Tryouts are typically held toward the end of May for the upcoming seasonal year (Fall 2026 & Spring 2027). Specific dates, times, and locations will be posted on this page once registration opens. See below for tentative dates for 2026/27 tryouts:

Brentwood Lower Academy: May 11th-15th, 2026

Brentwood Upper Academy: May 26th-30th, 2026

*Donelson: May 18th & May 20th

*Murfreesboro: May 12th & May 14th

*Nolensville: May 19th & May 21st

Spring Hill Lower Academy: May 12th & May 14th

Spring Hill Upper Academy: May 26th & 28th

*Donelson, Murfreesboro, & Nolensville Lower Academy AND Upper Academy tryouts will take place on the same dates.

Beginning with the 2026-27 season, youth soccer age groups will transition to a new structure.

US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and American Youth Soccer Organization have collectively approved a move from the calendar-year model (January 1 – December 31) to a seasonal-year model (August 1 – July 31).

This change is designed to better align players with their school-grade peers, improving both development and overall player experience.

What this means for your player:

• Players will now be grouped based on the school year (August 1 – July 31) rather than birth year.

• Many players will move into age groups that better match their classmates and social environment.

Programs affected by this change include:

• NUSA Lower Academy & Satellite programs

• Tennessee State League (TSL)

• Southeastern Clubs Champions League (SCCL)

• Girls Academy (GA)

The following program will NOT be affected:

• NUSA MLS Next teams will continue to follow the calendar-year model, as required by league standards

We recommend reviewing the updated age group chart below to determine the correct placement for your player. For additional details, please click here.

No, tryouts are not separated by program.

All players attend tryouts based on their age group. When tryout details are released, you should register for and attend the sessions assigned to your player’s correct age group.

During those sessions, our coaching staff will evaluate players and determine the most appropriate placement within the club. This may include pathways such as MLS Next, Girls Academy (GA), or other academy teams.

Our goal is to place each player in the best developmental environment, so there is no need to attend separate tryouts for different programs. Players are identified and selected through the same evaluation process.

No – players must attend tryouts based on their assigned age group.

All players are evaluated within their age group to ensure a fair and consistent assessment process.

However, in certain instances, NUSA’s coaching staff and directors may make placement decisions based on what we believe provides the best developmental environment for each player. In select cases, a player may be placed in an older age group (“play up”) if it clearly supports their long-term growth, confidence, and overall pathway.

Please note:

• Playing up is the exception, not the rule.

• Decisions are made through internal evaluation by NUSA coaching staff and directors.

• Players and families are not able to request or choose to play up.

Our priority is always to place players in the environment where they will develop, be challenged appropriately, and succeed long-term.

If your player is unable to attend tryouts, whether it is one session or the entirety of tryouts, please contact us as soon as possible.

We strongly recommend that players attend all scheduled tryout sessions to allow our staff to build the most accurate and complete evaluation. However, attending every session is not mandatory.

For returning NUSA players, our coaching staff and directors will review each situation individually and communicate next steps based on prior evaluations and player history within the club.

For new players, we will do our best to provide an alternative evaluation opportunity when possible, such as attending a different session or being evaluated at a different date.