Riverhounds launch youth tournament series
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club will launch a youth soccer tournament series that will begin in July 2021. The Riverhounds will host four events each year that will consist of professionally run tournaments and showcases.
The tournament series will attract clubs from around the country under the following format:
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds Classic – July 2021 with registration beginning Jan. 25;
- Hounds Steel City Cup – October 2021;
- Riverhounds SC Three Rivers College Showcase – December 2021;
- RDA Spring Invitation – starting March 2022.
Events will take place at Highmark Stadium, Montour Junction Sports Complex and surrounding facilities.
“We are proud to launch our very own soccer tournament series and bring high-level youth competitions to the Greater Pittsburgh Area,” Riverhounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger said.
“As these events target clubs from across the country, it will provide an excellent opportunity for new families and faces to see our city. Along with the development of our academy, we are building in partnership with Allegheny Health Network a state-of-the-art facility in Coraopolis that will serve as the hub for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Tournament Series. We are excited to be a driving force behind the growth of youth soccer in Western Pennsylvania.”
The series will feature a variety of events throughout the year that will target different age groups at every level of play. It will conclude each year with the Riverhounds SC Three Rivers College Showcase, which will work with collegiate coaches throughout the country to display the highest-level boys and girls on separate weekends.
“The commitment to youth development from within our club and throughout the region from our owner and many others over the past decade has been remarkable,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said.
“We have built a very strong academy program with experienced and talented coaches and reached into our community with many other programs and initiatives. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Tournament Series is a continuation of our desire to grow the game in Western Pennsylvania. We look forward to hosting other clubs that share our passion for the sport and also believe in the development of our youth.”
According to the organization, each event will be run with the highest professional standards in place and will have a strong support staff made up of Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) directors and coaches.
In addition, the club will work with PA Classics on a consulting basis to ensure the events maintain the levels required and to provide a superb experience for families.
Justin Evans will lead the team of directors. The Peters Township native is a Riverhounds SC Hall of Fame inductee. He played professionally for Riverhounds and also served as the club’s head coach.
“As an organization, we are very excited to lead the way in the soccer community for the Greater Pittsburgh Area by presenting this tournament series in our own backyard,” Evans said. “These tournaments will provide an opportunity to teams of all skill levels and also fill the tournament void that has been absent in Pittsburgh for so many years.”
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Classic – July 2021. ?
Features competition from clubs throughout the Pittsburgh soccer community and the extending region. Registration begins January 25.
Hounds Steel City Cup – October 2021.
Set for Columbus Day weekend. Open to classic and travel-level teams throughout the Tri-State area.
Riverhounds SC Three Rivers College Showcase – December 2021
Takes place across back-to-back weekends for boys and girls.
The event will provide players with an opportunity to showcase their talents to college coaches from across the country.
RDA Spring Invitation – Starting March 2022
The spring invitational tournament will be a perfect opportunity for teams to get back outside after the winter months. The event is built on the foundations of the Riverhounds Development Academy, and will feature high-level clubs from across the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.