Northern Illinois FC (NIFC) is holding open club soccer team tryouts for youth ages 6 through 18 at the NIU Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex behind the NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, on Monday and Tuesday, May 17 and 18, 2021.
Open tryouts means that they are open to everyone who is age-eligible. No previous experience is required. Times for the tryouts are set by age and, on Tuesday, separated by gender. They are:
Monday, May 17
5 to 5:45 – Boys and girls born in 2011 to 2014, U8 – U11
6 to 6:45 – Boys and girls born in 2008 to 2010, U12 – U14
Tues., May 18
5 to 5:45 p.m. – Girls born in 2003 to 2007, U15 – U19
6 to 6:45 p.m. – Boys born in 2003 – 2007, U15 – U19
NIFC is a competitive soccer club that is designed to provides players with individual growth and development by preparing them with the skills and knowledge they need to compete at every level. Dan Carl, NIFC Club President and Director of Coaching and Player Development, has been active in NIFC since it formed in 2007 and has been coaching soccer in DeKalb County for nearly 20 years.
“We are extremely grateful to be in an area where we are able to stick to our club philosophy and work to develop players the proper way,” said Carl. “We founded this club with the philosophy of ‘development through training’. While we strive to build successful teams, we don’t feel we have to do it under the pressures commonly associated with larger clubs and communities. NIFC works to develop the complete soccer player and also hopes to better the individual off the field as well. “
Although NIFC is a community club, they are also part of the Illinois Premier Alliance (IPA), a regional alliance that allows NIFC to offer additional programming through IPA select teams, share players, and opens up additional tournament opportunities, friendly games, and soccer festival options.
NIU partners with NIFC as well, and the full Men’s NIU Soccer coaching staff is also part of the NIFC coaching staff.
Registration is required prior to the tryouts. To register, visit www.nifcsoccer.com and complete the registration form. A free SportsEngine account will need to be set up if the player’s family does not already have one in place. In addition to the online form, players will need to print and fill out the 2021 NIFC Tryout Checklist, a Communicable Disease Waiver, the IYSA Medical Waiver, the Concussion Form, the IWSL Player Registration Form (for girls), and the YSSL Player Registration Form (for boys). Players new to NIFC will also be required to provide a copy of their birth certificate.
For players that do not have access to the technology needed to register online or print the forms required for the tryouts, the DeKalb Public Library, at 309 Oak Street in DeKalb, provides access to computers and printers during normal business hours: Monday and Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. No library card is needed, and there is no charge for the first 10 pages printed with additional pages priced at $.10 each.
If players or families have additional questions, please contact Carl via email at dcvikes@msn.com
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