2025-26 ECNL RL & NPL Guide

about ECNL RL-Twin cities & Minnesota npl / 7

About TCSL / 6

the season / 13

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more opportunities, more players / 5

ECNL RL / NPL GUIDE

must-play weekends/ 14

Minnesota Cup / 18

gameday management / 17

Postseason / 20 Resources / 23

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MORE OPPORTUNITIES, MORE PLAYERS

Back in February, TCSL announced enhancements to its league structure specific to the top of the TCSL competitive pyramid, the Minnesota NPL, and more specifically, announced a partnership with the Elite Clubs National League (otherwise known as the “the ECNL”) to restructure the pinnacle of youth soccer in the Twin Cities.

Effective this upcoming season, “NPL Super” transitioned to “ECNL Regional League - Twin Cities” while the previous “NPL Premier” level is now a singular level with a pathway for league winners to attend the prestigious NPL Finals.

These changes resulted from many discussions with club directors that centered around: • Providing a league pathway for the NPL (formerly “NPL Premier”) league winners to attend a postseason event, the NPL Finals.

• Aligning the US Club Soccer pyramid (ECNL RL and NPL) with many other established soccer markets (California - North and South, Texas, Florida, Ohio, etc.).

• Access to credible college showcases for ECNL RL teams.

• Access to a two-stage post-season event for 13U-17U ECNL RL teams (19U is a one-stage event).

• Ensuring that a merit-based system - ultimately creating meaningful competition for all participating clubs and teams remains a cornerstone of TCSL leagues.

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raise the level

OUR MISSION Twin Cities Soccer Leagues (TCSL) sets the standard for youth soccer, on and off the field, creating an exceptional league expereience for all.

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OUR VISION To collaborate with our members and partners to raise the level of every facet of the game.

OUR VALUES Collaboration / Listening first, we make shared decisions based on trust and transparency. We are as strong as the relationships among our staff, member clubs and partners.

Sportsmanship / We encourage and celebrate respect among clubs, players, parents, coaches, and referees.

Competition / We believe that appropriate competition is a cornerstone of player development and a sound soccer environment.

Excellence / We evolve and grow, on and off the field, to raise the level of the game for all.

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ECNL RL-twin cities

In partnership with the Elite Clubs National League, the Twin Cities division of the ECNL Regional League exists to provide the highest level of competition and college showcasing opportunities to teams and clubs within Minnesota, while limiting the travel demands on families as much as possible.

TCSL believes that while clubs, teams, and players should strive to find their highest level, there is plenty of competition within Minnesota, and very few of us need to get on a plane to find competition that is going to stretch us to our highest levels. ECNL RL - Twin Cities provides top-level competition close to home, which includes showcasing, competition and an incredible post-season pathway.

League winners advance to the ECNL RL Central Playoffs to occur late June 2026.

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minnesota npl

The National Premier League (NPL) serves youth soccer by forming and collaborating with leagues and clubs, adopting the Players First philosophy, and supporting US Club Soccer’s mission to foster the development of clubs.

The NPL’s mission is to facilitate more meaningful games, reduce travel, and provide a pathway to postseason competition through the NPL Finals, held annually in July in Colorado.

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ECNL RL-TWIN CITIES AND MINNESOTA NPL SEASON STRUCTURE ECNL RL and Minnesota NPL leagues follow similar structures.

• 13U-14U teams play a 10-month schedule: SeptemberJune • 15U-19U teams play an 8-month schedule: DecemberJune Schedules are released in advance of each applicable segment, but teams play one standings table throughout.

13U-14U TEAMS

15U-19U TEAMS

SEASON SEGMENT

SEASON SEGMENT

MATCH COUNT 4-6

FALL

N/A

WINTER

4-6

WINTER

4-6

SPRING/ SUMMER

8-10

SPRING/ SUMMER

8-10

TOTAL MATCHES

16-22

TOTAL MATCHES

12-16

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FALL

MATCH COUNT

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MUST-PLAY WEEKENDS additional value to participating clubs and teams, including a Showcase for 16U-19U teams As part of the ECNL RL overall league schedule, two Must-Play Weekends are scheduled to decongest the overall calendar, and to provide an “event” experience for participating teams.

Fall Event (13U-14U) September 12-14, 2025 | National Sports Center Turf Fields Spring Event (13U-19U)* April 17-19, 2025 | National Sports Center Turf Fields

*The former “NPL Spring Showcase” will be held at the Spring April 17-19 event for 16U-19U teams, where we will invite college coaches to attend the matches. 13U-15U teams on that weekend will play league matches.

The Must-Play Weekends are mandatory for ECNL RL teams.

TCSL plans to invite NPL teams to participate in the Spring event, facility space dependent.

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gameday management

ECNL RL and NPL matches have different gameday procedures. *NEW* ECNL RL:

• Check-in is conducted via the ECNL App, and all coaches and managers appropriately registered with US Club Soccer and ECNL, may access free of charge: • Download the ECNL App in Google Play Store • Download the ECNL App in the Apple App Store • Referees complete match reporting duties using a QR code provided by the home team, with the home team needing to verify the accuracy of the reporting within the app.

ECNL RL - Game Day Resources for Coaches & Managers

MINNESOTA NPL: • Like previous, teams present a printed GotSport game card/roster; all team staff must present a physical or digital pass.

• Score reporting: if a score is missing, utilize the below GotSport URL, Event ID and Pin: Minnesota NPL / 2025-26 https://system.gotsport.com/scoring Event Code: c911e7 Event PIN: 0118 2025-2026 edition /17

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SAVE THE DATE May 9-18, 2026 Registration opens in Fall 2025.

Visit tcslsoccer.com for more event information.

ECNL RL | Qualification Information

ECNL RL league winners will advance to the ECNL Regional League postseason, with the first leg occurring in June and the ECNL Regional League championships occurring in July.

• 13U-17U: two-stage (Playoffs, followed by Finals if a team were to advance).

• 19U: one-stage (Playoffs; there is no second stage for 19U teams).

DATES

GIRLS

BOYS

LOCATION

PARTICIPATING LEAGUES

St. Charles, Mo.

ECNL RL Great Lakes Alliance, ECNL RL Greater Michigan Alliance, ECNL RL Heartland, ECNL RL Mid-America, and ECNL RL Mountain, ECNL RL Ohio Valley, ECNL Twin Cities

June 27-July 2, 2026 St. Charles, Mo.

ECNL RL Great Lakes Alliance, ECNL RL Greater Michigan Alliance, ECNL RL Heartland, ECNL RL Mid-America, ECNL RL Mountain EAST, ECNL RL Chicago Metro, ECNL RL Twin Cities, ECNL RL Midwest

June 24-29, 2026

Finals are held in July in Richmond, Va. 20 / 2025-2026 edition

the pathway

Minnesota NPL | Qualification Information

Division winners advance to the NPL Finals in Denver, Co., and will compete against league winners of the other NPL leagues.

Tentative Dates: July 7-11, 2026 | Girls July 10-14, 2026 | Boys

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Minnesota NPL Information ECNL RL Information TCSL and NPL Support Resources ECNL RL Support Resources

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