families are expected to accept or decline roster offers within 72 hours of receiving them. If a roster offer is not accepted within 72 hours, the player may be moved to the waitlist and the roster spot may be offered to another player.
Playing Up
In limited circumstances, a player may be considered for placement in the next older age group. To be eligible, the player must be evaluated by FUSA's coaching staff as being among the top players in the older age group and capable of succeeding in that environment both developmentally and competitively.
Younger players may also be offered placement on an older team when necessary to complete a roster and avoid creating a waitlist. In all cases, playing up is considered a one-season placement. Players are expected to return to their age-appropriate age group the following season unless they are again evaluated and approved for playing up.
League & Division Placement
FUSA teams compete in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) Southwest District (SWD) travel league.
Team division placement is evaluated each season based on player development, team composition, roster size, and competitive balance. While competitiveness is considered, FUSA prioritizes player development and long-term growth when making placement decisions.