What is the Tennessee United Soccer Club?
Tennessee United Soccer Club, or TUSC, is a select soccer program for area youth between the ages of 8 (U9) and 18 (U19).
Why was TUSC formed?
To create the opportunity for area youth to play at the highest level possible based on their individual ability. The merger of the select programs/teams from the former Hendersonville Fever and Middle Tennessee Quest programs followed a year later by the addition of the Gallatin Soccer Club select program allows for the creation of select teams in most every age group and the ability to field multiple teams in many age groups.
The name Tennessee United was chosen to represent the need to unite in order to provide better opportunities for area youth.
Where is the club based? Where will games and practices be held?
TUSC is fortunate to play out of both Drakes Creek Park in Hendersonville and Moss Wright Park in Goodlettsville. Prior to the beginning of each season each TUSC team will be assigned a specific park, field and practice time. Each team will host friendly/classic games at the park where they are assigned practice time.
How long is the soccer season?
Select soccer plays both a fall and spring season for those in the U9 through U14 age group. Once players reach high school age, U15 and up, they play only one season of select soccer. In Tennessee, girls play high school soccer in the fall and select in the spring while boys play select in the fall and high school soccer in the spring. The fall season begins in late July/early August and runs through early to mid November. Older teams may play into December if they chose to play in any showcase tournaments. The spring season begins in mid February and runs through mid to late May for division two and three teams and until mid June for division one teams.
How is the club structured?
TUSC has a paid Director of Coaching, or DOC, and a paid Technical Director. The DOC and Technical Director work together to implement the policies and procedures of the club under the direction of the board of directors. Board members are volunteers (primarily parents) who set the overall policy and procedures for the club. The BOD is ultimately responsible for all TUSC activities. Tryouts are held each year in order to select teams for the following seasonal year. Each TUSC team has a paid coach or trainer.
Is there a Director of Coaching?
TUSC has a Director of Coaching and Player Development, Andy Poklad. Andy holds the USFF “A” license and has extensive experience developing players at the professional, collegiate and youth levels. The club also has a Technical Director, Jonathan Wayland, a NSCAA National Diploma holder, who works closely with the DOC. The DOC and Technical Director are responsible for the day to day activities of the club under the supervision of the TUSC board.
How will the club be governed and managed?
The TUSC board of directors will be responsible for setting the policies, bylaws, and guidelines for the club. The board will consist of fifteen voting members including, but not limited to, the Chairman, President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Registrar. The DOC and Technical Director are considered non voting members of the board.
How are teams formed?
At the end of each spring season tryouts are held for the following seasonal year. Tryouts for rising U9’s thru rising U14’s will be held in late May and tryouts for U15’s and up in mid June. Specific dates will be posted to the TUSC web site at www.tnunited.com. TUSC forms parity or academy teams for U9’s and U10’s. At U11 and up teams will be formed based on individual player ability.
We’re new to the area and want to play soccer. What do I need to do?
Many of our teams leave open spaces on their roster for this type situation. We invite you to contact our Director of Coaching, Andy Poklad at apoklad@tnunited.com or our Technical Director, Jonathan Weyland at white_bass@hotmail.com for additional information. Please understand that space is limited and there is no guarantee a roster spot is available.
How much does it cost to play select soccer with Tennessee United?
The dollar amount will vary depending on the number of players per team, the number of games and tournaments played, the experience level of your coach, and the length of the season your team plays. The typical expense for younger teams is $800 to $1,000 per year. Older teams, especially our more competitive teams, may pay more as they incur more travel to play in more prestigious tournaments. Each player will pay a club fee as well as a Tennessee State Soccer Association registration fee. Each player will also pay fees to their particular team to pay for items such as coaching fees, uniforms, referees, tournament registration, etc.
What about fundraising requirements and other work responsibilities?
There are no required club fundraising responsibilities. There are a variety of programs made available to individual players and families that can help offset player fees. However, participation is voluntary. Individual teams may elect to hold team fundraising events to help offset costs. The club does require the parent or guardian of each player to work one work slot of approximately four hours at both our fall and spring tournament.
I’ve heard there is a lot of travel involved in playing select soccer?
A good number of TUSC teams play the majority of their games in Middle Tennessee (ex. Brentwood, Clarksville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Bowling Green, KY) against teams from other area clubs. This is especially true with younger age groups who can find adequate levels of competition against other local teams. As teams become more successful they may elect to travel greater distances to play against competitive teams from other states.
What will my team be called?
Each team in our club will be registered with the state and at tournaments as “Tennessee United” followed by their year of play, gender, and in most instances, a color (red, white, blue, silver). In age groups where we have only one team teams will register as TUSC 91 Boys or TUSC 90 Girls. In age groups with multiple teams a color will be added to the team name to distinguish among teams from within our club. Ex. TUSC 97 Boys Blue, TUSC 97 Boys Red. Team color does not determine uniform colors.
What are the uniform requirements?
The Board of Directors, with input from coaches and team managers, selects the brand and style of uniforms. All TUSC teams are required to wear the approved club uniform at all matches. Each TUSC team is required to have a navy and white numbered game jersey (sleeved), navy shorts, and white socks. White and red game shorts, red jerseys, and sleeveless jerseys are optional as are navy socks. Game jerseys must display the Tennessee United crest on the front of the jersey. Sweat suits, sweatpants, hoodies, etc. are optional.
Can my child play up with an older age group?
In some circumstances players will be allowed to play up. In the U9 to U14 age groups DOC and board approval is required. Situations where a player might “play up” include high school age teams, U15 and up, where it is necessary to combine players from consecutive years in order to have the appropriate numbers to form a team, or where the development of an extremely gifted player would, in the opinion of the DOC, be hindered unless that individual is moved to an older, more competitive team.