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.
Updated by Kate Hagan Gallup
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
Looking for a different sport? Check out our full youth sports guide.