Smoky Mountain Soccer Club

Program Overview

What does it mean to play for Smoky Mountain?

Developmental Programs

Player development will occur throughout the year during weekly team practices with qualified coaches, Club Night, Conditioning Night, or for younger players, Youth Soccer of Knoxville Academy. In addition, teams will participate in tournament and league play. Player Development and College Placement will be attained through the Executive Director and Team Coaches assistance.

YSK Academy

By utilizing some of the Club's top coaches in intensive, skills-based training sessions, motivated youth players can sharpen their ball handling skills at sessions outside their regular team practice times. This new Academy will aim to enhance the technical skills of area youth players from ages 8-12 for both boys and girls. The Academy will be headed by Ovidiu Iriza, staff, and alumni of SMSC.

Director of Academy

Ovidiu Iriza, or known to all as "Bebe," is a native of Romania, played semi-pro and pro soccer in Eastern Europe from 1986 to 1993. In 2003, he graduated from the Romanian School of Coaching with a United European Futbol Association (UEFA) B License. Bebe began playing soccer at the age of ten. At the age of 18, Bebe played professional for the Romanian Automatic Bucharest and the Victoria Someseni. From 1989 to 1993 he played for Automatica Bucharest and ICSIM Bucharest. Before coming to the United States in 2003, he graduated from a Romanian management university. For the past few years he has coached with the TNElite and Diadora Impact, Knoxville.

Club Night

A night where players come to be trained in skills, tactics, conditioning and free play. Teams are comprised of mixed ages and robin play is organized by Club Coaches.

Keeper Training

Kris Nelson Yarnell was born in Knoxville, TN. He attended high school at Karns where he graduated with honors. His soccer career at Karns was marked by three years All District, two years All Region, two years Team MVP, and two years team captain. During high school he trained under Willie Sanchez (former Venezuela national team goalkeeper and World Cup veteran). After high school he attended Union College where he was a member of the Union College Bulldogs. At Union College he spent preseason training in Fiarra de Santana, Brazil with Astro (professional team in Brazil’s third division). He has acted as a keeper trainer in multiple soccer camps and has personally trained keepers of ages ranging from eight to eighteen. He returned to Knoxville to pursue a career in Radiologic Technology. He is currently enrolled in UT School of Nuclear Medicine.

Conditioning Nights

When the fields are closed. Just because it is raining development does not have to stop! Our players are put through their paces in mixed age and gender groups and taught in a cross training environment involving speed, agility, quickness/ speed work, jump rope exercises, fast footwork, plyometrics, and more. This environment fosters a club spirit, provides leadership opportunities for players and builds a mentality.

League Play

All SMSC teams are placed in division that best suit their needs for player development. The Metro League prepares teams for Tournament Play, Tennessee State Cup, Region III, and Nationals.

Tournament Play

All SMSC teams are continuously evaluated so that they can placed in an arena that allows them to grow as players. The goals are to select tournaments that provide the most suitable competition to showcase our players.

Tournaments may be entered as preparation for the up coming season, some for developmental opportunities and others will be entered with the purpose of winning the event and college exposure.

Guest Play

The Team’s Coach and Director of Coaching must approve all guest players. As a club we do not encourage guest play for other clubs. However, there are always exceptions.

Transfers

NO TRANSFERS WILL BE ALLOWED DURING SEASONAL PLAY. For transfer dates please visit www.tnsoccer.org, or visit our “Try-out” page for try-out dates and information.