Minnesota Soccer Times - May 2019

VOLUME 32VolumeISSUE MAY 30 Issue 3 2 March 20172019

MINNESOTA

SOCCER TIMES

DANKE SCHÖEN

Christian Pulisic, Bundesliga Stars Welcome Minnesota ODP To Germany

Story On Page 8 Soccer Times Minnesota Youth Soccer Assoc.

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IN THIS ISSUE Play-Practice-Play • Page 4 Space for ‘Rents • Page 6 Tourney Calendar • Page 12

Coaches Corner

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Soccer Times

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

MINNESOTA

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

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Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Officers: Steve May – President Jennifer Zarth – Vice President John Conte – Treasurer Ann Marie Courchene – Secretary

Member Representatives Marty McDermott – East Metro David Carter – Northern Todd Loose – Southwest Metro Julie Magnuson – Northwest Metro Vacant – Southern

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 Coaching & Player Development Katie Kubista – 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

From the Desk of Matthew Madeira

By Matthew Madeira | MYSA Executive Director – Integrator

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n April, President Steve May and I attended a Membership Meeting hosted by U.S. Soccer in Frisco, Texas. The meeting was held at the newly opened U.S. Soccer National Hall of Fame. The next time you are around Dallas, it would be a worthy field trip to spend a few hours at the facility. The Hall of Fame has truly captured the essence and history of the sport in this country.

The meeting was an overview of issues and matters important to soccer in the United States. This, of course, includes matters important in the world of youth soccer. The incorporation of SafeSport legislation into the world of youth athletics is probably the most important message from the meeting.

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was created in reaction to the abuse found in various youth sports organizations, including USA Gymnastics. This act will create new a standard of care that will affect youth-serving organizations across the country.

The purpose of the law is to expand existing mandated reporting laws to all youth sport organizations that participate in international

or interstate sporting events. This has the potential to affect not only national governing bodies like U.S. Soccer, but also camps, public and private schools, collegiate sports, country clubs, community organizations and sport facilities.

The law is written very broadly and impacts youth sports organizations in every state. At a minimum, any organization involved in youth sports will likely be held to an increased “standard of care” regarding reporting, training, policies and procedures, and periodic safety system reviews.

The Safe Sport Act expands the list of individuals required to report child sexual abuse. Now, any adult who is authorized to interact with youth athletes will be required to report suspicions of abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies within 24 hours.

Therefore, all staff and volunteers working with youth are considered mandatory reporters.

Further, there is an additional requirement to report suspicions to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport if your organization is governed by a “National Governing Body” or “Paralympic Sports Organization.”

Minnesota Youth Soccer is required to provide consistent training in “abuse prevention.” We offer and give consistent training to all adult members who are in regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors and subject to parental consent, as well as to members who are minors, regarding “prevention and reporting child abuse.” The training must not only focus on reporting or identifying those that have been abused, but it must train individuals in actual prevention techniques, such as understanding “grooming” practices. Minnesota Youth Soccer requires that all adults complete the training before any regular contact with a minor begins, or before the adult has access to any personally identifiable information about minors.

More information is included on our website, including links for parents of minor participants. Minnesota Youth Soccer will continue to communicate and educate its members on the requirements under the Safe Sport Act and welcomes any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your trust in Minnesota Youth Soccer.

CONTENTS Departments Executive Director’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . 3 Coaches Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Infographic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Honor Rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Space for ‘Rents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Referee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Competitive News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Production Varsity Communications, Inc Editor Brian Beaky Graphic Designers Robert Becker 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

Tournament Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Grassroots News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Features Goal & Save of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Parents and Coaches Together (PACT). . . . . 5 Minnesota ODP Germany Tour . . . . . . . . . . 8 MYSA Annual Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Goal Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Send Us Your Highlights!

By Katie Kubista | MYSA Director of Marketing & Special Events

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ave you seen an amazing goal or save this season? Scored a highlight-reel-worthy goal? Come up with a game-changing 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, Nov. 2,, 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. All videos and forms are due by September 27, 2019.

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COACHES CORNER

Coaches Corner: Play – Practice – Play (5–8 year olds) PLAY

By John Curtis | Former MYSA Director of Coaching & Player Development

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lay-Practice-Play is a grassroots philosophy designed around a player-centered approach to coaching. Taking a player-centered approach places the needs and motivations of the player at the forefront of a coach’s approach to coaching his or her players.

The concept of Play-Practice-Play is to allow young players to experience the game, and game-like situations, as much as possible. This approach differs from traditional practices that may have children standing in lines, running laps and participating in drills that don’t resemble the game of soccer.

U.S. Soccer believes that children at the grassroots level learn and develop to their full potential through game-like experiences in an enjoyable environment that supports individual growth.

Those game-like experiences must transfer back to the game of soccer. So, that instance earlier of kids standing in line and passing the ball between cones, or running laps around the field? That learning is not going to transfer back to the game of soccer. Instead, you need to create a context within which players learn, that transfers back to the game.

We do that through this idea of Play-Practice-Play, an example session of which is shown here.

— Space: 30-35L x 20-25W

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: • Set up 1, 2, or 3 small-sided fields.

• As players arrive to practice, place them on the field • Play 2v2, 2v3, 3v3, etc.

• Players play free for approximately a 3-5 minute period.

(2-3 minutes per game, then switch teams around)

PROGRESSION: After a 3-5 minute period of free play, put a condition or a challenge on the game.

• Play this game for approximately 4-6 minutes. (2-3 minute games, then switch teams around) • For example, place a cone on each half, with the condition that goals must be scored between the goal and the cone.

• For 5–6-year-olds, simply ask them to try and go around someone with

PRACTICE — Space: 10-15x10-15, or the center circle ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: • All players have a ball • The coach and/or approved adult holds a ball • Players are to stay in bounds and dribble their ball without allowing the adult’s ball to touch their ball.

PROGRESSION: • If a player’s ball gets touched, then they have to do three toe taps on the spot.

• Make the activity directional.

PRACTICE PART 2 — Space: 15Lx10W

Optional, the coach can just do one part & then go right to the game ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: • Play 2v2 • Score by dribbling into the end zone; the player can stop the ball after entering the end zone.

• Defenders are not allowed to go into the end zone.

PROGRESSION: • Same game, except make the field narrower.

• Space can now be 15Lx8W. • When a player dribbles into the end zone, then the game is over and a new one starts.

PLAY

— Space: 35-30L x 25-20W

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: • Play a game to small goals, preferably an even-numbered game • At first play the game “New Ball;” when a ball goes out, a coach passes in a new ball.

PROGRESSION: • Progress to when the ball goes out, have players do a kick-in.

• Apply the Laws of the Game.

At the end of the game, check-in with all the players. Ask them 1-2 things they learned, and then celebrate having a fun practice.

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HONOR ROLLs

MYSA Honor Rolls

By Chato Alvarado | MYSA Director of Coach & Player Administration

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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 No. of Coaches Alexandria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CC United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Central Minnesota. . . . . . . . . 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coon Rapids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Minneapolis United. . . . . . . . 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monticello. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Owatonna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

St. Anthony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Waconia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coaching Education Course Grassroots: 11v11 Youth Module: 6U-12U Grassroots: 7v7 Grassroots: 11v11 Grassroots: 11v11 Youth Module: 6U-8U Youth Module: 6U-12U Youth Module: 6U-12U Youth Module: 6U-12U

COACH HONOR ROLL Grassroots: 11v11 (46) Alabi, Godspower Alfaro, Carlos Archambault, Josephine Arnold, Kevin Baas, Gretchen Block, Jordan Buslovich, Lev Carroll-Franck, Andrea Cassutt, Elliot Cronier, Michael Day, Gregory Devireddy, Ashok Ehlert, Jacqueline Emerson, Brodric

Engeldinger, Michael Fadlia, Bassem Flink, Tony Frischmon, Robert Garcia, Raul Hangartner, Julia Isaac, Dominic Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Tenekay Jorgensen, Kadie Katan, Josh Linder, Ben Manuel, Zachary Martin, Charles McCorkle, Jonathan Meillier, Tucker

Mohammad, Hana Munene, Peter Paye, Aaron Powell, Garrett Reinhart, Aaron Romero, Valentin Rutten-Ramos, Stephanie Scavo, Marco Schutz, Nick Smith, Lauren Stephens, Mark Tadese, Ataklia Thibert, Joel Webby, Clara Wierman, Adam Wright, Michael

Grassroots: 7v7 (13) Anderson, Saul Ascher, Daniel Bell, Grant Davis, Dominic Fadlia, Baseem Fremo, Kris Gazdzik, Kazimir Lock, George Rusin, Luke Scholl, Brandon Snowberg, Bjorn Stockton, Daniel Vaske, Joel

Parents and Coaches Together Create the Right Environment

By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Enterprise Development

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eveloped in association with the University of Notre Dame “Play Like a Champion” program philosophy, PACT 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. Based on surveys of athletes, coaches and parents here in Minnesota over a span of several years and providing an accurate picture of the climate lived by all those involved in youth soccer, the program quickly evolved into an excellence program to help clubs and their members create the ideal environment in which athletes can reach their maximum potential.

Since the program’s inception, member clubs of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association have participated in, and reaped benefits from, the Parents and Coaches Together (PACT) program. Motivated by the desire to provide the best possible experience for the players, clubs have quickly embraced PACT as a valuable educational tool to help unify the two major influencers of athlete behavior: Parents and Coaches.

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.

The program is free of cost for MYSAregistered coaches and parents. In the winter of 2019, the seminars will also be offered, for a cost, to non-MYSA members.

The benefits of attending a PACT seminar and putting its teachings into action are truly priceless. The two-hour, interactive seminars provide coaches and parents with engaging communication strategies and advanced conflict resolution methods, while focusing the purpose on the growth and well-being of youth athletes across the state.

During the 2018–2019 PACT season, 18 seminars were held across the state, partnering with eight clubs and educating 250 coaches and nearly 1,000 parents.

Minnesota Youth Soccer would like to thank all of the participating clubs, as well as the newly certified coaches and parents, for taking the initiative to become agents of positive change and helping to create a climate of excellence in which youth athletes can reach their maximum potential.

For additional information about the PACT program, or to host a seminar during the 2019–2020 season in your area, please visit mnyouthsoccer.org/pact or contact Iván Woyno, MYSA Director of Enterprise Development, at 952-252 0226 or ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org.

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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS

Q&A for the Parent-Coach

By Andy Coutts | Former MYSA Director of Education

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Will coaching affect my relationship with my child?

Yes, for better or worse. To increase the odds it’s for the better, before you start, ask your children how they feel about your coaching them. Try to maintain a clear line between Parent and Coach, perhaps suggesting that your child call you “Coach” at the field when you are wearing that hat. With the promise that you’ll leave that hat at that field, so your child knows you’re just Mom or Dad at all other times, assuming they’re not the rare kid who can’t wait to hear your breakdown of the day’s performance on the ride home.

By Andy Coutts Former MYSA Director of Education

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his spring and summer there will be many parents who will coach their own kids’ team. Some of them have already gotten or will end up getting hooked on coaching and come back for more. Most parents start by getting hooked INTO coaching by a persuasive leader, usually with an “or else your kid won’t have a team to play on.” Or, perhaps they’ll step up out of fear of knowing who else might take the helm if they didn’t. Regardless of the path into coaching, there are some common questions that a parent-coach may want answered before their tentative, “I’ll do it if you can’t find anyone else” becomes a reality.

What if I have little-to-no playing experience?

No problem. Soccer is a players’ game that players will learn on the move given the opportunity to play and experiment. You could help that process by being an enthusiastic guide. Use the knowledge of kids you already have and don’t assume that you’re supposed to teach them everything they need to know about the game. Just create conditions in which they will learn. Consider yourself as a supervisor at a skateboard park — show the kids enough to get them going, keep them safe, and encourage them to learn from trying, falling down, and trying again. It doesn’t matter too much if you don’t know the technical details, whether a frontside noseslide at the skatepark or a scissors move on the soccer field. The kids will figure it out given time to tinker and encouragement.

Experiential Growth in Germany

How can I live up to other parental expectations?

Gone are the days when just having a pulse was the standard for parent-coaches. But, you can help steer expectations with some proactive communication via email or an in-person meeting. First, you might subtly remind them that you are braver than they are for coaching.

Be clear on the objective for the organization and team, and how they might contribute to that. Since you stepped up to coach and they didn’t, feel free to recruit them to be involved in specific ways that will help you and the kids have a great experience. For the little ones, a designated shoe-tier or nose-bleed stopper can be a great help to you. Generally. as you step into the coaching role, remember what you’ve wanted from other adults you’ve entrusted with your kids. A conscientious effort, open and timely communication, clear and consistent expectations – all things that, with a healthy dose of care and planning, you can provide for all family members involved.

What are the most important things a coach has to do?

Coaches NEED to create a safe environment for kids. That includes physical safety, through planning and risk awareness, and also emotional security, where mistakes are embraced as part of the learning process. Your club should have policies for the former. The psychological safety comes from you intentionally connecting with

each child on an individual level, to help them feel cared for and important to the team. Use their first names often and ask questions about their on- and off-field experiences to build strong relationships that will help them want to come back next week and next season. They may not have decided that they love soccer yet, but if they’re having a good time, there’s a better chance they will someday.

Where do I turn for help?

Your club likely has coaching resources like manuals, session plans, clinics, and the opportunity to observe experienced coaches.

MYSA also has resources on the Coaches > Resources page at mnyouthsoccer.org. If in-person learning is more your thing, consider attending a formal coaching education course like an MYSA “Y” Module or Technical Certificate Course.

The time you spend with your child and his or her peers can be a really enjoyable time if you use the knowledge and strengths you already have to create a positive environment for them.

Try to see the experience through their eyes and help them want to come back. At the end of the season, they should be able to say two things: 1. I had fun.

2.I learned a lot.

That’s the best feedback we can get. My best feedback would be that after having read this, you consider stepping up to coach.

was lucky enough to travel to Germany with the Minnesota Olympic Development Program in March. You can read an account of the trip from a player’s perspective on page eight.

I had an amazing experience as a coach visiting a soccer-mad country, but found upon reflection that the greatest influence was in my role as a parent. Having this opportunity inspired me to want more experiences for my own two kids and to more proactively seek opportunities for them (even if they don’t always want or appreciate them in the moment).

When Coach Gerard Lagos and I met with our 2003 team early in the week, we warned them that there would undoubtedly be some challenges on and off the field, and that they’d “grow up” a lot in just 10 days. They’d be away from their home, family and friends, stay in a foreign country with different food, language and customs, and get out of their soccer comfort zone playing top competition with teammates and coaches they don’t know well. Parents, along with coaches and teachers, can’t replicate these challenges for young people in our daily connections with them. This unique environment amplified some stresses and struggles for these teenagers in a powerful way, and importantly, one in which they were engaged in and motivated to experience. I’ve taken a lot of teams to a lot of places, but nothing quite like this.

I returned from Germany wishing more for my own children. Not that my wife and I haven’t provided many enriching activities for them, as we’ve been fortunate to have the means to offer them. But, on this trip, I found there’s something unique that all our parental time and resources can’t necessarily provide for our kids.

Perhaps in my role in youth sports I’m become hyper-aware of all the clever analogies applied to modern parents: the helicopter parent hovers, the Zamboni parent smooths the bumps, the snowplow parent removes obstacles. All these analogies send a common message that we’re doing too much for our kids — we’re too involved, too protective. The 50 ODP families who sent their sons to Germany got much more than a soccer immersion trip with skilldevelopment benefits. Besides the financial support, the greatest gift the parents gave was allowing their sons to experience the multiple challenges and joys without them.

Their boys became more worldly, more resilient, more adaptable, and probably more appreciative of opportunities like this and ones to come.

Fair to say that I did, too.

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

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Soccer Times

Minnesota ODP Germany Tour: Feb. 28–March 10, 2019

By Joe Manser | 2004 Boys ODP | Special to Soccer Times

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elow is a journal from Joe Manser about the recent ODP Germany Tour, where 49 players from the 2002–2004 birth years experienced the trip of a lifetime. This is the first time Minnesota ODP traveled internationally, and many of the players were heard to call it the “best trip ever.” It was truly an inspirational trip and adventure for all, with a good blend of soccer and sightseeing. We are proud of the boys for their performance on

DAY 1

DAY 1

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Soccer Times

READ MORE ABOUT THE TRIP AT: www.mnyouthsoccer.org/odp-germany and learn more about ODP at: www.mnyouthsoccer.org/odp.

feeling that we had arrived in Germany. We got our bags and scrambled through a very modern Frankfurt airport, with an insanely modern McDonald’s and some chairs that looked like spaceships. I sat next to Victor on the bus ride.

I don’t remember much of that two hours, as I was asleep the whole time. We had a training session and toured the complex. The rooms were very modern, and I started to get this feeling that Germany was much more architecturally advanced than America. Our whole building was a huge hexagon, with every room looking exactly the same.

crowd of ecstatic supporters.

We came back to the complex at around 7 p.m. and ate. We had our first team meeting after dinner, which really opened my eyes to the level of coaching I was exposed to at ODP. My coaches, Jorey and John, were saying things that I had never heard of, a new level of soccer lingo.

After getting some new strategies at the meeting, I was feeling more confident than ever for our game the next day. I was In Victor’s room for a while, since he was my next-door neighbor.

DAY 2

Today was game day. I was bouncing with energy. A family friend was going to come, one I hadn’t seen in ages. I ate breakfast, then brought my new cleats down to the locker room.

With my Beats in, listening to some Meek Mill, and surrounded by teammates suiting up, I was so thankful that I was here, living my dream for a week. It was a hard-fought game. We scored a goal, but it was offsides. I was very happy to be the starting striker; had never played striker before this game, and was normally a center back. I thought I played pretty well with Jorey and John’s playing styles.

I then went out to lunch with my friend, which was crazy since I haven’t seen her in years. When I got back, we went to the Schalke 04 stadium. That was an insane experience, since I had seen that stadium so many times on TV in the U.S. Walking through the iconic coal tunnel was so, so cool. Unfortunately, Schalke isn’t doing too well right now, so pray for them when they play Manchester City in the Champions League. I also bought a Schalke scarf. We came back and had a meeting about the game and some things we could work on. What a day.

Joe Manser (2004) I woke up at a normal time for school, except this time, I was excited to wake up. The night before, I couldn’t sleep. I had been looking forward to this trip for around two months now, and having it finally begin was absolutely thrilling. The first plane ride to Dallas wasn’t all that fun, since I sat in the middle seat next to an over-talkative businessman and an ’02 who was sitting in what was supposed to be my window seat. When we arrived in Dallas, Victor and I got pretzels; they tasted like cardboard, but the cheese sauce definitely helped.

The plane ride to Germany was fun, as I met an ’02 named Lane who was very nice. I also sat with one of my new friends, Victor, who I had met at the Saturday night training sessions at Augsburg. We took some cool pictures, since we were right next to the wing. I got lots of sleep on that flight and was awakened to us landing in Frankfurt. I remember walking off the plane and talking to some of my teammates, saying things like, “I just can’t believe that we are here.”

We were all sharing the same blown-away

the field and their behavior off the field. They all represented themselves, Minnesota and the United States well! – John Curtis, MYSA Director of Coaching & Player Development

Zach Susee (2002) I went to sleep the night before at 8 p.m., only to wake up at 4 a.m. Jet lag stinks. I remember eating a hearty breakfast with three bowls of cereal, and discovering the best thing at the complex, cherry yogurt.

We had another training session which I didn’t do too good in. I was way too tired to be playing soccer. We then went to our first Bundesliga game, Leverkusen vs. Freiburg.

In this first game, I slowly started to realize the passion and culture around soccer here in Germany. The atmosphere of Leverkusen’s standing section was indescribable. I’ve been to three MLS games and none of them compare to this in the slightest. I bought a Leverkusen scarf at halftime, since I was so excited to join the

DAY 3

DAY 4 I actually slept decent that night, probably since I was so tired from the amount of center back chasing I did the day before during our

game. It was very windy and rainy, so our training session was across the street in probably the coolest futsal court I have ever seen. It had a blue floor made out of some weird, almost bouncy surface. That practice, I shot a ball straight into someone’s gut, and they were out all practice. I did that to the same person the day before. I think Jorey was mad. Whoops.

After that practice, we went into a big modern mall in Düsseldorf. On the bus ride there, I started to appreciate some of the people that I was on this trip with. For example, Julius, our coordinator, organizer and translator. He is such an inspirational and knowledgeable person. He went to North Carolina State, where he played D-I soccer and was the captain of his team. He now plays in Bundesliga’s fourth division, but next year he’s going to the third, since his team is in second right now. We were talking about how many different divisions the Bundesliga has.

What I was really shocked about was how a D12 team who practices once a week and is equivalent to a Sunday league team, could technically make their way up the ladder to D1 and play teams like Bayern Munich. I find that insane.

At the mall, I bought a long-sleeve, black Borussia Dortmund Christian Pulisic jersey for some insane price of 40 euros, instead of 93. I also got a piece of pizza that Jorey was chowing down. We were there until around 6 p.m., then came back and ate dinner.

DAY 5 Day five was a Tuesday, and we went to downtown Koln. My highlight there was definitely the church that we saw. It was one of the only things left standing in Koln after World War II. The only reason it was still there is that the top of the church is shaped like a giant cross.

When the U.S. went on bombing runs, they would use this cross as a landmark to find their targets; so, they might say to bomb three miles north of the cross. That knowledge was taught to me by the one-and-only Edina High School professor, Jorey.

One of my teammates bought 38 euros worth of gummy bears at Koln for a research project that we were going to present Thursday to John and Jorey. We went back to the complex and had lunch. By the way, we traveled to all these places on really nice coach buses with our team and coaches. I still think it’s crazy how much of a professional player I felt like going everywhere on a bus with my team.

We then drove to Wuppertaler for our second game. The field we played on was one of the nicest fields I’ve seen. In the first half, I earned a penalty kick, and hit it top-right for my first goal as a starting striker on the trip. On the PK, I tore up my knees, so our amazing trainer, Kelly, put some weird yellow stuff on the turf burns. The second half went pretty well, as we got another great goal from my teammate with a screamer from the 18. I was kind of upset, since I had a free kick and I skied it. The final score was 2-2. I was very proud of my boys, as this team’s record was something like 23-0 before this game.

We had dinner there. It was an amazing dinner with some of the best chicken I had ever had. I think I had three whole chicken legs, nine of these filled-bread things with sauerkraut on top, and at

least two servings of rice — with sauerkraut, of course. We got back very late, almost 11:30 p.m., but it was totally worth it for the night I had.

DAY 6

John Curtis with Christian Pulisic We had a later breakfast, around 8 a.m., since we were up late the night before. We then hopped on the bus and headed to Dortmund to see Borussia Dortmund practice. I was very scared since I heard Pulisic was going to give autographs. So, I brought the jersey that I bought on Monday, just in case. I ended up getting around 20 different player signatures, including Marco Ruess, Axel Witsel, Jordan Sancho and, of course, Christian Pulisic.

Chato, one of my favorite coaches on the trip, was nice enough to also take some pictures of me with them. Hearing Christian speak was so, so inspiring. I had no idea that he came to Germany when he was 15. I am still wondering if his family moved with him when he came to Germany, though. The most inspiring thing he said was, “When things get tough, you must keep pushing.”

It’s simple and kind of cliché, but coming from someone like him, I find it very inspiring.

We then came back to the complex and recreated Dortmund’s practice that we had just watched. It was very cool to see that we can do the exact same things that they can do, they just do it with no mistakes and much, much quicker.

Julius also decided to tag along for this practice.

DAY 7 I think by Thursday I had finally gotten over my jet lag. I slept great that night. We ate breakfast and left to watch Fortuna Düsseldorf practice. It wasn’t all that fun, since it was cold and windy out, but we found a few soccer balls and played some pickup games with the MNUFC kids, and that was pretty entertaining.

We got back to the complex where we had a team meeting and presented our research project.

My group’s project was on the history of Haribo in Germany. This is why my teammate spent all that money on gummy bears. We handed out the gummy bears and the project went smoother than I expected.

The complex was in Duisburg and they have a Bundesliga Division 2 team just down the street. It was open, so we walked down to the stadium and bought some jerseys. We had our last game a few hours later. That’s when tragedy struck. I went downstairs to unlock the locker room and my teammates started piling in, looking too sick to even stand. It was the gummy bears. Everyone had eaten so many gummy bears that their systems were clogged up. I was one of the only players to not feel sick at all. I felt awful since it was my group who handed out the gummy bears. As you can imagine, the game didn’t turn out to well since most of the team could barely even run. My bad.

DAY 8 This was our last day at the complex. We had a fun group training with all three ODP teams.

We played a tournament on four different playing fields, a volleyball court, a small field, a bigger field and a caged field. My team got sixth place. I was in my element in the soccer volleyball game.

We then showered in the locker rooms,

got on the buses, and headed off to Frankfurt.

It was a long, two-hour bus ride. We got to our hotel in Frankfurt, which was very, very nice. It had this sauna room with a superb view of downtown Frankfurt. After dinner, my team hit up the sauna. It was kind of weird, since in Europe, being completely naked in a public sauna is normal. Us Americans were not accustomed to that. It was very funny seeing tons of ODP kids walking into the sauna area and having a men repeatedly get mad at them for having their clothes on.

DAY 9

Minnesota ODP in historic Altstadt’s Square (Frankfurt) We had breakfast at around 8 a.m. It was the best breakfast of the trip — eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, fruit, crepes and maple syrup.

We then departed to downtown Frankfurt to go shopping. There was a very unique mall with a hole going through the side of it. We went to an open market and got some tasty brats. After that, we went back to the hotel to have some lunch and a quick team sauna.

Following that, we went to another Bundesliga game at the Opel Arena. It was Mainz 05 vs.

Monchengladbach. The environment there was even more crazy than the one at the Leverkusen game. It was almost like the two fan sections were challenging each other to a cheer-off.

Victor and I thought they were singing “Yellow Submarine,” but Julius quickly corrected us.

The game was even, but ‘Gladbach ended up winning, 1-0. I bought a Mainz windbreaker.

We transferred back to our hotel, where I tried to stay up as late as possible since we had our flight the next morning.

DAY 10 I woke up at around since 6 a.m. Julius made me give back an ODP scarf I “borrowed” for the game the night before, and then we left to go to the Frankfurt Airport. We said a very sad goodbye to Julius. I checked a bag for Chato then got on the plane. I couldn’t do homework, so I wrote this whole journal and watched a rerun of Arsenal vs. Manchester United. I love watching players like Mason Greenwood on Manchester. He’s a 17-year-old who still goes to high school, but after school he comes and plays against Arsenal. Crazy.

Chato bought me and some of the other boys who helped him with his bags some pretzels, then we sat in the airport for five hours waiting for our flight. The flight from Dallas to Minneapolis felt like half an hour; I was asleep the whole time. We landed and completed our journey at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night.

REFLECTION Overall, I think what made the trip were the people. I met so many new friends and coaches.

Thank you, John Curtis, Jorey, Julius and Chato.

These guys made the trip so amazing. Also, my teammates and some of the ’02s. Also, a huge thank you to ODP and MZ Talent Agency for making this trip an option for people like me.

I think this trip has really opened my eyes and others to how much more cultured places in Europe like Germany are to soccer. There are so many more opportunities, competition and funding for soccer teams and academies than there are in Minnesota or anywhere else in the U.S.

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Annual Award Nominations

REFEREE REPORT

Soccer is a Physical Sport

By Katie Kubista MYSA Director of Marketing & Special Events

By Bob Petersen | State Director of (Referee) Assessment

D

F

o you know someone who goes above and beyond in the soccer season?

Nominate them for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Annual Awards! Each year, MYSA honors the coaches, administrators and volunteers who have provided excellent service to the member clubs and families they serve.

We invite the soccer community to submit nominations in eight different categories. The eight 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

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 this year on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Minnesota Youth Soccer’s Annual Awards are part of the US Youth Soccer recognition program. People who receive awards from Minnesota are nominated to US Youth Soccer Midwest Region to be considered for regional awards. Regional award winners are then nominated for national awards.

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or some reason, when a game has more players make contact with each other, there are seemingly more complaints from spectators and coaches. They will yell out to the referees to make calls. They will even yell out to those players involved in the contact. The funny thing is that in almost all of these cases, the contact is legal. For the times where it is not legal, there is a demand for instant punishment before the referee can even make the call.

Why is there such a need to yell at people? Who has given anyone the right to tell the referee what to do? Who has the right to instruct players on the other team how to behave? You are not helping. In fact, you are hurting the game when you do this.

Players generally want to win the ball and will contest for it. Most times, players have to win the ball from the other team. There will be contact. The game is played with a basic understanding that there will be body contact, as that is part of the competition. Just because a player seems to get pushed, kicked or knocked over does not always mean that there is a foul. Also, many times spectators are far from where the action is and may also not have the best viewing angle of the contact.

What is the best thing to do when something seems to have happened? Nothing. Leave it to those on the field to work through.

Players do not like it when spectators make comments, even when they may seem protective. Opposing players may even get hostile. The number of comments that players make to referees about parents and spectators will amaze you. Sometimes, players even ask referees if it is okay to have their own parents removed when the poor behavior gets to be way too much.

Leave everything to the coaches if you have problems with what you are seeing. Many coaches say to wait 24 hours before confronting them. Go ahead and ask questions. There may be times when the referee struggles. Working concerns through the coach is best. Yelling at the referees during the game is not okay.

The referees are there because it is their job to enforce the Laws of the Game as best they can. The laws are written and updated based upon what is fair and what is not. Referees are instructed and tested on the laws every year. In the upcoming year, the Laws of the Game will even state that the decisions of the referee must be respected even when it appears a decision is not correct.

Part of the beauty of our game is that players learn to make many decisions, and learn from their outcomes. Parents want to help their children as best they can. Let them learn how to deal with things without interfering, even at times when it seems they were just run over by an opponent. Chances are, what happened was completely within the laws, and is okay. Things are going to happen whether we like it or not.

But, just because one does not like what happened, does not mean it is against the laws.

Competitive News

New MYSA League Raising Standards for 12U & 11U Soccer Goal Safety

By Cam Stoltz | MYSA Director of League Operations

By Ayla Lokkesmoe MYSA Director of Operations

F

ourteen MYSA member clubs are participating in the first year of the Academy Futures League (AFL). This new MYSA league provides higher-level opportunities for clubs and players in the 12U and 11U ages to train and prepare for high-level competitions.

The implementation of the AFL aligns with the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s decision in late 2018 to no longer program 12U leagues, but rather encourage members to focus on 12U player development. MYSA has consulted with U.S. Soccer and now provides Minnesota with a league level that focuses specifically on a “Zone 1” player-development capstone, while giving clubs a more dynamic and complete approach to 12U competition.

The AFL is unique compared to other youth leagues in Minnesota.

Coaches in the AFL are some of the most experienced and qualified coaches from their respective clubs. AFL Clubs meet regularly and conference with each other before and after each match. Expectations in training, preparation and pre-game match protocols are designed to provide high-quality 9v9 matches. This colleague club approach ensures consistent development, a mature approach to each game, and a better understanding of the transition to the full-sided 11v11 game.

Participation in the AFL is also designed to help clubs identify quality player pools to form higher-level 11v11 teams. MYSA Clubs who participate in the AFL generally project their 13U teams to participate in regional leagues and the US Youth Soccer National Cup Series. This may include play in the US Youth Soccer Midwest Conference, Minnesota State Cup, Presidents Cup and, eventually, the MYSA Premier Leagues. An MYSA goal of the AFL is to boost Minnesota’s representation in regional and national leagues and events.

Last fall, AFL clubs played six match days, while this May and June, clubs are scheduled to play eight games. Clubs in the AFL are also eligible and encouraged to participate in the new MYSA 12U Junior State Cup, which is designed to be a capstone event in the 9v9 experience.

I

t is May and that means the soccer fields in Minnesota are finally busy again! MYSA wants all soccer players to have a great time on the field, but we also want to ensure the safety of all players and spectators (including young siblings of players).

So, listed below are a few soccer goal safety tips:

CC United Eagan Wave Keliix-Intra MapleBrook Minneapolis United Minnesota Rush North Metro

North Oaks Orono Westonka St. Michael-Albertville Salvo SC Sporting St. Croix Three Rivers White Bear

Clubs, not teams, are selected for the Academy Futures League. Clubs must be able to support pools of at least 22 players in both the 12U and 11U space, representing both boys’ and girls’ teams. MYSA considers a club’s structure, player development, coaching resources, facilities and participation in MYSA programs and events. MYSA Clubs interested in participating in the AFL should contact Cam Stoltz, MYSA Director of League Operations, at camstoltz@mnyouthsoccer.org.

• Coaches and referees 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 young 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.

MYSA hopes that all of you have a safe and wonderful time playing and watching the great sport of soccer this summer! Goal safety should be everyone’s concern. For more information, please visit the MYSA website.

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019 Invitational Tournaments, Festivals & Jamborees The following tournaments have been approved for sanctioning for 2019. Please refer to the Tournament Center (https://htgsports.net/tournamentcenter.aspx) for specific tournament information.

DATE(S) EVENT

LEVEL

May 17–19

2019 Coon Rapids Cup – Senior Division (13U–19U)

National

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 Cup

May 25–26

NSC Cup

May 31–June 2

36th Annual Rev It Up! Presented by Salvo Soccer Club

May 31–June 2

Bloomington United Mega Cup

May 31–June 2

Maplebrook Tournament

May 31–June 2

Minnesota State Cup/Junior State Cup: Semis & Finals

May 31–June 2

St. Croix Cup

National

May 31–June 2

Tonka Splash 2019

National

June 1

Rotary 3v3

National

June 7–9

NSC All American Cup

June 7–9

North East United SC - 31st Annual Soccer Tournament

June 8

Jesse James Jamboree

Jamboree

June 8

Mankato United SoccerFest

Jamboree

June 8–9

5th Annual Albertville Friendly City Days Tournament

National

June 14–16

2019 Coon Rapids Cup – Junior Division (9U–12U)

National

June 14–16

2019 Lakeville Father’s Day Cup

National

June 14–16

Head of the Lakes

National

June 14–16

Minnesota Rush Rochester Soccer Tournament

National

June 14–16

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

National

June 21–23

BV United Cup

National

June 21–23

EPSC Prairie Cup

National

June 22–23

8th Annual STMA United 9U–10U Soccer Fest

June 28–30

Essentia 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 28

MYSA Summer State Championships end

Sept 1

EWSC Under the Lights Tournament

Sept 28

Target United Cup

Oct 5–6

NSC Fall Cup

Oct 11–13

CR United Fall Cup

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 National International

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National International National International National National International

International National

National International

National International

National

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

MYSA Grassroots Initiative — Making Changes to the Landscape

By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Enterprise Development

T

he spring season is here, even if a few rain showers and some misplaced snowflakes have tried to keep the sunny skies at bay! With the weather change comes a new soccer season and an exciting chapter in the Grassroots Initiative program that I wrote about in the January edition of Soccer Times.

What is grassroots soccer? The U.S. Soccer Federation defines grassroots-level soccer as a playing level at which children learn and develop to their full potential through game-like experiences in an enjoyable environment that supports individual growth.

If we think about it, all players started their soccer-playing experience as grassroots players, and throughout their soccerplaying career, their skill level may increase or decrease based on multiple factors, but their love of the game should remain a constant. They may move up an age group, or they may change teams, but it doesn’t change the fact that they started as grassroots players and that at any point in their playing days, they can/could revert to that level of play. The grassroots level doesn’t stop at the age of 19; I would venture to say that if you have seen adults playing pickup soccer, you are witnessing grassroots-level soccer.

Grassroots soccer is a lifelong level of learning — a passion that is not diminished by the league you play in, or the classification that follows a team’s name.

The grassroots initiative is a renewed focus by the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association to invest in and re-invent three key areas of grassroots soccer: Soccer for Everyone – Community Outreach, Grassroots Program (formerly Rec and Rec Plus) and The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer).

Soccer for Everyone – Community Outreach is a program that identifies organizations and individuals who work with the underserved/underprivileged sector of the youth population and aids in ensuring that those athletes have

access to soccer. A key focus of the outreach program is increasing the number of female athletes playing soccer over the course of the next three years. Often, athletes involved with these programs have a physical or a financial barrier that prevents their participation in sports. It is the aim of the Soccer for Everyone – Community Outreach program to remove those barriers and ensure that each of those players has the same opportunities as others in their community to play the beautiful game!

Significant progress has been made in the Soccer for Everyone – Community Outreach program over the past three months. MYSA has identified and formed strong relationships with four programs that provide soccer opportunities to underserved/underprivileged athletes in the state: • • • •

Cobra Soccer Club Denden Eritrean Youth Development Association Pura Vida Soccer Academy Athletic Minnesota SC

Each of these programs provides critical programing to members of the community that would otherwise be unable to participate in youth soccer due to physical and/or financial barriers. In addition to these new groups, MYSA continues to strengthen working relationships with existing clubs and organizations in the state that serve similar youth populations. Minnesota Youth Soccer continues to search for funding sources to assist in ensuring that these programs have continuity and can accommodate growth over the years.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Grassroots Initiative, or wish to partner with MYSA on its grassroots efforts, please contact Iván Woyno, MYSA Director of Enterprise Development, at ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952-252-0226.

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