What ages and program levels does Mercer Island FC offer?Micro Soccer serves four- through six-year-olds. At seven and eight, players can join recreational soccer or the Juniors competitive introduction. Recreation continues for older athletes who want a lighter seasonal load. From about ten through twelve, tryouts open for MIFC Select and Eastside FC West. Select plays in the North Puget Sound League on a June–January calendar suited to multi-sport students. Eastside FC West is the year-round May–April pathway in the Regional Club League with access to Eastside FC’s ECNL and ECNL RL ladders. Teenagers from about thirteen through nineteen can shift among recreational and competitive offerings as their goals evolve.
About
Mercer Island FC (MIFC) is a community-based youth soccer club serving Mercer Island, Washington, with general correspondence through PO Box 113, Mercer Island, WA 98040. The organization traces its local presence to 1964 and organizes programming around a simple idea: put players first and match each child’s ambition to the right level of commitment, from introductory recreation through regional competitive tracks.
What the club offers
Micro Soccer introduces four- through six-year-olds using small-sided 2v2 fall games plus trainer-led work, with an eight-week fall season that pairs optional midweek training with Saturday games led by parent volunteers alongside a club curriculum, and a six-week spring block that is training-only for refreshers and newcomers. At ages seven and eight, families choose between recreational soccer with parent and volunteer coaches and the Juniors track, where paid professional coaches run two sessions per week across summer/fall and winter/spring phases, jamborees or league games depending on the season, and an open-enrollment philosophy that still stresses competition and long-term development over short-term results. Recreational soccer continues through older age groups for players who want a shorter seasonal commitment and community-centered teams. Starting in the growth years (about ten through twelve), MIFC Select and Eastside FC West become options; tryouts place players onto Select or Eastside FC West rosters with professional evaluation. MIFC Select targets athletes who want strong local competition in the North Puget Sound League while preserving room for school activities and multi-sport seasons, with a June-through-January soccer calendar, two practices per week through the summer tournament window, NPSL league play in fall, a December break, and winter or optional spring follow-on (girls U15–U18 run December–March league play so high-school soccer can stay the winter priority). Eastside FC West, shaped through a partnership among Mercer Island FC, Eastside FC, and the former XL program, gives the most soccer-first athletes a May-through-April year-round model: three trainings per week, Regional Club League competition with a pathway into ECNL and ECNL Regional League opportunities through Eastside FC, tryouts centralized in Preston, and Maroon teams that train on Mercer Island and in Bellevue when players earn those placements. Teen players from about thirteen through nineteen can move among recreational and competitive levels as their goals change. Recreational registrants receive an official MIFC game jersey bundled into the fee; families supply shin guards, black socks, black shorts, and footwear, with cleats recommended.
Training sites and how teams operate
Day-to-day training and many tryout sessions use Mercer Island fields such as South Mercer Playfields East and Islander Middle School on 84th Avenue Southeast. Eastside FC West evaluations and many older-band tryouts happen at Preston Athletic Fields in Issaquah. Select teams expect fuller parent roles than recreation, including team manager, treasurer, and referee-pool duties, and they plan for multiple summer tournaments. Eastside FC West Maroon sides use TeamSnap for registration, scheduling, and communication once players are placed.
Tryouts, placement, and registration
Competitive tryouts for MIFC Select and Eastside FC West are scheduled across late winter and spring, with separate age-group windows for boys and girls; high-school bands often try out in February while younger Select groups concentrate in April and May. Dates, times, and field assignments change, so families should confirm the current schedule before traveling. MIFC Select tryout signup runs through PlayMetrics. Eastside FC West tryout registration follows Eastside FC’s process on TeamSnap alongside the PlayMetrics signup used for MIFC Select. Assessment rests on four pillars—technical, tactical, physical, and psychological—with subsets that coaches track for individuals and teams. Staff emphasize thoughtful placement, no pressure for instant decisions, and freedom for athletes to explore the right competitive home, including cooperation with other Eastside Youth Soccer Association clubs. Current MIFC Select players who attend Eastside FC West tryouts may also attend MIFC Select tryouts for another look without paying a second tryout fee. Starting with team formation for the 2026–2027 season, U.S. Soccer directs leagues and clubs to shift youth age grouping from strict birth-year bands back toward a school-year format, so families should plan tryouts and grade alignment with that nationwide change in mind.
Known fees and registration mechanics
Spring Micro Soccer registers through PlayMetrics and is priced at one hundred eighty dollars for the six-week, training-only season held at South Mercer Playfields East, with Sunday sessions split by gender so attendance stays balanced. Fall micro registration includes the game jersey. Select registration after a roster offer is invite-only through the club’s Select registration pathway, and Eastside FC West roster offers similarly use the invite-only Eastside FC West registration flow. Camps, clinics, and recreational bundles have their own seasonal checkouts. Dollar amounts beyond the Micro Soccer spring fee can change each cycle, so families should confirm pricing inside the active registration checkout for their program.
Philosophy, communication, and community support
Club values are inclusive, affordable, community-based, and respectful. Player-pathway language groups athletes into those who like the game, love the game, or live for the game, with programming designed to slide between commitment levels as kids mature. Families can join the club’s communications list for updates, and general questions go to the club email team.
Explore more teams
Compare Mercer Island FC with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader Washington programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Mercer Island FC train and hold tryouts?Mercer Island training and many tryouts use South Mercer Playfields East and Islander Middle School on 84th Avenue Southeast. Eastside FC West evaluations and many older-band tryouts are held at Preston Athletic Fields in Issaquah. Maroon Eastside FC West teams train on Mercer Island and in Bellevue once players earn those roster spots.
When are tryouts and how do families register?Competitive tryouts stretch from late winter into spring: high-school ages often evaluate in February, while younger Select groups usually run in April and May, always subject to change. Register for MIFC Select tryouts through PlayMetrics. Eastside FC West tryouts follow Eastside FC’s seasonal tryout calendar with TeamSnap registration, while MIFC Select stays on PlayMetrics. Confirm the latest times and fields before you travel.
What fees are spelled out for Mercer Island FC programs?Spring Micro Soccer costs one hundred eighty dollars for the six-week training season and registers through PlayMetrics. Fall micro fees are confirmed at registration and include a game jersey. Select and Eastside FC West team tuition varies by age group and offer, and invite-only registration opens only after tryout placement. Camps, clinics, and recreational bundles each set their own seasonal fees through separate registration paths.
What is Mercer Island FC’s mission and coaching philosophy?The club has organized around putting players first since 1964, using pathway language for athletes who like, love, or live for soccer so families can scale commitment over time. Competitive evaluation measures technical, tactical, physical, and psychological traits. Staff promise placement conversations without rushing financial commitments, respect for players exploring other clubs, and alignment with Eastside Youth Soccer Association partners. Club values are inclusive, affordable, community-based, and respectful.
How can families contact Mercer Island FC?Email info@mifc.org for general questions or mail correspondence to Mercer Island FC, PO Box 113, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Use PlayMetrics for micro soccer, recreational bundles, MIFC Select tryouts, and invite-only Select registration; use TeamSnap when you are following Eastside FC West tryouts or rostering on those teams. Join the communications list if you want seasonal updates by email.
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