Does Columbus Crew hold academy tryouts?
Columbus Crew Academy · Columbus, Ohio · Checked October 16, 2026
No open tryouts. The Columbus Crew holds none. Players found by scouts are invited to trials in Columbus, and the club runs invitation-only recruitment events in its home market. Families can send a recruitment form but will likely only hear back if invited.
Got a tryout? How to prepare your child, including MLS NEXT → How MLS NEXT tryouts work, in one guide →How recruitment works
Scout invitation, then ID sessions or U13/U14 program, then full-time U15 Academy.
- 01Scouted and invited to trial
Players identified through the scouting network are invited to trials in Columbus. Families can send a recruitment form. Club directors and coaches can email the Academy scout address on the club page.
Official page ↗ - 02Invitation-only recruitment events
The club hosts events to identify players from within its market.
Official page ↗ - 03U11/U12 ID sessions and U13/U14 program
ID sessions for U11 and U12 are by invitation three times a year. The U13/U14 program prepares players for the full-time U15 team. The club signed 13 and then 15 players from it to U15 in the first two years.
Official page ↗
- Columbus and Ohio
- Club and league games across the region
- Ask who is inviting you: the academy itself, or a camp or paid program run by the club's youth department.
- Ask whether the invitation is for one trial, a training pool or a team place. Pools can run for months.
- Ask in writing about cost, travel and school before you agree to anything.
- Tell your child's current club. MLS academies usually contact the current club first.
What to check before you agree
Practice reading the game while you wait
Soccer IQ is how a player decides what to do before the ball arrives. Our Soccer IQ game shows short match moments and asks your child to choose. It is a free early version. It is for practice and talking together. It does not predict whether a child will be picked.
League and college numbers: Youth soccer in the US: the numbers.
Last verified October 16, 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.
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