PITTSBURGH (March 29, 2017) – The RDA is proud to announce a full listing of tryout dates for all players interested in pursuing acceptance into the Riverhounds competitive team platform for the 2017-2018 year. Tryouts will aim to form teams for players between the birth years of 2010 and 1999.
Coming off another banner year, the RDA is now preparing for official entrance into one of the nation’s most competitive youth soccer leagues, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). The ECNL, as offered exclusively by the Riverhounds in the local market, will provide talented and committed area players with an unparalleled developmental experience, competing consistently against the top clubs in the United States, with elevated exposure to collegiate coaches and US Youth National Team scouts.
The RDA’s participation in the ECNL marks a major milestone for the club, helping to gain representation for Western Pennsylvania in an extremely high-level, national league that is offered to both boys and girls, U13 and older. To view the RDA-ECNL Frequently Asked Questions page, click HERE.
“We have worked very hard to position our Academy over the years, always focused on what the best possible opportunity would be for our players,” said Academy Director Scott Gibson. “The ECNL will demand the best from our Club, our coaches, and our players, and we are extremely excited for that challenge.”
At the younger levels of Under-8 through 11, the RDA will continue to build upon its highly successful Professional Principles League (PPL). Launched in November 2016, the PPL became a developmental league platform that brought together pools of players from married age groups in order to organically create in-house games aimed at teaching how to play the RDA way. Player pools within this age range will be engaged in additional, but limited, outside competition. This format is intended to enable young players to develop a passion for structured youth development while not limiting their ability to be young children.
The Riverhounds 12-month approach to individual player development all commences with tryouts this May. Based upon an extremely high volume of inquiries, two-to-three open tryout dates have been set for all age groups, culminating with a final, invitation-only call-back session to solidify roster decisions. It is fully anticipated that these sessions will be both well-attended and highly competitive so interested families should register immediately. Structure of all initial sessions will include technical activities and small-sided play. Call-back sessions will feature players in expanded play games.
The RDA is seeking committed youth soccer players who are excited for the opportunity to prove they are among the best in the country. Players accepted into the RDA will train three-to-four times per week, inclusive of Speed & Strength curriculum that will be built into their developmental calendars. With a full-time coaching staff overseeing field players and goalkeepers, both on the field and in performance training, and medical oversight from Allegheny Health Network, accepted players will enter a new era in RDA developmental planning. The rigorous schedule will demand that participating players exemplify high levels of discipline, respect, and resilience. In this way, the RDA is not only seeking players who demonstrate high levels of performance on the field, but also young professionals who aim to excel in the classroom and contribute to society in meaningful ways.
In an effort to help young players more fully understand the concept of professionalism, the RDA will, for the first time, require players selected out of tryouts to provide a Letter of Recommendation, or Character Reference, prior to final acceptance into the program. The Character Reference can be obtained from a teacher or local community leader who can speak on behalf of the player’s attitude, interaction with others, and overall commitment to excellence. The Character Reference will be a mandatory final step in the tryout process and will apply to all players, Under-12 and older.
According to Sporting Director Jason Kutney, introducing the Character Reference is a simple step intended to help players understand the importance of discipline and respect in their everyday lives.
“This will give parents an opportunity to teach their children about Letters of Recommendation, and what they really mean,” said Kutney. “We want our players to feel pressure to perform in all aspects of their lives, both on the field and off, and this is a simple way to help them along on their journey to become young professionals in whatever they do.”
To access the RDA Tryouts page on https://www.riverhounds.com, please click HERE.
