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FC Tampa Bay began its 2011 preseason officially today with its first practice session. The morning practice lasted just over two hours, and Head Coach Ricky Hill and Assistant Coach David Hayes watched players train hard as the duo conducted their first practice as the club’s new coaching staff.

All but one FC Tampa Bay player was in attendance. Defender J.P. Rodrigues will be joining FC Tampa Bay at the end of the Major Indoor Soccer League season, where he is playing for the Milwaukee Wave. Hayes, who played with the Carolina RailHawks in 2010, joined in the training session as well.

A few trialists also joined the squad this morning, including USF alum Javed Mohammed (D), former Austin Aztex player and USF alum Yohance Marshall (D) and Jason Yeisley (F). 

“I felt the players came back with a very positive frame of mind and they all worked well in both the physical and football practices that we delivered,” said Hill.

Jeremy Christie and Yendry Diaz sat out of full practice today due to injuries, which are on the mend. Christie will be sidelined four to six months recovering from hip surgery, which he underwent last week. Diaz is rehabilitating and training after undergoing surgery in January on his groin and is expected to be fully fit at the beginning of the regular season. 

To see pictures from today’s practice, click here.

To watch video from today's practice, click here.

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