WASHINGTON, DC - D.C. United announced today the final tryout session for the remainder of the club's Super Y-League teams. The club will host tryout sessions at Lewinsville Park in McLean, VA, for U-14, U-16 and U-19 Girls as well as U-14 and U-19 Boys.
Players who were unable to participate in either of the first two tryout sessions are encouraged to attend the final tryout session. All players are required to have a signed voluntary release waiver and medical treatment waiver on file before participating in any tryout activities.
"We understand that there are many other commitments that players may have for this weekend," said John Harkes, D.C. United Director of Youth Development. "However, it is important that players make every effort to attend this final open tryout to ensure that the coaches have an opportunity to evaluate all of the players and select the best team for D.C. United's Super Y-League squads."
The tryout schedule is as follows:
May 8, 2004
U16 Girls - 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
U14 Girls - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
U19 Girls - 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
May 9, 2004
U14 Boys - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
U19 Boys - 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Directions to Lewinsville Park:
Take the Beltway to Exit 46. Take Rte 123 North towards McLean. At fourth traffic light turn right onto Great Falls Street. Proceed one block and turn left on Chain Bridge Road. The park entrance is on the right. Field #2 is the lighted artificial turf pitch.
"The coaching staff and I are very excited about the summer schedule of training and high level competition this year," said Harkes. "It will be fun, challenging and a great way to learn from excellent coaches. We wish the best of luck to all players participating in the tryouts."
D.C. United's Y-League program is open to any serious and committed player in the D.C. metropolitan area. This supplemental program, modeled after soccer academies at top European clubs, will provide an opportunity for players to accelerate the development of skills necessary to play soccer at the highest levels. Players chosen to the teams will train under the direction of Harkes and other top coaches in the D.C. area.
To provide the best possible environment for individual growth, each player will be encouraged to play in the highest age division possible based on his or her individual skill. Players may be selected to "play up," but the following maximum age restrictions will apply:
U-14 - Calendar birth years 1990 and 1991 (January 1-December 31)
U-16 - Calendar birth years 1988 and 1989 (January 1-December 31)
U-19 - Calendar birth years 1985, 1986 and 1987 (January 1-December 31)
D.C. United's Y-League teams will compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division, and will play a minimum of 10 games. In addition to competition against other Y-League sides, players will experience exhibition matches against top foreign clubs. In 2003, United's U-17 side toured Europe, playing matches against academy sides from top clubs, including Kaiserslautern, Tottenham Hotspur, and Glasgow Celtic. Players experienced firsthand the rigors of competition at the highest levels, capturing a 3-1 victory over a highly skilled Bayer Leverkusen side.
