What age groups and programs does Sporting Iowa offer?Discovery covers 4U–8U through JUSC and WDMSC feeder clubs. Academy serves competitive 9U–10U players with professional coaching. Select spans 11U–19U with 60+ teams in ECNL, ECNL-RL, and CDL for boys and girls, making it Iowa's full ECNL club pathway from first touches to national-level competition.
About
Sporting Iowa is Iowa's full ECNL youth soccer club, built from the merger of Johnston Urbandale Soccer Club (JUSC) and West Des Moines Soccer Club (WDMSC) and aligned with Sporting Kansas City through the Sporting Club Network. Families across the Des Moines metro move from grassroots Discovery play into Academy and Select teams that compete nationally and regionally while training at premier facilities including the Hy-Vee Multiplex plus Johnston, Urbandale, and Hidden Valley sites.
Programs and age groups
Discovery serves 4U through 8U players (birth years roughly 2018–2022 in recent seasons) with year-round programming that balances fun and development. Those sessions run primarily through the feeder clubs JUSC and WDMSC so young players can enter close to home before advancing toward Select or recreational pathways.
The 9U–10U Academy is a competitive foundation track with professional coaching and a faster-paced curriculum. Academy players are expected to show solid technical skills, focus in training, ball work outside scheduled sessions, and readiness for a demanding environment.
Select covers 11U and older with more than 60 teams from 11U through 19U led by paid professional coaches. Teams compete in ECNL, ECNL Regional League (RL), and the Club Development League (CDL) for both boys and girls. Annual Select tryouts run in June; 15U–19U teams emphasize fall and winter competition while 11U–14U groups compete year-round.
Competitive platforms
Sporting Iowa became Iowa's first club invited to ECNL girls programming in 2020 (ECNL RL), then the state's sole representative on the national ECNL platform for both boys and girls the following year. ECNL teams target the highest national competition, ECNL-RL offers strong regional play, and CDL provides statewide US Club Soccer–sanctioned development league play.
History and development focus
Founded in 2014, the club initially fielded older age groups and reached full 11U–19U integration by 2019. Mission and vision center on using soccer to cultivate excellence and growth through relationships, with values of trust (serve), family (support), and integrity (strive). Select training emphasizes technical, tactical, physical, and psychological challenge with a pathway toward elite high school and college opportunities.
Camps and seasonal offerings
Beyond league play, Sporting Iowa runs camps and training blocks such as Summer Discovery for 2018–2022 birth years (sessions at Hidden Valley and Urbandale), a Summer Camp for 2012–2021 players at the Hy-Vee Multiplex, Pre-Season Camp for 9U–10U, AcceleraTioN summer training, College ID Camp for high school graduates, DFDP forward development, goalkeeper development for U9–U19, Sporting U-23 summer training for college players, and other seasonal clinics.
Tryouts and placement
2026 Select tryouts take place at the Hy-Vee Multiplex with multi-session schedules by age (11U–15U sessions are 90 minutes; 16U–19U are 120 minutes). Families should arrive 30 minutes early for check-in at the concession area between Purple 1 and White 2 fields. Bid days are scheduled June 11 for 11U–15U and June 24 for 16U–19U. Tryout registration remains open for families evaluating Select placement; age-group contact links are provided for boys and girls 11U–12U and 13U+.
How to reach the club
Administrative office: 4685 Merle Hay Road, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50322. General email: info@sportingiowasoccer.org. Discovery questions can go to Discovery Director Matt Kenton; Academy inquiries to Academy Director Jamie Mcquillan.
Explore more teams
Compare Sporting Iowa with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader Iowa programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
When and where are Select tryouts held?Annual Select tryouts run in June at the Hy-Vee Multiplex, with age-specific multi-session schedules (90 minutes for 11U–15U, 120 minutes for 16U–19U). Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in between Purple 1 and White 2. 2026 bid days are June 11 for 11U–15U and June 24 for 16U–19U; registration remains open with separate contact paths for younger and older age bands.
What leagues do Sporting Iowa Select teams play in?Select teams compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) at the national level, ECNL Regional League for high regional competition, and the Club Development League (CDL) as a US Club Soccer–sanctioned statewide development league. Sporting Iowa was Iowa's first ECNL girls invitee and later the state's sole dual-gender ECNL national representative.
Where does the club train?Primary Select training happens at the Hy-Vee Multiplex plus locations in Johnston, Urbandale, and Hidden Valley. Discovery and Academy programming is delivered largely through JUSC and WDMSC so younger players can start in their home communities across the Des Moines metro.
Are camps available outside the league season?Yes. Offerings include Summer Discovery for 2018–2022 birth years, a Summer Camp for 2012–2021 players at the Hy-Vee Multiplex, Pre-Season Camp for 9U–10U, AcceleraTioN summer training, College ID Camp, DFDP forward development, goalkeeper sessions for U9–U19, and Sporting U-23 training for college players—dates and sites vary by program.
How can families contact Sporting Iowa?Email info@sportingiowasoccer.org or visit the administrative office at 4685 Merle Hay Road, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50322. For Discovery reach Director Matt Kenton; for Academy contact Director Jamie Mcquillan. Tryout pages also list age-group contacts for boys and girls 11U–12U and 13U+.
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