Why This Week Matters

Fall sports season starts earlier than most families expect. Youth soccer practices in Colorado Springs are set to begin the week of August 10 — that's before D11 schools open on August 12 and before D20 students start on August 17. If you're waiting until after the first day of school to figure out fall activities, you may already be behind on soccer registration.

Late registration windows are open right now for two sports, with a third opening in a couple of weeks. Here's where things stand.

Quick Reference

Soccer: Late Registration Open Now

Youth soccer is available for players from PreK through 9th grade. Late registration is currently open, but this is the last window before practices begin. The week of August 10 is the scheduled start for practices — which gives new registrants a very short lead time between signing up and showing up on the field.

Flag Football: Registration Open for Grades 1–8

Flag football late registration is also open now for grades 1 through 8. Flag football uses the fundamentals of the sport — routes, handoffs, defensive positioning — without contact, which makes it a common entry point for kids who are curious about football before committing to tackle.

Practice start dates for flag football have not been finalized as of this writing; check with your program directly for the schedule.

Tackle Football: Late Registration Opens August 12

Tackle football for grades 3 through 8 is on a slightly later timeline. Late registration opens August 12, and practices are scheduled to begin August 17. That means tackle football players will be starting the sport right around the same time D20 students begin their school year.

The grade minimums for tackle football reflect both size and readiness considerations that most local youth football organizations use for player eligibility. If your child is interested but younger than 3rd grade, flag football this fall may be the right pathway.

What to Know Before Registering

Late registration typically means the standard registration discount period has passed, and spots in some divisions may be limited. It's worth calling your local program before completing registration to confirm that space is available in your child's age group, especially for soccer given how quickly practices begin.

For families managing multiple children's schedules alongside school start dates, the overlap between fall sports signups and back-to-school prep is real this year. Getting fall sports sorted this week — at least the sports with open late reg windows — reduces the number of decisions stacking up in August.

What's Next

Soccer and flag football late registration are open now. Tackle football late registration opens August 12. Contact your local youth sports organization for specific program details, division assignments, and any remaining fees. COS parks and recreation programs, the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, and independent youth leagues all run fall programs; checking each organization's website will give you the most current schedules and registration links. The fall sports season will run through October and November for most programs.