Mississippi’s Premier Soccer Clubs
UNITE
In June 2009, Mississippi’s premier soccer clubs entered in an agreement to offer more opportunities for more kids to play soccer regardless of age, level of interest and ability.
Under this agreement, the Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi, a joint partnership of Jackson Futbol Club, Inc. and South Madison County Soccer Organization, began offering Division 1 teams at ages U13 and older. The mission is to offer more training and competitive opportunities for Mississippi’s youth soccer players.
As the largest soccer organizations in Mississippi, we believe it is our responsibility to work together to improve the programs and development of the soccer players we serve.
We have a common vision. We want more kids playing more soccer. We want the best soccer program in the South. We want to become a destination club for the State.
We want to “raise the bar” for Mississippi soccer in:
- Player development and competition
- Coaching education and professionalism
- Competitive opportunities
- Outreach to the Mississippi soccer community
- Facilities and resources
- Creation of an integrated community based program
- Team performance at every level in recreational, intermediate and select soccer
At the Division 1 U13 and older age groups, there will be coordinated tryouts. The teams will be selected on the basis of the ability of the players under consideration. There are no guaranteed spots for any individual player or a minimum number of slots for players from either the Jackson, Madison or Rankin Divisions.
In the Division 1 U11 through U12 age groups, teams are still community based. We offer a Jackson, Madison and Rankin Division. Instead of fiercely competing for players, the Directors of Coaches for each club continue to work together to coordinate the formation of teams and placement of all players who want to participate in Division 1 soccer in these age groups.
The goal of this agreement has always been to better serve all players, from the youth level through their college career, at a higher level than now possible for individual clubs in this area.