Mission: To Develop Players and Coaches, and to support the family services in the South Sound Community
Who – MVP physical Therapy has expanded their Tacoma Tide Sports umbrella. With the focus of Creating great athletes and quality people, they have added a 3rd team to their association that will be known as the Tacoma Tide Basketball Club. The other two teams are the Tacoma Tide Football Club (Premier Development League soccer team), and the Seattle Sounders Women (W-League soccer team).
What – The Tacoma Tide Sports Club has a focus of creating positive opportunities for our community to apply themselves. Our top level sports franchises represent the best athletes that Tacoma has to offer. Through those teams, we can provide entertainment at an affordable level for the community. Those teams can offer a role model and advisor to our community’s youth. The Tacoma Tide Sports Club can also provide coaching, clinics, camps, and appearances with the help of their players, staff, and mascot: Surf Dude!
IBL – International Basketball League
The International Basketball League is a fifth year basketball league featuring two rules that reduce dead time: 1) one timeout per quarter 2) an immediate inbound. The result is an athletic game that is very fun to watch. The IBL scoring average per team in its first three seasons was over 126 pts per game. The IBL also is based on affordability for an owner. IBL owners get very efficient schedules--owners are guaranteed a maximum of one trip that requires air travel. This efficiency of schedule means that once a team is founded, that team will survive and then thrive. www.IBLhoopsonline.com
USL Premier Development League
The top U23 men’s league in North America, the USL Premier Development League (PDL) features 68 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The USL Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping stone for top professionals now playing around the world. http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/index.html
USL W-League
The first and longest-standing women’s league in North America, the W-League is USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The 2009 USL W-League campaign features 37 teams in four regional conferences playing 12 or 14 regular season matches. In addition to featuring international and professional stars, elite amateur players have the opportunity to compete on amateur teams in the league while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans across North America. http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/index.html
When: The Tacoma Tide Sports Club’s schedules are available here on TacomaTideSports.com. The Tide Basketball team will open up their 2nd season on April 3 at home. Their first home game will be against the Seattle Mountaineers on Saturday, April 3 at 7:00pm. The Tide FC opens play with in May. The Seattle Sounders Women begin on May 2, with an exhibition vs Oregon State at 1:00pm.
Where: The home for the Tacoma Tide basketball team is Curtis High School, in University Place, WA. The brand new gymnasium at Curtis provides a top notch home for the Tide basketball. The Tide soccer program plays outdoors at the Curtis High School Stadium. The Sounders Women play at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA.
Why: When the opportunity to expand the Tacoma Tide Sports Club to included basketball came, MVP Physical therapy researched, discussed, and decided. The decision was ultimately a YES for a few reasons. First, it is the Tide’s focus to benefit a community that they believe in. These teams will be a valuable component of the Tacoma community in more ways than merely sport. Another top reason for the revamping of Tacoma’s basketball scene is to create a ladder system for young athletes to connect up through the youth, AAU, High School, and now professional levels. Under one name, they will be able to play on the same team as their local heroes.
How: The Tacoma Tide Sports Club understands that there is a long road ahead to achieving the success demanded. In order to reach their community goals, it is understood that help is needed. Opportunities for local businesses, individuals, groups, and organizations to partner with the Tide will be countless and necessary.
In Addition: Tacoma Tide Basketball Club, the Tacoma Tide FC, and the Sounders Women will have a selection of their 2010 games available for FREE on Comcast On Demand!
