Illinois FC

What the club offers

Micro soccer introduces children roughly ages three through eight to dribbling, passing, shooting, coordination, and movement in a playful environment, led by professional Illinois FC coaches. Those sessions run in partnership with the Champaign Park District and the Savoy Recreation Center, with seasonal options that include spring, summer, fall, and winter micro programming.

Full-time travel soccer serves boys and girls from U8 through U19. Teams are often grouped into Orange, Blue, and Navy tiers that signal competitive level. Beyond league play, Illinois FC runs supplemental club programs for U9 through U19 players who want extra training on top of their regular team schedule.

The club runs well-known regional events, including the annual Spring Invite (for 2026, games are slated for May 1–3 at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex on turf fields). Summer camps and clinics at Dodds Park in 2026 include goalkeeper, juniors, youth skills, and preseason options; registration opens March 25 and non–Illinois FC players may enroll. Illinois FC offers college recruiting guidance for high school athletes, covering NCAA timelines, proactive planning, and video ideas for reaching college coaches.

Development philosophy and coaching

Illinois FC emphasizes teamwork, healthy competition, commitment between parents and players, communication, personal accountability, and character within a club culture modeled on traditional soccer clubs worldwide—where members are expected to support one another’s success. The club maintains one of the largest licensed coaching staffs in the Champaign–Urbana area, with coaches selected carefully and encouraged to keep learning. The Director of Coaching leads overall programming questions, while individual team coaches bring USSF grassroots through National D credentials and varied playing backgrounds.

Tryouts, registration, and camps

Supplemental tryouts and evaluations for open spring 2026 roster spots are part of how the club fills select age groups. Because online registration windows open and close with the seasonal calendar, families should contact the Director of Coaching at doc@illinoisfc.com or call the club office for the current tryout process and timing. Administrative questions, payments, and general registration support go through the club administrator at admin@illinoisfc.com.

Summer 2026 camp fees at Dodds Park include a $130 goalkeeper camp (June 30–July 2, 5:30–7:00 p.m.), a $150 juniors camp (July 6–10, 5:30–7:30 p.m., birth years 2016–2019), a $190 youth skills camp (July 13–17, 5:00–8:00 p.m., birth years 2012–2015), and a $150 preseason clinic (August 3–6, 5:30–7:00 p.m., birth years 2012–2019); ask the office if dates or fields shift.

How to reach the club

The Illinois FC office is at 2310 N. Willow Road, Urbana, IL 61802, inside Soccer Planet. Phone +1 217-344-9174; email admin@illinoisfc.com. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with meetings by appointment. For programming and coaching questions, Lyle Barreiro, Director of Coaching, uses doc@illinoisfc.com and the same main office line. Heather Finley serves as tournament director for IFC-hosted events at hfinleyifc@gmail.com.