Portland Timbers to conduct Academy team tryouts July 8-10

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced that the club will conduct an open tryout for the Timbers U-18 and U-16 Academy teams July 8-10, searching for players for the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. The tryout will be held at the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District’s Howard M. Terpenning Complex in Beaverton, Ore.

Led by the Timbers Academy and youth-development coaches, the tryout is open to all youth players from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Participants can register for the tryout online; the deadline to sign up is Monday, June 30, at 5 p.m. (Pacific). Additional academy details online.

Following the open tryout, the Timbers will conduct an invitational combine for select players, July 14-17. Preseason activities for Timbers Academy teams begin Aug. 18.

The Timbers Academy will embark on its third season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy during the 2014-15 season. The Timbers Academy teams play a 10-month season from September through May and compete against other MLS academy teams as well as elite youth clubs along the West Coast. The Timbers cover participation expenses – including team travel, operations and equipment – for each academy player for the season.

The Timbers Academy is designed to further develop elite youth soccer players throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington through advanced training and competitive opportunities. The Timbers Academy program takes a holistic approach in developing players, incorporating nutrition, sports psychology, strength conditioning, speed and agility into the coaching curriculum.

Including the academy teams, the Timbers have established a vertically integrated pathway from the youth levels to the professional ranks with the club’s first team. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy also provides opportunities for players to be seen by national team and college coaches.