New York Red Bulls expand youth platform, launch Pre-Academy teams

HARRISON, N.J. (Via New York Red Bulls) – The New York Red Bulls Regional Development School (RDS) will field two year-round competitive teams for the first time in 2016, the club announced on Thursday.

The teams will begin competition in the 2016 fall season with the Boys 2005 age group.

The New York Red Bulls RDS 2005s, open to players born after Jan 1, 2005, will compete in the North-East Pre-Academy League (NEPAL) and will effectively bridge the gap between the RDS (open to 7 to 14-year-olds), and the Red Bulls academy teams (starting at 2004 birth years). Intended for elite youth players, these teams will offer training and game environments unmatched in the local youth soccer landscape.

“We are proud to announce the addition of two pre-academy teams to our youth system,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Ali Curtis. “By providing opportunities for year-round competition, we aim to advance the development of our players and better prepare them for the challenges of both life and soccer.”

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The two regional teams will each carry a small roster of 12 to 14 players and will continue to reflect the club’s coverage in the Metro New York Area. One team will cater to players in New Jersey, and the other to players in New York. Players may choose to apply for either roster, regardless of their residential address.

“The new teams will help provide a deeper connection between the grassroots youth soccer community and the academy level,” said Dave Jervis, Senior Director of Red Bulls Training Programs. “The extension of the Red Bulls player development pathway to the younger ages will allow us to place talented players into a carefully developed training environment that is focused on cultivating talent at an important developmental age.”

Throughout the Spring and Fall, each team will participate in two local indoor training sessions per week (locations TBD), in addition to one centralized session at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover, N.J. All home games will be played at the Red Bulls Training Facility.

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All teams will participate in four high-level tournaments each year and players will benefit from additional indoor Winter training, Summer residential camps and supplementary Futbolinho training.

Tryouts for the 2005 RDS teams will be held at a choice of either Torne Valley Sports Complex, Ramapo, N.Y., each Monday, or Peddie School, Hightstown N.J., each Saturday in April and May. Players selected to the Red Bulls RDS 2005s will be notified in late May, with league play commencing in September 2016. Consistent with New York Red Bulls’ policy of developing youth talent, dual carding is permitted, provided a player’s primary commitment is to Red Bull New York.