Ocean City Nor'easters announce tryout session for men's and women's teams

Women announce hiring of assistant coach Charlie Flowe

The tryout will be held at Rutgers University-Camden on Sunday, March 20 and is open to both men and women with the goal of discovering talent for the 20th PDL season for the men, as well as the inaugural season in the EDP team for the women.

 

A scene from the sidelines at the Ocean City Nor'easters first tryout session at Rutgers-Camden University on Dec. 19. Photo: Twitter @DjFlowe

The Ocean City Nor'easters are proud to announce another tryout session for the upcoming 2016 season. The tryout, which will be held at Rutgers University-Camden in Camden, N.J. on Sunday, March 20, is open to both men and women with the goal of discovering talent for the 20th Premier Development League season for the men, as well as the inaugural season in the Eastern Development Program (EDP) team for the women.

The tryout will run from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and each player will be guaranteed at least 90 minutes of evaluation. Specifics regarding times for each player will be provided 24 hours prior to the date of the tryout. 

"We had a great showing at our previous tryout and have signed a number of very talented players that will make an immediate impact and some that I believe, in the future, we will be talking about at the next level," said Nor’easters general manager Kevin Nuss. “The main goal of this tryout is to fill out our few remaining roster spots on each team and hopefully find that diamond in the rough player that we have managed to find every year since I've been involved."

In addition to the tryout details, the club is also announcing the hiring of Charlie Flowe to the Ocean City Nor’easters Women coaching staff, led by head coach Bill O’Neill. Flowe is a licensed U.S. Soccer Federation coach and holds NSCAA Level 1 & 2 goalkeeper diplomas. Most recently, he was an assistant coach for the Penn State Brandywine men’s team.

"I am very pumped to get the ball rolling with our women's team,” said Flowe, “Our tryout will be a great opportunity for players to showcase their talent for a spot on our roster. The Ocean City Nor'easters have done a stellar job in developing male players and we plan to do the same thing with our female players. I am also very grateful to join the Nor'easters coaching staff. I've admired the accomplishments of this club for several years."

After being named team captain of the soccer team at Ferguson High School in Newport News, Va., Flowe went to college in Philadelphia at Drexel University where he graduated with a degree in project operations management. He has been a trainer and volunteer coach for nearly 15 years and works with Future Captain Sports. In 2002, he helped found the Philadelphia-based Bella Vista Futbol Club and served as a board member, player and coach until 2013.

Flowe also brings some broadcasting credentials to the club. He is the founder of the World Sports Show, a weekly soccer-based radio show based out of Philly. He also performed the play by play duties for the Pennsylvania Roar of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and the Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

"I am delighted to have Charlie on board,” said Nuss. “He is relentlessly passionate about the development of the game on all levels and I look forward to seeing his ambitions come to fruition with the Nor'easters."

Every year, the Nor'easters roster is filled with top-level men’s college talent from across the country and from around the world. The plan is to achieve the same standard for the women’s team.

"It has been impressive to see the excitement around the new women's team and we are all thrilled to get started,” said Nor’easters general manager Kevin Nuss. “Bill [O’Neill] & Charlie [Flowe] have done a great job recruiting and we expect to see a high quality of player on Sunday, March 20th.”

The Ocean City Nor'easters held their second tryout session at Rutgers-Camden University. Photo: Twitter (@DJFlowe)

However, every year there have been players who have emerged from open tryouts in recent years to make the team's final roster. Male players who feel they have what it takes to play for one of the best PDL teams in the country, and female players who would like to be on the ground floor of an exciting, brand new EDP franchise, should register today as there are limited tryout spots available.

Players will also be evaluated for the Nor'easters highly-successful Under-23 team, as well as the newly establish Under-20 program. Both the U-23 & U-20 teams we will work closely with the PDL staff on a weekly basis. Training & matches for all three teams (PDL, U-23 & U-20) will take place exclusively in Ocean City, NJ. More information about the U-23 team can be found at www.oceancityfc.com/u23 and the U-20 program at www.oceancityfc.com/u20.

Interested players can apply and register online HERE. The tryout is limited to 80 participants; therefore, all interested applicants are urged to apply no later than Thursday, March 17. There is a registration fee of $40, for all applicants that register by March 17. Late applicants will only be reviewed upon availability. In-person registration will not be accepted.

Participates must be at least 18 years of age, due to Rutgers University policy.

All student-athletes must confirm eligibility to participate with their respective college, university or the NCAA.

Since 2013, the Nor'easters have sent 22 players to the professional ranks, including Philadelphia Union goalkeeper, John McCarthy and New York Red Bulls defender, Shawn McLaws. In addition, four players were recently selected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. You can see a comprehensive list of Ocean City alums currently playing professionally here.

If you or someone you know is interested in trying out or has any questions, please contact out office at (609) 432-8371, email tryout@oceancityfc.com or visit www.oceancityfc.com/tryout

Register at www.oceancityfc.com/tryout/register

 

Store Banner

Store Banner