Official 2022 dates across the United States: Edmonton Elks’ Chris Jones schedules his famous open tryout tour

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks will host open tryouts at locations around the United States in the month of April.

General manager and head coach Chris Jones has become known for searching for talent in as many places as possible during the off-season. The Elks want players to note:

• The non-refundable $100 registration fee is payable in cash only at the time of registration.
• Please bring your own workout clothes, running shoes, football cleats for grass and/or field turf and water.
• Open try outs will be held rain or shine.
• Participants can be eliminated at any time during the try out.

Open tryout schedule

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: Evolution Sportsplex

141 South Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills, MI  48326

 

Date: Sunday, April 3, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: Gateway Senior High School

9000 Gateway Campus Blvd, Monroeville, PA  15146

 

Date: Sunday, April 9, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: Skyway Sports Complex

4095 George Road, Tampa, FL 33634

 

Date: Sunday, April 10, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: Midtown High School

929 Charles Allen Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA  30309

 

Date: Saturday, April 16, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: LV Berkner High School – STEM Academy

1600 E Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, TX  75081

 

Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022

Time:    Registration – 9:00am – 10am

Tryout – 10:00am – 2pm

Location: St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy

7851 Gardendale St., Downey, CA  90242

**Check back periodically as new dates will be announced.

General information

Open try outs give participants an opportunity to work out and display their potential to compete in the Canadian Football League in front of members of the Elks scouting staff.

Prior to participating in an open try out, participants must submit a non-refundable registration fee and sign a waiver form. An overview of the process will be provided before the try out begins, including criteria required to advance.

In addition to meeting height and weight requirements, participants are tested and assessed using the following drills:

Broad jump: The broad jump tests lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance because he has to land without moving.

Vertical jump: The vertical jump is a test of an athlete’s lower body explosion and power.  First, the athlete will reach up as high as he can from the standing position. That mark is recorded. The athlete then jumps as high as he can and touches the highest flag he can on the vertex machine. The difference between the highest flag touched and reach determines vertical jump.

Short shuttle: The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. This drill tests for lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodes out five yards to one side, touches the line, goes back 10 yards the other way, touches the line, then turns and sprints five more yards back to the starting point to finish.

3-cone (L-drill): The 3-cone drill tests an athlete’s ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones are set up in an L-shape. The athlete starts by going five yards to the first cone as fast as he can and then back. He turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

40-Yard Dash: The 40-yard dash is about speed, explosion and watching athletes run. Athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. Scouts are looking for an explosion from a static start.

At the conclusion of each drill there is a water break followed by the several phases of the workout. These phases include, but are not limited to, teaching fundamentals, rules and multiple opportunities for one-on-one competition.