Maccabi USA Sports for Israel (MUSA) hosted its East Coast tryouts for the Maccabi USA National Badminton Team on Aug. 13 at Long Beach High School. The tryouts attracted approximately 15 high school and adult players from Long Island, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Chicago, all hoping to earn a spot on the team that will represent the U.S. at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel on July 17-30, 2013. Final selections for the 2013 games will be announced the third week of September. MUSA provides unique cultural opportunities through its sports programs. The World Maccabiah Games is the world’s third largest international sporting competition, bringing together more than 7,000 athletes from approximately 60 countries to compete in more than 35 different sports. “These games are held every four years in Israel, and teams also compete every two years in the European Maccabi games, so we are always looking toward the future for every sport,” said Ken Schwartz, USA badminton chairman of the19th World Maccabiah Games. “High school badminton in the New York/Long Island area, with its rich tradition, gives us a great feeder program for these kids during their high school years and beyond. We will have world-class coaches for each level. No doubt that the kids who qualify will return as better players, but more importantly, as better people.”