FALL 2020
FROM TCSL
TCSL Members: We are happy to announce that we will restart Twin Cities Soccer Leagues competition as the current local government guidance allows. As such, we are also rolling out this quarterly TCSL Magazine that will feature league news and important updates. We hope you enjoy it! We know that our youth have missed the incredible socio-emotional benefits of youth athletic activity during a time that has been trying on our communities in many ways. While we are very excited for a return to competition, we are balancing this excitement with a desire to be methodical and thoughtful about a return to play. Our excitement has not overshadowed the gravity of the current community health challenges we are facing. While it is impossible to eliminate risk in its entirety, we have carefully crafted a Return to Competition Plan that will allow us to resume League play this upcoming Autumn season. This plan has been endorsed and reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Health. Part of our ability to continue offering leagues is to acknowledge that our world is very different than it was only six months ago. The coronavirus is real. Denying that fact will make it hard for us to continue providing League opportunities. We all have an obligation to look out for one another and respect the protocols as outlined in our Plan. TCSL was built on the idea that travel, as much as possible, should be reduced. Never more important than now, our league will emphasize a localized environment. As we do every season, we will look to reduce travel and alongside our clubs, ensure that the league placement makes sense, most importantly from a geographical perspective. Stay safe, and please do look out for one another.
Matt Tiano
CEO, Twin Cities Soccer Leagues
RETURN TO COMPETITION
Our ability to continue offering leagues is dependent on our collective (club, coaches, players, referees, spectators) ability to follow these Return to Competition protocols, which have been reviewed and endorsed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
We ALL have a role to play.
For further details, please refer to MYSA or TCSL’s website and view the Return to Competition Protocols endorsed by Minnesota Department of Health.
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LEAGUE PREVIEW TCSL’s developmental pyramid is based on providing soccer for all levels of play within the Twin Cities’ geography. Now more than ever, our mission is simple: to work alongside our clubs to provide competitive parity while reducing travel as much as possible.
13U-19U
TCSL leagues feature: » Three levels of play (Red, White and Blue) at 9U & 10U age groups;
NATIONAL* REGIONAL
» Four levels of play (National, Regional, State, Cities) at 11U & 12U age groups; and
11U-19U
STATE
» Four levels of play (NPL, Regional, State, Cities) at 13U-19U age groups Prior to each season, TCSL works with each clubs’ leadership to develop the leagues.
CITIES
9U/10U
RED
WHITE
BLUE
*11U/12U only
New this Autumn season is the Minnesota NPL, representing the highest levels of 13U+ play within the TCSL pyramid. The clubs in this league have committed themselves to collaborating with other like-minded clubs in an effort to create the very best development and league environment. Participating clubs: Blaine SC, Eagan Wave SC, Edina SC, EPSC, Lakeville SC, Minnesota Thunder Academy, North Suburban SA, Prior Lake SC, Salvo SC, St. Croix, St. Paul Blackhawks, STMA Soccer Club, Tonka United SA More information about this exciting new league is available here.
LOOKING FORWARD
TO WINTER Twin Cities Soccer Leagues operates the only sanctioned winter programming in Minnesota! TCSL Winter League » Open to all 11U-19U boys and girls teams » Take the hassle out of scheduling scrimmages and play real matches! TCSL Winter Fests » Open to all TCSL clubs (clubs register, teams do not) » 4 festival events for 9U & 10U teams More details, including registration information, will be announced soon. TCSL MAGAZINE
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Fall 2020
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TCSL EVENTS TCSL Champions Shootout
EVENT DATES
The TCSL Champions Shootout Presented by TRIA is a single elimination tournament designed to provide a unique, never beforeseen format to run adjacent to the Autumn League season. This metro-wide tournament was created to provide a fun, competitive tournament that puts the health and safety of our soccer community first. This event is open to 11U-14U age groups and takes the place of the traditional Autumn Cup.
Preliminary Rounds September 18-October 18 (club-hosted facilities) Finals October 23-25 (TCSL-hosted facilities) More info about this event, including how to register, is located here.
LIMELIGHT TCSL Team of the Week
Welcome to New TCSL Clubs!
TCSL believes in recognizing its players, coaches and referees, both in terms of performance on the field but also for acts of good sportsmanship.
Boreal FC is now a full TCSL member.
Through a nomination process, TCSL will select a Team of the Week each week through the fall season. This weekly selection will serve as a recognition to those individuals and a way to achieve our objective of living out our core values — transparency, competition, sportsmanship and in this case, limelight!
Centennial SC is now a probationary TCSL member and will become a full TCSL member when base coach education requirements are met over the course of the 2020-21 soccer year. Hastings FC is now a full TCSL member. Join us in congratulating Hastings FC for completing TCSL base education requirements over the course of the 2019-20 soccer year!
Nominate a team here.
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COACH EDUCATION
TCSL will continue to offer coach education opportunities this winter as we have done in the past. Those courses and applicable dates will be announced shortly. Congratulations to all coaches that earned a USSF ‘D’ License in 2019-20! Marcus Anthony Mckenzie Arbeiter Sean Baker Jeffery Buck Rex Carrell Jack Cousin Branko Djurich Kristi Downs Bassem Fadlia Zan Gao Jacob Grosvenor Kidane Habtes Redazgi Habtezgi Jonathan Hall Chad Hammerschmidt Arent Hiltermann
Mauritz Kool Kevin Lebahn Jose Alfredo Leon Vega Maxwell Meyer Jorge Navarrete Zach Newman Trai Oliver Simon Redstone Rob Reimann Marcos Rodriguez Jason Scott Eric Simbeye Kevin Symms Clara Webby John Willy
USSF ‘C’ License Update – As our 2020 ‘C’ course was canceled due to COVID-19, TCSL plans to host this course during the summer of 2021. More information, dates and registration info will be shared soon.
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TCSL MAGAZINE
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Fall 2020
REFEREE CORNER
Are you up to date with all the latest rule changes in effect this Autumn season?
What is IFAB? The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the body that determines the Laws of the Game. It is a separate body from FIFA, but FIFA’s approval is necessary for any IFAB decision. FIFA announced changes to the Laws of the Game for 2019-20. The changes are substantial. These changes would have been implemented this summer, but due to the season’s cancellation, the changes have not been implemented yet.
What are the new rules? There are changes related to the following: » Substitutions » Coin toss/kickoff » Dropped ball
» Misconduct » Wall management » Goal kicks
» Handling » And more!
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the new rules.
Referees are a critical part of the game and without them, there is no game. While a “referee shortage” is mentioned quite a bit, we must remember that many referees are under the age of 17 and we do rely on them to officiate matches. They will no doubt make mistakes, like coaches and players do every single match. Take the following steps to create a welcoming environment and to ensure that your matches continue to have qualified referees assigned to them:
Tip 1
Have a team representative “welcome” the referee crew at each of your matches. This small gesture will build camaraderie and confidence, especially in younger officials.
Tip 2
Have empathy for mistakes that might be made. The job is difficult, especially when rule changes like the above are so new.
Tip 3
Have a plan for the occasional spectator that is out of line. As a team, set clear boundaries about behavior expectations on the sideline.
Tip 4
After the match, thank the officials regardless of outcome. Do not engage about decisions during the match, but instead a simple “thank you” has the potential to go a long way.
Tip 5
Become an official yourself. It’s a great way to be a part of the game, stay active, and make money while doing it. Want to become a certified referee? Visit minnesotasrc.com to learn more.
TCSL thanks TRIA for the continuous support! We’re all eager to get back on the soccer field, but before jumping back in, it’s important to prepare well and gradually build up your game-ready fitness. Our partners at TRIA Orthopedics shared some tips from their athletic trainers about returning to soccer safely and successfully. Follow these top three tips to keep yourself strong and healthy: » Stay active before the season starts. Try activities like running, biking, or rollerblading to keep moving even before practices and games are back in your schedule. » Follow a routine to stay injury-free. This means always including a proper warm-up, incorporating cross-training into your workouts, and always taking time to cool down and stretch. » Practice soccer-specific skills. This can be a great time to improve your skills, so make sure to practice things like dribbling, including a soccer ball as you run and changing directions quickly. If you do have any injuries, aches and pains after a break from soccer, TRIA is ready to help you get back up to speed through the return to soccer program. For more injury prevention tips, check out TRIA’s return to sport safely blog.
< YOUR AD HERE > Reach TCSL’s youth soccer community filled with passionate and dedicated players, coaches, parents and leaders! » Over 15,000 Players » Approximately 60,000 household members For more information, contact Katie Kubista at katie@tcslsoccer.com or 952-222-5494.
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