Tryouts a 'chance to join 7EA developments'
7 Elite Academy General Manager Daren Woolstenhume expects to see further growth in the organization's resources as he gears up for annual tryouts next month.
The Academy recently announced proposals for a 45-acre indoor and outdoor facility in St. George, with further designs for a similar base in Northern Utah currently under wraps.
7EA bosses have also launched a recruitment drive to appoint more coaching staff, amid expansion plans that will see more international teams travel to Utah.
Tryouts for new and existing players start on May 13th in Southern Utah and continue until May 31st at locations across the state.
Woolstenhume believes the expansion of 7 Elite Academy will pay dividends for youngsters who are looking to join its ranks next month.
He said: “Over the last year we have seen 7EA terms achieve some fantastic results, including a national championship for our 01 Boys South. I am incredibly proud of every single player on our teams.
“Currently, we have just over 1,000 youngsters on our books, but we know we cannot stand still. Players have their own unique requirements, so we want to give them all a professional training and playing environment.
“The new facility in St. George will create fantastic development opportunities for youngsters, as will our plans in Northern Utah. Our existing indoor facility in West Jordan is a blueprint for how we want to run our new training bases.
“Players usually come to us at a key stage in their development, both physically and mentally. By offering them outstanding facilities, we are contributing to how they mature as good young people, both on and off the pitch.”
7 Elite Academy players benefit from a wide-ranging programme of events. The past year has seen 7EA stage a training camp with English Premier League star James Milner, alongside staff from EPL and La Liga clubs.
The Academy's main tournament in January, meanwhile, attracted over 100 teams from across the United States to Utah and is set to include international clubs from next year.
Woolstenhume added: “We work incredibly hard to make sure our players are given opportunities to learn that they simply wouldn't get elsewhere. That is one of the reasons why we have expanded so rapidly in just 18 months.
“The professionalism we offer, from the coaching staff to everyone behind the scenes, means we are replicating the processes used in Europe's top soccer leagues. The majority of our coaching methods come directly from those clubs.
“We focus on the complete development of the player. That means we aim to look after their welfare away from the pitch, both in the gym and elsewhere in their lives. All of those elements contribute to a youngster's growth into a good person.
“Having good facilities and a professional attitude are a vital part of that process. We are leaving nothing to chance for any young player who decides they want to represent 7 Elite Academy, both currently and in the future.”
There is no charge for current 7 Elite Academy players to take part in tryouts, while others will be charged $10 ($20 if paying on the day) which includes an exclusive tryout jersey.
Age brackets will range from under-9 to under-18, although there will also be sample training sessions for Pre-Academy players in the 2012-2015 birth years.
Players are encouraged to attend all days of tryouts for their location and age group. To aid in an efficient check-in process at the try-outs, all players are encouraged to pre-register. On site same day registration is $20 dollars.
For more details about this year's tryouts, including dates and times, go to www.7tryouts.com.