Wichita, KS - Kansas Rush Wichita (KRW) technical director Adam Hunter and Oklahom Energy FC (OEFC) director of coaching Stephen Phillips are pleased to announce a groundbreaking partnership with KRW as an official affiliate member club to OEFC’s US Soccer Development Academy. This affiliation is a joint collaboration between the two clubs and has been approved by the US Soccer Development Academy.
Within Soccer in the US, clubs that establish standards-driven environments will serve as leaders in their community and are an integral part of the pathway for players and coaches to reach their full potential. To create the clearest pathway, clubs must work together in their community. Collaboration is a shared responsibility to improve environments for every player. For this purpose, Kansas Rush Wichita and Oklahoma Energy FC have entered into an affiliate partnership under the terms of the US Development Academy (DA) Affiliate program.
This Affiliation will be used by both clubs to collaborate on:
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Talent Identification activities to create a clear player pathway to the DA (minimum of three times per year)
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Promote regular contact between the coaching staff of both clubs
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Promote club/coach/player development as part of the active relationship with the clubs
Kansas Rush Wichita Technical Director - Adam Hunter
"As a club, we are delighted to affiliate with Oklahoma Energy FC in order to provide our players with a pathway into US Soccer's Development Academy. Our dealings with the administration and staff at OEFC has given us great confidence that this affiliation will be advantageous for both clubs. Like KRW, we believe that OEFC is one of the most forward thinking clubs in the region. Their willingness to think outside the box to enhance their DA program with this affiliation is a testament to that sentiment. We are excited and gracious for the opportunity that the US Soccer DA Affiliation Program will provide for a number of our players."
Oklahoma Energy FC Director of Coaching - Stephen Phillips
“As DA director for OEFC, I am extremely pleased to partner up with KRW as our exclusive affiliate partner for the Wichita and Kansas area. This agreement allows both clubs to share ideas and players, and is a win-win for both parties. We are extremely pleased to continue to grow the quality of our program. By adding quality, proven players from Kansas Rush Wichita, our product will continue to improve”.
About Kansas Rush Wichita
Established in 2005 and formerly known at Evolution Futbol Club, Kansas Rush Wichita became a Rush member club in 2012. Rush Soccer is an international sports organization focused on the development of soccer players. Rush Soccer partners with 85 clubs across the globe, and provides comprehensive club development curriculum that benefits well over 30,000 players through professionally-run training, tournaments, and a cutting edge coaching system developed to enhance players’ skills both on and off the field.
As one of the largest professional development systems in the world - and with an ever-expanding global footprint - Rush Soccer is creating a professional pathway for young soccer players unavailable anywhere else in the country. The organization’s extensive network of professional coaches and technical staff are dedicated to the betterment of soccer in the United States, and developing a better quality of soccer player within the Rush system.
About Oklahoma Energy FC
Blitz United, Canadian Valley Football Club, and Oklahoma Football Club formed a ground-breaking partnership between the three clubs and OKC Energy FC. The concept was created around four basic premises: 1) having a fully integrated soccer club for the state, 2) continuing to unify and grow soccer in the state, 3) striving to always leave the game and the communities better than we found them, 4) creating an environment that allows players in the state to consistently compete at the highest level, not just regionally, but nationally. The 2017/2018 season marked the inaugural season under which the combined opportunities become available.
In its inaugural season, OEFC formed 150 boys and girls teams across 9 age divisions. Over 2300 players participated in the club, making it one of the most successful programs in the region. In March of 2018, Oklahoma Energy FC was accepted as part of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy (DA), focusing on positively impacting the everyday club environment while connecting players and coaches to the National Teams and college programs.
A cornerstone member of the partnership, Oklahoma Football Club (“OFC”) was established through the affiliation of the competitive soccer programs of the Edmond Soccer Club and the North Oklahoma City Soccer Club. The merger of these competitive programs created the largest soccer club in the state of Oklahoma.