How to Market Youth Sports Tryouts (and Fill Them)

When should a club announce tryout dates?

As early as your league's rules allow, and at least six to eight weeks before the first session. Families plan around school, other sports and holidays. In Kansas, for example, the state youth soccer association's 2026-27 rules let clubs advertise tryout dates from January 1, with tryouts starting June 5.

Every sport and region runs its own calendar:

Find your league's window, then work back from it. Announce the dates the first day you're allowed to.

/Sources: KSYSA · TFC Academy · Kelowna · BCSHL

What should a tryout page include?

Everything a parent needs to register without emailing you: dates, times, birth years, location, cost, what to bring, how selection works, when results come out and what the season costs if they're selected. The last two are the ones clubs leave out, and they're the ones parents worry about most.

Toronto FC's open tryout page is a good model. It lists the dates, the eligible birth years, the $50 fee, how to register and when the first releases are made. No guessing.

Checklist:

How do you get more players to come to tryouts?

Start with the families who already know you, then show new families what your club looks like. Email and text past players, camp families and your interest list first. Then post game and training footage, run ads to parents of the right birth years nearby, and give your current families a link to share.

The order I'd run it in:

1. Your own players and camp families, by email and text, the day dates go live.
2. A share link for current families. Their friends are your best prospects.
3. Reels of your teams and coaches. Game clips, a drill, a player's progress.
4. Paid ads to parents of the right birth years, within a sensible drive, for the four weeks before tryouts.
5. A free ID clinic or open session a few weeks before, where your league's rules allow it. In Kansas, these have to be advertised publicly at least 14 days ahead.

The number one thing I see clubs not doing is posting their game and training footage. Parents want to see the level, the coaching and whether the kids are having fun. That footage is your tryout ad.

How do you make tryouts feel welcoming, not stressful?

Tell families exactly what will happen, then do it. Send a schedule the week before, have someone greet players at the door, explain how evaluation works and say when results come out. A family that has a good experience at your tryout talks about your club, whether their kid makes it or not.

Small things that make a big difference:

• A welcome email 3 days before, with the schedule and parking.
• Name tags or numbered pinnies ready at check-in.
• A coach talking to parents for five minutes at the start.
• Results on the day you said, by the method you said.

What should you do after tryouts?

Follow up with every player within 48 hours, including the ones you cut. Selected players need their offer, the season cost and a deadline. Players you don't select need a kind message and a next step: a development group, a camp or a skills program. Most clubs send nothing to that second group.

Leads come in and nobody follows up. That's usually the leak, not ad spend. At tryouts, the leak is the players you didn't pick. Their families have already shown up, paid a fee and given you an evening. Offer them something.

A follow-up plan:

1. Selected: an offer with the season cost, what's included and a deadline. A reminder before it expires.
2. Not selected: a personal note, one thing to work on, and an invitation to your development program or next camp.
3. No-shows who registered: a message with the next date or a make-up session.
4. Everyone: add them to your intake calendar for the next season.

Some leagues give families time to change their minds. Kansas youth soccer gives players 72 hours to withdraw an acceptance without penalty, so keep in touch during that window.

How do you know if your tryout marketing worked?

Count registrations for the tryout, attendance on the day and signed players afterwards, by age group. Then compare with last year. If registrations were up but attendance was down, your reminders need work. If attendance was strong but signings were weak, look at your offer and follow-up.