Find out when the next Portland Timbers Academy Tryouts in 2025 will be held; find information about the Discovery Program, training facilities, location, and contacts.
Portland Timbers Academy is the youth soccer development team of MLS outfit Portland Timbers FC.
Timbers FC Academy has been known for its contributions to the success of the professional team over the years with the promotion of top players who have equally made their mark after making their senior debut.
The Academy is one of the most respected in the United States as it relates to soccer development.
Portland Timbers Academy Tryouts 2025
Portland Timbers Academy tryouts operate on an invitation-only basis. What this means is interested players must apply to be considered for an invitation.
After your application is received, the club’s Academy staff will evaluate each application and extend invitations based on the Academy’s timelines, needs, and, most importantly, the player’s performance level.
The Portland Timbers Academy organises tryouts for invited players throughout the year.
The Process
1. Head over to the Portland Timbers trials page.
2. Fill out the form carefully.
3. Submit and wait for feedback
4. Attend trials when you receive an invitation describing the date/time as well as other information needed.
Portland Timbers Academy Teams, age grade, leagues & competition
The team features several age groups. The teams include U19, U17, U15, etc.
Leagues & Competitions: The team participates in the newly formed MLS Next (know more about the MLS Next).
Portland Timbers Academy Location and training centre
The Portland Timbers Academy is located and trains at the Adidas Training Facility located in Beaverton, Oregon, United States.
Cost
Portland Timbers Academy teams are fully funded for programming the entire year.
Portland Timbers USL Team
Portland Timbers 2 is the second professional soccer club of the Portland Timbers. Portland Timbers 2 is played by top Academy graduates from the Timbers Academy that are ready for professional soccer.
The club serves as a bridge between the newly promoted professions and the main MLS team. All players compete in the USL Championship throughout the calendar.
Players at this stage are eligible to sign a professional contract with the main team.
The Portland Timbers 2 began to play in the 2015 USL Championship season.The club plays its home games at Merlo Field. The original purpose of the club is to bridge a gap between the academies and the first-level team (MLS team).
It is also a better way for the club to observe and monitor the level of progress of individual players.
Other ways to join the Portland Timbers Academy
Residency Program
This special program offers resources by providing top-class coaching, facilities, and an environment to create for the future. The Residency Program is an avenue for young, talented soccer prospects within the Portland metropolitan area.
Players selected will join the residency by spending the school year/academic year in a team home with a family environment close to the Academy’s training ground.
Discovery Program
The Discovery Program is more like a talent identification experience for the club.
The Discovery Program is a special player identification and development system that helps in the identity of young players with the desire to play soccer within the Portland metropolitan area. Players selected during the program will be closely monitored by the club.
The club will track the progress of each identified player and provide support in a potential move to fully integrate them into the main Academy.
Affiliate Clubs
Portland Timbers FC partners with another amateur as well as professional soccer development teams to identify, track, and monitor players.
Some of the affiliate networks
Oregon Youth Soccer Association
Adidas Portland Timbers Alliance Clubs
Top benefits of the Academy
Learning beyond soccer: Coaches are on hand to teach you everything you need to know in soccer as well as other aspects of society.
Train under experienced coaches: They boast of having some of the best and accredited soccer scouts, coaches, and staff in North America.
Top-class facilities: Leverage the opportunity of having to train under world-class facilities and upgrade your game to the next level.
Opportunity to play with professionals: Players or academy graduates are handed an opportunity to play alongside the professionals. As a graduate, you’ll have a shot in the USL Championship with Portland Timbers 2.
Tips and how to succeed if you are invited for trials
1. Choose a role to play
In the current era, you should always go for a soft target. What I mean is you should consider playing a role you can confidently handle. This can be achieved when you access yourself and identify your ability.
On the field of play, if your capacity carries you in the attack role, then you should stick to it and work out ways to perfect it. If you find it difficult to decide on whether you should take up this role or not, you can still approach a coach for more advice.
Soccer grows with passion, and you’ll only enjoy it when you play in your desired role.
2. Learn basic skills and techniques of soccer
Knowing soccer rules will go a long way in your career development. Soccer rules are a set of instructions that guide you to become a better player on and off the pitch.
One of the most important areas scouts are always watchful of is your ability to control the ball. Ball control is another area you must work your way through; without it, your chances in tryouts would have no headway.
To avoid issues, take your time to learn the basic skills in soccer, including heading, shooting, running, positioning, etc.
3. Embark on personal training early
Early to bed, early to wake, as the popular saying goes. That said, you should consider preparing for trials early enough by going through a series of training on your own.
As an individual, if you find it difficult to manage your work hours, you can still achieve hours of your training by creating a mini-training schedule for yourself.
Training keeps your body in shape for the challenges ahead.
As an athlete, training should form a big part of your everyday habit because it is the secret weapon to your success in any venture.
4. Know what scouts want
Do not compromise on this because scouts are more technical in terms of their criteria for selection of players into any team they represent.
For top professional scouts, it takes just a few minutes to judge your level of soccer, and you must make that count whenever you are presented with an opportunity to play. Your chances of getting into the Academy increase the moment you can win the heart of a scout.
This is because scouts hold provides the best recommendations for the club to adhere to.
5. Become a soccer addict
The only way you can be obsessed with soccer is to devote most of your time to anything related to soccer. To achieve this, you need to follow a particular soccer club within your locality.
You equally support an international soccer team based in North America or Europe.
Another way is to begin following top soccer leagues in the world, including the English Premier League, Bundesliga, or the MLS here in America.
About Portland Timbers Academy
In a bid to develop confident, talented, and excellent young players for the first team, the Academy provided a professional pathway for players with high interest in soccer to become recognised.
Established years ago, the team sought to provide an effective learning environment focused on facilitating professional player development across the Portland region and nationally.
At Portland Timbers, players are not taught how to play soccer alone; rather, there’s also a focus on teaching players to compete and face challenges. This can be achieved as the club spent time and resources to bring together the full requirements for effective learning and development in all aspects.
The Portland Timbers development team features teams at the U15, U17, and U19 ages. More shots at a competitive environment with MLS Next participation
The creation of the MLS Next League was to enable young players to compete favourably against their peers from other MLS teams.
MLS NEXT promises to provide the best experience for young players aiming to reach the top in North America.
The league is organised professionally by the Major League Soccer body through its new youth development wing, which is now saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the best possible outcome.
Players will be exposed to modern innovation brought by the MLS NEXT.
Players will also have full access to the highest levels of competition and training geared towards making accelerating their growth.
Final Thoughts
The Portland Timbers Academy offers you a pathway with added benefits, including travel, participation in MLS NEXT, and an opportunity to sign a professional contract.
Portland Timbers boast of having some of the best training facilities in the United States, and you can take advantage of it by walking your way through the Academy.
Sign up today, register, become a member, and turn your passion (soccer career) to the next level.