Two of Iowa’s most iconic youth soccer clubs, Johnston-Urbandale Soccer Club and West Des Moines Soccer Club, are joining forces with Sporting Kansas City to form the 10th Academy Affiliate in the Sporting Club Network, presented by Price Chopper. In a unique partnership, the two clubs will merge their boys and girls under-17 and under-18 programs under the new brand Sporting Iowa, with plans to expand to additional age groups over time. This initiative will provide boys and girls of both clubs the pinnacle of player development by defining a clear path from recreational play all the way to the collegiate and professional ranks of the game.
“Since the inception of the Johnston/Urbandale Soccer Club, the coaching staff and the board has worked diligently to give access to the best opportunities and to match the dreams and ambitions of the players in our local communities and across the state of Iowa. The JUSC vision to provide these options and to grow soccer in our corner of the world is evident by this partnership with Sporting Kansas City and our cooperative efforts with the West Des Moines Soccer Club to lead the way in Iowa.”
- Jeff Smaha, President of Johnston-Urbandale Soccer Club
Through this Sporting Iowa merger, JUSC and WDMSC members will be a part of the largest and most prestigious club in Iowa. As a result of these clubs’ extensive reach, youth players across Iowa will now have the opportunity to participate and be a part of this groundbreaking system. Additionally, Sporting Kansas City will have exclusive access to this territory as Sporting Iowa is the team’s only Academy Affiliate in the state.
“Our mission at WDMSC is to provide our players with an unparalleled experience and, in order to do this, we must continue to explore ways to make our staff and player development programming even more complete. Our partnership with Sporting KC gives us the ability to provide our membership with a more comprehensive and vertically integrated player pathway, which is a critical part of helping our players reach their goals and potential. This relationship with Sporting KC, as well as our collaborative partnership with JUSC, allows us to assist players in their pursuits to be the very best that they can be.”
- John Breed, President of West Des Moines Soccer Club
Players that participate and compete through the Academy Affiliate program will be directly connected to Sporting Kansas City’s Academy and youth development initiatives. In turn, they will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience while receiving heightened levels of training and development. These unique opportunities will help provide players of the region a direct path to higher levels of the game, most notably the Sporting Kansas City senior team.
All Sporting Iowa players will be invited to participate in the annual Academy Affiliate Weekend, an event that brings together many of the most competitive and talented youth soccer players from across the Midwest, all under the Sporting Club umbrella. Select Sporting Iowa players will also be named to Academy Affiliate All-Star Teams throughout the year, offering these players a chance to learn the game in the same environment and setting as Sporting KC’s own Academy and first-team players.
“Sporting Iowa is a welcomed addition to the Sporting Club Network and we're pleased to now connect them as an extension of the Sporting KC Academy. I am confident this is the beginning of a lasting partnership between our organizations that will enhance all of our efforts to provide the best possible experience within the sport and take the opportunities ahead of us in an exciting direction.”
- Jon Parry, Director of Coaching for Sporting Kansas City Academy
As an Academy Affiliate member, Sporting Iowa becomes an extension of the Sporting KC Academy and therefore an extension of the club’s scouting network. The relationship between the Sporting Club Network and Sporting Iowa will play an important part in the overall growth of soccer in the Midwest by elevating the level of youth soccer in the region while also offering extensive new benefits that will directly impact the improvement of these players. In the search for the next homegrown star that will wear the Sporting Kansas City crest and win championships at Sporting Park, Iowa will now be a location closely linked with Sporting KC to look for and develop future talent.
ABOUT JOHNSTON/URBANDALE SOCCER CLUB
Johnston/Urbandale Soccer Club was established in 2007 as a result of a merger between the Johnston and Urbandale Soccer Club Select Programs. The JUSC quickly established itself as one of the Premier programs in the state of Iowa and the Mid-West through professional management and age appropriate programming for the 450 plus players aged 10-19 years spread over 30 teams. The cornerstone of the JUSC Select Program is the coach driven, player centered, long term developmental approach to Total Player Development. The JUSC will help you reach your full potential and achieve personal goals.
JUSC is affiliated with the Iowa State Soccer Association, US Youth Soccer, and the United States Soccer Federation.
ABOUT WEST DES MOINES SOCCER CLUB
West Des Moines Soccer Club is a nonprofit organization that has been established since 1986. It is one of the largest and most successful soccer clubs in the Midwest, offering playing opportunities and instruction for approximately 2,000 children, youth from ages 4 through high school as well as opportunities for adults to play or get involved as coaches, referees or volunteers. The club consists of 3 main programs - Recreational, Academy and Select teams for players ages U5-U19. These programs are part of our Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model. We recognize that a long-term commitment and a systematic approach to training, competition, and programming will help to ensure optimum development and enjoyment for each and every player within WDMSC.
WDMSC is affiliated with Iowa State Soccer Association (ISA), the US Youth Soccer and the United State Soccer Federation.
ABOUT SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sporting KC is owned by a group of local Kansas City business and community leaders comprised of Neal Patterson, Cliff Illig, Pat Curran, Greg Maday and Robb Heineman. The club prides itself on its commitment and vision to provide high-performance entertainment and consumer experiences. Sporting Club purchased the team from the Hunt Sports Group in 2006, and under their direction have opened a world-class training center and state-of-the-art Sporting Park while investing in the Sporting KC Academy for developing local youth into homegrown talent. Sporting KC was crowned MLS Cup champions in 2013, claiming a second league title in the team's 18-year history as a charter member of Major League Soccer. The team is also a two-time winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and will represent Major League Soccer in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2014.
