Weekly Update: SuperDraft prep

2009 MLS SuperDraft Takes Place Jan. 15, Airs Live on ESPN 2

Learn the names of those aiming to become the next MLS stars on Thursday, Jan. 15, when 60 young players will be selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The event will begin at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) in St. Louis, Mo., in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The first hour of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will be televised live on ESPN2. The 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine begins Friday, Jan. 9 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Members of the Wizards Technical Staff will be on hand at the combine to scout players ahead of the upcoming MLS SuperDraft. Currently, the Wizards control five picks in the SuperDraft.

Held at the St. Louis Convention Center - America's Center, the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will consist of four rounds of 15 picks each. The first overall selection belongs to Seattle Sounders FC, which is set to kick off their inaugural season in MLS this year.

The 2009 MLS SuperDraft order follows (as of January 5, 2009):

1st ROUND:

1. Seattle Sounders FC
   

2. Toronto FC (from San Jose)
   

3. Los Angeles Galaxy
   

4. Toronto FC
   

5. FC Dallas
   

6. D.C. United
   

7. D.C. United (from Colorado)
   

8. Kansas City Wizards
   

9. Chivas USA
   

10. New England Revolution
    

11. FC Dallas (from San Jose, Houston)
    

12. Real Salt Lake
    

13. Toronto FC (from Chicago)
    

14. New York Red Bulls
    

15. New England Revolution (from Columbus)

2nd ROUND:

16. Seattle Sounders FC
    

17. San Jose Earthquakes
    

18. FC Dallas (from Los Angeles)
    

19. Chivas USA (from Toronto)
    

20. Colorado Rapids (from FC Dallas)
    

21. D.C. United
    

22. Kansas City Wizards (from Colorado)
    

23. Kansas City Wizards
    

24. New England Revolution (from Los Angeles, Chivas USA)
    

25. New England Revolution
    

26. D.C. United (from Houston)
    

27. FC Dallas (from Salt Lake)
    

28. Chicago Fire
    

29. New York Red Bulls
    

30. Columbus Crew

3rd ROUND:

31. Seattle Sounders FC
    

32. San Jose Earthquakes
    

33. Los Angeles Galaxy
    

34. Toronto FC
    

35. Colorado Rapids (from Dallas)
    

36. D.C. United
    

37. Colorado Rapids
    

38. New England Revolution (from Kansas City)
    

39. Toronto FC (from Dallas, Chivas USA)
    

40. New England Revolution
    

41. Houston Dynamo
    

42. Kansas City Wizards (from Salt Lake)
    

43. Chicago Fire
    

44. New York Red Bulls
    

45. Columbus Crew

4th ROUND:

46. Seattle Sounders FC
    

47. Colorado Rapids (from San Jose)
    

48. Los Angeles Galaxy
    

49. Los Angeles Galaxy (from Toronto)
    

50. Kansas City Wizards (from Dallas) $
    

51. Colorado Rapids (from D.C. United)
    

52. Chicago Fire (from Colorado)
    

53. Kansas City Wizards $
    

54. Real Salt Lake (from Chivas USA)
    

55. New England Revolution
    

56. Houston Dynamo
    

57. Real Salt Lake
    

58. Chicago Fire
    

59. Colorado Rapids (from New York Red Bull)
    

60. Columbus Crew
    
    
    

$ - Per a previous trade Colorado is to receive the lower of KC's 2009 4th round SuperDraft picks. This pick is to be determined 48 hours prior to the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. This trade will not include any future picks KC may receive in 2009 4th round SuperDraft.

Selection Order:

The MLS SuperDraft selection order is determined as follows: The first selection is awarded to Major League Soccer's expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC. The next six selections are from teams that did not qualify for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs beginning with the team with fewest 2008 regular season points (3 points per win, one point per tie). The remaining eight positions are ranked by fewest regular season points among the teams that were eliminated in the same round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Procedural rules for the 2009 MLS SuperDraft

Draft Rounds: The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will include four rounds and 60 selections.

Selection Clock: Teams are permitted four (4) minutes to make a selection in the First and Second Rounds. Teams are permitted three (3) minutes to make a selection in the Third and Fourth rounds.

Intermissions: There will be a five (5) minute break between each round.

Timeouts: Each team is permitted one (1), five (5) minute timeout. Selections must be made immediately following the timeout (no additional time given). More than two (2) timeouts BY ANY TEAMS cannot be used consecutively.

Failure to Make Selection in Designated Time: Teams that fail to make their selection in time must wait until the next selection is made, regardless if their choice is presented prior to the next team's decision. The team that was delinquent with its selection must immediately have its choice in hand following the selection of the team that followed. If not, the original team must again wait for the next selection to be made.

Trades: Prior to being announced, trades need to be verified and approved by the Commissioner and/or his designee. Trade announcements should not reveal the identity of players until those players have been contacted by their respective clubs. For example, Team A trades a "player to be named later" for Team B's first selection.

Team Passing: Once a team has passed, it may no longer participate in the Draft (e.g. may no longer select players, use a timeout, etc.).

Jewsbury Begins First National Team Camp Monday

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury began his first stint with the U.S. National Team Monday. The team focused on technical ball work and conditioning before playing a game to goal from the top of one 18-yard area to the top of the other. Jewsbury is one of four players who have never experienced a senior National Team camp before, joining Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew) and Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake) in that category. Follow Jewsbury and the rest of the U.S. National Team camp through the Men's National Team blog from U.S. Soccer.

Jewsbury, 27, experienced a breakout year in 2008, setting new career highs in games played (29), games started (29), minutes played (2,548) and assists (7). He was a vital part of the Wizards plans from the opening day, missing his only match of the year due to a yellow-card accumulation suspension late in the season. Jewsbury started the season on the right wing before playing for a period of time at right back. Once he moved into a central holding midfield role, Kansas City went on a 5-1-1 tear to close the regular season and qualify for the playoffs. Jewsbury then started both playoff matches in the center of the park as the eventual MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew eliminated the Wizards from the postseason. Jewsbury will look to impress Bradley and the rest of the coaching staff ahead of a busy international schedule in 2009.

After the Sweden match, the U.S. will begin the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium. In addition to the ten matches in the final round hexagonal, the U.S. will compete in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June, having been drawn into Group B along with five-time World Cup winners Brazil, current World Champion Italy, and Egypt. Just days after the tournament, the U.S. will begin its defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup title.

Midfielder Roger Espinoza to Update Fans from Honduras National Team Camp

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza has been named to the training camp roster for Honduras ahead of the upcoming UNCAF (Central American Football Union) Nations Cup. The camp, which began Jan. 1 in Miami, Florida, will help Honduras manager Reynaldo Rueda select a 20-man roster for the Central American tournament that determines the regional champion. The top five finishers in the tournament will qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Espinoza has never appeared for Honduras at the youth or senior levels. Should Espinoza earn a CAP for his native country, he will become the first-ever Wizards player to represent Honduras at the international level.

Espinoza will update fans on his experience thus far with the Honduras National Team later this week on team blog, Hillcrest Road (www.hillcrestroad.blogspot.com).

Kansas City selected Espinoza with the 11th overall selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft after he signed with MLS as a member of the Generation adidas program. As part of the program, Espinoza's contract does not count against the League salary cap, and adidas pays for him to continue his education while playing in the League. During his first year with the Wizards, Espinoza scored one goal and added three assists in 22 games (12 starts). He was among the rookie leaders in games played, minutes played and assists. He was part of a recent Generation adidas squad that traveled to London, England and played against reserve teams from Chelsea FC, West Ham United and Reading FC. He started two matches and came off the bench in a third.

Kansas City Wizards Lower Season Ticket Prices for 2009 Season

The Kansas City Wizards have lowered prices for season ticket holders from their 2008 rates and will continue to offer free parking at all events. Kansas City also introduced two exciting new seating options: All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Table Seats. Wizards fans who put down a new season ticket deposit for the 2009 season will receive a free season ticket holder scarf. To purchase season tickets for 2009, call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400.

In addition to their existing seating categories, the Wizards are adding All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Tables for fans who enjoy premium entertainment options. All-You-Can-Eat Seats will be located in section 106 behind the West goal and allow patrons unlimited food and drink during the game. Full-Service Terrace Tables are high-tops around the stadium and will include unlimited drinks during each match.

The Wizards also offer a free bus to groups of 50 from within the Kansas City metro area. Contact a Wizards sales rep at (913) 387-3400 for more information about bringing your group outing to a Kansas City Wizards match via bus. Alcohol, excluding kegs, is allowed on buses to the stadium.

Kansas City Wizards to Hold 2nd Annual Open Tryouts March 7-8, 2009

The Kansas City Wizards will hold its second-annual open tryouts March 7-8, 2009 in Kansas City. The Wizards held an open tryout in 2008 for the first time since their inaugural 1996 season, with the event drawing over 200 players from 15 different countries. Two players eventually signed for Kansas City, midfielders Kevin Souter and Nelson Pizarro. Both went on to play in MLS matches for the Wizards in 2008, and Souter started the final four games of the regular season and both MLS Cup Playoff matches for Kansas City. The tryout costs $200, and players can sign up through www.kcwizards.com/opentryout.

Participants will take part in matches Saturday, with the top players called back for Sunday's session. Finalists will then get the opportunity to tryout with the Wizards first team in March with the chance of securing a contract. Final tryout location and times will be provided to each participant closer to the event.

Kansas City Wizards Open Tryouts
March 7-8, 2009
Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132

Kansas City Kicks Off 2009 Season Saturday, March 21, 2009 at Home, Moves Home Start Times to 7:30 p.m. CT

The Kansas City Wizards will start the 2009 season with a home match against Toronto FC on Saturday, March 21, 2009. The game will kick off at Kansas City's new start time, 7:30 p.m. CT, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Season ticket packages are now available by calling the Wizards ticket office at (913) 387-3400. Group packages for groups of 15 or more are also available for the home opener. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Kansas City finished the 2008 regular season with a 9-2-4 home record, good for the 3rd best mark in MLS. The Wizards defeated D.C. United 2-0 on March 29, 2008 in their first-ever match at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The stadium quickly became known for its loud atmosphere and distinct home-field advantage for the Wizards, as the team closed with a 7-0-3 mark in its last 10 regular-season home games.

In 2009, the Wizards will continue to offer a free bus to groups of 50 from within the Kansas City metro area. Contact a Wizards sales rep at (913) 387-3400 for more information about bringing your group outing to a Kansas City Wizards match via bus. Alcohol, excluding kegs, is allowed on buses to the stadium.

Visit www.thetrailskc.com for Latest on The Trails Development

For the latest on The Trails Development, LANE4 Property Group's $1 billion project in Southeast Kansas City that will include a soccer-specific stadium for the Kansas City Wizards, visit www.thetrailskc.com. This website includes all the relevant facts and figures on the project, including initial renderings and a preliminary site plan.