Crew Juniors tryouts begin Monday, June 2

The Columbus Crew continues its preparations for the 2008-09 youth soccer season, as tryouts for Crew Soccer Academy and Crew Juniors teams resume this week at both Crew Stadium and the Crew Training Center at Obetz.

Tryout sessions will run from 6-7:30 p.m. each evening, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. Players may pre-register on line at www.thecrew.com (Youth Development tab, then Crew Juniors Tryouts) and should bring a soccer ball, shin guards, water, and a light and dark T-shirt.

Every age-eligible player who attends Crew Juniors tryouts will first be evaluated for the appropriate Crew Soccer Academy team. Players will then be evaluated and may be invited to join the appropriate level of Crew Juniors teams. U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy players (players who may progress to the Crew Soccer Academy) must come from within the Crew Juniors teams.

The Crew Soccer Academy, or CSA, is currently participating in its inaugural season in the newly-formed U.S. Soccer Development Academy. A total of 63 of the top youth soccer clubs in the U.S., plus the U.S. Youth National Teams, were selected in 2007 by U.S. Soccer to participate in the program based on a number of criteria, and were then divided into eight conferences of eight Academies. Each team plays 30 matches during the eight-month season, with the winner of each conference participating in the Academy Finals at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

CSA fields teams in the Under-16 and Under-18 age groups and has enjoyed fantastic results in its inaugural campaign. Both of its teams are at, or near, the top of their respective conference standings, with the Under-16 squad currently sitting at 12-2-7, while the Under-18 team owns a record of 13-4-3. Both teams completed a fruitful trip to the Spring Showcase in Rockford, Ill. last weekend (May 23-26), with the U-16s finishing the weekend unbeaten at 2-0-1 and the U-18s defeating all three of its opponents to finish 3-0-0.

"We have been very pleased with the Development Academy in this first year," said Crew Vice President of Soccer Business Development Andrew Arthurs. "U.S. Soccer's commitment has been extremely impressive, and will only increase over time. Our Crew Soccer Academy teams have done very well against national-caliber competition in our first year, highlighted by our recent unbeaten weekend at the Spring Showcase. Clearly, it has provided greater exposure and opportunity for our players and coaches."

Please see below for the scheduled times and locations of the Crew Juniors' tryouts for each age group. Players or parents interested in the Crew Juniors and Worthington Crew Juniors program and tryout schedule for both boys and girls can call 614-447-CREW (2739) or visit the Crew web site and click on 'Youth Development.'

Crew Juniors encourages players to attend both days of tryouts for their respective age group, although there will be a supplemental tryout for all age groups on Tuesday, June 10, from 6-7:30 p.m. Dates and times are subject to change and rain dates will be the Friday of each week.

(Crew - Crew Stadium; Obetz - Crew Training Center at Obetz)

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it is currently in its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.