As part the club’s goal to make Sacramento a better place to live, work and play, Sacramento Republic FC are aiming to supplement local youth soccer development through their six-week Regional Development Program Fall 2016 session, which kicks off on Sept. 23.
Free tryouts for the six-week program will be held on Friday from 5-6 p.m. at Cosumnes River College. The fall session will also expand to include the first RDP session for girls ages U8-U12, in addition to the boys program.
Launched earlier this year, Republic FC RDP is designed to compliment and supplement local youth players’ own team and club training, providing highly competitive players the opportunity to train at an elite level with a professional club, using training strategies from Republic FC’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy program.
RDP participants will have the opportunity to enhance their technical and teamwork skills, working directly with Republic FC Academy coaches and other local club coaches in a high energy, competitive environment that simulates elite player development.
“This is a window into our Academy,” said Republic FC U12 Academy Head Coach Mikey Varas. “It’s the same energy and passion level we have in our Academy training…it gives [potential future Academy players] a taste of what it’s like to be in an academy environment.”
“It’s a great opportunity to be exposed to some of the top coaches in our region and in a professional team environment,” added Regional Development Program Ryan Suarez.
For youth players, the Regional Development Program provides a unique opportunity designed not only to provide an enhanced level of training that supplements their current training, practices and games, but also for a chance to prepare for joining regional academy programs, including local U.S. Soccer Development Academy programs for girls and boys.
“We want to identify talented and motivated players for [our] Academy, forge connections with the community, and not only develop future players for our Academy, but for the surrounding clubs as well,” said Varas. “We want to improve the overall level of soccer development and experience throughout the region.”
The fall RDP session—which features six weeks of high energy training led by Republic FC Academy coaches and staff, as well as local elite club coaches—will be the first session to expand to include girls, in addition to boys, and is open to players in U8 through U12 age groups.
With an emphasis on prepping players who hope to play an elite levels, such as Republic FC Academy and other regional academy programs, participation in the Regional Development program is by invitation only.
“We want players as they leave [RDP] to have…physical skills, mental skills and attitudes that will then positively impact their clubs and teams,” said Varas.
Players will be invited to participate in the program through free, mandatory tryouts on Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-6 p.m. at Cosumnes River College. Players should preregister for tryouts via Eventbrite on www.sacrepublicfc.com.
Players invited to participate in the six-week program will be contacted directly after tryouts. For questions or to learn more about the Regional Development Program visit www.sacrepublicfc.com or contact rdp@https://www.sacrepublicfc.com.
WHAT: Republic FC Development Program – Fall 2016 Tryouts
AGE GROUPS: U8-U12 boys and girls
MANDATORY TRYOUT DATES: Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-6 p.m. at CRC
PROGRAM SESSIONS/DATES: Every Friday from September 23 to October 28, 2016
TIMES: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
COST: Tryout participation is free. However, if selected for the program, participants must pay a $250 registration fee.
WHERE: Cosumnes River College
8401 Center Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95823
