2014 U.S. Youth Futsal kicks off in Kansas City

The 2014 U.S. Youth Futsal Tournament begins this weekend in the Kansas City area. The games will be played at the New Century Fieldhouse  in New Century, KS from February 14^th though the 17^th.

Jon Parry, the Director of Coaching for Sporting Kansas City's Academy is one of the organizers of the tournament and has helped build the tournament over he years, "There will be teams from twenty different states participating this year."

"This is probably the most diverse tournament we've had in regards to the number of teams from out of town," Parry continued. "Five or six years ago we sixty percent of the teams were local and 40 percent from out of town. Now it is the opposite, sixty or seventy percent are from out of town and the rest local. It is truly becoming a national tournament."

Sporting Kansas City has helped with the tournament as well. They are giving tours of Sporting Park and the MLS Cup will make a visit to the tournament on Sunday at 12:00.

It is no surprise that Sporting KC is involved with Futsal. The Academy under Parry uses Futsal as part of their training and Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes is also on the leadership team along with Parry. There will be multiple Sporting KC teams playing and they are expected to do well.

Play starts on Valentines day and the finals will be played on Monday the 17^th and will be televised on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel (formerly Metro Sports).

For maps and schedules see the tournament web site.