Soul hope to be lighting up the scoreboard at the Wells Fargo Center again in 2013. Photo by Todd Bauders ContrastPhotography.com

SOUL SET TO BEGIN TRAINING FOR 2013 SEASON

Philadelphia Determined For ArenaBowl With Returning Players, New Additions

 PHILADELPHIA (February 25, 2013) – The 2012 American Conference Champion Philadelphia Soul, presented by Parx Casino, will begin training camp on Thursday, Feb. 28, when all players of the 35-man roster are to report.  The practices for training camp will be held at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia and will begin on Saturday, March 2.

Entering training camp, the Soul have 11 players from last season’s American Conference Champion team.  The top returners of the 2012 season include: QB Dan Raudabaugh, FB Derrick Ross, WR Tiger Jones, DB Rayshaun Kizer and DL Bryan Robinson.

“It’s always important to have key weapons return to the team,” said Soul head coach, Clint Dolezel.  “It makes your job a little easier as a coach heading into the season.  But, at the end of the camp, we still need to pick 24 of these very talented players.  It’s important that the players represent their full potential at this training camp to prove to us they will help our team win.”

Dolezel, entering his first season as the head coach of the Soul, assembled a new coaching staff for the upcoming season.  Two-time First Team All-Arena performer, Phil Bogle, begins his second coaching stint with the Soul as the assistant head coach.  Former Philadelphia Eagle, Hollis Thomas; Chris McKinney; Steve Criswell; and Donald Malloy will join Dolezel and Bogle as assistant coaches.

The team will start practice March 2 until first cuts take place on March 8.  The first cuts will reduce the roster to 28 players.  The final 24-man roster will be announced on March 16 when training camp ends.  The Soul open their 2013 season on Saturday, March 23 at 9 p.m. in Phoenix, against the Arizona Rattlers for an ArenaBowl XXV rematch, which will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

1. The 2013 training camp roster consists of 23 AFL veterans and 12 rookies. The All-Arena players on the Soul’s rosters are: two-time All-Arena WR Tiger Jones, two-time All-Arena DB Rayshaun Kizer, All-Arena DL Bryan Robinson, and two-time All-Arena FB Derrick Ross.Raudabaugh, Daniel

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA SOUL

The Philadelphia Soul are presented by Parx Casino.  They capped their seventh Arena Football League season by capturing the 2012 American Conference championship.  For 2013 season tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a representative by filling out the form on www.philadelphiasoul.com.  Follow the Soul on Facebook at facebook.com/soul and Twitter at twitter.com/soulfootball.