Our community has many so opportunities for kids to participate in soccer! This guide will help you find the best soccer program for your family in the Iowa City area. From programs for preschoolers through teens, check out these fantastic soccer programs:
Toddler/Preschool Programs
Ages: 3-6
Registration Deadline: March 24, 2024
Season: April 16 – May 23, 2024
Cost: $45 for Coralville residents, $56.25 for non-residents
The City of Coralville offers a fun recreational soccer program that is run by parent volunteer coaches. Seasons last six weeks, with 45-minute sessions that have skill-building games and three vs. three games coached by parents. Our kids enjoyed this low-key program, and it’s a lot of fun watching preschoolers try to figure out which goal they are supposed to try to score on — or even which field they should keep their ball on!
Soccer Programs for School-Age Kids
Ages: 4u, 5u, 6u, 8u, 10u and 12u
Registration: Opens March 1 for the following fall/spring
Program Type: Recreational
Seasons: Fall/Spring
Cost: $65-$125, plus uniform fee. Uniforms can be used year to year.
This volunteer-led program offers six weeks of soccer in the spring with games beginning around the first week of April. Games are played in various locations across the region, currently in Williamsburg, Tiffin, Amana, and Brooklyn. Games are generally scheduled on Saturdays, between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Coralville Youth Soccer – KIXX
Ages: 6-8
Registration Deadline: TBD
Program Type: Recreational
Seasons: TBD
Cost: $55 for Coralville residents, $68.75 for non-residents
KIXX Youth Soccer League is designed to provide an opportunity for children to have fun and build relationships while developing their soccer skills through small-sided games. The emphasis is on introducing the concept of team play and building individual skills. Sessions are one hour long, one night per week. Each participant will receive a t-shirt.
Ages: Kindergarten through High School
Registration Deadline: March 25, 2024
Program Type: Recreational
Season: April 10 – June 8, 2024
Cost: $40-95 per season, discounts for playing fall and spring with the same team
My favorite “starter” program for soccer is Iowa City Kickers. It is parent coached. That means it varies a lot in intensity based on the coach and their level of skill and interest in coaching. For our family, it was a great, low-key way to introduce our kids to the sport. And, as our kids got older, it remained a fun way to play with friends without us as parents feeling the need to commit large amounts of time or money to year-round competitive leagues.
Ages: 5-8
Program Type: Recreational
Registration Opens: February 2024 – date TBD.
Season: April – June, 2024
Cost: $125 for Academy 10-week session
This program gives kids a great foundation for soccer with practices led by professional coaches. This is a practice-only program for young kids, with all practices held on Friday nights from 5:30-6:30 p.m. With just a one-night-per-week commitment, this is perfect for busy families. Space is limited. This program filled up within 2 hours of registration opening last time. Check their website for registration details to stay on top of it.
Ages: 8-14
Program Type: Recreational
Registration Opens: February 2024 – date TBD.
Season: April – June, 2024
Cost: $140
Run by professional coaches, this program gives kids who are interested in building their skills a great place to do so. My son found this program to be a great bridge between recreational programs and competitive soccer. Practices are all held on Friday nights from 6:35 – 8:05 p.m. This program filled within 5 minutes last time, so check their website for the date and time they are opening registration and set an alarm! Registration dates for fall and winter seasons are typically in mid to late June and October. Check their website so you don’t miss it.
Iowa Soccer Club – Year-Round Competitive
Ages: 7-18
Program Type: Competitive
Registration Opens: May 2024
Season: Year Round. Tryouts held in June for the 2024-2025 season that will begin in August
Cost: $150/month up to 12U for 11 months, $159/month 13U-14U for 11 months, $218 for 15-19U for 8 months, plus team tournament fees
What ISC is probably best known for is their competitive leagues for ages 7-18. This level of play requires a year-round commitment. At least one practice per week is required for 8-11 months of the year (depending on the age group), but motivated kids can practice almost every night of the week if they so choose and your schedule allows. Note: high school age players do not have a spring season with ISC, which is why fees are lower than for younger age groups. Tournaments and fall and spring league play require some travel within a few hours of Iowa City. Winter indoor leagues are played in Iowa City.
The coaching is fantastic! Nothing beats people who know soccer like it’s their job–because it is their job! The level of skills development we’ve seen at ISC has been tremendous compared to what our kids have learned in other programs. It is also one of the most well-organized extracurricular programs that my kids have ever been involved in. The director gives fantastic and frequent communication to parents.
