SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has announced that tryouts for the RSL-Arizona Academy will be held on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah. The tryouts will be open to players born in the years 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Players interested in trying out must turn in their registration form and a $50 registration fee to RSL Youth Development Director Teresa Nelson by Friday, May 30. A .PDF version of the registration form can be found online here. Players interested in trying out can either return their signed forms to via email, in person or by the postal service. Any questions regarding registration should be directed to Teresa Nelson via email at tnelson@realsaltlake.com or over the phone at 801-727-2714.
The tryouts will consist of several game practices and exercises designed to show the coaching staff range of ability, skills, speed and athleticism. It is an informal session, aimed at giving players the opportunity to display their talent and to obtain an assessment of their potential from an RSL-Arizona Academy Staff Coach.
After being determined a top player by our Academy staff by performing well over the weekend, players will be invited back to participate in the Real Salt Lake Residential Academy in Arizona. RSL-AZ Academy staff will work together on determining the right mix of players based on strengths and weaknesses of individuals, group and team performance.
Widely considered one of the top youth academies in the country, the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy has a long history of accomplishment. Both the U-16 and U-18 Academy teams have qualified for the Academy playoffs every year of its existence, with the RSL U-16 team winning the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-16 national championship in 2013. In 2014, the RSL-AZ Academy U-16 team reached the 2014 Generation adidas Cup Championship. The RSL-AZ Academy also provides a steady flow of players to U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams, with no fewer than six players earning call-ups to the U.S. U-20, U-18 and U-16 National Teams in the last year.
As a testament to its success, every RSL-Arizona player has been offered a college scholarship or has signed a professional contract upon graduation from the Academy. In 2013, 45 Academy graduates played Division I and Division II college soccer, with 19 graduates participating in the 2013 NCAA College Cup tournament. Seven RSL-Arizona Academy products have graduated to the RSL first team since 2010, with five others signing with other professional clubs both in the U.S. and abroad.
Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy Tryout Schedule:
Saturday, May 31
8:30-10:00 a.m. – Players born in 2000
10:15-11:45 a.m. – Players born in 1998 1999
2:00-3:30 p.m. – Players born in 2000
3:45-5:15 p.m. – Players born in 1998 and 1999
Sunday, June 1
8:30-10:00 a.m. – Players born in 2000
10:15-11:45 a.m. – Players born in 1998 and 1999
Real Salt Lake Academy Tryout Staff:
Martin Vazquez
- Head Coach/ Director of Soccer Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy
- Former Head Coach, Chivas USA
- Former Assistant Coach Bayern Munich
Freddy Juarez
- Assistant Coach/Residential Advisor at Real Salt Lake-Arizona Residential Academy
- Former Coaching Director of New Mexico Striker FC
Tony Bruce
- Assistant Coach Real Salt Lake-Arizona Residential Academy
- Former coach at San Diego Surf Soccer Club
