Written by Will Ridgard
‘Enjoy it, have fun, and keep it simple’ – that is Hugh Roberts’ advice ahead of the 2017 Pro Tryouts.
Roberts, who was discovered at the Kickers 2014 Pro Tryouts, arrived in Richmond, in his own words, as a ‘nobody.’
But, now, nearly three years later, Roberts has established himself as one of the first names on Leigh Cowlishaw’s team sheet.
Following the 2016 season, Roberts was named to the USL All-League First Team and received the Richmond Kickers Player’s Choice MVP award.
And it all started for him in January 2014, when he attended the three-day event alongside hundreds of other hopefuls.
“I was so nervous before the tryouts, but that’s natural,” recalled the George Mason University graduate, who trained with Rochester Rhinos and Harrisburg City Islanders prior to the Richmond Tryouts.
“The first day was intense. There were a lot of people looking to impress so it was hard to distinguish myself from the crowd. You go to the tryouts not knowing what the coaches are looking for.
“Richmond had four center backs at the time I tried out. If I’m honest, I didn’t think anything would happen, but they asked me to come back after the Tryouts and train for two weeks.
“From there, I was extremely grateful that they took a chance on me and offered me a contract. I will never forget that phone call.”
It took Roberts blood, sweat, and tears to get to where he is in his career right now. The defender believes that whatever the outcome of the Tryouts, the experience is valuable for everyone involved.
“The Kickers Pro Tryouts are a great idea for players. I highly recommend them,” he continued.
“Even if you don’t make it through or impress, you can make loads of new connections in the game to help you. Building connections is a big part of soccer.
“My number one piece of advice for anyone trying out is to enjoy it and have fun. It’s also important to play simple – that is what the coaches are looking for. There is no need to complicate things.”
Richmond Kickers, official USL affiliate of D.C. United, will host 2017 Open Tryouts on January 27-29 and March 10-12, 2017. A select number of players will be invited to participate in three days of intense training and scrimmages in front of technical staff at the Kickers state-of-the-art training facility Ukrop Park in Richmond, Virginia. Eligible college seniors, qualified free agents and talented amateur players that are seeking a professional contract are encouraged to register now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Interested players should submit an application and $150 registration fee by January 20 or March 3. Space is limited and applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Registration fees are non-refundable. Application fees increase to $195 after the registration deadline. Attendance at all sessions is required.
