Tryouts for the Football University (FBU) Western North Carolina team is coming up soon, and young football players from Ashe County and other High Country counties are encouraged to show up and see how well they can stack up against some of the other top players in the western half of the state.

The FBU National Championship is an event created to put the best youth football players across the world, while promoting football for youngsters from all areas and backgrounds.

Nearly 7,000 athletes from the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade age groups will play in a total of 250 games to determine a champion. The championship game is set to take place in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The tryout for the Western NC team is set for Sunday, Sept. 23 at Avery County High School. The tryout will begin at 3 p.m. and last until 7 p.m. Players are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in. The fee for the tryout is $35.

Eligible players must be in grades six through eight for this current school year. Young athletes should bring a mouthpiece, cleats, shorts, shoes and socks, as well as an extra t-shirt, although there will be one provided at the tryout.

Each player will go through a series of events, similar to the NFL draft combine that college players use to show off their speed, quickness, and agility. Events include the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill, broad jump, short shuttle and one-on-one competitions.

Games will not start until late in November, so players currently playing in the youth football league in the area should not have any games conflicting with tryouts, practices, or the FBU games once they begin.

This championship will be similar to that of the Little League World Series where teams from different states and countries will compete in a tournament format where the winners continue advancing until they lose.

For more information on the FBU tryout, call team director Donnie Johnson at (828) 260-8307 or email him at djohnson@footballuniversity.org.