What the club offers

Recreational soccer welcomes new players and families across the greater Austin area with organized, enjoyable seasons designed as a first step on the soccer journey. Starting fall 2026, rec programming expands to four locations—Central plus new North, East, and South sites—so families outside the historic central hub have closer options.

Junior Academy serves roughly first through fourth grade (U7–U10) as the step before full competitive commitment. Fall runs August through November and spring runs February through May. Teams train twice weekly with professional coaches, events flow through the PlayMetrics club communication platform, and players order uniforms through Capelli Sports as directed by club staff.

Competitive teams cover U11 through U19 with multiple ability levels, each supported by a program director. Rosters train twice weekly and play weekend fixtures. SuperLeague of Austin (SLA) is the entry competitive track with local Austin-metro games. WDDOA and STXCL Western conference teams add regional league play with travel toward San Antonio and nearby areas. League affiliations include STXCL Western Conference on the US Club Soccer platform, WDDOA Prime/Challenger/Alpha on the US Soccer platform, and SLA for families who want competitive soccer without long-distance travel.

Elite ECNL boys programming places U13–U18 athletes in the Texas Conference with three weekly training sessions focused on technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development. Parallel girls pathways include ECNL, ECNL Regional League, and Pre-ECNL tiers. The club also fields summer day camps, premier development camps, and goalkeeper development camps, plus college-placement support for older athletes.

Development approach

The club mission centers on developing each player on and off the field inside a supportive environment that builds confidence and life skills. Healthy competition is encouraged without sacrificing fair play—winning matters, but sportsmanship and character come first. Stated values include positivity, persistence, patience, and respect, woven into daily training and match culture. Junior Academy emphasizes game-like learning, bold on-ball work at younger ages, growing passing and spacing at U9, and smarter decision-making by U10.

Tryouts and registration

Tryouts for the 2026/2027 cycle use U.S. Soccer birth-year bands from August 1 through July 31 (U9 through U18/U19). Families who missed the main tryout window can still reach program directors for placement conversations. Tryout registration runs through PlayMetrics signup links tied to the club. Director of Coaching Wayne Bartlett oversees Pre-ECNL girls along with the coaching staff; Mike Rees serves as Assistant Director of Coaching and Pre-ECNL boys director; George Lara is listed among tryout contacts for families seeking a specific program lead.

Where families train and play

Training and matches use fields across the Austin metro through partnerships with schools, parks, and soccer complexes so weekly drives stay manageable for West Lake Hills, central Austin, and expanding north, east, and south rec hubs. Specific field assignments vary by team and season—confirm schedules in PlayMetrics or with the relevant program director before travel days.

How to reach the club

Use PlayMetrics for tryouts, camps, and many program registrations. For questions after a missed tryout date or to discuss the right competitive level, contact Wayne Bartlett, Mike Rees, or George Lara through the club staff directory. Follow @fcwestlake on Instagram for camp openings and club news.