Minnesota Soccer Times - May 2018

VOLUME 31VolumeISSUE MAY 30 Issue 3 2 March 20172018

MINNESOTA

SOCCER TIMES

SOCCER EVERYONE FOR

Soccer Times Minnesota Youth Soccer Assoc.

10890 Nesbitt Ave. S. Bloomington, MN 55437

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KICKS FOR

IN THIS ISSUE Coaches Corner • Page 4 Space for ‘Rents • Page 8 Competitive News • Page 10

KIDS Cartoon

Caption

Contest!

Page 13

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MINNESOTA

SOCCER TIMES The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted; all rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced without written permission. The advertising space provided in Soccer Times is purchased and paid for by the advertiser. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by MYSA or its affiliates.

The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its advertisers or MYSA. Printed in the United States of America.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Introducing Soccer For Everyone

By Steve May | MYSA President

Minnesota Soccer Times Official Publication of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association is published six times per year

by Varsity Communications, Inc. 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 Dave Geary - Vice President John Conte - Treasurer Mark Mahowald - Secretary Member Representatives Marty McDermott - East District John Kinsey - North District TBD - Northwest District Todd Loose - South District TBD - Southwest District Susan Farbo - West District Minnesota Youth Soccer Association State Office 10890 Nesbitt Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55437 Tel.: (952) 933-2384; (800) 366-6972 Fax: (952) 933-2627; www.mnyouthsoccer.org State Office Staff TBD - Executive Director Chato Alvarado - Coaching/Player Dev. Administrator Andy Coutts - Director of Education John Curtis - Dir. of Coaching & Player Development Katie Flakne - Manager of Special Events Sue Gjerset - Website/Technology Manager Ayla Lokkesmoe - Member Programs Specialist Norine Olson - Financial Specialist Cam Stoltz - League Commissioner Iván Woyno - Director of Member Services Production Varsity Communications, Inc

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pring has found its way to us and our athletes are diving into competition and development. This issue of Soccer Times has a focus on Player Development.

What comes front of mind with the term “Player Development” is working on technical and tactical skills that can be applied to have a successful experience in the competitive environment.

As the athletes’ technical and tactical skills are being honed, we must not overlook the psychological and emotional development of our young athletes. For our athletes to have a positive experience and develop healthy habits and attitudes that can benefit them throughout their lives, we parents and coaches must realize the role we play in their participation.

We must nourish the dreams of our children and not our own. They want us to be proud of them, and we must demonstrate that regardless of competitive outcome.

Minnesota Youth Soccer Association looks forward to serving Soccer For Everyone and providing a successful and enjoyable season for all.

CONTENTS Departments

Features

President’s Message.................................................. 3 Coaches Corner......................................................... 4 Honor Rolls................................................................ 5 Referee Report.......................................................... 6 Space for ‘Rents........................................................ 8 Competitive News....................................................10 Tournament Calendar................................................12 Kicks for Kids............................................................13

Goal Safety................................................................5 ODP Showcase..........................................................5 MYSA Annual Awards................................................6 MYSA Goal and Save Of The Year..............................6 Parents and Coaches Together (PACT).......................9 More Than A League................................................ 11

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

The Courage to Chisel

By Jody Redman | Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Associate Director – Reprinted with author’s permission

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ince the beginning of public education, physical activity and athletics have been considered a vital part of public education’s mission to help young people become productive citizens.

Have you ever wondered why? Why are sports seen as a way to ignite the intrinsic drive of young people to be a better version of themselves, and a better contributor to society? Why do schools provide students with the opportunity to play sports as part of their school experience? Why do schools hire, train and consider coaches part of the educational faculty? The answer is because there is the potential for students to acquire something meaningful and beneficial through their participation and proper coaching. That “something” is often defined as character.

Character. The word comes from the ancient Greek kharaktēr, which is defined as a “chisel, or stamping tool.” This tool was a sign of craftsmanship involving etching or engraving.

It helped define and distinguish the quality of the work. Today, character is defined as the way an individual or team of people acts, thinks and feels. The inward and outward actions of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship are considered foundational to character, productive citizenship and true education. Sports are an integral part of the educational curriculum, providing the teacher-coach with countless opportunities to

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teach, model and develop character. Inscribing character in students is the highest value and most enduring contribution a coach can make.

The character that coaches inscribe in young people comes in two different forms — performance character and moral character.

Performance character has to do with one’s relationship to self. These are skills that you would list on a resume and would assist you in defining your ability to perform — skills such as determination, perseverance, grit, self-control and responsibility. When asked to identify the benefits that come through sports, these are the skills that are most often communicated.

However, performance character is only one part of being a productive employee or citizen. The other and more important part is moral character. Moral character has to do with one’s relationship to other people. These are the skills that others would use to describe and define you at your funeral, and are at the level of the heart. Skills such as kindness, honesty, empathy, compassion and moral courage.

Moral character skills are crucial traits of human development and evolution towards a more fair and equitable society.

Regrettably, performance character is most often associated with athletics and coaching.

Wins and losses, individual goals and personal achievements seem to dominate much of the value and is the focus adults place on the athlete’s mind and effort. The overemphasis on individual

performance contributes heavily to the morally toxic social environment of sports today.

We must reclaim interscholastic athletics and coaching as a critical time to invest in the moral development of students and their interpersonal competencies. Young people must have caring and supportive relationships with caring adults for healthy character development.

Unfortunately, today’s students grow up in a media-driven culture that is often toxic to the development of moral character. The $15 billion youth sports industry and the win-atall-costs sports culture is playing a lead role in this toxicity. The role of the education-based coach has never been more important than in the current American culture. Character coaching is essential for individual and team success on the field, in life and to create fair and just world.

It takes courage to chisel moral character in the lives of students. Perhaps, the most challenging issue about coaching moral character is that unlike teaching a student to throw a curveball, set a ball or catch a down-and-out (which are things you can teach without being able to do), the coach must have and display moral character to effectively coach moral character. Character is not something you can teach in a, “Do as I say, not as I do,” fashion.

In fact, there are few things more damaging to character development than one who speaks to the importance of character but fails to act with character. Students will not respond well if they

feel their coach is a hypocrite.

Character holds a mirror to our souls.

Therefore, before you can coach character, you must identify it in yourself. This can only be done through self-reflection. Take time to reflect on the following questions. This reflection time will assist you as you begin to look at your own character, where you learned it and how to most effectively teach it.

• Who are or were the people in your life who taught you the most about performance character (relationship to self)? How did they teach you?

• Who are or were the people in your life who taught you the most about moral character (relationship to others)? How did they teach you?

• What performance/moral character skills are important to you? Why? • What kind of performance/moral character skills are you modeling? Reflect on your character skills in your transformational purpose statement.

• Do you coach your team to be as character fit as you do physically fit? Why or why not?

Transformational coaches teach what they know best — their own life narrative. Utilize the above coach reflection questions, share your thoughts with your team and then ask your student-athletes to answer the same questions.

MYSA HONOR ROLLS

By Chato Alvarado | MYSA Coaching/Player Development Administrator

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YSA is proud to present the Club and Coach Honor Rolls. The Club Honor Roll lists the clubs that have recently offered coaching education courses for their coaches. The Coach Honor Roll includes coaches who have recently completed a USSF or USC (formerly NSCAA) Coaching License in Minnesota. Thank you all for your efforts to improve the level of soccer for all players in Minnesota. Congratulations to all clubs and coaches for making the MYSA Honor Rolls!

CLUB HONOR ROLL Club CC United Owatonna Waconia

No. of Coaches 46 21 25

Coaching Education Course Youth Module Youth Module Youth Module

COACH HONOR ROLL: 7v7 License (19) Boyd, Christopher Broglio, Kevin Burke, Ryan Carlson, Nicole Cohler, Steven

Demers, Richard Falade, Akin Fitzgerald, Marie Hogan, Jennifer Kellner, Kyle

Kinkel, Bryan Kirsch, Abby McIntosh, Catherine Okoampa, Joshua Oliver, Trai

Rothstein, Chris Salazar, Manuel Varbanov, Nikola Williams, Brian

Soccer Goal Safety

By Dave Geary | MYSA Vice President

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t is May and that means summer is just around the corner, and the soccer fields are busy again!

Minnesota Youth Soccer wants all soccer players to have a great time on the field, but we also want the players and their siblings to be safe. Listed below are a few soccer goal safety tips: • Referees and coaches are responsible for checking the goals before each game to ensure that the goals are properly anchored and that the nets are properly secured.

• Coaches should check the goals before every practice to ensure that the goals are properly anchored and that the nets are properly secured.

• Players should NEVER climb on the nets or hang on the goals.

• Parents should supervise their children, especially younger siblings, to keep them from climbing on the nets or hanging on the goals.

• Clubs are responsible for making sure that the goals they use are properly anchored and that any goals not in use have the nets removed and are stored properly.

Goal safety should be everyone’s concern.

For more information, go to MYSA’s website at www.mnyouthsoccer.org/goal-safety.

Minnesota Youth Soccer hopes that all of you have a safe and wonderful time playing and watching the great sport of soccer this summer!

Elevate Your Experience!

2018 US Youth Soccer ODP Midwest Showcase

By John Curtis | MYSA Director of Coaching and Player Development

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innesota Youth Soccer Association is excited to be hosting the upcoming ODP Midwest Showcase at the National Sports Center in Blaine, June 26-28. The event will feature the 2001-2007 age groups for both boys and girls, and will include state games, state training sessions and classroom sessions for all the participating players. Information and registration is available for you on our website.

To participate in this event, the players have gone through a series of trials and trainings with and against other players in their age group.

The ODP Midwest Showcase is an opportunity for players to represent Minnesota as part of the State ODP team and compete with and against players from other states who have gone through a similar process. From this event, players can be recommended and invited into the ODP Midwest ID Camp in Saginaw, Mich, in July.

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program has been in existence since 1977.

The program was introduced to help identify potential national team youth players through an organized series of trials which begins at the district level, then progresses through the state, region and finally the national level. The

program also serves as a means of development, as the players identified are brought together for a training experience and prepared for interstate, interregional and international competitions. The development of the players is taking place rapidly, as talented players are brought together for training and competition at all levels. Training and playing with those of equal or greater ability is a tremendous teaching tool. The program is open to any youth player.

What are the benefits of participating in US Youth Soccer ODP? • 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 ODP teams.

• Exposure to regional- and national-team coaches.

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

Exposure to college coaches.

Participating Midwest states include: Ohio South, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

WHY ODP? Click here to check out this cool video!

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REFEREE REPORT

Big Referee Decisions in Games

By Bob Petersen | State Director of Assessment

The game is decided by the players, not the referee.

No player makes every decision correctly.

No player is perfect. No matter what happens, the referee has to make a decision that is based upon what the actions are of the players. The decision of a referee to send a player off or call a penalty kick is just as impactful to the game if the referee decides not to take those actions. Every decision will always favor one team and be against the other. This is the same as the myth often heard from parents telling referees to, “Call it both ways.” That is not practical. Players commit themselves to actions that require referees to make decisions. That is their job.

Being frustrated is no excuse for dissent or abuse.

There is a big difference between expressing frustration, and dissent or abuse. Referees are advised that players sometimes need to blow

By Katie Flakne MYSA Manager of Special Events

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innesota Youth Soccer presents awards to some of the many outstanding people who have provided excellent service to its member clubs and the families they serve. We know about these people because you tell us what they have done for you, your children and your club when you nominate them for awards. This is your chance to help that person receive welldeserved recognition and nominate them for the 2018 Annual Awards.

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he recent UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match between Real Madrid and Juventus was quite epic. Juventus, down 3-0 from a first leg home loss, evened the total goals 3-3 in the second half of the second leg.

Then, in second-half extra time, Medhi Benatia of Juventus made a very risky challenge from behind on Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid, right in front of the Juventus goal.

Referee Mike Oliver, who was very close to the incident and had probably the best angle to see the contact, made the decision that it was a foul and awarded Real Madrid a penalty kick.

Juventus goalkeeper great Gianluigi Buffon was rightly sent off for making contact with Oliver during his tirade after the decision. When order was finally restored, Cristiano Ronaldo scored on the penalty kick to send Real Madrid into the Champions League semifinals.

In the aftermath of the game, there was plenty of debate over what transpired. Most people defended Oliver’s decisions as correct, yet there were many people who were very upset. There is much to this match, and to this decision, from which truths can be learned.

Annual Award Nominations

The 10 award categories are: • Competitive Coach of the Year (Boys and Girls) • Recreational Coach of the Year (Boys and Girls) • Administrator of the Year • Volunteer of the Year • TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year • TOPSoccer Coach of the Year • Young Referee of the Year (Male and Female) off frustration or disappointment. The passion in our game is one of its biggest assets. We are part of this game, because emotions and bonds run deep. Not everything goes the way it is intended.

That still does not mean that it is okay to direct dissent or abuse at a referee. Referees are taught to deal immediately with dissent and abuse whether it is from players, coaches or parents.

games to go as easily as possible. The adage that the best referees are the ones never seen is, however, not always correct. There are times where all referees have to make decisions they are uncomfortable with because the actions of the players demand it. Sometimes, these are game-changing or game-deciding decisions.

These decisions still must be made.

Do not touch the referee. You will be sent off if you do.

This is basically a no-brainer, as it is assault.

It is behavior that is simply not tolerated.

Sometimes, players will grab the referee’s arm to get their attention. Sometimes, as Buffon did, lightly bump the referee while trying to get their frustration out. The situation does not matter, as those players should be sent off. Should this happen in any match here in Minnesota, expect a much longer suspension for that individual.

In Minnesota, over 69 percent of our referees are aged 14 or younger. There is too great of an expectation for our kids to be perfect. Even adults are far from perfect, and many admit they never want to referee because they do not want to be yelled at. Yet, it seems that on many matches, there are times when players and adults become referee experts. The funny thing is that these “instant experts” are almost always wrong.

Being a referee is very tough work. It is especially tough when you are a kid, with the expectation that you will be able to handle things as if you are much older. If you find the actions of the referee to be disagreeable, work with that referee in a positive manner. All referees want to be better. Dissent and abuse is never the answer.

Referees do not revel in making the big decision.

No referee ever wants to be in the position that Oliver was in. Referees do understand what is at stake. Players are the ones that force referees to make big decisions. Referees want

Each year, the recipients of the awards are chosen by a committee from Minnesota Youth Soccer and honored at the MYSA Annual Recognition Banquet held on Saturday, November 3, 2018. These awards are part of the US Youth Soccer recognition program. Winners are forwarded on for Regional and, possibly, National consideration.

CLICK HERE to nominate!

Goal and Save of the Year

By Katie Flakne MYSA Manager of Special Events

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ave you seen an amazing goal or save this season? Scored a highlightreel-worthy goal? Come up with a gamechanging save? Then it’s time for you to fill out your nomination for Save and Goal of the Year.

Over the summer months, MYSA will be collecting video highlights of great goals or saves from players at any age and level (Premier, Classic 1, Classic 2, Classic 3, Recreation or TOPSoccer). Four finalists in each category will be selected and invited to the MYSA Annual Recognition Banquet, held on Saturday, November 3, 2018, where the winners will be announced.

The two winners will be awarded a DICK’s Sporting Goods gift card and their videos will be sent to US Youth Soccer for national consideration. We have also teamed up with Minnesota United FC to provide the Save of Year winner a pair of signed goalkeeper gloves and the Goal of the Year winner a pair of signed cleats!

All videos and forms are due by September 28, 2018.

CLICK HERE

to submit your video!

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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS

A Reason to Celebrate

By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education

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s the Olympic Games were about to open in February, the New York Times published an article by Karen Crouse, “What Parents Can Learn From a Town That Produced 11 Olympians” that is worth a read for all adults who have young athletes or who are otherwise involved in youth sports.

One might think that a town of 3,000 that keeps churning out Olympians, both winter and summer, has discovered the secret sauce for human athletic performance. What mix of training and sleep and nutrition has enabled a disproportionate number of high performers to emerge in different sports from a tiny Vermont village? The formula isn’t found in sport science and cutting-edge training methods, but in a very traditional and communal culture created by its residents. The town’s approach is said to emphasize “participation over prowess, a generosity of spirit over a hoarding of resources and sportsmanship over one-upmanship.”

Spoiler alert, the adults in Norwich, Vt., are living out some simple values, namely an emphasis on participation for all, keeping it fun and letting kids take the lead in their own participation. I’d guess that’s probably how many of us could characterize our youth sport experience a generation or two ago. We played in our towns for fun, formally and informally, and our parents weren’t overly involved or invested in our participation.

That would seem to be the exception today, given the prevalence of helicopter parents who hover over kids’ activity, or Zamboni parents who smooth over all the bumps for them, or hyper-competitive clubs and coaches who can suck the joy out of sports before kids have the chance to fall in love with them.

Reading the Times article brought to mind for me a Norman Rockwell scene, with kids playing freely, parents knowing and enjoying their role as wise consultants, and everyone sharing a healthy and playful spirit. However, it’s not playing just for fun, where winning and achievement aren’t important. The author is making the argument that these values seem to be having a powerful effect on outcomes of both happiness and performance.

The article came out about the same time

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as the Aspen Institute Project Play released its 2017 State of Play report indicating that most youth sports are seeing declines in participation numbers. While soccer is a sport on the rise in this country in some ways, youth soccer participation numbers point to a less optimistic trend. Soccer, along with basketball and baseball, make up the big three in numbers of kids in youth sports and have also seen the biggest declines in participation in recent years. MYSA uses the slogan “Soccer for Everyone” as a summary of the organization’s mission. It’s not that every child has to play soccer, but they should have the opportunity to play for as long as they want. Our audacious goal is to help soccer have a greater place in the culture, bring diverse groups together, and help individuals develop physically, emotionally and morally. It seems that this Vermont town has found the recipe, and it starts with participation for all.

Periodically, through media or conversation, I hear adult angst over our every-kid-gets-atrophy culture. The idea that kids should learn that they have to achieve something to earn an award sounds like a good, old-fashioned value.

While I would agree that some trophies should be earned through performance success, I don’t think it’s our biggest problem, given the data. We should be celebrating each child’s participation, regardless of whether or not that’s with trophies. Today’s kids have a lot of other options, many of them sedentary ones that we don’t need to cite the rising obesity rates to confirm.

Playing a youth sport in this era isn’t for the meek or timid at heart. Kids find themselves in a pressurized environment pretty early as a more professionalized sports culture has found its way into youth levels of play. One of my colleagues, who presents our PACT (Parents and Coaches Together) program, also coaches U12 boys. He’s rightly disturbed by the number of emails in his inbox regarding kids with performance anxiety. Eleven-yearold boys who are learning to play soccer are experiencing performance anxiety when they should be having the time of their lives. Let that sink in. It’s not that competitive sports should be

free from pressure, but the natural stressors of healthy competition are being overtaken by too many unnatural stressors that are driving kids away from adult-directed team sports.

If you’re interested in swimming against the cultural current we find ourselves in, here are a few potential action items. Start by “having the conversation,” as we encourage parents to do in the PACT program. This means that before even finding out how your kids want you to support them, you should start by asking if they want to play, and assuring them that they can stop playing if they choose. Many kids worry that they’ll devastate their parents’ social lives or “investment” if they were to abandon their sport. I hope they won’t decide to quit, but they need to know that it’s their choice. They should play for themselves and whatever joy it brings them, not for us.

Find ways to celebrate their participation, not just their performance or the team’s results.

One way is to regularly state these five simple words: “I love watching you play.” That’s an unconditional statement of appreciation for their participation, absent of any judgment about HOW they played. What age should that end? It shouldn’t, for as long as you want to, or they want you to, attend their games.

And, why stop with your own child? If we truly value participating in sport and all the benefits it can offer (see Jody Redman’s Character article in this issue), then we shouldn’t be stingy with celebrating all those who play. Extend a word of appreciation to teammates or opponents for whatever reason you can find.

When I coached collegiately out east, we had a southern gentleman father who, after a game, said to one of his son’s teammates in his Georgia drawl, “Hey, you looked great out there.”

The player replied, “Uh, I didn’t play today, Mr. B.” Barely a second of awkward silence later, the reply came back, “Well, you looked darn good in the warmups.”

We live in a country and culture that puts a lot of faith and hope into sports to help raise our kids. If more kids choose not to participate in, or stay with, those opportunities, then we aren’t allowing sports to fulfill its promise.

Sports may not automatically build character, but they can and should be a key building block for our youth development aspirations. For that development to happen, we need to ensure that the youth sports environment isn’t only for the best and brightest, but one in which the collective mission is “as many as possible, for as long as possible.”

As one of the Olympic athletes from that small Vermont town stated, “It’s not survival of the fittest, it’s survival of all of us.”

Positively ImPACTing Youth Soccer!

REFEREE REPORT

By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services

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arents and Coaches Together (PACT) was developed in association between Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and the University of Notre Dame “Play Like a Champion” program philosophy. What began as an adult educational series to help promote awareness of sideline behavior and to influence positive change in the soccer environment in which our sons and daughters play the game, has grown into an excellence program in which the two main predictors of athlete behavior work together to positively impact the climate of youth soccer in the state.

Surveys taken over a span of several years of athletes, coaches and parents here in Minnesota provide an accurate picture of the climate lived by all those involved in youth soccer.

Parent- and coach-specific seminars provide tangible strategies to improve communication and collaboration, to foster an environment in which champions can flourish.

PACT-certified families gain valuable communication strategies to work alongside certified coaches in developing a strong bond based on the common goal of creating an ideal environment for the athletes. Coaches obtain valuable conflict-resolution solutions that can be used to ensure a positive climate on the field and the sidelines.

Over the course of 10 years, MYSA and PACT presenters have been able to witness improvements in terms of positive communication between coaches, parents and athletes. Clubs who participate in the

PACT program report positive changes to their membership and the climate in which their athletes grow and have fun playing the game.

More than 1,000 parents and coaches attended a PACT seminar this past season.

Minnesota Youth Soccer would like to thank all the participating clubs, as well as the newly certified coaches and parents, for taking the initiative to become agents of positive change within the youth soccer environment.

For additional information about PACT, or to host a seminar in your area, visit our website at www.mnyouthsoccer.org/pact or please contact me at 952-252 0226 or ivanwoyno@ mnyouthsoccer.org.

FUSION SOCCER CLUB

More college, high school and licensed coaches than any other club in Minnesota!

Why choose Fusion?

• Highest level of player training and development — the proof is in the play!

• Established pathway to player success — including our new college advisory program • Year-round training, including multiple dome sites for winter training • Opportunity for player development at every skill level and age

Summer Camps — held at Wayzata High School

• Skills Camp 1: June 11-15, U5 - U14 Boys & Girls • Skills Camp 2: June 18-22, U5 - U14 Boys & Girls • Fusion Elite Camp: June 26-29, U10 - U16 Boys & Girls • Tryout Prep Camp: July 9-11, U9 - U17 Boys & Girls

Tryouts for Summer 2018 Competitive Season

• July 12-August 3 - Please see fusionsoccermn.com for more details

Multiple levels of play for all ages and skill levels:

• Recreation: (4yrs thru 12th grade) Summer & Winter • Development: (U6-U8): Summer, Fall & Winter • Competitive: (U9-U21): Summer, Fall & Winter • Elite: (U13-U15) New program serving players with the highest level of skill and commitment

Please visit our website, fusionsoccermn.com on all programs or call us at (763) 450-3099 for more information Soccer Times

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COMPETITIVE NEWS New and Expanded Format for REFEREE REPORT MYSA State Championships!

By Cam Stoltz | MYSA League Commissioner

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or the last 40 years, the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association has hosted a State Championship to cap the summer season. Over the history of our state soccer organization, literally thousands of teams have played in our youth soccer championships. The plans for this year’s event have evolved to “Elevate the Experience” for our teams. Based on membership feedback, the new tournament format includes expanding the number of teams that will advance to pool-play stages, and factoring in league finish on how teams play off.

The most noticeable change will see league bracket winners who register for postseason automatically advance to the pool-play stage. All other teams who register for postseason will be seeded into single-elimination games as a pathway to pool play. Remaining teams, who did not win league, will be bracketed into single-elimination play-in games hosted by the higher-seeded teams.

Play-in games will be played between July 12–16. This stage of the Championships replaces the former need for neutral-site district tournaments. Under the new format, teams will have opportunities to train or rest between games and will avoid playing multiple games in a day. Pool play will consist of three guaranteed games, with group winners advancing to championship day. In larger age flights, where 12 teams partake in pool play, semifinals will be played to determine who advances to championship games.

The goal of State Championships is to cap a team’s season experience, while granting the opportunity to be the best! MYSA believes this new format will extend, grow and “Elevate the Experience” of our membership!

2018 State Championships Details Registration for the State Championships is open to all Classic teams (C1, C2 and C3) and managed on the MYSA Affinity Sports Platform. This is required for all teams participating in play-in games and pool play.

Registration opens on May 1 and closes June 30. Teams that reach the pool-play stage of the MYSA State Championships will be charged $375. Additional costs for referees are incurred for play-in game teams.

June 30: Registration deadline for 2018 State Championships July 10: Last day of league play (C1, C2, C3), standings finalized July 12: Playoffs begin with single-elimination play-in games (qualifiers), Location: Higher seed home field July 12 or 13: Play-in Round 1 July 14 or 15: Play-in Round 2 July 16: Single-elimination play-in games (qualifiers) must be completed July 17: State Championships pool-play schedules released July 20-22: Classic 3 pool play & finals (rain date: July 23), Locations: Rochester (Boys 11U-12U, Girls 11U-17U) & Mankato (Boys 13U-17U) July 23-28: Classic 2 & 1 pool play & finals (rain date: July 29), Locations: Shakopee, Coon Rapids & Blaine

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More Than Just a League R R

By Ivan Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services

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lease allow me to introduce myself. My name is Iván Woyno and I am the Director of Member Services for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. You would normally read my articles if you were looking to be informed about TOPSoccer, Parents and Coaches Together (PACT), Grants, or Outreach program opportunities. From time to time, I do write miscellaneous membership articles, and today happens to be one of those times.

Minnesota Youth Soccer is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose sole mission is to promote the game of soccer for all youth in Minnesota. MYSA has been serving the needs of families across the state since 1969, working to create a fair, safe and enjoyable soccer environment for youth players of all skill levels and their families. In simpler terms, MYSA’s mission is to live its motto: “Soccer for Everyone.” As a nonprofit corporation, MYSA reinvests proceeds into programs that serve the very communities whose funds create and help grow the association and the sport of soccer state-wide.

I started working for MYSA full-time roughly 11 years ago. Initially, my position dealt exclusively with playerdevelopment opportunities. Six years ago, I transitioned from a player-development role into membership services and outreach. What attracted me initially to apply and accept the position, was the mission and philosophy of MYSA. As the Director of Member Services, I am quite often speaking with all levels of membership at MYSA. I attend club board meetings and discuss governance and programing.

I field phone calls and e-mails daily from coaches and club administrators regarding specific club situations, game logistics and even rule discussions. I talk with parents regarding their family’s choice of clubs, play levels and participation possibilities. From this interaction, I often hear unfiltered information from our membership with regard to a wide range of topics. I have always felt honored to have the trust and confidence of members at large, and I take pride in the relationships that I have built over the years with board members, administrators, coaches, referees, parents and

EPORT

players alike.

However, since August of 2017, many of the conversations that I’ve had center only on the MYSA competitive league and its structure. As a result, I now find myself continually making the statement to all members – “We are more than just a league.”

Yes, it is a fact that we do operate soccer programing state-wide and, yes, one of those programs is a league that provides funding to the organization and its programs. True to its mission, MYSA invests funds collected from that league to grow a myriad of programs designed to serve you and your community. And it is in the detail about those programs that I think our membership and the organization can make a stand to start resolving the pay-to-play model that plagues youth soccer.

What programs are funded by your participation in Minnesota Youth Soccer? How is MYSA more than just a league? Here are a few examples to help illustrate my point.

Parents and Coaches Together (PACT): An adult educational program designed to empower parents and coaches to create a positive environment for players to reach their maximum potential. Created in association between the University of Notre Dame and Minnesota Youth Soccer, the seminar-style presentation is free of cost to our member clubs, with its sole purpose to positively affect the climate and soccer environment in the state and enable athletes to have the best experience possible. The program is available exclusively to MYSA member clubs.

The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer): Initially launched in 1991, TOPSoccer provides athletes with physical and/or developmental disabilities, the opportunity to experience and play the game of soccer. Based on ability and not age, the program meets the needs of athletes across the state and creates a lasting positive environment for these amazing individuals to play the beautiful game. TOPSoccer

often partners with Special Olympics and the Minnesota State High School adaptive league in terms of communication and program awareness.

Soccer Start: Partnering with other organizations in the community, Soccer Start helps existing clubs and emerging organizations in the community that serve the needs of underserved athletes statewide. Living up to the MYSA mission, Soccer Start aids those truly in need within their community to ensure that barriers are removed and soccer can happen.

These are just three examples of programs that MYSA has run for years to fulfill its mission and give back to its members and those in the community that truly need it. Soon, you will read and hear about an exciting new program nicknamed S4E (Soccer for Everyone) in which MYSA has begun establishing partnerships with critical members in the community to ensure that no child that wants to play the game of soccer is left behind — a program that will break down barriers and provide the opportunity for all youth in Minnesota to experience soccer in a safe and sound environment.

Back in February, the MYSA staff collaborated on a letter that was sent out to all levels of membership (club boards and staff, coaches and parents). The purpose of that letter was to highlight what MYSA does on a constant basis to live up to its mission and philosophy.

MYSA as an organization, and I as the Director of Member Services for MYSA, want the focus of conversations to be on all the programing that is available to you, well beyond just the competitive league.

MYSA firmly believes that soccer can benefit all in the state. It should serve the varied needs of the membership, and its programing should encompass multiple offerings and enrich the lives of all that participate in them and the communities in which those families and children live.

Yes, a competitive league is offered, but please always keep in mind that MYSA is more than just a league.

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2018 Invitational Tournaments, Festivals and Jamborees The following tournaments have been approved for sanctioning for 2018. Please refer to the Tournament Center (www.thetournamentcenter.com) for specific tournament information.

DATE(S) EVENT

June 22-24, 2018 Registration Is Now Open

May 10-13

US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup (Play-in)

May 11-13

EWSC Future Stars Tournament

National

May 11-13

North Metro Spring Tune–Up

National

May 11-13

Woodbury Summer Classic: 13U–19U

National

May 18-20

Coon Rapids Summer Cup: 13U & up

National

May 18-20

Lakeville Elite Challenge

National

May 18-20

NSC Kick-off Challenge

International

May 18-20

REV IT UP Tournament

National

May 18-20

Rum River Invitational

May 18-20

Shakopee Cup

May 19

Fairmont Shakeout Jamboree

May 19-20

EPSC Spring Kickoff

May 26-27

NSC Cup

June 1-3

Bloomington United Mega Cup

National

June 1-3

MapleBrook Invitational 2018

National

June 1-3

Sporting St. Croix Cup

National

June 1-3

Three Rivers Cup

National

June 2

Detroit Lakes Rotary 3v3

National

June 2

Lakes United FC: 3 Games in 1 Day

National

June 8-10

Eclipse Select Shoot for the Stars

National

June 8-10

Head of the Lakes Tournament

National

June 8-10

North East United Summer Classic

National

June 8-10

Tonka Splash

National

June 9

Jesse James Shootout

June 9

Mankato Soccerfest

June 9-10

Albertville Friendly City Days

June 15-17

Coon Rapids Summer Cup: 9U–12U

National

June 15-17

Lakeville Father’s Day Cup

National

June 15-17

NSC All American Cup

June 15-17

Rochester Thunder Soccer Tournament

National

June 15-17

Woodbury Summer Classic: 9U–12U

National

June 22-24

BV United Invitational

National

June 22-24

EPSC Prairie Cup

International

June 22-24

Essentia Health Lake Superior Open

International

June 22-24

STMA United Soccer Fest

July 12-28

MYSA Summer Post–Season Play

July 13-15

Schwan’s USA Cup Weekend

International

July 17-21

Schwan’s USA Cup

International

Aug. 4

Crow River 3v3 Summer Clash

National

Sept. 14-16

Prior Lake Fall Finisher

National

Sept. 29-30

Target United Cup

Oct. 6-7

NSC Fall Cup

Oct. 12-14

Woodbury Fall Classic: 9U–15U

National

Oct. 13-14

Coon Rapids Fall Cup: 9U–12U

National

Oct. 13-14

MYSA Fall State Championships

KEY: Jamboree MYSA Only Recreation National International

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MAY 2018

Soccer Times

LEVEL

MYSA-only International MYSA-only National International

MYSA-only National MYSA-only

International

MYSA-only

International

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

KICKS FOR

KIDS Welcome to the Soccer Times Cartoon Caption Contest, featuring the work of Brian Barkey.

Cartoon

Caption

Contest!

We invite our readers, ages 12 and younger, to suggest clever, funny or otherwise outstanding captions for the cartoon below.

Submissions can be made through May 18 via e-mail to suegjerset@mnyouthsoccer.org.

Please include the child’s first name, last initial and age.

The top-three submissions, as determined by the MYSA staff, will receive a soccer prize package and be featured on the MYSA Facebook page (http://facebook.com/mnyouthsoccer) beginning May 21 for the general public to vote on their favorite.

GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Soccer Times

MAY 2018

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