SMSC Completes Merger with Coast SC For Immediate Release:
  March 25, 2020
South Mississippi Soccer Club and Coast Soccer Club are excited to announce that the two groups will be merging effective May 1st, 2020.

The expanded club, which will operate under the name South Mississippi Soccer Club, Inc, will encompass over 2750 playing members and will effectively become the largest youth soccer club in the state of Mississippi.

We are excited to bring expanded services to all levels of play while maintaining our club philosophy of eliminating ‘pay to play’ and making soccer an accessible sport for all.

The merged club will have direct administrative oversight, Competitive age group directors, Recreation directors, and an expanded U10 Elite Development Academy for transitioning players from recreation to competitive play.

SMSC Executive Director John Charman:  ‘The opportunity to bring two clubs together and create an enhanced platform for player development and programming was simply a tremendous opportunity to grow the game here on the coast.  We’re excited to expand our staff, grow our recreation and competitive programs, and create cost effective opportunities for players from Pass Christian to Pascagoula.’

Coast SC President Cameron Hickey:  ‘Coast Soccer Club has from its inception been committed to providing a place where everyone can play, while also providing an opportunity for exceptional players to excel. I, and the entire CSC board, have always been committed to doing the most good for the greatest number of children, and this merger does just that. This merger truly raises the profile and level of play all across coastal Mississippi. We are South Mississippi’s Soccer Club.’

PROGRAM IMPACT:

SMSC anticipates that we will be able to maintain our business model of reducing fees and eliminating 'pay to play' while increasing services to our membership at every level. Recreational programming will continue to be highly regionalized, with enhanced Academy services and opportunity for expanded cross over play and coastal events. 

The goal is to initiate curriculum driven programming and build a coaching education platform across the coast that improves retention and increases the learning and the enjoyment of the player experience.

U9 and U10 aged players will have the opportunity to play in an expanded Elite Development League (EDL) - designed to transition players from recreation to competitive play with a set and affordable program cost for families. 

Teams will be formed based on geography and train in their communities.  

The EDL program is overseen by Kevin Carmichael, SMSC Rec and EDL Director, and teams will be coached according to professional Academy standards. 

It’s an exciting moment for our younger players !   At the competitive ‘Select’ level, SMSC will compete in the MidSouth Conference of National League while focusing on building quality coastal Premier teams and regional D2 programs that prepare players for collegiate play under the watch of Directors John Charman (U11&U12), Nick Middleton (U13&U14) and Chris Handy (U15-U19). 

SMSC will form four East and West teams at U11 and U12 in a first and second team format, and Premier teams and regional D2 teams at U13-U19.   Competitive Team Formation will occur as follows: U9 / U10 Selection in your playing region (Gulfport or Ocean Springs) … teams will be selected for balance and for geographic considerations. 

Tryouts will be in Gulfport and Ocean Springs. U11 / U12 Teams will be selected on a ‘First team’, ‘Second team’ basis in their respective zones.  Some combined training and play opportunities will be provided.

  Tryouts will be in Gulfport and Ocean Springs. U13-U19 Premier teams will be selected and train in a central location.  This tryout will take place at Gulfport Sportsplex.  Second teams will be formed and train local to the player base.  Initially, this will mean Premier and West tryouts at Sportsplex; East tryouts at Ocean Springs.