The greatest show in semi-pro is coming to the 414 area code in 2021. The Racine Raiders will hold their only free tryout at The Rock Sports Complex (7011 South Ballpark Drive) in Franklin on Sunday, April 18, 2021. The tryout will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held indoors. Prospective players should bring gear that’s suited for indoor football drills.
The tryout will take place in the gorgeous and modern Ballpark Common’s Performance Center. This is the first time the Raiders have held a tryout in Milwaukee County since 2013 when they hosted it at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex.
A majority of the Raiders annual roster consists of players that competed in collegiate football, including with the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from all divisions. Athletes that played at the high school level and for other semi-professional teams round out the roster. All prospective players must be at least 18 years old.
While there is no pay for playing for the Raiders, the team does offer many amenities for no cost. This includes access to licensed athletic trainers and an orthopedic surgeon, insurance, postgame meals, gas reimbursement (depending on distance traveled), team-supplied travel to most road games, full coaching staff, equipment team, tickets to home games, and much more. The Raiders home field is Historic Horlick Athletic Field in Racine which was just renovated with new field turf in 2020 that’s yet to be played on. The Raiders draw an average of 1,500 fans per game. There is no better experience in semi-pro football in the United States.
The Racine Raiders are a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization comprised entirely of volunteers. The team is organized much like the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League as a community-owned team led by a volunteer board of directors. The Raiders were founded in 1953 and have won nine national or world championships at the semi-pro level for football.
