Minnesota Soccer Times - January 2019

VOLUME 32 ISSUE Volume 301 IssueJANUARY 2 March 20172019

MINNESOTA

SOCCER TIMES

Best of the Best MYSA honored the best in 2018 at the

ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

Soccer Times Minnesota Youth Soccer Assoc.

10890 Nesbitt Ave. S. Bloomington, MN 55437

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IN THIS ISSUE Awards Banquet • Page 6 Winter Symposium • Page 9 Space for ‘Rents • Page 10

Coaches Corner

Page 4

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

MINNESOTA

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From the Desk of Matthew Madeira

By Matthew Madeira | MYSA Executive Director – Integrator

By Katie Flakne MYSA Dir. of Marketing & Special Events

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had the pleasure of attending a meeting in Owatonna in November. My first indication that things were different is when I drove into town and saw piles of snow in parking lots. I’ve seen snow in a dusting manner in Bloomington, but no real accumulation. Piles of snow means accumulation … I now know that.

I had to park several blocks from the building, which of course required a bit of a walk. So, with my binder in one hand and my latte in the other, I proceeded in my trek

U.S. Subscription Rates: $9.95 for 1 year; $19.95 for 2 years; Single copy: $2 Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Officers: Steve May – President Jennifer Zarth – Vice President John Conte – Treasurer Ann Marie Courchene – Secretary Member Representatives Marty McDermott – East District John Kinsey – North District Todd Loose – South District Julie Magnuson – West District Minnesota Youth Soccer Association State Office 10890 Nesbitt Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55437 Tel.: (952) 933-2384; (800) 366-6972 www.mnyouthsoccer.org State Office Staff Matthew Madeira – Executive Director – Integrator Chato Alvarado – Director of Coach & Player Administration Andy Coutts – Director of Education John Curtis – Dir. of Coaching & Player Development Katie Flakne – Director of Marketing & Special Events Sue Gjerset – Director of Technology Patti Isensee – State Registrar Ayla Lokkesmoe – Director of Operations Norine Olson – Director of Finance Cam Stoltz – Director of League Operations Iván Woyno – Director of Enterprise Development

Mike Warter College Scholarship

to the meeting. This is the first time since I have been in Minnesota that I recognized the importance of good pair of gloves — I had my binder and my coffee, but not my gloves. Note to self … get some gloves.

As we enter 2019, I want to thank you for giving our team the opportunity to serve you.

So, from Cam, Katie, Iván, Sue, Patti, Ayla, Andy, Chato, John and Norine — thank you, and may the blessings of this season grace you and your family.

CONTENTS Departments Executive Director’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Coaches Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Honor Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Infographic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Competitive News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Space for ‘Rents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Referee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Tournament Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Features Mike Warter College Scholarship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Coach Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SafeSport Mandatory Reporter Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Annual Recognition Banquet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

he Mike Warter College Scholarship was created in memory of Mike Warter, who made his presence known on the Minnesota soccer scene for more than 25 years. One of his primary goals was to help female soccer players obtain college scholarships. To achieve that goal, Mike believed the players had to be seen, so he developed a local Minneapolis park team into one of Minnesota’s premier girls’ teams, Sota Soccer, and worked hard to provide the team with travel opportunities outside the state of Minnesota.

Mike was described as a “player’s coach,” there for his players both on the field and off, in good times and in bad. Mike’s work did not end with Sota Soccer. He was a pioneer at the University of Minnesota, coaching their club team for nine years, including a national club championship in 1988. Mike passed away in 2000 and he will always be remembered for the mark he made on women’s soccer. Mike was inducted into the MYSA Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Mike Warter Scholarship is awarded annually to one male and one female Minnesota soccer player who is registered to an MYSA-affiliated club and is a graduating high school senior. The scholarship is a $500 tuition award that is to be used toward expenses at an accredited college, university or community college.

For more information and to apply, visit mnyouthsoccer.org. Applications must be submitted to the MYSA office no later than Friday, April 26, 2019, to be considered. This scholarship is a reminder to all of Mike’s commitment to the development of players by nurturing good play, good friendship, better facilities, proficient coaching and the happiest of times for all participants.

Spring Cups Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ODP Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 MYSA Rule Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2019 MYSA Winter Symposium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Production Varsity Communications, Inc Editor Brian Beaky Graphic Designers Robert Becker, Katie Erickson Advertising Inquiries Ian Civey - (425) 412-7070 ext. 102 ian@varsitycommunications.com Varsity Communications, Inc. Sponsorship Inquiries 952-933-2384 800-366-6972 Printing House of Print

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COACHES CORNER

Coaches Corner: Build Up in Own Half

By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education

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t has been over two years since the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives were announced that included Build Out lines for the 7v7 format to bring more emphasis to playing out of the back. Those players are now reaching the age where the 11v11 game is or will soon become their standard. The training session below is an example of using U.S. Soccer’s Play-Practice-Play method on the theme of Building Up From Own Half for players in the 11v11 game.

The format of this session begins with small-sided games to facilitate lots of touches and running with the ball as a scoring

method to replicate wide backs advancing the ball in space.

The meat of the session is a training activity that helps players experience repeated and realistic challenges and solutions toward the objective, with plans for ramping up or down those challenges based on coach assessment.

The ideal is to create “goldilocks challenges” so players aren’t overly successful, where it’s too easy and boring, but taste just enough success so as not to get frustrated. The session concludes with a game so players can put the learning they’ve done into game context, as much as the training space and number of players

allow. Because there is no Build Out line in the training activity or game to restrict the opposition’s starting position, Coach may feed them the strategy of dropping off the team in possession to encourage a short entry pass before pressing the ball.

The Coach’s job is to bring out the What and How (technique), the Who, When and Where (tactics), and the Why (overall strategy) of building out of the back. This can most artfully be done through a combination of verbal information, demonstration or visual pictures, and guided questions to spur deep and lasting player learning.

Goal: Improve building-up from own half in order to move the ball to the opponent’s half Player Actions: Spread out, Pass/dribble, Pass options Key Qualities: Read game/make decisions, Optimal technical Age: U13+ / 11v11 / 16 players Moment: Attacking Duration: 75 minutes

Build-Up Play 1 Objective: Build-up in own half Organization: 4v4 games; Dribble endline to score, 25 long x 40 wide Key Words: Take space; Open up; Create options Guided Questions: When would you try to score? How would you dribble fast? What would you do if you can’t score?

Answers: Space to dribble forward; Big touches with laces; Pass to a teammate who can

Build-Up Practice, Core Objective: Build-up in own half to cross midfield in possession Organization: 6v4 to 3 small goals at mf and counter big goal Key Words: Spread out; Open up; Take space; Create options Guided Questions: Where should we spread out so defenders can’t mark all of us? Can you face the way you want to play? When should you dribble and when should you pass? When should 2/3 get wide and when to tuck in? When and why could we use the GK? Answers: High and wide, long and short; Open up for vision and positive 1st touch; Dribble when space in front; Pass after drawing defender; Widen when ball starts to go back to swing to your side; Tuck in when ball moving up opposite side; Under pressure to go forward, and GK is extra support to start over

Build-Up Practice, Less Challenging Objective: Build-up in own half to cross midfield in possession Organization: 6v3 to 3 small goals at mf and counter big goal Key Words: Spread out; Open up; Take space; Create options Guided Questions: Where should we spread out so defenders can’t mark all of us? Can you face the way you want to play? When should you dribble and when should you pass?

Answers: High and wide, long and short; Open up for vision and positive 1st touch; Dribble when space in front; Pass after drawing defender

Build-Up Practice, More Challenging Objective: Build-up in own half to cross midfield in possession Organization: 7v5 to 3 small goals at mf and counter big goal Key Words: Spread out; Starting positions; Open up; Take space; Create options Guided Questions: Where should we spread out so defenders can’t mark all of us? Can you face the way you want to play? When should you dribble and when should you pass? When should 2/3 get wide and when to tuck in? When and why could we use the GK? Answers: High and wide, long and short; Open up for vision and positive 1st touch; Dribble when space in front; Pass after drawing defender; Widen when ball starts to go back to swing to your side; Tuck in when ball moving up opposite side; Under pressure to go forward, and GK is extra support to start over

8v8 Game Objective: Build-up in own half to cross midfield in possession Organization: 8v8 to big goals in 90x60 field, 1-4-2-1 v 1-2-2-3 Key Words: Open up; Take space; Be brave Guided Questions: When can we build and when should we play longer? Where is there space to go forward? Why should we take the risk to build in our half?

Answers: Opponents have dropped off and we have space to play short; If not on ball side then quick switch to center or weak side; Boss the game and make the other team work to win ball

Five Elements of a Training Activity • Organized: Is the activity organized in the right way?

• Game-like: Is the activity game-like?

• Repetition: Is there repetition, when looking at the overall goal of the session?

• Challenging: Are the players being challenged? (i.e. the right balance between being successful and unsuccessful) • Coaching: Is there effective coaching, based on the age and level of the player?

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Training Session Self-Reflection Questions • How did you do in achieving the goals of the training session?

• What did you do well?

• What could you do better?

Coaching Education, Moving On in 2019

By Andy Coutts MYSA Director of Education

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new year brings another year of change in the coaching education world. U.S. Soccer continues to update its coaching licensure process. One major addition in 2018 was a Grassroots Instructor License course and a requirement that all instructors of U.S. Soccer courses become trained and certified by the federation.

Part of the rationale was to improve the consistency and quality of course delivery.

The grander vision already in effect is to decentralize coaching education, allowing all U.S. Soccer member organizations to deliver courses, instead of relying only on state associations like MYSA. The short-term goal is to get more coaches some level of licensure. The longterm ideal is for clubs to have their own licensed coaching educator in-house, to deliver licensure courses and then mentor coaches on a continual basis. This is currently realistic for only a small number of clubs with the resources to do that, including a Coaching Director with time and interest to complete the certification course.

The shift will create more “boots on the ground” to make coaching education more easily accessible and a more continual process for those clubs who can take on that role. The unintended consequence is to make less relevant a position like mine, one able to focus full-time on educating all coaches throughout the state. As other organizations host and deliver their own courses, the need (and subsequent funding) decreases for state-level administrative delivery and support.

Because of this shift, as well as for personal reasons, I’ve decided it’s time for me to leave this position and MYSA, which will happen sometime in the coming months. My parting wish is that the quality of the education in Minnesota remains of a high standard, and that coaching education remains accessible for all who want to dedicate themselves to the process, regardless of their zip code or the organization for which they coach. MYSA will continue to live up to its mission and offer coaching education opportunities for a wide variety of coaches.

I’ve sincerely appreciated the opportunity for the past 10 years to serve and support coaches around the state, and those from outside our borders who’ve come to Minnesota seeking opportunities their own states didn’t provide. Keep up the good work. I wish you all the best.

HONOR ROLL MYSA Honor Roll

By Chato Alvarado MYSA Director of Coach & Player Administration

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YSA is proud to present the Coach Honor Roll, including coaches who recently completed a USSF or USC Coaching License in Minnesota. Thank you all for your efforts to improve the level of soccer for all players in Minnesota. Congratulations to all the coaches below for making the MYSA Honor Roll!

COACH HONOR ROLL • USC Director of Coaching (29) Adamiak, Jeffrey Alvarado, Chato Bagshaw, Chris Cestari, Everton Evans, Daniel Fabry, Paul Falade, Akinwunmi Gilmore, Neil Hinchey, Benjamin Ifeanyi, Wisdom Jensen, Jake Kaczmarek, Megan Kirn, Edward Larrick, Jennifer MacLean, Morgan

Martinelli, Ty McCaffrey, Robert Montes Avila, Erik Popkin, Jason Randall, Forrest Rice, Jared Roberts, Kasha Roe, Thomas Shepherd, Jay Smith, Jason Watkins, Va Shon Wilde, Eric Winstead, Kenton Wood, Jeremy Credit: YLMSportScience.com / Twitter: @YLMSportScience

SafeSport: A New Requirement in Youth Sports

By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education, and Ayla Lokkesmoe | MYSA Director of Operations

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n February of 2018, President Trump signed the Safe Sport Act into law. Two major elements of this law are: 1. To protect young victims from sexual abuse, including expanded categories of “mandatory reporters.”

2. To require training and prevention programs through national governing bodies (U.S. Soccer) and their member organizations (MYSA and member clubs).

The first element is a done deal without any action on your part. If you are a coach or administrator in a youth soccer club affiliated with MYSA and thereby U.S. Soccer, you are now a mandatory reporter. This means that if you see or hear anything regarding the abuse of a child, you are required to report what you saw or heard to your local law enforcement and to the U.S. Center for SafeSport within 24 hours.

The second element of the law requires

action if you’re a coach or administrator.

SafeSport has an online training program for adults to learn what abuse is, how to recognize signs and how to proceed (and not to proceed) if you are in a reporting situation. The training includes three, 30-minute modules: Emotional and Physical Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct and Mandatory Reporting.

Yes, you now have 1.5 hours of training to complete before you’re compliant, but be assured that the training is excellent, both in content and delivery. It’s engaging and valuable for everyone to have the knowledge it includes. While required of coaches and administrators, it would be great for all adults, whether coaching kids or raising kids.

You’ll have your own takeaways, but for us, one key was about the grooming process, how sexual offenders seek out vulnerable targets while establishing credibility and gaining the trust of the adults involved. Through media reports it can be hard to believe how abuse can

go on in trusted institutions, but this training should wake us up to how easy it might be to discount a report of an adult abusing a child because, “I know Coach and s/he wouldn’t do that.” False reports are very rare, and part of that is how difficult it is for victims to come forward, because of a diabolical combination of shame, public skepticism, and because of the way the abuser has built a secretive relationship.

The process to become SafeSport-certified through MYSA is streamlined through the same Affinity/DICK’s Sporting Goods account that you use to register as a coach/admin. On your Profile page and Certificates tab is a link to the training module, which you can access at no cost. Once you complete all three modules, you can upload a single PDF denoting “Safe Sport Trained” in the SafeSport Training field on your Certificates tab. SafeSport certification is good for two years. While it’s another obligation to fulfill, this training is well worth one-and-a-half hours every two years to help protect all our kids.

For all the latest Minnesota Youth Soccer news visit mnyouthsoccer.org

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MYSA

CELEBRATES THE BEST 0F 2018

By Katie Flakne | MYSA Director of Marketing & Special Events

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2018 MYSA Hall of Fame Inductee Tom Lawrence

n Saturday, Nov. 4, more than 250 people gathered at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park to attend the 2018 MYSA Annual Recognition Banquet. In conjunction with the Annual General Meeting, the banquet honored players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers, and inducted a new member into the MYSA Hall of Fame. MYSA welcomed back Jamie Watson, sideline reporter for the Minnesota United FC broadcast team, to emcee the event and help celebrate this year’s best in soccer.

The award categories below mirror US Youth Soccer’s Annual Awards. The categories are: Administrator, Competitive Coach (boys and girls), Recreation Coach (boys and girls), Young Referee (both female and male), TOPSoccer Coach, TOPSoccer Buddy and Volunteer of the Year. During the summer and fall seasons, MYSA collects nominations online which can be submitted by parents, players and club officials.

2018 MYSA Boys Competitive Coach of the Year Joshua Mauch Tri-County United Soccer

2018 MYSA Girls Competitive Coach of the Year Kevin Quinn Central Minnesota Youth Soccer

Tom Lawrence has been an integral part in the development of soccer in state of Minnesota since 1976.

As a coach, Tom began his coaching career for the Rochester Youth Soccer Association (RYSA) in 1981 and continued to coach until 2014. During this span, he coached both boys’ and girls’ teams ranging from U12 to U19, as well as at the high school level from 1990 until 1999.

Beyond Tom’s long coaching history, he also has dedicated his life to growing the sport through numerous means. They include RYSA Club Registrar, 1986-1993; RYSA Tournament Director, 1987-1991 and 2000-2003; Referee Assignor, 1991-present; RYSA Executive Board Member, 1997-2000; Club Treasurer for Rochester Adult Soccer Club, 2000-present; and MYSA Treasurer and Board Member, 1995-2014.

As the Minnesota Youth Soccer Treasurer, Tom kept the best interests of MYSA as his primary consideration. He helped create programs for helping clubs with grants and programs. His fellow board members were always impressed with his dedication to the game in general and the players in particular.

To this day, Tom is still heavily involved in youth soccer with his passion for refereeing. Tom is the current referee assignor for all Rochester Youth Recreational Soccer games, and also assigns for the surrounding communities. Beyond the assigning, you can find Tom refereeing several games or mentoring our next generation of referees. His passion and love for the game and the youth is extraordinary. Through his dedication to the sport, Tom was recognized in 1990 with the Paul Hudson Award, and in 2005 he was inducted into the Rochester Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame.

Tom is a true gem for the state of soccer in Minnesota! His long-distinguished service makes him a worthy recipient of this honor.

Joshua creates a training environment where players are highly motivated to improve. He provides encouragement and positive feedback, while addressing areas for them to work on. Joshua inspires his team to do their best, and even after tough losses, he encourages them to recognize the good things that happened in the game. He was also elected to the Tri-County board this year and is truly a valuable member of the community.

Kevin has the unique ability to captivate players with a genuine excitement for the game. He makes learning the game fun, while developing a strong sense of belonging and sportsmanship. Whether in practice or a game, Kevin shows and promotes respect and fair treatment for all players, coaches and referees. The girls on his team understand that being a good soccer player is not solely determined by the score at the end of the game. Kevin’s enthusiasm and passion for coaching soccer is evident in both his words and actions.

2018 MYSA Boys Recreation Coach of the Year Jeff Armentrout CC United

2018 MYSA Girls Recreation Coach of the Year Mike Heuer CC United

2018 MYSA Young Female Referee of the Year Heather Olinger South of the River Adv. Mentoring

2018 MYSA Young Male Referee of the Year Sam Cesafsky Mankato United

Jeff follows the CC United coaching philosophy, which prioritizes development over winning. He sees the big picture and does a great job of encouraging his players to try new things, regardless of failure!

Jeff has completed his youth coaching license and attends CC United coach training over the winter. Jeff enjoys playing pick-up soccer and watching games.

He is a positive role model and leader to the players in the recreational program.

Mike is a recreational coach for CC United. Mike shows up early for practices and games and always encourages the players to do more. He creates an environment where kids also want to show up early, just to play. Mike can adapt to any situation and makes sure all players are being challenged, as well as having success. Mike is great with parents and communicates the foundations of soccer, the club structure and vision for development.

Heather began refereeing at the age of 11 and has been a member of the South of the River Advanced Mentoring Group for the past two years. This year, Heather refereed several DA and MRL games. She also mentors at tournaments and has a great rapport with young referees. Outside of soccer, Heather has volunteered with several different organizations (including Fairview Ridges Hospital and Feed My Starving Children), and coached a girls U9 soccer team. Heather is a terrific individual who gives her full effort in all things she does.

Sam has been a referee for the past four years.

This past summer, he worked the Minnesota State Cup and Presidents Cup. Sam was selected by the State Referee Committee to travel to Ohio for the Midwest Presidents Cup. He did a great job and the committee appreciated his constant positive attitude and work ethic. Sam is dependable and always willing to step in and help where needed.

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2018 MYSA TOPSoccer Coach of the Year Sara Zimmerman Metro West

2018 MYSA TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year Lucy Zimmerman Metro West

2018 MYSA Administrator of the Year Julie Dornish Keliix-Intra

2018 MYSA Volunteer of the Year Abdirashid Ahmed Somali American Youth Enrichment

Sara Zimmerman is one of the most committed coaches the TOPSoccer program has ever had. She often makes gigantic efforts to go between her own kid’s soccer activities and TOPSoccer matches and practices. Her intuitiveness, gentle nature and encouraging manner are always on display around TOPSoccer athletes. She is not afraid to take the lead whenever the site coordinator is not able to attend a practice or a game day. She is diligent to organize the athletes into teams and make sure matches start on time. And, she is always providing positive encouragement to the athletes, as well as celebrating accomplishments alongside them.

During our year-end party, Sara oversaw the award ceremony and took extra time to make sure that every athlete felt special and cared for.

Lucy Zimmerman takes being a TOPSoccer Buddy to the next level. Lucy has participated in the TOPSoccer program since being introduced to the program by her mother, Sara, when Lucy was barely older than some of the youngest TOPSoccer athletes.

She is a generous, loving role model that does everything with a smile. She is willing to leap in wherever she is needed. From spending one-onone time working on shooting with a junior league athlete, to running alongside an athlete during the “B” game; from showcasing her passing skills while empowering “A” athletes to score goals, to helping train a new buddy in the program. Her energy and passion are contagious, and athletes are always wanting to work with her on practice or game days.

Julie has been part of the Keliix family since 2000, when her daughter signed up to play soccer at U9. Today, Julie’s official titles include Vice President of the Board of Directors, Field Assignor, Liaison to the Referee Assignor and Team Manager of the U17 Boys Premier Team. Julie also works in the Minneapolis Public School System, so her time with the club is voluntary. A fellow board member said, “At Keliix, we don’t have to worry, we have Julie.” Her passion for children, soccer and the club are extraordinary, and her kindness and energy appear boundless.

Abdirashid helps SAYEC in many ways, from giving kids rides, talking to parents about the benefits of soccer and connecting local business and organizations to their program. He worked with Fairview to get inner-city girls involved in sports and exercise, and also organizes volunteer opportunities for the kids in the community, including the Feed my Starving Children organization. Abdirashid also helped start the SAYEC tutoring program. His main goal is not only giving back to the kids, but ensuring the success and wellness of their present and future.

OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Congratulations to the following ODP players that were selected to the US Youth Soccer Midwest Region Player Pool based on their birth year.

2001 Nicholas Beaton Tayeb Benjaafar 2002 Olivia Bollman Lynlei Chalupsky Carmen Diaz Peter Drivas Keegan James Owen Johnson Samuel Kendrick Ethan Kilmer Isabel Kothe Deborah Leier Lucas LeWin-Mills Giovanni Lone

William Menken Chloe Olson Bishop Schugel Zachary Susee Nicholas Wagner Austin Williams Evan Wilson 2003 Kalid Abdullahi Morgan Barnette Payton Cahill Alex Cole Ella Conger Finn Dowling Emerson Ellington Andrew Ellis

Emma Fournier Isabella Grandbois Allyson Hamski Sydney Johnson Cameron Kor Sydney Kubes Ethan Miller Devin Padelford Amer Phuly Nolan Pratumwon Ben Summers Abigail Williams 2004 Lauren Ahles Ramira Ambrose Sophia Barjesteh

Mike Warter College Scholarship

Thank you

Bella Meier Maaike Modene Brooke Quam Jordan Ross Madeline Shannon Alexis Smith Kendall Stadden Ryan Swanda Michael Torres Seylon Versalles-Shiggs Zachary Zengue 2005 David Castillion Julia Fischer Francesca Fragola Reagan Gerber

2018 MYSA GOAL OF THE YEAR Josiah Enderson REV Soccer

Ava Zoschke and Hayden Fischer are the 2018 Mike Warter College Scholarship Recipients. They were featured in the July issue of Soccer Times and were recognized at the banquet. Ava is a graduate of Blaine High School and attends Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., with plans to pursue a career as a neurologist. Hayden is a graduate of Lakeville South High School and attends the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities, with plans to earn a degree in either chemical or mechanical engineering.

Congratulations

Alma Beaton Emma Beverley Lindsey Birch David Blair Cooper Bollinger Danielson Marisa Bonilla Brooklyn Bordson Joseph Burica Madeline Dahlien Jovan Dennison Sydney Drees Aimee Fiedler Joseph Highfield James Hill Anabel Hillstrom Molly Knoblauch Pascal Leatherman

Izabel Halunen Lauren Hillins Emily Johnson Asher Johnson Ella Kachmarzinski Alex Kaczmarek Adam Leicester Micah Miller Brooke Nast Lily Nayar Elliana Owen Andre Paucar Vivian Rojas Collins Madeleine Schultz Ella Wade Osher Zmira

2018 MYSA SAVE OF THE YEAR Sarah Martin MapleBrook

Each year, MYSA requests that players and parents send in videos of memorable goals and saves during the season. All the videos were reviewed, with up to four finalists selected for each award.

to all the 2018 MYSA award nominees & winners!

to all the players, parents, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers for making 2018 an excellent year in soccer!

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Competitive News Competitive Leagues Update

By Cam Stoltz MYSA Director of League Operations

MYSA Club Directors Forum to take over MYSA League Formation MYSA has created a new “Club Directors Forum” which will give each member club a direct role in the league formation process.

The Club Directors Forum replaces the MYSA Competitive Committee, which was composed of a formal group of elected representatives who have overseen league formation and operations with the assistance of the MYSA State Office.

Under recent MYSA Rules and Policy changes, the MYSA now manages league operations on a day-to-day basis. In the new model, each MYSA member club has a seat at the table and a voice in creating 9U–19U competitive league brackets and schedules.

MYSA Academy Futures League Standards and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy This last year, MYSA launched the Academy Futures League (AFL) to serve boys and girls sides of 12U. MYSA designed the AFL program to provide players and clubs an academystyle, Zone 1 developmental-focused model for training and competitive play which differs from a typical seasonal-league experience. The AFL standards include many aspects of U.S. Soccer’s Player Development Initiatives set forth in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

In December, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy informed state soccer associations that they will no longer offer nationwide U-12 programming for leagues. U.S. Soccer has made it clear that now is an opportunity for state associations (MYSA) to operate standards-based Zone 1 programming.

MYSA is currently in communication with U.S. Soccer and taking their offer of assistance in furthering the implementation of Development Academy standards into the MYSA AFL program. This is an exciting time as Minnesota clubs now have a standards-based league that will focus on player development and innovate the 12U and 9v9 game.

New Junior Cup Series available for 12U and 11U This year, MYSA will hold new events, including a 12U Junior State Cup and a Vice Presidents Cup (11U and 12U). These Cup-style events are 9v9 versions of the popular Minnesota State Cup and newer US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup that serve ages 13U and older.

The 12U Junior State Cup is dedicated for high-level, committed, Classic 1 teams and is limited to one 12U team from any one club. Vice Presidents Cup is designed for competitive 11U and 12U Classic 1 teams.

Formats and games will take place in various locations in May, culminating with semi-finals and championship games on the weekend of June 1 and 2.

Registration for the 12U Junior Cup opens Jan. 4 and space is limited. Vice Presidents Cup registration opens Feb. 4 and will be open on a first-come, first-entered basis, with a cap on teams.

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Spring Cups Preview

By Katie Flakne | MYSA Director of Marketing & Special Events

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innesota Youth Soccer will once again be offering two high-level competitions for teams in 2019: Minnesota State Cup (part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series) and Minnesota Presidents Cup (part of the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup).

Minnesota State Cup The Minnesota State Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the state and the pathway to the National Championship Series. Don’t be confused by similarly named league tournaments claiming to be a “state cup” championship. Only MYSAsanctioned Minnesota State Cup provides an opportunity for teams in the 13U–19U age groups to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition. Champions will advance to the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships and the opportunity to qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships. State winners also receive paid entry into Regionals and a travel stipend.

State Cup Important Dates Registration Opens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan. 4 Registration Closes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb. 4 Play-in Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 9–10 Rosters Frozen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 3 Group Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 15–23 Semi-Finals & Finals. . . . . . . . . . May 31–June 2 Midwest Reg. Championships (Saginaw, Mich.). . . . . . . . . . . . . June 21–26 National Championships (Overland Park, Kan.). . . . . . . . . . . July 22–28 Minnesota Presidents Cup The Minnesota Presidents Cup is a statewide championship that is part of the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup National Event. The Minnesota Presidents Cup is an open competition for teams that wish to play in a statewide competition that also offers an opportunity at the regional and national level.

This event is geared towards Premier Tier II and Classic 1 teams. State winners will also receive paid entry into the regional event and a travel stipend.

Presidents Cup Important Dates Registration Opens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb. 8 Registration Closes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18 Rosters Frozen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 26 Group Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 8–14 Semi-Finals & Finals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 17–19 Midwest Presidents Cup (Overland Park, Kan.). . . . . . . . . . . June 13–17 National Presidents Cup (Murfreesboro, Tenn.). . . . . . . . . . . . July 10–14 After you register for the tournament, be sure to follow the moments on the MYSA Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also share your memories with #MNStateCup, #MNPCup and #MNYouthSoccer.

Stay up-to-date on State Cup deadlines, schedules, results and more at mnyouthsoccer.org!

2019 Minnesota US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program For Boys & Girls Born in 2002, 2003 or 2004 Only

D

o you have what it takes to be the next player to represent Minnesota at the ODP Showcase, as well as the Regional and National level?

Boys and girls born in 2002, 2003 or 2004 are eligible for participation in the 2019 Minnesota US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). The program is open to all players; however, competition for selection is tough.

There will be two identification sessions — girls identifications will take place Monday, Apr. 22 and Monday, Apr. 29, from 6-8 p.m. at the Coon Rapids Soccer Complex; boys identifications will take place Tuesday, Apr. 23 and Tuesday, Apr. 30, from 6-8 p.m. at the Coon Rapids Soccer Complex. Players are encouraged to attend both sessions. At the conclusion of the process, approximately 24-30 players will be selected for each (birth year and gender) state pool for further ODP training.

The Olympic Development Program has played a meaningful role in player development in the United States by providing top players valuable experience and a platform to improve. This is an excellent opportunity for each player to challenge themselves by playing with and against other players from different parts of the state, region and, for a selected few, nationally.

There is always good competition, and when you’re able to evaluate players in these scenarios, you have a better idea of how they will fare as they attempt to reach the next level in their soccer career.

Registration More information and online registration is now available at www.mnyouthsoccer.org.

Registration and payment of $85 must be received by Friday, April 19, 2019. Payment includes two tryout shirts.

Questions may be directed to Chato Alvarado at chatoalvarado@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952252-1688.

Benefits of participation in the ODP are: • Development as a player; the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group.

• Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.

• Quality competition; games against other state association teams.

• Exposure to regional- and national-team coaches.

• The opportunity to represent one’s state, region or country in competition.

• Exposure to college coaches.

Refund Policy Refunds are granted if requested

by Friday, April 19, 2019, minus a $25 processing fee. Please allow 2–3 weeks for processing refund check. Refunds are not granted for no-shows.

Some recent players’ ODP experience: Emma Fournier (Maple Grove, Minn./ MapleBrook) and Molly Knoblauch (Coon Rapids, Minn./Minnesota Thunder Academy) recently represented Minnesota at the ODP Interregional Event in Boca Raton, Fla, Nov. 16-22, where they played with and against the best ODP players in the country.

“Thank you again for the opportunities you’ve helped me experience through ODP. I am so grateful for the new friendships made with amazing players from our region, the challenges that helped my skill development, and the soccer doors this has helped open,” Emma says. “I am especially thankful for MYSA’s financial support for the Boca trip this year. Traveling soccer can be incredibly expensive and this unexpected assistance came at the perfect time for my family.”

“Being in Boca was a lot of fun!” adds Molly. “Thank you for making this trip possible for me and making everything fun. Thank you very much! I made some great memories and the experience means a lot to me.”

CLICK HERE for some sights and sounds from the 2018 ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional in Boca Raton, Fla. Listen to what players and coaches have to say about the experience.

Minnesota Youth Soccer Adopts Rule Change at AGM

By Ayla Lokkesmoe MYSA Director of Operations

E

ach year, prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), affiliate member clubs and MYSA elected committees can submit proposals to amend the MYSA Rules Manual. All submissions are sent to member Club Presidents, Executive Directors and Directors of Coaching 45 days prior to the AGM to provide affiliates with ample opportunity to review each submission.

At the AGM, each rule submittal is presented, discussed and voted upon by the affiliate member clubs in attendance. The rules that are approved by the membership are then implemented and enforced by the MYSA staff. This process helps ensure that all member clubs have a voice in the organization, and guarantees that the implementation of those changes is made in advance of the upcoming season.

This year’s AGM was held on Nov. 3 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. There was just one rule change approved at the meeting affecting player registration and deterring recruitment (3.2.1.6 Player Transfer). The rule change eliminated the requirement of one club to automatically release an already registered player if that player was transferring to a team in a more competitive division at another club.

For example, a player registered with a Classic 1 team in Club A is no longer required to be released by Club A to transfer to a Premier team in Club B; however, the clubs may mutually agree to the transfer.

This change was proposed with the intent to curb recruitment of bound players and infuse confidence in the registration with the initial club. Parents should be aware that the automatic transfer to a more competitive division is no longer an option and should consider that when signing registration forms that often bind players for the entire soccer year.

If you would like more information regarding these changes, please visit our website at mnyouthsocccer.org/rules-manual.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 952-252-1690 or aylalokkesmoe@mnyouthsoccer.org.

2019 MYSA Winter Symposium

By Katie Flakne | MYSA Director of Marketing & Special Events and Norine Olson | MYSA Director of Finance

M

innesota Youth Soccer Association is continuing its tradition of offering quality educational opportunities for coaches and club leadership personnel with the opportunity to attend the 2019 Winter Symposium. Continuing with the format that we established last year, we will be offering sessions for club coaches on Saturday, Feb. 2, and club leaders on Saturday, Feb. 9. This is also an opportunity for attendees to exchange insights and best practices for the promotion of youth soccer.

Feb. 2: Club Coaches (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., National Sports Center Sports Hall) Presenters include Barry Paulwels, U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching Education; Didier Chamberon, U.S. Soccer Coach Educator; Tim Carter, Minnesota United FC Academy Director, Andy Seidel, Minnesota United FC Academy Coach, Simon Almaer, Premier Sport Psychology Mental Skills Coach; and Stefanie Golan, University of Minnesota Head Women’s Soccer Coach.

Barry Pauwels

Didier Chamberon

Tim Carter

Andy Seidel

Simon Almaer

Stefanie Golan

U.S. Soccer Dir. of Coaching Education

U.S. Soccer Coach Educator

Minnesota United FC Academy Director

Minnesota United FC Academy Coach

Premier Sports Psychology Mental Skills Coach

University of Minnesota Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Field Presenter

Topic

9:30–10:20 a.m.

Tim Carter

Collective Possession-Progression: Playing in gaps & between lines

10:30–11:20 a.m.

Andy Seidel

Unbalancing on the last line: Draw opponents, fix and change the point of attack

11:30–12:20 p.m.

Barry Pauwels & Didier Chamberon

High Pressing as a Ball Recovery Strategy

12:30–1:30 p.m.

Barry Pauwels & Didier Chamberon

Creating Chances in Offensive Transition

Classroom Presenter

Topic

9:30–10:20 a.m.

Barry Pauwels & & Didier Chamberon

Theory: High Pressing as a Ball Recovery Strategy

10:30–11:20 a.m.

Simon Almaer

Building Resilience in Youth Soccer Players

11:30–12:20 p.m.

Stefanie Golan

Team Building: Culture Wins

12:30–1:30 p.m.

Andy Seidel

Weekly & Daily Planning of Training

There will be several options available for registration for the coaching sessions. Clubs who register 499 or fewer players are eligible to purchase a small-sided pass. For $200, they will be able to register five coaches with a complimentary pass for one club official. Larger clubs can purchase a club pass, which reserves 10 registrations (for 10 coaches and/or administrators) at the cost of eight, for just $400. Additionally, with the purchase of the club pass, the club President and Director of Coaching will receive complimentary entrance.

Online registration is required by Friday, Jan. 25. Clubs need to commit to a pass by this date and provide the names of attendees. Individual registration is also available for $50. If you miss out on the pre-registration options, onsite registration is offered the day of the event for $100.

February 9: Club Leaders (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., MYSA Event Center) Topics include: • Pullen Insurance, MYSA’s insurance provider, will have a representative discuss insurance issues and answer questions you may have about the

coverages that MYSA provides to its membership.

• McKenzie Tompt, from Insperity, will present a session on protocols to prevent harassment and/or discrimination within your organization.

• Hinrichs and Associates, MYSA’s auditor, will have a representative speak on financial best practices.

• We will also have a session on how to determine if someone is an independent contractor or an employee. (Presenter: TBD) Online registration for individuals is available until Friday, Feb. 1, for $25. On-site registration is offered the day of the event for $50. For more information about registration please visit the MYSA website (www.mnyouthsoccer.org/winter-symposium). We hope to see as many of you as possible!

For all the latest Minnesota Youth Soccer news visit mnyouthsoccer.org

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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS Why Project Play Recommends Equal Playing Time for Kids

By Jon Solomon | Editorial Director, Sports & Society Program, The Aspen Institute | Reprinted with permission

M

y co-coach, Brian, and I looked at each other with concern. Our under-9 boys soccer team trailed 1-0 halfway through a 25-minute tournament semifinal game, and the clock was ticking without us generating much offense.

To that point, we had treated the entire season with fun and development as the backbone philosophies for the team, which included our sons. I still wear the scars of my oldest son, Daniel, declaring he was “retiring” from baseball at age 6 – a stunning and heartbreaking remark from a child that age. It was the result of Daniel being stuck in the outfield almost all season in an absurdly competitive T-ball league, where parents yelled at umpires and each other, games were delayed 20 minutes to settle disputes, and coaches felt pressured to win.

Daniel has barely played team sports since T-ball. I vowed to myself that my younger son, Josh, and any kids I coach, would be different.

That means, among other measures, equal playing time. Every soccer game last fall, I pulled out my iPhone stopwatch and subbed players roughly every five minutes in a 50-minute game. With a 13-player roster for 7v7 soccer, we looked like hockey players making line shifts. We also tried to mix up roles and distribute opportunities in a fair manner.

If a kid played defense one shift, he moved to offense the next.

Then came the semifinals. Brian and I decided to keep our best players in for the remainder of the game, and on offense. We justified to ourselves that the chance for all of the kids to play one more game outweighed equal playing time. It was defensible logic. In truth, we also got caught up in the competitiveness of the game and seeing third-graders want to win.

There’s a time to sort the weak from the strong in sports. It’s not before kids grow into their bodies, minds and true interests.

Through at least age 12, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play recommends that sports programs invest in every kid equally. That includes playing time – a valuable developmental tool that too many coaches assign based on player skill level and the score of the game. You will see this recommendation reflected in our Parent Checklists and companion videos.

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The argument is simple for equal playing time: Research shows that what kids want out of a sports experience is both action and access to the action. Getting stuck at the end of the bench does not foster participation. And, we all know that greater participation is sorely needed in youth sports. Only 37 percent of kids ages 6-12 regularly played team sports in 2016, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association in the Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2017 report.

Kids who quit sports often do so because of lack of playing time, which can be a result of lack of confidence. Confidence is a byproduct of proper preparation and adults who believe in the players, according to IMG Academy Head of Leadership Development James Leath.

“From a small child to the world’s greatest athlete, those who are confident are confident because they have taken thousands of shots, tried and failed many times, then tried again and got it right,” Leath said.

Playing time shouldn’t be earned at younger ages. It should be paid forward to develop a future athlete.

According to a 2014 study by George Washington University, 9 out of 10 kids said their No. 1 reason for playing sports is to have fun. Getting playing time was one of their top definitions of having fun. Winning was ranked No. 48. In another study, the Josephson Institute found that 90 percent of children would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench on a winning team.

Academic research in psychology, physiology and sociology suggests that equal playing time is needed for younger age groups, though this topic is rarely discussed in literature. In 2017, Norwegian scientist Torbjørn Lorentzen tackled the question from an academic perspective in a published article, “Allocation of playing time within team sports – a problem for discussion.”

Lorentzen identified two ways to organize teams. One is performance-oriented, which focuses on using athletes who have the best skills in order to compete and win. The other is mastery-oriented, which typically views sports as a learning process and allows equal playing time, since athletes are not differentiated by skill.

The article noted that the Norwegian

Federation of Sports views that sports activities with children 12 years or younger should be practiced without any form of discrimination (i.e., give them equal playing time).

The sports federations for Sweden and Denmark follow similar rules, the article said. When kids reach about 12 or 13 in those countries, teams are free to prioritize competition and rank athletes according to the skills and performance level.

“We conclude that equal playing time is still important to practice – especially with regard to the younger age groups,” Lorentzen wrote. “One way to start solving the recurrent discussion of playing time is that federations of sports and clubs explicitly operate with organizational guidelines and rules that correspond with the level of development of the athletes.”

Youth sports in America offer a mixed bag of how we treat playing time for younger kids. This is a country, after all, where 8-year-olds play for national AAU basketball championships. Some major youth organizations address playing time in different ways: The Jr. NBA website cites a guideline from the Positive Coaching Alliance: “Good coaches get players into the game. Players who stay on the bench don’t benefit as much from sport.” The Jr. NBA, which will soon start a world championship for 13- and 14-year-olds, encourages coaches to have strategies to get all of their players into games for meaningful minutes, and not just in garbage time of a blowout.

Little League Baseball requires that every player participate for at least six defensive outs and bat at least once each game. If that doesn’t occur, the child is supposed to start the next scheduled game and play any previous unmet requirement plus that game’s requirement.

Managers can be penalized for not following playing-time rules – first with a warning, and then “more serious penalties” if infractions continue.

USA Hockey recommends equal playing time for kids 12 and under. The only exceptions are in the last minute of a game if a team is up or down by a goal, or players are misbehaving,

not following the rules or disregarding the coaches’ instructions.

USA Football’s website has an article by a reporter and parent who believes every kid deserves the opportunity to play, especially if league rules mandate a minimum number of plays for each player. The author says that the best players should play the most, adding that players who work hard in practice should also see significant playing time. No ages for players are identified in the story from 2015.

US Youth Soccer’s website has at least one article related to playing time. The 2011 story encourages coaches to communicate clearly with parents and kids about playing time and cites tips from Positive Coaching Alliance, such as the need for youth to earn their playing time through attitude, talent, effort, ability to learn, personality, and embracing their role on the team. The article did not identify the age at which kids should earn playing time, presumably leaving it up to each soccer coach to decide.

Another potential benefit of equal playing time worthy of research is the impact on adult behavior. Parents want to see their child in the game, and when they don’t, it hurts. Lack of playing time can cause frustration directed at coaches, and kids on the car ride home. At Project Play, we wonder how many of the problems we see in youth sports would be mitigated if programs simply invested equally in each child and parents weren’t put in a tough spot.

It’s not like youth sports is a meritocracy.

The kids who coaches favor are often just early bloomers and more biologically advanced than their age peers, and thus able to help a team win that day. That may not be the case once they hit puberty, but for now they have an advantage, often an unfair one.

Many simply happen to be born early in the birth year that determines eligibility – what is known as the Relative Age Effect. At age seven or even 11, an 11-month difference in birth date can make a huge difference, physically, cognitively and emotionally. It’s why national teams at the senior level often have players with favorable birthdates; they were favored by coaches from an early age.

In the case of my son’s soccer team, we decided to use the best players in the semifinal game and won, 3-1. The kids were thrilled. My co-coach and I felt so torn afterward that we returned entirely to equal playing time for the championship, a blowout loss against a superior team.

That’s OK. Leaving the field, Josh talked about wanting to invite teammates to his birthday party and his excitement for the upcoming basketball season.

For this son, the end of his sports career had been delayed at least one more season. Equal playing time can help stave off early retirements for so many more kids.

REFEREE REPORT

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019 Invitational Tournaments, Festivals & Jamborees The following tournaments have been approved for sanctioning for 2019. Events denoted with an asterisk (*) are still in the process of gaining MYSA sanctioning status. Please refer to the Tournament Center (www.thetournamentcenter.com) for specific tournament information.

DATE(S) EVENT

Importance of Good Signals

By Bob Petersen | State Director of Assessment

W

hy are clear signals so important? Picture a police officer that is directing traffic. They use both whistles and arm signals. They direct not only cars, but people as well. How many of us have to wait for traffic so we can cross 105th Avenue at the National Sports Center?

The Blaine Police Department are often there, and probably anyone involved with soccer in our state has crossed that street. The officers in charge need to make quick decisions and clearly show their decisions so that there are no car accidents and, more importantly, so that no one gets hurt.

Their use of whistles is a great example of how referees should use their whistles. When a car needs to stop, they use a loud whistle and a longer tone. Do you think a car will stop with only a soft, short blast? Most likely, the drivers of the cars would not even know a whistle had been blown! With a loud whistle, the traffic cop is demanding that the cars stop.

Referees need to act the same way. Far too often, referees hardly blow their whistle. No one knows what is going on. Many times, play goes on and there is much confusion. If you want to stop play, blow the whistle like you mean it. No one is going to be mad if you blow it too hard. In fact, referees gain more respect when they blow the whistle harder, because the referee appears more assured in their decision.

Another method is several softer and shorter blasts, to direct people on what to do. Traffic police use this tactic often. The same can be true for referees. Many times, you do not have to even say anything, but a few whistles will get your point across.

Clear arm signals are also important. Traffic police are very clear when giving the stop signal, or other directions. Sweeping motions and pointing are all done with great effect, using their entire arm and giving clear direction. Again, it is for the safety of everyone. The signals for referees and assistant referees are equally important. Referees need to use their whole arm in all signals they use, so that everyone knows what the decisions are. The same thing is true for assistant referees. On corner kicks, arms should be pointed down, and throw-in direction should be indicated at a 45-degree angle. Signals just limply put out there are confusing. How many games have we seen where referees are not clear in their signals? There are a lot of questions and play can go on. The trust in the referees is also eroded. Sometimes, even the most contentious of decisions can work for the referee just by their appearance of giving good, clear and strong signals.

Blowing the whistle and giving good signals may seem pointless. After all, the game is about the players. But, there are times where the players need direction. If they are not directed, they will just go around aimlessly and sometimes players even get hurt. Imagine if traffic police were also not clear and felt signals were not important. There would be a lot of crashed cars.

For all the latest Minnesota Youth Soccer news visit mnyouthsoccer.org

LEVEL

March 9–10

Minnesota State Cup Play-In Games

April 6–7

NSC College Showcase Girls

National

April 13–14

NSC College Showcase Boys

National

April 26–28

NSC Kick-Off Challenge

April 27–28

Star of the North

National

May 3–5

Force SC Spring Kickoff

National

May 4

Faribault Soccer Festival *

May 4–5

NSC Spring Cup

May 8–14

Minnesota Presidents Cup/Vice-Presidents Cup: Group Play

May 10–11

North Metro Spring Tune-Up

May 10–12

Eagan Wave Future Stars Tournament

May 10–12

Runnin’ with the Wolves

May 10–12

Salvo SC 14th Annual Summer Classic (13U–19U)

May 15–23

Minnesota State Cup/Junior State Cup: Group Play

May 17–19

2019 CR United Boys/Girls Invitational

May 17–19

Minnesota Presidents Cup/Vice-Presidents Cup: Semis & Finals

May 17–19

Rum River Invitational *

May 17–19

Shakopee Cup

May 18–19

EPSC Spring Kick Off *

May 25–26

NSC Cup

May 31–June 2

Bloomington United Mega Cup

May 31–June 2

Minnesota State Cup/Junior State Cup: Semis & Finals

May 31–June 2

St. Croix Cup

National

May 31–June 2

Salvo SC Rev It Up Tournament

National

May 31–June 2

Tonka Splash

National

June 1

Rotary 3v3

National

June 7–9

NSC All American Cup

June 7–9

North East United 31st Annual Soccer Tournament *

National

June 8

Jesse James Jamboree

Festival

June 8

Mankato United SoccerFest *

Festival

June 8–9

5th Annual Albertville Friendly City Days Tournament

National

June 14–16

2019 CR United Boys/Girls Summer Cup

National

June 14–16

2019 Lakeville Father’s Day Cup

National

June 14–16

Head of the Lakes

June 14–16

Minnesota Rush Rochester Soccer Tournament

June 14–16

Salvo SC 18th Annual Summer Classic (9U–12U)

National

June 21–23

BV United Cup *

National

June 21–23

Prairie Cup *

National

June 22–23

8th Annual STMA United Soccer Fest

National

June 28–30

Lake Superior Open *

July 11

MYSA Summer State Championships Begin

July 12–14

USA CUP Weekend

International

July 16–20

USA CUP Week

International

July 24

MYSA Summer State Championships End

Sept 1

Eagan Wave Fall Tournament

Sept 28

Target United Cup

Oct 5–6

NSC Fall Cup

Oct 11–13

CR United Boys/Girls Fall Invitational

National

Oct 11–13

Salvo SC 7th Annual Fall Classic (9U–15U)

National

Oct 12–13

MYSA Fall State Championships

Nov 9–10

NSC College Showcase Fall

KEY: Jamboree MYSA-Only Recreation National International

International

Festival International MYSA-Only National MYSA-Only National National National International National International National

International

National MYSA-Only

International

National International

National

Open to MYSA teams only (no play-off system) Open to MYSA teams only Open to Rec and Rec Plus teams only Open to teams from outside of Minnesota and/or non-US Youth Soccer teams Open to teams from outside of United States

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*

* Not sanctioned by MYSA

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