SPRING REC
Dates: TBD
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SPRING REC
Dates: TBD
- Ages 4 to 12
- Days: TBD
- Field: TBD
- Session times: TBD
- Price: TBD
- Sign-up link: TBD
Tell me when spring sign-up opens
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ILSoccer Shootout Illinois
Fun rec soccer for ages 4 to 12. Practice and play on the same day, about 90 minutes. Local leagues, no travel. No tryouts. Every kid plays.
Illinois opens spring 2027.
Opening spring 2027
COUNTY: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
LOCAL DIRECTOR
TBD
SPRING 2027
PARENT GUIDE
Parent information.
How teams, coaching and family communication work.
Can my child play with a friend?
Add your friend's full name to the registration request. Both families should request each other. Placement depends on age group and available space; a request is not a guarantee.
TEAM PLACEMENT
Age and experience guide team formation so new and returning players can learn together.
What happens on the first day?
It starts with meeting the coach, finding the team and joining a simple ball activity. Before opening day, your coach introduces themselves and explains where to meet and what to bring.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME
- Check your assigned start time
- Read your coach's welcome message
- Pack water and check weather updates
What does game day look like?
Practice and play happen on the same day. Short demonstrations lead into small-group activities, then the game, where players use the skill they have practiced.
GAME DAY FLOW
- Warm-up
- Skill activity
- Game
- Team wrap-up
What will my child learn?
Coaching focuses on controlling the ball, passing to a teammate, finding space and shooting. Coaches explain the task, let players try it and help them adjust.
FROM THE SIDELINE
Cheer for effort. Let the coach give instructions. Mistakes are part of learning.
How will families get updates?
Team reminders, weather changes and coach messages come through our app. Families get access instructions with their team welcome.
QUESTIONS OR MISSED SESSIONS
Let the coach know if your child will be absent or needs help settling in.
Unsure about the first session?
Talk to usSOCCER SHOOTOUT / STANDARDS
Held to a higher standard.
Clear expectations for coaches, officials and families. Practical commitments you can see on game day.
PREPARED COACHES
Every coach completes our Gold Standard coaching course before the season: how to run a session, keep every child involved and make game day fun. Each week they get a ready-made session plan built for their age group, so practice time is never wasted. Twice a season, a session is observed and the coach gets feedback to keep improving.
WHAT EVERY COACH BRINGS
- Gold Standard coaching course
- A weekly session plan for their age group
- Two observed sessions with feedback
- The coaches pack: polos, caps, equipment bag, cones, whistle and tactics board
MEANINGFUL PLAYING TIME
Every available player plays at least three quarters of every game. Coaches plan rotations before kickoff and track minutes during the game, so playing time is fair from the first week to the last. Kids learn by playing, not by watching.
HOW IT WORKS
- Rotations planned before kickoff
- Minutes tracked every game
- Exceptions only for injury, voluntary rest or partial attendance
A WEEKLY LEARNING PLAN
Each week has one clear skill for your child's age group. You will know what they are practicing, why it matters on the field and one simple activity to try at home, so the learning does not stop when the session ends.
EXAMPLE WEEK
Skill: passing to a teammate
Why it matters: it turns players into a team
Try at home: pass through two cones with a family member
SUPPORTED REFEREES
Referees are certified and trained in our age-group rules before the season. Their games are observed, they are mentored as they grow, and every referee is reviewed each season. Referees who underperform are not invited back, and any concern about a referee gets a prompt review.
DURING THE GAME
- Questions about a call go to the site lead, never to the referee.
RESPECTFUL SIDELINES
Every adult on the sideline follows a shared conduct code, because kids play their best when the grown-ups around them stay positive. Each site has a named person who handles problems quickly and fairly, so concerns never sit unresolved.
THE CODE IN SHORT
- Cheer for effort, not just goals
- Let the coach coach
- Respect the referee
- Keep it positive for every kid, on both teams
HELP ON GAME DAY
Every game day has a visible site lead at the field. Arrival checks make sure every child is accounted for, and weather and emergency procedures are set before the season starts, so everyone knows what happens if plans change.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
- Find the site lead
- Check in with your coach
- Your field and start time come with your team welcome
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Every nonurgent question gets a reply within two business days. If something needs more time, we will tell you when to expect an answer instead of leaving you waiting. Urgent concerns on game day go straight to the site lead.
WHO TO ASK
- Your coach: team and practice questions
- The site lead: anything on game day
- Our team: registration, schedules and everything else, through the contact page
Playing-time exceptions: injury, voluntary rest or partial attendance. Urgent concerns go directly to the site lead.
JOIN THE GAME-DAY TEAM
HELP KIDS LEARN THE GAME.
Age-group session plans, preseason training and feedback. Tell us about your experience and availability.
APPLY TO COACH →HELP MAKE GAME DAY FAIR.
Rules preparation, mentoring and feedback. Tell us about your qualifications and availability.
APPLY TO REFEREE →16 clubs. 1 home.
Their club starts here.
Forge SC
United SC
Phoenix SC
Empire SC
Elevate SC
Summit SC
Kinetic SC
Origin SC
Northstar SC
Valor SC
Pioneer SC
Apex SC
Legacy SC
Riviera SC
Invicta SC
Nexus SC
Fan wear is optional and separate from the included player kit.
My child has never played before. Can they join?
Absolutely. Soccer Shootout is rec soccer for ages 4 to 12, built for first-timers and rec regulars alike. There are no tryouts and every kid plays. Sessions are built for each age group, so a child who has never played fits right in.
Do we try out?
No. There are no tryouts, ever. Every child who registers plays. Draft Day is not a tryout: it is a free, fun day where kids play and every child is drafted to one of our 16 clubs, each with its own crest and kit.
What is Draft Day?
Draft Day opens every season, and it is free. Kids play together, meet the coaches and every child is drafted to one of our 16 clubs. Your local program shares the date and place before the season.
How much does it cost?
Your local program sets its price and shows it with its early bird deadline when you find your league. There is no sibling discount.
What is included in the registration fee?
Your child's full game kit in their club's colors: one jersey, shorts and game socks. Fan wear is optional and sold separately.
When and where do they play?
Your local program sets the field and times, and you will see them when you find your league.
How long does it take each week?
Preseason is 4 practices over 2 weeks, so the team learns to play together. Once the season starts it is one day a week: practice and play on the same day, about 90 minutes in all, with no extra practices during the season.
How much will my child play?
Every available player plays at least three quarters of every game. Coaches plan rotations before kickoff and track minutes during the game. The only exceptions are injury, voluntary rest or arriving partway through.
Who coaches my child?
Every coach completes our Gold Standard coaching course before the season and follows a weekly session plan for their age group. Each coach is observed twice a season and gets feedback to keep improving.
Can my child play with a friend?
You can request it. Add your friend's full name when you register, and both families should request each other. Placement depends on age group and available space, so a request is not a guarantee.
What do we need to bring?
Shin guards, which are required for every session and game; soccer cleats or athletic sneakers; a filled water bottle; and a good attitude. Your child's jersey, shorts and game socks are included with registration. Everything on this list is also available in the Soccer Shootout store.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Player safety comes first. Play stops for lightning or unsafe field conditions. When a game is canceled, we reschedule it whenever the calendar allows, and your coach and team updates tell you about any change as early as possible.
What is your refund policy?
Registration fees are non-refundable. For peace of mind, you can add refund protection when you register. It gives you a 100% refund for any reason, at any time through the end of your child's first game.
How will we get updates?
Team reminders, schedule and weather changes, and coach messages all come through our app. You get access instructions with your team welcome.
Can I coach or help?
We would love to hear from you. Apply to coach and tell us about your experience and availability. Every coach completes our Gold Standard coaching course before the season.
Who do I contact with questions?
Your coach for team questions, the site lead on game day, and our team through the contact page for everything else. Every nonurgent question gets a reply within two business days.