Toronto FC announced Wednesday that the team will once again be holding Open Tryouts in hopes of identifying potential talent. This year, the club will hold auditions for both the senior team, as well as the newly formed Toronto FC Academy that will begin in 2008.
Tryouts will take place under the bubble at BMO Field during the week of January 21-25th, 2008. Players trying out for the Academy must be born between 1990 and 1994 and will be asked to pay a registration fee of $100 plus tax. Availability is based on a first come, first serve basis. If a player is accepted into the program they will receive their registration fee back. The Academy will be a fully funded program and will consist of two age categories, U-16, and U-18, with approximately 65 players enrolled. More details will be released on the Academy during tryouts.
There is no age limit on tryouts for the senior team, but only 500 applicants will be accepted. Last year's tryouts identified a number of players that were part of either the senior team, or the reserve squad at some point in the season. Players such as David Guzman, and Rich Asante (Toronto FC), as well as Niki Budalic, Desi Humphreys, and Jason DeThomasis (Reserve squad) plus Jamaal Smith who was invited to training camp. The registration fee is $125 plus tax.
In both sets of tryouts, players will be evaluated by the Toronto FC coaching staff as well as guest coaches. Players will first be evaluated in a game situation with promising players advancing to the next stage of the trial process. Registration will take place on Toronto FC's official website www.torontofc.ca - and begins Wednesday November 21st, with a cut off date of Sunday January 6th, with no exceptions.
