Des Moines Soccer Club

What the club offers

Kickstart (4U–5U) introduces the youngest players with a club-provided colored tee, a $55 per player fee, and fall and spring blocks (for example fall roughly mid-September through mid-October and spring roughly mid-April through mid-May, with registration opening June 1 for fall and January 1 for spring). Recreation 6U–8U runs as an in-house, co-ed league by birth year with one or two practices per week, Sunday games at set kickoff times by age (7U 12:15 p.m., 8U 1:45 p.m., 6U 3:15 p.m. on the current schedule), early-bird registration $150 through January 31 (spring) or June 30 (fall) and $160 regular, plus uniforms on a two-year cycle through soccer.com. Recreation 9U–19U focuses on fun with two practices per week, teams entered in Iowa Soccer Association Rec Central, early-bird $155 and regular $165 with the same cutoff dates, girls-only options at older ages, and size 4 or 5 balls by age band. Iowa Soccer does not run 16U+ rec league play in the spring because those athletes are expected to play high school soccer.

Pre-Academy is an optional spring add-on for in-house 8U rec players who match the current birth-year line on the club matrix: an extra weekly session led by Academy Director Matt Lamale that mirrors Academy training, held on Wednesday evenings at Aliber Soccer Complex Field 20 during the spring Pre-Academy block, with a $60 fee for that block—confirm dates and eligibility each season in PlayMetrics. Academy 9U–10U is the bridge to Select with no tryouts; anyone who registers can play, with $350 per season, payment plans, US Soccer grassroots-licensed assistant coaches, and a uniform cycle coordinated by the equipment office.

Select 11U–19U is DMSC’s most competitive track: professional head coaches, three trainings per week, most weekends with one or two games, and at least one tournament per season. Rosters require tryouts; not every attendee receives an offer. Tryouts take place at Water Works Field, 5171 Park Ave, Des Moines, with age-group evenings concentrated in late May and early June—register in PlayMetrics when the player’s birth year is eligible, attend at least one session (two recommended), and join the parent informational meeting on the first night for that age group. Accepted players receive an email invitation to accept a bid during a defined window (for the 2025–2026 club year, 11U–14U on June 11 and 15U–19U on June 18, each 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Central). Select registration runs $600 for high school players in the fall-only option and $1,150 for eighth grade and younger for the full fall-and-spring club year, with payment plans; uniform ordering details go to new Select families directly.

Cabin Fever Camp is a spring-break week (March 16–20 on the current schedule) at Stilwell Junior High, 1601 Vine St, West Des Moines, IA 50265, led by Select/Academy Director Matt Lamale: 8U–10U from 8–9 a.m. and 11U–13U from 9–10 a.m., $100 per age band. Winter indoor space is rented through West Des Moines Community Schools; if district weather closures shut facilities, the club reschedules when possible or applies a prorated credit.

Training locations and league play

Select tryouts and much of the competitive calendar center on Water Works Field in Des Moines. Pre-Academy sessions use Aliber Soccer Complex. Cabin Fever Camp meets at Stilwell Junior High in West Des Moines. Recreational teams follow coach-assigned practice fields; 9U–19U league schedules come from Iowa Soccer Association Rec Central after club registration deadlines (roughly mid-July for fall teams and mid-February for spring).

Mission and coaching approach

DMSC aims to make soccer accessible to every child who wants to play while still offering Academy and Select for families seeking more challenge. Academy and Select leadership sits with Matt Lamale; equipment questions route to the director of equipment at the club’s equipment inbox. Volunteers power many off-field roles, and the club welcomes new helpers.

Registration, fees, and gear summary

Beyond the numbers above, Kickstart families bring shin guards, cleats or tennis shoes, a size 3 ball, and water. Rec and Academy players order uniforms through the club’s soccer.com storefront during the current two-year cycle. Select athletes size up to ball 4 (11U–12U) or 5 (13U+) and reuse prior-cycle uniforms when still valid.

How to reach the club

General membership questions: membership@desmoinessoccerclub.org. Academy, Pre-Academy, and Select soccer questions: academy@desmoinessoccerclub.org. Uniform ordering for Academy: equipment@desmoinessoccerclub.org. Mailing address: PO Box 21172, Des Moines, IA 50321. The online contact form accepts name, phone, email, and a message. Supporters may donate through the club’s linked PayPal charity page or Venmo @DesMoinesSC. Follow social conversation with #DMSC.