Sporting Club announced Thursday that Tulsa Soccer Club Hurricane has joined the Sporting Club Network as an affiliate of the Sporting Kansas City Juniors. TSC Hurricane will be the first Juniors affiliate in the state of Oklahoma, giving the club’s players a direct connection to the Sporting Kansas City Juniors program and senior team.
“We’re very excited about it,” Sporting Kansas City Juniors director of coaching Jon Parry said. “They have a great arsenal of talent down there, and it’s something we think we can tap into.”
The largest club in Oklahoma, TSC Hurricane formed in 2011 as the result of a merger between Tulsa Soccer Club, Hurricane Soccer Club, MetroTulsa Soccer Club and Broken Arrow Soccer Club. As a Juniors affiliate, talented players from TSC Hurricane may be invited to train with Sporting Kansas City’s junior and senior teams as part of their professional development. Sporting Kansas City will also have the ability to add members of TSC Hurricane to the club’s Home Grown Player list. Every player in the club will wear a Sporting Club patch on their uniforms for competition.
"We are very excited to become the exclusive Juniors affiliate for Sporting Kansas City in Oklahoma,” TSC Hurricane executive director Jim Tindell said. “This is an important milestone in the implementation of our overall strategic plans and will lead to a new era of Oklahoma soccer for all levels and ages of players. We can't wait to roll up our sleeves and begin working with such an impressive MLS franchise with a very engaged ownership group and staff.”
As part of the six-year partnership, coaches from Sporting Kansas City’s technical staff will travel to Tulsa to provide and administer coaching education workshops, mini-clinics for players of all ages as well as speed and agility sessions. Coaches from TSC Hurricane will also be given access to come and observe Sporting Kansas City training sessions along with traveling with Sporting Kansas City to Orlando to observe the team’s preseason preparations for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.
“MLS clubs have continued to expand their reach in player development and we feel this new partnership will provide a unique platform for Oklahoma players to reach their goals,” TSC Hurricane director of coaching Mark McIntosh said. “All of our players-regardless of ability, age or gender-will benefit from the engagement of Sporting KC into our programs. We're going to leverage this relationship with Sporting KC to take our club to the next level.”
Additionally, Sporting Club also announced Thursday the addition of five new area organizations to the Sporting Club Network, a groundbreaking membership of athletes and athletic organizations created to affiliate all interested soccer and other organizations in the Midwest with Sporting Club and Sporting Kansas City. The newest members of the Sporting Club Network are the Kansas Rush, Brookside Soccer Club, Puma FC, Smithville Soccer Club and the Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club. As part of the Sporting Club Network, each organization’s membership will become members of Sporting Club, the parent organization of Sporting Kansas City.
Players that participate and compete through a Sporting Club Network member organization will receive a Sporting Club patch to wear during competition, as well as access to exclusive clinics and trainings. Local member coaches will also have the ability to take advantage of a coaching licensure program and premium coaches experiences at both the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park as well as at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on matchdays.
For more information on the Sporting Club Network, click here or contact Betsy Pollard, Sporting Kansas City director of youth soccer.
About Sporting Kansas City Juniors
The official youth development academy of Sporting Kansas City there are currently four Sporting Kansas City Juniors teams playing in regional and national competition from ages U13 through U18. The U16 and U18 Sporting Kansas City Juniors teams both compete in the prestigious U.S. Soccer Development Academy against the top youth clubs from around the country. The U16 and U18 Juniors teams are both fully funded by Sporting Kansas City.
About TSC Hurricane
TSC Hurricane was founded in January 2011 as a result of a merger of Tulsa Soccer Club (founded in 1991) and Hurricane Futbal Club (Founded in 1993) that created a "mega" club in size and scope. The innovative club is the most recognized and successful in Oklahoma history with over 140 USYS OK State Champions, 10 USYS Region 3 Champions and 4 USYS National Finalists. It is also one of the largest youth clubs in Oklahoma and is the only official Oklahoma member of the ECNL.
About Kansas Rush
The Kansas Rush Soccer Club--also known as the Olathe Soccer Club--is an Olathe-based soccer club providing playing opportunities for participants ranging in age from pre-Kindergarten and up, including the fielding of over 30 competitive teams as well as the operation of four different adult leagues in the Olathe area.
About Brookside Soccer Club
A not-for-profit, recreational soccer club who are dedicated and passionate about providing a fair, fun and safe environment for the Kansas City area youth from 4 to 18 years of age. Since originally founded in 1977, the Brookside Soccer Club’s mission has been to deliver affordable and accessible quality youth soccer programs that build positive character through participation in a fun, family-oriented soccer environment. Brookside Soccer Club proudly serves over 2000 kids, who come from over 80 zip codes, and over 100 different schools. Along with our wonderful kids, we have over 180 volunteer coaches and over 80 trained referees.
About Puma FC
The Puma FC soccer club is devoted to providing a competitive and recreational soccer development program for girls and boys of all ages. Creating a positive experience and a fun atmosphere among players, parents, and coaches is an essential emphasis that guides us to develop young athletes. Puma FC is in its second year of operation and currently has 22 teams ranging from 5-16 years of age. Puma FC was founded by Jack Jewsbury, Vladimir Roganovic and Rob Million.
About Smithville Soccer Club
Smithville Soccer Club promotes local soccer in recreational and competitive divisions of the Kansas City Metro League and the Heartland Soccer League in Johnson County, Kansas. The club is a member of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.
About the Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club
The KCGAC plays the two national sports of Ireland, Gaelic football and hurling. The club was founded in 2008 and strives to educate, coach and develop Ireland’s national sports while promoting Irish culture within the community. Gaelic football and hurling teams compete in a local league in Kansas City and our traveling teams compete at the national level. The KCGAC is a member of the North American County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
