How to Try Out for a Youth National Team

A Youth National Team is comprised of the top American players in each sport, selected from specific gender and age groups. The qualifying process for a Youth National Team differs slightly from sport to sport, but usually a coach must recommend a player, who then advances through levels of tryouts to be selected for the appropriate Youth National Team.

Things You'll Need

  • Sport-specific equipment (bats, knee guards, helmets)
  • Sport-specific apparel (team uniforms, shoes)
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Instructions

  1. Youth National Baseball Teams

    • 1

      Talk with your coach. You will need a recommendation for the regional qualifications trials in your age group. There are under-14, under-16 and under-18 trials. The USA Baseball organization will choose 38 players from each regional to attend the National Team Identification Series (NTIS) trials in September.

    • 2

      Play with an accepted team at the National Championships in your age group in June in either Arizona or Florida. This is the third method of qualifying for the NTIS.

    • 3

      Make plans to travel to the National Team Identification Series trials in your age group if you pass any of these three qualifying methods. USA Baseball will choose 16 players from the NTIS for the national team in each age group.

    Youth National Soccer Teams

    • 4

      Talk to your coach to determine whether you are at a skill level to attempt to qualify for the Youth National Team. You will need your coach to recommend you for one of the invitational U.S. Soccer Training Center sessions.

    • 5

      Ask your coach to submit a player recommendation to the U.S. Soccer scouts. Your coach may submit a recommendation by email to scouting@ussoccer.org. Wait for your letter of acceptance from the U.S. Soccer National Team Staff.

    • 6

      Make plans to attend one of the training sessions if you are accepted. National Team Scouts will choose potential players for the Youth National Team from these sessions.