Summer 2026 Match Day Guide

WHAT’S INSIDE

2026 TCSL SUMMER

2026 SUMMER MATCH DAY GUIDE About TCSL.............................................................................. 4 Be Ready to Play.................................................................... 6 Player Health & Safety......................................................... 8 The Club Pass......................................................................... 9 Reporting Scores..................................................................10 Sideline Culture..................................................................... 12 Respect the Ref.....................................................................14 The Postseason.....................................................................16 Information & Resources...................................................18

ABOUT TCSL 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 experience for all.

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.

Stay in the game. Follow TCSL on social media. @tcslsoccer

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@tcslsoccer

Twin Cities Soccer Leagues

BE READY TO PLAY WHAT TO WEAR

HOME KITS

For each of your HOME matches, your team must wear the following kit colors.

The AWAY team should plan to wear a contrasting color.

**Small modifications may be made to this graphic after this Guide’s publication.

Review the Home Kit Guide for updates.

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BE READY TO PLAY

2026 TCSL SUMMER

WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR MATCH Each team must bring to each match: • GotSport match card with player photos and jersey numbers • Physical pass for each adult in the bench area (coach, assistant coach, manager, etc.)

Physical player passes do not need to be brought to the match Applicable to all 9U-19U TCSL Summer League and NPL teams

TCSL Game Day procedures

TCSL HELP CENTER

Have a question?

We’re here to help. Visit the digital TCSL Help Center for information and support to help you have a successful summer season.

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PLAYER HEALTH & SAFETY

OUR #1 PRIORITY ON AND OFF THE FIELD

All coaches and managers must complete the US Club Soccer adult registration.

There are NO EXCEPTIONS. Requirements include: • Background screening • Disqualification review • SafeSport training All coaches and managers must have a printed US Club Soccer pass, issued by your Club.

Registration information 8

THE CLUB PASS

2026 TCSL SUMMER

SUPPORTING PLAYER DEVELOPMENT TCSL, with club director support, made changes to the “Club Pass” (CP) rule in the Fall of 2023. These rules align with the desire to ensure that the TCSL experience is a sound one for the players.

Applicable to 11U-19U age groups only: • Within their age group, players are permitted to “play down” one competitive level below their primary roster competitive level, where they are listed as a Primary (“P”) player.

• Players are permitted to play up an age group without restriction.

This rule allows for appropriate player movement and supports clubs being able to be flexible in their approach to building match day rosters. At the same time, the CP rule also protects the integrity of scheduled games being played between teams of a like level.

Teams are responsible for ensuring that match day rosters are compliant with this rule. For more information, view the TCSL Rules Handbook on our website.

Club Pass information

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REPORTING SCORES

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Referees are told to report scores within 24 hours. If they do not, we ask managers to assist us with keeping scores and standings up to date.

TCSL / Summer 2026 system.gotsport.com/scoring Event Code: 0503ed Event PIN: 0118 Summer League schedule & results ECNL RL / 2025-26 Instructions available in the ECNL RL / NPL Guide

Minnesota NPL / 2025-26 Instructions available in the ECNL RL / NPL Guide

Score reporting

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2026 TCSL SUMMER

Scoring Tip

Use a mechanism to keep score during the match (i.e. TeamSnap app, or another method) and monitor whether the score has been reported. If it has not, help us out by reporting the score.

Missing a referee?

It is likely that some matches are played without a full complement of referees.

Age group Min. referees Max. referees If missing referees 9U/10U

1

1

Match should be played, facilitated by coaches

11U/12U

1

3

If one (1) referee, each team provides a “Club Linesman” to assist center referee

13U/14U

1

3

If one (1) referee, each team provides a “Club Linesman” to assist center referee

15U/19U

1*

3

If one (1) referee, each team provides a “Club Linesman” to assist center referee

*It is TCSL’s strong preference to prioritize 15U-19U matches be played with three (3) certified referees.

Visit our website for more league rules information.

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SIDELINE CULTURE

SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR PLAYERS

We believe that a positive gameday experience is critical to the health of youth soccer.

• A positive sideline culture will keep more players playing.

• A positive sideline culture will keep more referees refereeing.

• A positive sideline culture will keep more coaches coaching.

Most importantly, it creates an enviroment most beneficial to the players.

Code of conduct 12

Match feedback

2026 TCSL SUMMER

S HAR IN G FE E D BACK FROM THE P ITCH

Players/Parents/Spectators Bring feedback about game day experiences to their coach(es)

> > Coaches Responsible for collecting/reporting issues to their Club leadership

> > Club Responsible for evaluating issues and bringing concerns to TCSL

> > League Responsible for listening and collaborating with Club to address feedback

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RESPECT THE REF

HE LP US BUILD A POSITIVE CULTURE Coaches should GREET the referee at EVERY match. Thank them for coming. Set the tone for the culture of the match.

• There is a referee shortage. We need to encourage our referees to stay part of the game, instead of giving them reasons to leave.

• Referees will make mistakes. They are learning, just like our players.

• Decisions are made in the moment and are final. Please understand that angles are critical to decision making, and your angle might have differed from the angle of the referee.

• Be empathetic. The referee is a son, daughter, mother, father or grandparent.

What if they were yours?

• Perspective is important. Ten years from now, your child will remember the friendships they made and their love for the game. They won’t remember a call in a specific match.

Please help us be a part of the solution by creating a match day experience that is supporting of EVERYONE.

Respect the Ref initiative

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THE POSTSEASON

FINISH YOUR SEASON IN STYLE

SUMMER FESTIVAL 9U/10U Boys & TCSL Fives (8U) June 27 9u/10 teams play 3 MATCHES TCSL Fives play 2 MATCHES

9U/10U Girls June 28

All teams play 3 MATCHES

Information and registration

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2026 TCSL SUMMER

SUMMER FINAL 4 11U/19U TSCL Summer League Teams July 10-12 All teams play 2 matches

Semi-finals, Finals, Third place

Final 4 information

Division Qualifications

HOW IT WORKS Top 4 teams in each age/gender/ division automatically qualify Division A Team 1 4-0 Team 2 4-0 Team 3 0-3

Division B Division C Team 1 4-0 Team 1 3-1 Team 2 2-2 Team 2 2-2 Team 3 0-4 Team 3 1-3

QUALIFY Team 1 Team 1 Team 1 Team 2 17

INFORMATION & RESOURCES • • • • •

Summer TCSL schedules & results TCSL Help Center Respect the Ref initiative Team of the Week nomination Events