Represent the Sun
This is Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. This is first division professional football. The players who wear our crest set the standard for our city.
Playing for Tampa Bay Sun Football Club is more than earning a contract. It is accepting the responsibility to represent Tampa Bay, compete for trophies, and help build the future of women’s football in the United States. We recruit players with the technical level to change matches, the resilience to handle the demands of a professional season, and the humility to serve something larger than themselves. The standard here is high because the ambition of this club is high. We are building something meant to last.
- Champion Mentality
- Intelligent Football
- Efficient Body
- Selfless Team Play
The Standard
Our philosophy is simple. Football demands the highest standard, and people win matches. We build an environment that challenges you on the pitch and supports you away from it, because both matter. Respect, discipline, and humility are not slogans here. They are requirements. They are the foundation for how you train, how you recover, how you treat staff, and how you carry yourself in the community. Every player is expected to arrive prepared, compete with intent, and improve daily. This is how you earn longevity at this club.
- Respect for the game, the staff, and each other
- Relentless work in training and in recovery
- Commitment to constant improvement
- Pride in representing Tampa Bay
The Sun Player Profile
We evaluate every player through four core pillars. These pillars shape our scouting, our recruitment, and our day-to-day development work. They define what it takes to belong in this environment. We look for players who already live these standards and can carry them into our locker room. We retain players who prove them every single day.
Champion Mentality
We look for players who compete with conviction, respond to setbacks without breaking, and lead without ego. Edge is valuable when it is controlled. Emotion is valuable when it is channeled. The profile is a player who can raise urgency in the group without losing discipline.
- Emotional control in critical moments
- Relentless mindset in training
- Vocal presence when the match turns
Intelligent Football
Intelligent players see the match early. They make fast, correct decisions that lift the entire team. They understand shape, timing, and responsibility in and out of possession. We value players who do not just execute patterns, but read them, adjust to them, and solve problems in real time.
- Awareness before first touch
- Discipline in and out of possession
- Tactical adaptability
Efficient Body
At this level, availability is a skill. We look for players who can physically sustain the demands of a professional season, repeat high-intensity actions, and recover quickly. Movement quality matters. Durability matters. Professional habits around recovery matter.
- Match endurance
- Acceleration and change of direction
- Reliability week after week
Selfless Team Play
We value players who connect the group. Players who commit to the structure, do the work without the ball, and understand that the goal is to make the team harder to beat. This is not only about talent. It is about trust.
- Work rate without the ball
- Trust with teammates
- Willingness to sacrifice for shape and structure
How We Play
Our football is proactive. We demand the ball, we demand bravery in possession, and we expect intensity without it. On the ball, we want players who can break lines, control tempo, and show composure under pressure. Without the ball, we expect urgency, organization, and commitment to win it back together. Every player, in every position, must understand both sides of the game. We do not wait for matches to happen. We take control of them.
In Possession
- Brave on the ball
- Sharp movement between lines
- Forward purpose
Out of Possession
- Urgent pressure
- Collective discipline
- Intelligent regain
Individual Growth
- Clear role definition
- Honest feedback
- Daily accountability
You Are More Than Matchday
We invest in the whole person. That means supporting performance, health, and stability on and off the pitch. You will receive professional planning around strength, conditioning, recovery, and return to play. You will be prepared with film and information so that your decisions get sharper with each match. You will have access to staff who help you settle, relocate, and manage the demands that come with being a professional footballer in a visible market. Our goal is not only to get you ready for Saturday. Our goal is to help you build a career that lasts.
Performance & Recovery
Your body is managed and protected as a professional asset. We track workload, build strength responsibly, and prioritize durability. We do not gamble with long-term health for short-term gain.
- Individual performance planning
- Recovery resources and treatment
- Long-term durability focus
Analysis & Preparation
You will understand opponents and you will understand yourself. We provide film, tactical scouting, and one-on-one feedback that goes deeper than highlight reels. The expectation is that you learn, adjust, and grow smarter every week.
- Match film and self-review
- Opposition study and scouting
- Individual decision-making feedback
Player Care
Support does not stop when training ends. We help with housing, relocation, daily life logistics, and off-field needs so that you can perform without distraction. The human being is not separate from the footballer. Both are supported here.
- Relocation guidance
- Access to staff for personal needs
- Mentorship and life support
Life in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a football city with pride in its players. You will step into a community that values women’s sport, expects excellence, and shows up. You will be visible here. You will be recognized. You will be part of building something that belongs to this region.
- Supporter culture
- Community engagement
- Regional pride
“Our responsibility is not just to get you ready to play. Our responsibility is to help you build sustainability in your career.”
Samantha Mickens, Player Care Officer
Your Path to the First Team
We recruit at every stage of a player’s journey. We scout elite youth talent that shows maturity beyond age. We evaluate standout collegiate and pre-professional players who have the physical and tactical readiness to step into a professional training load. We sign experienced professionals and internationals who can influence matches now and set the tone in the locker room. No matter the entry point, the expectation is the same. You must be able to raise our level the day you arrive.
Youth and Elite Development
We identify players with strong technical foundations, high game intelligence, and emotional control. Age does not protect you from standards. We look for youth players who can already think and train like professionals.
- High performance background
- Tactical understanding
- Coachability
Collegiate and Pre-Professional
We recruit proven competitors who are physically ready for senior football. We value players who show consistency, decision making at pace, and the ability to handle the volume and pressure of a full season.
- Match rhythm at high level
- Ability to adapt to pro pace
- Resilience over long stretches
Professional and International
We look for players who can impact results immediately and set the professional tone inside the group. Experience matters when it lifts not only performance, but standards.
- Consistency under pressure
- Reliability in big moments
- Ability to elevate teammates
“There is no shortcut. There is readiness. If you are ready, we will see it.”
Denise Schilte-Brown, Head Coach
Talent Identification
Our scouting process is intentional. We track players across the United States and abroad. We evaluate live and on film, across multiple matches, in different situations. We review those evaluations collectively with football leadership. We do not make decisions based on one clip or one opinion. We recruit players who fit our football identity, who meet our physical and tactical demands, and who show the character to represent this club.
What We Look At
- Technical quality
- Tactical intelligence
- Physical reliability
- Mental resilience
- Professional habits
- Influence on team performance
How We Assess
- Live scouting in competitive environments
- Video analysis over multiple performances
- Internal review with technical staff
- Evaluation of character and professionalism
The Agreement
When you put on this crest, you represent Tampa Bay. You uphold our standards in training, in competition, and in the community. You arrive prepared, you compete with integrity, and you leave the environment better than you found it. We expect professional habits, relentless work, and humility. These expectations apply to every player in this club, no matter how you arrived here.
Professionalism
Respect the work. Respect the staff. Respect the schedule.
Relentless Work
Every rep with intent. Every session with purpose.
Humility
Team before self. City before ego.
Player Interest Form
If you believe you can compete in this environment, we invite you to introduce yourself to our football operations staff. Completing this form does not guarantee an invitation to train or trial. Every submission is reviewed with care. We ask that you present honest information and a clear sense of who you are as a player and as a professional.
By submitting, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and that you are eligible to be contacted for football-related evaluation.
What It Means
Tampa Bay Sun Football Club belongs to this city and its supporters. Wearing this badge means you are trusted to compete for them, to inspire the next generation, and to push the standard of women’s football forward. This is not only about one season or one trophy. This is about building something that will live in Tampa Bay long after any single player, staff member, or moment.
