Nashville Metros


2007 NASHVILLE METROS TRYOUTS
The Nashville Metros, North America’s oldest continuously owned and operated soccer franchise, will conduct open tryouts for the club’s 17th outdoor season in 2007.

When: Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Where: The Nashville Metros play at Ezell Park, located at 5135 Harding Place, one mile east of I-24 at Exit 56. From I-24, travel east on Harding Place. The stadium complex is located on the right side of Harding Place, just past the train overpass and the new police and fire stations. When you turn off of Harding Place, be sure to take the left fork of the road into the stadium complex. (See map below)

Cost: $25 (one time administrative fee)

A $25 fee will be charged to all players trying out for the team to defray the cost of evaluations and numbered training t-shirts for all participants. Players should arrive at the Ezell Park complex by 9 a.m. in order to complete registration forms and prepare for the on-field workouts, which will begin at 10 a.m. Players attending the tryouts should bring a soccer resume and playing equipment.

Players coming to tryout from outside of the Middle Tennessee area who need lodging in Nashville can make accommodations at Holiday Inn – The Crossings, the official hotel sponsor of the Nashville Metros.

Head Coach Rico Laise said the team, which begins its 18th season in May, always seems to find quality players who have gone unscouted and overlooked through the tryout process. The team will also be looking for players for its Metros Reserves squad, which participates weekly in local leagues to allow players to further develop their skills.

Players will be observed in warm up, drills and short-sided activities during the Saturday morning session. After a break for lunch, they will return for an afternoon session of full-sided games. The first round of player cuts will be announced following the Saturday afternoon session. Players making the cut will be asked to return the following day for more training and full-sided games.

Playing in the United Soccer Leagues’ Premier Development League (PDL), the highest level of amateur soccer in the U.S., the Metros draw top players from area colleges and universities, as well as foreign nationals seeking additional playing experience. The May – July season does not interfere with collegiate seasons or jeopardize collegiate eligibility.

Metros players have gone on to compete at the highest levels of U.S. and international soccer, including the U.S. Men’s National Team, Major League Soccer and top foreign leagues. Many have also used their Metros training and experience to springboard them into stardom in their collegiate careers.

Nationally, the PDL has grown to fill major gap in U.S. soccer development. With more than sixty clubs from coast to coast in 2007, many franchises have become regional college all-star teams, giving the best young players new opportunities to hone their skills during their collegiate off-season. Since the PDL is exempted from NCAA regulations against off-season team training, league experience places American players on a more equal footing with foreign players, who often train year-round to develop their abilities.

For additional information on the tryouts, email Head Coach Rico Laise at r.laise@nashvillemetrossoccer.com or telephone the Nashville Metros office at (615) 832-5678.

Learn more:
http://www.nashvillemetrossoccer.com/