Frequently Asked Questions

Our home base is East County, with training at Grossmont College in El Cajon, and we also run teams out of Tierrasanta. We serve families across El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, Alpine, Jamul and Tierrasanta.

Age groups follow the birth-date chart for the season (August 1 through July 31). Our registration finder works it out for you in three taps: choose your location, girls or boys, and your player’s birth month and year, and it shows the right age group and registration link.

The Rec League (spring and fall seasons) is about getting touches on the ball and loving the game: small-sided games, one session a week, professional coaches, no tryout. Competitive teams train several times a week, play in a league season, and are selected at tryouts. Both are coached to the same standard; the commitment level is the difference.

Expect a normal training session: warm-up, technical work, small-sided games and some full-sided play, watched by our coaching staff. We are looking at how players compete, how they move with and without the ball, and how they take coaching, not just the goals they score. Arrive 15 minutes early to check in.

Cleats, shin guards, a ball, plenty of water, and training clothes (no club jerseys from other teams, please). Parents are welcome to watch from the sideline.

Often, yes. Rosters change through the year and we hold evaluations for players who move to the area or come to us late. Email info@citysceastcounty.com with your player’s birth year and we’ll tell you what’s open.

Roster decisions are communicated by phone within 72 hours of the end of tryouts. If your player is offered a spot you’ll receive team placement details, registration instructions and your acceptance timeline; completing registration and payment confirms the place (installment plans are available), and your coach shares the full training schedule after placement.

Players develop at different rates. We encourage continued development and welcome future opportunities to train with us, and we’re happy to talk about what would help your player next.

We value competition, but we prioritize development. Winning is a byproduct of intelligent decisions, fast play, strong habits, and confidence.

We consider developmental readiness, current ability, long-term potential, positional tendencies, and competitive balance, so each player is stretched appropriately.

No. We also observe awareness of space and time, courage, response to mistakes, work rate, and coachability.

Mistakes are expected. Players willing to try solutions, even imperfect ones, often show stronger long-term potential than players who play it safe.

Coaching from licensed, professional coaches working within our development system, training sessions, league registration and administration, and access to the City SC 360 app for schedules and team communication. Uniforms, tournament travel and optional events may be separate; your registration page lists what applies to your program.

We don’t want cost to be the reason a player in East County doesn’t play. If fees are a barrier, talk to us before registration at info@citysceastcounty.com and we’ll walk you through the options available.

Through the City SC 360 app: team schedules, team chat with your coach and manager, rosters, and club announcements all in one place. Email is our backup for anything important.

Yes. The parent who registers is the default contact, and you can add as many additional guardians as you like in the app so everyone sees the schedule and team chat. Here’s how.

The game belongs to the players. Coaches observe during games and guide learning in training, so players learn to solve problems on their own.

Support your player, let the coaches coach, and respect referees, opponents and other parents. Our Parent Guidelines spell it out, including which topics to raise with a coach and which to leave alone.