PHOENIX (Thursday, April 13th, 2023) -- RSL AZ has announced the creation of a Pre-MLS NEXT program for 11U and 12U boys. This announcement comes off the heels of RSL AZ's previous announcement of the creation of the Youth Academy Individual Development Program for U9 and U10 boys and girls.

The Pre-MLS Next program will be available for all RSL AZ players at the following regions:

• RSL AZ North (Scottsdale, North & Central Phoenix areas) - Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
• RSL AZ South (Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek areas)- Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
• RSL AZ Central (Phoenix, Glendale, Tolleson, Maryvale areas) - Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
• RSL AZ Southern AZ (Tucson, Vail, Sahuarita, Nogales areas) - Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
• RSL AZ West Valley (Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear, Buckeye areas) - Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
• RSL AZ Yuma - Click here for tryout registration, schedule, and field locations
   

To join the RSL AZ Pre-MLS Next program, players must participate in an RSL AZ tryout in their respective region (listed above). Tryouts for the 11U and 12U boys start on May 1.

Following the conclusion of tryouts, players will be identified and invited to the program that will be coached by coaches in their region. Players will train in their regions weekly and once per month there will be a combined training for all regions that will be overseen by MLS Next Director Juan Fresquez and held alongside the U13-U19 RSL AZ MLS Next and RSL AZ Mesa MLS Next teams. 

Players in the Pre-MLS Next program will also compete in special events throughout the year.

This program will be overseen by Pre-MLS Next Director Juanca Fresquez.

“I am excited to be back in Arizona with RSL AZ. It is a club that I have followed and am proud to now be a part of," said Pre MLS Next Director, Juanca Fresquez. "I would like to thank Brent Erwin and Juan Fresquez for this great opportunity. I look forward to working with the youth talent in all regions and continuing their development and preparation for the transition to MLS Next"

Here are a few of our accomplishments from this past year:

• Six RSL AZ MLS Next players were named to a U.S. Soccer U-14 Regional Camp in February 2023
• Eight RSL AZ MLS Next players participated in a US Soccer Youth National Team Identification Center in November 2022
• Ten RSL AZ MLS Next players participated in a US Soccer National Team Identification Center in March 2022
• Two former RSL AZ MLS Next players have signed with Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake - Julio Benitez in January 2022 and Luis Rivera in January 2023.
• At the MLS NEXT Fest this past December in California, RSL AZ MLS Next 09 Boys defeated Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City (watch goals here) and RSL AZ MLS Next 10 Boys defeated Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes (watch goals here)
• At the MLS Next Fest this past December in California, more than 40 college coaches attended and watched our RSL AZ MLS Next 06 Boys defeated Solar Chelsea 3-1: San Diego State, Seattle U, San Diego, GCU, Northwestern, Louisville, Gonzaga, Air Force, New Mexico, Brown, Duke, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Tufts, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Cornell, Georgetown, Army, UCLA, Ohio State, and much more.