Do you see yourself, or someone else you know, suiting up for RSL in the future? Now’s you chance to give it a shot (assuming your between 15 and 17 years old that is.) Real Salt Lake will be continuing its dedication to youth soccer here in Utah, as the MLS side has announced its intent to field an RSL-Utah Boys Under-17 squad for the upcoming summer. Tryouts for this year’s team, which will consist of players born from August 1, 1990 through July 31, 1993 (U-15 through U-17 age groups), will be conducted at the West Valley Recreation Center (located at 5415 W. 3100 South in West Valley City), with open tryouts set for Friday, May 30, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. MT, and a final, invitation-only tryout to follow on Sunday, June 1, from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

“Real Salt Lake looks forward to fielding another squad full of local talent to play under our banner in 2008, especially with the groundwork we laid last summer,” said Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth Lagerwey. “As Utah’s MLS team, we feel it is vital for kids growing up in our area to aspire to one day put on the Real Salt Lake jersey, and we’ll ensure that the players representing our badge on the RSL-Utah team will be a part of the RSL family.”

Registration cost for the RSL-Utah squad tryout is $40, which includes a numbered Real Salt Lake tryout T-Shirt and a ticket voucher for Real Salt Lake’s MLS regular season contest at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, June 18. Players can pre-register for the tryouts through Wednesday, May 28, by turning in: 1) a completed registration form, 2) a completed Release and Liability form, 3) a copy of the player’s birth certificate, and 4) the $40 registration fee. The registration and Release and Liability forms are available online in the Youth Development of www.RealSaltLake.com. Once all items are completed, they can be turned into the RSL office, c/o Teresa Nelson, either in person or via U.S. mail at: 515 S. 700 East, Suite #2R (Trolley Corners building); Salt Lake City, UT, 84102.

Following up on RSL-Utah’s inaugural season in 2007, year two will see the team compete against fellow MLS youth development sides and other local clubs in various tournaments and friendlies. RSL-Utah fielded two teams last summer, with the RSL-Utah U-16 squad finishing at 2-4-0 and the RSL-Utah U-17’s finishing at an impressive 5-2-1, a point out of first-place in the Super Y-League’s Rocky Mountain Division.

For more information about the 2008 RSL-Utah U-17 program, including tryout and pre-registration information, please contact Teresa Nelson at tnelson@realsaltlake.com or 801-924-8565.