Answers to
FAQs

To join an Echo travel team, you must attend a tryout.  Tryouts for the full year (fall and spring seasons) occur in early June of each year.  Invitations to join a team will be sent out within a short time after the conclusion of tryouts.  Echo also holds supplemental tryouts in November of each year to fill open roster spots for the spring season.  For more information, visit our Join Echo page.

To join a First Skills Rec+ team, no evaluation is required.  All you have to do is register!

We understand that tryouts can cause anxiety.  Knowing what to expect can help alleviate concern.  During tryouts, players will participate in exercises and scrimmages while being evaluated by a group of neutral evaluators.  Our goal at tryouts is to ensure team placements that put kids in the best position to develop based upon their current skill level.  Players are encouraged to attend both nights of tryouts for a proper evaluation.

Travel soccer is available for players aged 8 - 18.  For more information, visit our Academy page (ages 8 - 10), Travel page (ages 11-14), and High School page (ages 15-18).  For 5 - 8 year olds, we offer a Recreational + program called First Skills.  For more visit our First Skills page.

On Aug. 1, 2016, US Youth Soccer changed to birth year age groups.  Grouping will be based on birth year.  To determine your child's age group, consult the below chart.

Fees vary by age and level of play but range from $550 per season for Academy to $1090 per season for high school.  When you receive an invitation to join a team, a deposit will be required after to secure your spot.

Player fees cover registration with Michiana Echo and ISL which provides supplemental insurance for all players, up to 8 sessions of Coerver Training, all costs associated with paying coaches, practice and home game fields maintenance and fees, practice t-shirts, referee fees, entry fee to club tournament (not travel expenses), and all administrative costs for Michiana Echo.

Uniform kits are not included in the registration fee and must be purchased every other year.  Our Adidas Climalite uniform kit costs approximately $275 for 3 jerseys, one pair of shorts, and 2 pairs of socks. Additional spirit wear such as backpacks, hoodies, and warm-ups are optional and may be purchased through our website.

Financial assistance is available for those with a demonstrated financial need.

The primary differences between travel soccer and recreational soccer are the level of competition and the requirement for travel.  Travel soccer teams are formed based on tryouts and evaluations.  Training occurs 2-3 times per week.  At Echo, our training program includes world-class Coerver training.  As a result of team selections and advanced training, travel soccer provides a more competitive environment.

Travel soccer begins as early as age 8, but not everyone is ready to start that early!  As a parent, you are in the best position to determine whether your child is ready for more advanced training, stronger competition, and a travel experience.  When your child reaches age 8, he or she is eligible to attend a travel tryout and receive an evaluation.  There are typically multiple levels of play for each age group to ensure that your child is placed on the appropriate team for his or her current skill level.  Echo also offers the First Skills Rec+ program for children ages 5 - 8.

Coerver is a soccer skills teaching method suited for players of all ages and all abilities that focuses on individual skill development and small group play.  The program is endorsed and recommended by the top federations, associations, legends/experts of the game, and club teams.

Coerver Training aims to:

• Develop skilled, confident and creative players
• Make the game fun to practice and play
• Teach good sportsmanship and respect for all
• Value winning but not more than character and performance
• Provide a safe & educational experience that meets best practice criteria

For more information about our training, please visit our player development page.

Practices for academy teams (U8 - U10) are generally held at Prairie Vista Elementary School 15400 Brick Rd Granger, IN.

Coerver training, training for U11 - U18 teams, and home games are generally held at Michiana Echo Fields at HTP 10420 Brummitt Rd Granger, IN.

For more information on our facilities, visit our facilities page.

The amount of travel that is required depends on the program and age group.  Here are some general rules of thumb about travel:

• First Skills is our Rec+ program and does not involve any travel.  All games and training occur at Echo Fields.
• U8 travel teams typically play locally within a 30-45 mile radius.
• U9 - U12 teams generally will not travel more than 90 miles for league play and will only have to do this 1-2 times per season.
• U13 and up teams could travel to Indianapolis 1 or more times in a season for league play.
• In addition to league games, we have one club tournament per season that requires 2 nights of overnight accommodations and will be no more than 250 miles away.

The typical season calendar is as follows:

• Early June:  tryouts are held for the full year (fall and spring seasons)  (November for spring only players)
• June and July:  Free Play Sunday (an optional and free street soccer style evening of fellowship and playing) is held on Sunday nights. This event is open to anyone that wants to play soccer and players are encouraged to bring family and friends.
• August:  pre-season boot camp/club picnic is typically held the 2nd week in August.  Fall season practices begin the week after boot camp.
• August - October:  the fall season runs from August to the end of October.  Most games are held on weekends, but weeknight games happen occasionally.
• October:  the fall club tournament is held the 2nd weekend in October in Indianapolis
• November:  supplemental try-outs for the spring season occur the first or second week of November.
• November-March:  winter training (varies by team)
• Mid-March:  spring season practices begin around mid-March
  and may be held indoors depending on weather and field conditions.
• March - early June:  spring season games begin the last weekend of March for upper level teams and early April for all other teams and run through the first weekend in June.
• May/June:  most teams participate in the Indiana Cup tournaments

Typically games are on Saturdays and Sundays, but the occasional weeknight game is possible.

Most teams will play 6 - 8 regular season games in league play plus 1-2 tournaments (minimum of 3 games each).  Teams will also have the option of scheduling 2-3 “friendlies” for a total of 11 - 16 games per season.  Several teams participate in winter indoor soccer leagues as well.

All teams practice a minimum of 2.5 hours a week, which includes a 1 hour Coerver training session and a 1.5 hour team training session. However most teams add an additional night of practice to their schedule for a total of 4 hours of training per week.

Absolutely.  Many travel soccer players, particularly at the younger age groups, play sports in addition to soccer.  Travel soccer does require a serious time commitment, so multiple sport athletes should work closely with their coaches to minimize scheduling conflicts.  In some cases, team placement and playing time can be affected by unexcused or excessive absences.