What age groups are eligible for the program?
Boys' and girls' teams are available in four age groups: 2014 (U12), 2015 (U11), 2016 (U10), and 2017 (U9). Players born in 2018 and later are encouraged to wait until next year’s program to try out, as the teams are competitive, and very few players will be selected to play up.
Is this program eligible for both boys and girls?
Yes, all age groups will feature boys’ and girls’ teams. If an age/gender group is unavailable at your selected region, and your child is still deemed an appropriate candidate for the program, they will have the option of joining an older age group or (in some cases) represent a different region.
What level is the program targeted at?
All players should be competitive travel players to benefit from this high-level environment. As a rule, players should be playing for their local club’s top-level team in their age group.
How does Regional Select differ from Regional Development School (RDS)?
The Regional Development School (or RDS) offers year-round supplementary training to high-level players in a club-neutral environment but offers no guarantee of competitive tournament play. Although the top players in RDS earn the opportunity to represent the RDS Showcase Tournament teams, this level of the program is invite-only, and only around the top 1% of players in the RDS reach this level. Regional Select provides a more accessible pathway to tournament play with the Red Bulls.
Do I need access to my child’s player card to participate?
You will need to provide a photo ID with proof of DOB (passport, school ID, or similar), but access to the player card is not required. After try-out, and if your child successfully earns a space on the teams, we recommend discussing it with your club coach, as some clubs have a code of conduct prohibiting guest play.
My child has the opportunity to represent both the RDS Showcase and Regional Select. Which should they choose?
In short, you should always choose the training location that suits you best based on location and availability. However, the RDS Showcase teams pull from a larger audience, and feature players from across all five regions, so are therefore a more advanced group of players. In the summer it is not possible to play in both programs, as the tournament schedule is similar, and teams will likely play against each other at some point. As such, if your child is fortunate enough to earn an invite to the RDS Summer Showcase, this would be a more competitive group and should be prioritized if geographically possible. For the winter programs it’s possible to play on both the RDS Showcase and Regional Select teams, the winter RDS Showcase commitment is a lot smaller with just one training session and one tournament. Players that make the RDS Winter Showcase team are also eligible to participate on a Select Team and aren’t required to try out again for that season.
How large are the rosters, and what playing time should my child expect?
Each roster is small to guarantee low player/coach ratios and maximize playing time during the tournaments. In the summer, U9 and U10 play 7v7 and feature rosters of around 12 players, while the U11 and U12 play 9v9 and have a roster size of up to 15. In the winter, Tournaments are 5v5 for all age groups and rosters are approximately 8 players.
What is the Regional Select Residential Camp?
The Regional Select Residential Camp is optional and provides an option for Select players from all regions to participate in the same sleep-away camp. The four-day camp features a range of tactical classroom sessions, team-building activities, technical training sessions, inter-region scrimmages, and tournament play. Please note, that this applies only to the Summer Regional Select program. There is not a pre-season residential camp for the Winter Select Program.
Are there any minimum attendance expectations/requirements, and how is this tracked?
To maximize your experience, it is recommended that players are available for at least four of the six training sessions and both tournaments. Once the rosters are finalized, you will be sent an invite to join TeamSnap, where you can list your child’s availability.
When does registration open, and do I need to know any other key dates?
Registration for the program opens in September for the Winter Program and March for the Summer Program, at which time you will be able to register for your chosen try-out. When available, you will be able to register HERE . A virtual open house will be held in October for the Winter Program and April for the Summer Program, to share more information for those considering attending. A virtual open house will be held in October for the Winter Program and April for the Summer Program, to share more information for those considering attending. To register for the upcoming Winter 2026 Open House on October 9th, please RSVP Here . We encourage you to sign up for try-outs before the open house, as we expect huge demand for the program, and many try-outs will already be at capacity by the time the open house is held.
What seasons is the Regional Select Program Offered?
The Regional Select Program will be offered in the Summer and Winter.
What if a player cannot make their region's try-out?
Players can tryout at any location, regardless of which team they wish to be considered for and can choose the tryout location that best suits their schedule.
What time will the training sessions be?
Training times vary by location but are all 90 minutes in length and take place in the 5:00pm to 9:00pm window.
Is there a Goalkeeper option?
Goalkeepers are eligible to register. However, outside of the (optional) residential camp, they won't receive Goalkeeper-specific training on a weekly basis. They will train with their teams.