COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew General Manager Mark McCullers announced today that the club will hold open tryouts for the 2006 season on Saturday, October 8, at the Crew Training Center at Obetz.
The tryout will be an all-day affair, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. and the evening session ending at 6 p.m. Select members of the Crew coaching staff will be in attendance throughout the day to assess and evaluate the entire player pool. As part of that evaluation process, the coaching staff will reserve the right to dismiss candidates at any time throughout the day. College players will not be eligible to participate in the tryout. There is no pre-registration, just show up on the day of the tryout.
All tryout participants will receive a tryout shirt that is theirs to keep. There will be a $50 administrative fee per player, which must be paid in cash or check prior to the first training session. All proceeds from participation in the Crew open tryout will benefit the club's charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation.
"Although this is a difficult way to make the team, these tryouts provide individuals a unique opportunity to display their skills and potentially make a dream of becoming a professional soccer player a reality," said Crew assistant coach Mike Lapper. "Typically, we have over 70 individuals from all over the country in attendance and this year's tryouts should prove to be no different than those of year's past."
Individuals wishing to try out are solely responsible for any and all accommodations and transportation they deem necessary. They are also responsible for their own training gear, such as cleats and shin guards and anything else they might need to perform to the best of their abilities. Players must also bring their own ball.
For further information, interested players are encouraged to e-mail Mike Lapper, Crew assistant coach and Director of Soccer Business Development, at mlapper@thecrew.com or call 614-447-4141.
Agenda for Saturday, Oct. 8
Obetz Address:
Columbus Crew Training Center
4153 Alum Creek Dr.
Obetz, OH 43207
** Times are subject to change according to weather and administrative reasons.
