A Costa Rican guy that used to work with my friend tried out for the Fire. They didn't think he was good enough for the team, but they passed along his name and he got signed by an A-League team. So, I guess you can wait for the MLS try outs.
Open tryouts: http://www.charlestonbattery.com/welcome.asp additionally: http://www.hammerheadssoccer.com/
Thanks! Do you guys recommend having an agent? Also, do you know if going to tryout like this does anything to NCAA eligibility? I'm under the impression an NCAA player can tryout, as long as he pays his own way.
Based on my very limited knowledge of NCAA regulations, if the player pays his own way, and doesn't sign with an agent, he would still be eligible. Otherwise, probably not. However, I'd get information from someone more reliable than me before I did anything.
What ChrisE says sounds right, BUT the above is the most true. If you're at a college or are going to attend one soon (that is, if you have any eligibility remaining) check with the college's Compliance Officer (usually a secretary in the Athletic Department, except at major football or basketball powers). That person will know everything you need to know. Now, if you don't want your coach to know about this... well, that's a problem. Keep in mind that if you do something to affect your eligibility, you screw not just your coach, but all your teammates, too. EDIT: or go here for Agent rules: http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/enforcement/agents/index.html ... and here for their definitions of "amateur" http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/enforcement/amateurism/index.html http://www.ncaa.org is worth some general surfing time as well if you have any other questions.
I can't remember how we did it when we had players with NCAA eligibility remaining wanting to try out. Well, first off, we tried to discourage it because it was just easier that way. Dr. Wankler is right - every NCAA member school has a compliance person (sometimes an Assistant AD) whose job it is to know the rules (I don't know how they do it). Depending on the timeframe (and for the A-League it's likely going to be early), it probably falls under the "Outside Competition" rules. Unless they've closed the loophole, the NCAA didn't consider tryouts and training to be "competition" back when I had to deal with all that stuff, and "competition" itself couldn't begin for a player with NCAA eligibility remaining until May 1. That's why the PDL and W-League seasons don't start until then. Division II and III and NAIA players didn't have a date restriction on competition. But, again, that may have changed, it's been almost four years since I had to deal with it. But check with the compliance officer. Your eligibility is like virginity - there's no getting it back. Except your eligibility, especially if you're on some sort of grant-in-aid, is often worth a lot more. Oh, and why a soccer player in this country would have an agent is beyond me. Especially at the A-League level, teams are going to pay you what they're going to pay you. If you have no professional experience, they're not going to negotiate with you much, and why give part of what little they give you to an agent? You can do just as well yourself. The USL contract is pretty standard, but if your family has a lawyer, have them look it over. Don't worry about an agent.