What ages and program levels does Wilmette Wings Soccer Club offer?Wilmette Wings fields competitive travel teams for boys and girls from U7 through U12, with tryouts grouped by rising school grade. The club runs about 36–40 teams and roughly 500–600 players each year. Players moving into U13 and older continue with Chicago Rush North Shore under the shared Rush–Wings pathway. Additional training includes camps, clinics, small-group summer sessions, and a Drive Goalkeeping–based goalkeeper program.

Where does Wilmette Wings train and hold tryouts?2026–2027 tryouts take place at West Park and Howard Park in Wilmette. Girls U8–U12 sessions run May 2–6, boys U8–U12 May 8–12, and U7 boys and girls share a May 20 session at Howard Park. When an age band has two listed tryout dates, players must attend both.

When are tryouts and how does age-group placement work?Wilmette Wings hosts 2026–2027 team tryouts in May. The club places players by rising fall school grade so classmates stay together even if U.S. Soccer birth-year rules would suggest a different label. Families register through the club’s online tryout signup. Athletes seeking U13–U19 teams should follow Chicago Rush North Shore instead of Wings U13+ rosters.

What do club fees and financial assistance look like?Team registration requires at least a $400 deposit per player. Need-based aid applications go to the Family Service Center of Wilmette by June 1, 2026; decisions stay confidential and every family still pays a portion of fees, with aid above half of costs only in exceptional cases. Balances or payment plans must be current by August 1, 2026, or a player may be held out until the account is resolved. Contact the club administrator for payment-plan questions.

How does the goalkeeper program work?Wilmette Wings partners with Drive Goalkeeping for specialized training. U8 and U9 players rotate through goalkeeper minutes while developing field skills; U10 players get more goalkeeper time; from U11 the club holds goalkeeper tryouts for full-time and part-time roles. Assigned goalkeepers attend weekly goalkeeper sessions plus team practices. Tom Paparounis coaches goalkeepers, and families can email Executive Director Tom Gizynski for goalkeeper questions.

How can families contact Wilmette Wings Soccer Club?Email Executive Director Tom Gizynski at tomgizynski@wilmettewings.com for club leadership, tryouts, or volunteer board roles. Mail club correspondence to P.O. Box 36, Wilmette, IL 60091. For financial-aid applications, call the Family Service Center of Wilmette at (847) 251-7350. Use the club’s online registration for current tryout and program signups.