Sporting KC and The Victory Project hosted team tryouts for the 2025 Special Olympics Unified Team

Sporting Kansas City’s Special Olympics Unified Team kicked off its 10th season with an exciting and energetic round of tryouts this past week at UMKC’s Durwood Soccer Stadium. The event brought together athletes and partners with one of Sporting’s most extensive Unified team tryouts showings. More than 32 partners and athletes showed off their skills and teamwork.

The tryouts began with a rousing speech from Unified Head Coach Phil Gomez. “We’re not only looking for good players,” Coach Phil emphasized. “But we are also looking for good teammates. Teammates who are going to be there when someone is feeling down.” This guiding principle set the tone for the day, underscoring the values of unity, empathy, and teamwork that define Sporting’s Special Olympics Unified Team.

The tryouts featured five engaging stations designed to test various soccer skills while also encouraging communication and support among participants:

• Station 1 focused on the one-touch kick to goal, evaluating technical finishing ability.
• Station 2 challenged players with a dribbling drill. Players weaved through cones before leaving the ball to sprint and then dribbling back.
• Station 3 involved rondos, emphasizing quick passing, awareness, and team coordination.
• Station 4, a goalkeeping and passing station, combined precise passing with shot-stopping. Team ambassador Ryan Schewe brought energy and motivation to this station, encouraging players enthusiastically and sharing his goalkeeping knowledge.
• Station 5 hosted 1v1 matchups, showcasing individual skills and determination. Team ambassador Mason Toye encouraged players and provided crucial support to the athletes.

After the stations, participants were divided into four squads for intra-squad scrimmages, giving everyone a chance to apply their skills in a game-like setting and show their teamwork on the field.

Coach Phil also took the opportunity to thank everyone for coming out and gave team ambassadors Ryan and Mason the opportunity to share a few words about their roles and experiences, inspiring the athletes with their passion and commitment.

At the end of tryouts, all the participants took a group photo together, showing the unity of the game. Twenty-two players were selected to participate in Sporting KC’s Special Olympics Unified Team. This team will represent Sporting in a two-game series against Real Salt Lake’s Special Olympics Unified Team, home and away on June 28 at Children’s Mercy Park and September 13 at America First Field.