Open Tryouts - Day One

On Saturday, the Galaxy held their 2010 Open Tryouts at The Home Depot Center. Despite a little wind and rain, the players did their best to impress the Galaxy Assessors on the field during their games on Day One of the annual event. Every participant played one (1) game in a 7 v. 7 format in the Round 1.
Here are a few facts about this year’s Open Tryouts…
• More than 200 players participated including wait listed players
• 9 players from outside of the United States participated
• Two Players from United Kingdom, France and Mexico and United Kingdom as well as Brazil, Japan and Taiwan
• Furthest distance traveled to attend – 5,680 miles (Japan)
• Players from out of California - 23
• State with the most players from outside of California - Nevada (four)
• Furthest distance traveled within U.S.A. – 2,285 miles (Key West, Florida)

There was a wide range of talent on display throughout the day with a number of high scoring games. The players looked to show their individual skills, but also needed to demonstrate the ability to work as a team. It is all of these factors that will be go into the decisions of the LA Galaxy Assessors. The Galaxy Open Tryout Assessors are lead by a distinguished group of coaches and former players including…
• Ralph Perez (Former Assistant Coach - U.S. National Team and LA Galaxy, Current Head Coach - University of Redlands)
• Rolando Uribe (Head Coach - California Institute of Technology, Head Coach U-14 U.S. National Team)
• Bill Swartz (Head Coach - Pomona-Pitzer College)
• Paul Broome (Former Defender - LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas)
Pending weather, the conclusion of Round 1 and Round 2 will take place Sunday. The format of the games during round 2 will be one 80 minute game of 11 v. 11 for each player at The Home Depot Center. At the end of round 2, final cuts will be made and the numbers of the players moving forward, if any, will be determined.

Check back here at 6pm for more information. In the meantime, here are a few more photos from today's tryouts. Enjoy!