Our tryout registration is a 2 part system. For the first part, sign up for tryouts. We normally offer open tryouts in May/June of each year. It is free to try out. If you are new to the club, create an account. Once you have an account, log in and click the available programs next to your child's name and choose Competitive registration.

Once you have registered to tryout out, show up at both open tryout sessions for your player's age group.

Tuesday 5/23/2023 and Thursday 5/25/2023

5:30 pm -7:00 pm at Ridley Sports Complex, 6148 Trotwood Ave, Columbia, TN 38401

Tuesday 5/30/2023 and Thursday 6/1/2023

5:30 pm -7:00 pm at Ridley Sports Complex, 6148 Trotwood Ave, Columbia, TN 38401

Once players have tried out, coaches will review and build teams. We will then send out emails to inform you whether or not your player made the team.

For the second part of the registration, if you are accepted to a team, you will receive an email. You will then log into your account, click Accept, complete the waivers, and submit registration payment to secure your position. A coach or team manager will reach out to you afterwards to give you information regarding the team. Please be patient and give us time to work on the teams.

Please note that following tryouts, the official Binding Date is June 12th, 2023. The Binding Date is defined as the date on which TSSA considers a player bound to their commitment to a specific competitive club. If the player has requested to be released (in writing) from this commitment prior to this date (on or before June 12th, 2023) then they are no longer considered bound to the competitive club via TSSA Policy. This does NOT mean that you are released from any financial commitment that you have previously agreed to or entered into freely with this competitive soccer club. Any financial commitment entered into with a club is between the parents and the club. TSSA does not recognize any Binding Date within our Recreational Clubs.

If the tryout dates have passed and you'd like to try out for a team during other times of the year, contact our VP of Travel.  Contact information is on the Contact page.

---

Registration Fee: $100 - Covers the cost of registration with TSSA, USYS, and insurance coverage.

Club Fees: $50 per month - Covers operating expenses for our competitive program such as training, fields, coaching, maintenance, and other fees associated with our travel program.

Team Fees: These fees are collected at the beginning of each season and go towards game expenses. These may include but are not limited to tournament fees, league fees (state league or junior development league), referee, assignor, fields, coach expenses, and other team costs. This amount varies from team to team based on the number of tournaments, games, locations, etc. The team manager will estimate the approximate cost at the beginning and may split the total up equally amongst players to be paid at least monthly.

Because the competitive program involves playing other clubs, there is more expense and time commitment than recreational soccer. Families will often travel out of county and sometimes the state to attend tournaments, league play, and other games. Teams may practice 2-3 times a week and may play every weekend.

---

Our club is Columbia Soccer Association (CSA). We are a member of the Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA). Columbia Futbol Club (CFC) is the name of our competitive/travel program. The teams within CFC are named Arsenal. All programs under the umbrella of CSA are governed by the policies and rules of the TSSA, our governing body.

Recreational soccer programs at CSA are based on fun and skill-building. Teams are distributed as evenly as possible to provide a fun learning experience for recreational players of all ages. All players get at least half a game of playing time. All coaches in the recreational program are volunteer parents/guardians. The U6 and younger typically do not practice during the week. Mentors administer training and game scenarios at the scheduled game time. For U8 and older teams, the parent/guardian that volunteers to coach chooses the day and time to practice.

Competitive soccer programs are a step up from recreational ones. The more skilled and competitive players try out to join a team. Tryouts generally occur around the May/June time frame, but you may contact the VP of Competitive/Travel at other times of the year for an individual tryout. Coaches are generally former players or coaches themselves and are compensated for their time. Play time is earned and not guaranteed. The coach bases playtime based on skill level, attitude, willingness to learn and listen, attending practice, and various other factors that are sought after in a well-rounded player. Each team will have a team manager, usually a parent or guardian of one of the players. Their role is to assist the coach, schedule games, collect fees, etc. Each team’s fees after registration are varied and depend on the number of games that the team plays, tournaments entered, costs of league play, hotel stays, and other dues. There is a higher level of time and cost commitment associated with competitive play. Please consider this before accepting a position with a team.

When you are accepted to a team at CSA for any of our programs, you are a representative of CSA. You are expected to always represent the club professionally. This includes player, parent/guardian, and coach conduct, sportsmanship, and fair play. Respect should always be shown to referees and administrators. Under the policies and procedures of TSSA, parents/guardians, players, spectators, etc. may be removed from any game and banned and/or fined for any behavior that goes against policy. If this occurs the offending party will be held directly responsible. This may result in the removal of the player and/or parents/guardian from the team/program/CSA.

·      Set a good example by modeling the highest standard of sportsmanship.

·      Maintain a professional relationship with the coach and administrators to avoid confrontation.

·      Agrees to wait 24 hours after an event before discussing concerns with the coach, team manager, or board member.

·      Agrees to never criticize a coach or player in a public manner, including via email and social media.

·      Agrees to refrain from using foul language at events and from abusing, harassing, or berating players, coaches, referees, opponents, or spectators.

·      Agrees to refrain from coaching or otherwise instructing players during games, practice, or exercises. We hire licensed qualified coaches for our competitive program, and if you would like to coach in the recreational program, you can volunteer at registration.

·      Agrees to use best efforts to have the player on time for training and games. Missing or being late to practice and games will reflect negatively on the player’s roster position which may lead to less playing time and/or removal from the team roster without a refund.

·      Agrees to stay current on all financial obligations to CSA, CFC, and your Arsenal team.

·      Agrees to be active in the club and promote our club and the game positively.

When accepting a position with a competitive Arsenal team, you will sign a 1-year commitment letter. This letter is binding after a certain date and ties you to our club for the year (August 1 through July 31). To be released from our club, you must contact TSSA and submit a release form and pay the fee required for processing to TSSA. A release will not be granted until all past dues are current.