Chicago Fire Youth Soccer Club is the fee-based youth club arm of the Chicago Fire FC ecosystem, built for families who want structured training and league play under a single Chicago brand. Programming spans introductory pre-travel work through high-commitment travel teams, with age bands organized in foundation (about 8U–10U), developmental (about 11U–14U), and performance (about 15U–19U) phases. Beginning in fall 2026 the club aligns with school-year-based age groups under the U.S. Soccer initiative, so families should confirm a player’s group with the club’s age-group tools when registering.
Sparks serves 6U–7U players new to organized soccer with once-a-week training that emphasizes games, ball skills, and enjoyment. The 8U–9U pre-travel track adds in-house and select options that stay largely anchored at the home facility before wider travel. Select Travel and Premier Travel scale up training frequency, league play, and tournament travel, with Premier carrying the highest expectations for sessions per week, competition level, and overall commitment. Teams train and compete from youth ages through high school, with girls’ and boys’ pathways and high-school-age programming that includes multi-date tryouts and, for boys, a first evaluation round followed by invitation-only callbacks before offers.
The club’s home hub is Endeavor Health Fire Pitch at 3626 North Talman Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618, an indoor-outdoor complex where many sessions and tryouts take place. Depending on program tier and season, teams also use additional Chicago-area training and match sites the club assigns, including outdoor locations such as Montrose, Foster, and Clark, and, for older boys and girls groups, the Performance Center alongside Fire Pitch and those outdoor venues.
New-player tryouts require online registration when possible; the tryout fee is fifty dollars online, and families who must pay in person bring sixty dollars cash on the tryout day and still need an account set up ahead of time, arriving extra early for check-in. Trialists receive a tryout shirt to wear during evaluations and should plan to arrive thirty to forty-five minutes before the listed session. After the last tryout, new-player offers for girls generally arrive by email within about seventy-two hours of the final session, while boys receive callback invitations after the first round before final decisions. Accepting a roster spot includes a four-hundred-dollar non-refundable deposit toward 2026–27 tuition plus setting up a payment plan; families should also expect uniform coordination through soccer.com and requests for waivers, a recent headshot, proof of age, and insurance details. Financial aid applications are submitted through the family dashboard after login, with strongest timing before the first tryout so staff can respond before offer deadlines; questions go to the Director of Operations at LBlakely@chicagofirefc.com.
The technical model balances development with competition using a constraints-led approach: practices emphasize small-sided and conditioned games, tactical problems, and technical work so players learn to solve real-game situations rather than only repeating isolated moves. Planning draws on nonlinear pedagogy ideas—representative tasks, coach-as-guide, and player-centered sessions—and is reviewed with Chicago Fire Academy leadership so youth-club training stays aligned with the wider pro pathway. Coaches also use a club-built curriculum on The Coaching Manual platform for seasonal plans, session tools, and shared resources.
General questions and tryout changes often start at info@chicagofireyouthsc.com. For financial aid, email LBlakely@chicagofirefc.com. Programming heads include the Director of Coaching and phase leads reachable at mbond@chicagofirefc.com, nquiroga@chicagofirefc.com, jsackeyfio@chicagofirefc.com, and fsuarez@chicagofirefc.com for foundation, developmental, and performance questions respectively. Call +1 773-944-0527 for the main club line.
Compare Chicago Fire Youth Soccer Club with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader Illinois programs, and nearby team options in one place.
What ages and program levels does Chicago Fire Youth Soccer Club offer?The club runs Sparks for 6U–7U, 8U–9U pre-travel options including in-house and select, then Select Travel and Premier Travel for higher commitment. Age-group work is grouped into foundation (about 8U–10U), developmental (about 11U–14U), and performance (about 15U–19U) phases, with boys’ and girls’ teams from youth ages through high school.
Where does the club train and play?Home training and many events center on Endeavor Health Fire Pitch at 3626 North Talman Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618. Teams may also be assigned to additional Chicago sites such as Montrose, Foster, Clark, and, for older players, the Performance Center, depending on program and season.
When are tryouts and how does registration work?New-player tryouts are scheduled by age group each spring for the following club year; high school girls and boys windows include multiple May and early June sessions in the 2026–27 cycle, with boys receiving callback invitations after the first round. Families create a parent account, add the player, then enroll in the tryout program that matches the birth year. Email updates typically arrive a few days before the session.
What do tryouts cost?Online registration is fifty dollars. If a family cannot pay online, sixty dollars cash is accepted on the tryout day with account setup completed in advance and early arrival for check-in. Tryout fees are non-refundable; contact info@chicagofireyouthsc.com if a registered player cannot attend.
What payments are due after a team offer?Accepting an offer includes a four-hundred-dollar non-refundable deposit toward 2026–27 tuition and arranging a payment plan for the balance. Families should also plan for uniforms and other team costs communicated at acceptance.
Does the club offer financial aid or payment plans?Payment plans are part of accepting a roster spot after an offer. Need-based aid uses an application in the family dashboard after login; applying before the first tryout is recommended so decisions return before offer deadlines. Email LBlakely@chicagofirefc.com with questions about financial aid or the application process.
What is the club’s coaching and development philosophy?Training balances development and competition through a constraints-led approach with heavy use of small-sided and conditioned games, plus tactical and technical work. Session design follows nonlinear pedagogy ideas—representative learning design, coach as guide, and player-centered work—and curriculum review stays aligned with Chicago Fire Academy leadership. Coaches access seasonal plans and resources through The Coaching Manual partnership.
How can families contact or register?Register and manage programs through the club’s online dashboard after creating a parent account. Email info@chicagofireyouthsc.com for general questions, LBlakely@chicagofirefc.com for financial aid, and call +1 773-944-0527. Coaching staff emails include mbond@chicagofirefc.com, nquiroga@chicagofirefc.com, jsackeyfio@chicagofirefc.com, and fsuarez@chicagofirefc.com for phase-specific questions.
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