If you are uncertain about which level is most appropriate for your child, for starters it’s a good idea to talk with his or her current coach. However, please remember, a recommendation for a certain level of play is not a guaranteed spot on a roster.  You may find program specific information on our website ncfusion.org.  NC Fusion also holds age group meetings prior to tryouts to learn more details about each level of play.  

Soccer is a journey.  Each player’s journey is different.  Players grow, literally and figuratively, at different rates.  Some journeys are bumpy and will have ups and downs. While some journeys will gradually incline or decline, others may see a more drastic incline or decline.  Some journeys will be steadier and remain the same over a long period of time.  Personal and athletic growth is achieved by navigating the journey through adversity and success, with perseverance, trust and commitment.  The NC Fusion staff is committed to supporting our players and their parents in each step of the journey.   

NC Fusion offers various levels of play. If a player is not selected for one particular level of play, our staff will recommend a more developmentally appropriate level for your player.

NC Fusion is prohibited from scheduling certain age groups for tryouts until after NC Youth Soccer (NCYSA) finishes its state cup tournaments, which is usually mid-May. NC Fusion also faces the prospect of summer vacations starting in mid-June. This leaves a very small window to hold tryouts for all three divisions that are convenient for the greatest number of people. 

It is in your child’s best interest to attend both of his/her assigned sessions. Doing so reinforces your family’s commitment to this program in the eyes of your child. It also ensures that your child is fairly evaluated while trying out with players of comparable age and ability. Your child may be asked to attend another session as advised determined by the program directors. If there is an unavoidable conflict, parents must send an e-mail BEFORE tryouts to the appropriate program director giving the player’s name, date of birth and reason for conflict.

Selected players will receive an email invitation through our PlayMetrics system. It is very important that the parents read the information carefully and complete the acceptance process within 24 hours so that we may move through the invitation process as quickly as possible for all players.  

 If a player chooses not to accept his/her spot on a team, we ask that you decline the spot in our PlayMetrics system so we may offer the spot to another player.

Players who are not selected for a team will receive an email at the conclusion of the team invitation process. 

The team invitation process may take 2-7 days to complete, we ask for your patience and understanding.

Typically invitations are send out to the first team, as soon as we have received enough acceptances we will move forward with offering invitations to the 2nd team, and so on through all the teams that we intend to form.  If a player declines their spot on a team, we must then offer the spot to the next player in line for that spot,  which may cause a delay in the invitation process for the rest of the players in the age group. We move through the process as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience!

Pre-ECNL - We form 1 pool of players for the boys and girls in both the 11U and 12U age groups.

ECNL & ECRL - We form one ECRL and one ECNL team in each age group as dictated by the ECNL league.

Classic - We form as many teams as possible based upon the number of developmentally appropriate players attending tryouts.  Ideally, we would like at least 13 developmentally appropriate players to form a 9v9 team, and 16 developmentally appropriate players to form an 11v11  team. 

For many children, this may be the first experience they will have with being selected, or conversely, with not being selected. It’s important that you, as a parent, manage their expectations, and trust the coaching staff to make objective decisions. Youth sports is a journey, different for each player and different points throughout the journey. 

The best thing you can do is talk with your player PRIOR to tryouts about all of the possible outcomes – making a team, not making a team, etc. and how you are going to appropriately respond to those outcomes.

We chatted with Gordon MacLelland from Working with Parents in Sport in a recent podcast, his wisdom and experience in this space makes this podcast a “can’t miss”!

Parents may observe tryouts from designated areas; however, NC Fusion does not permit parents to approach the field, talk specifically to, or coach their child, during the session limit distractions and allow the players to focus their full attention to the coaching staff.

NC Fusion is required to verify date of birth for all players new to the club, so a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate must be submitted.  Returning players who have submitted birth certificates in the past do not need to re-submit a copy each year. Players will NOT be registered to play on the team until a birth certificate copy is presented. NCYSA and USYS sanctioned events require the referees to check each team’s player cards with photographs for identification purposes. The photograph must be taken within the last 9 months, shoulders and above, no hats or sunglasses.  

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) requires that we ask the question. This pertains to the location of birth and not citizenship. U13 – U18 players born outside of the US may be asked to complete a form required by USSF. This form basically states that players born outside of the US were not paid players in another country. While this does not usually apply to any of our players, it is a requirement which NC Fusion must follow.

Refunds and fee waivers are offered only in the event of a season ending injury or a move outside of the area.  If a player chooses to leave the program for any other reason, the entire program fee must be submitted as agreed upon regardless of circumstances that may arise limiting a player’s activity.  Any request for a fee waiver or refund for qualifying circumstances must be made in writing to the NC Fusion Chief Administrative Officer.  

NC Fusion is dedicated to provide opportunities in sport to all youth, regardless of the ability to pay, to the extent that financial assistance funds are available. Up to 80 percent of program fees may be awarded based on demonstrated need. The matrix used to determine eligibility is based upon the free and reduced lunch program offered by the NC public school system. To apply, go to the Programs section in your PlayMetrics account and select the Financial Aid tab. You will need to be prepared to provide proof of income documents.

In addition, the Greensboro Coliseum offers our NC Fusion parents the opportunity to work in the concession stands at events hosted at the coliseum in exchange for credit towards NC Fusion program fees. This is a great way to reduce or pay off your program fees!  If interested in getting involved, please reach out to April at ncfusioncoliseumgroup@gmail.com

Grant funding is also available through Dick's Sporting Goods and All Kids Play to families who lack the resources to pay for recreational youth sports.  Details can be found on their website: https://www.sportsmatter.org/s/registration-fees-and-equipment

The training and tournamnet schedule will be available in your PlayMetrics account by June 6th.  The league game schedule will be uploaded into your PlayMetrics account when made avaialble by the NCYSA Classic or ECNL  league administrators, typically by end of July/beginning of August.