TCSL Magazine - Fall 2021

FALL 2021

MAKING STRIDES

FROM TCSL

TCSL Members, We are excited to get back on the field once again this Fall, with a record number of clubs and teams set to take the field!

As TCSL has grown in size and scope, we’ve also expanded our office staff to ensure that we continue to serve member clubs in the best way possible. We are thrilled to welcome Dawn Ellerd to the team as our Club Development Coordinator. Having spent the previous several years as the St. Paul Blackhawks’ Club Administrator, Dawn has already been a fantastic addition to the team. In this new role, Dawn will be the primary point of contact for club administrators and team managers to ensure a smooth administrative experience.

This Magazine issue features a recap of the Summer season, a look-ahead to the Fall and Winter seasons, a preview of an upcoming Player Development Program (PDP) event and a recap of, and look ahead to, coach education opportunities.

Thank you for your partnership and trust. See you on the field!

Matt Tiano

CEO, Twin Cities Soccer Leagues

FALL 2021 MATCH DAY GUIDE

COLLABORATION A TCSL value, all clubs and teams are encouraged to collaborate in the case of any game-day issue that may arise.

The GotSport Chat function should be used in almost all circumstances unless there is a more urgent issue (i.e. weather) in which contact information (phone) may be accessed also through GotSport.

ROSTERS & STAFF PASSES Both teams must present to the referee a match card, with photos, printed from GotSport. All coaches and any other bench personnel must present an official US Club Soccer member pass.

SCORE REPORTING

HOME TEAM KITS

Referees are told that they must report scores within 24 hours of the match. In the event this does not occur, teams may update scores via the score reporting details shared with all team coaches and managers.

Reminder that all TCSL clubs must wear home kits at home. This promotes professionalism and a positive gameday experience.

Home Kits are published on the TCSL website.

SPORTSMANSHIP

WEATHER

We ask that all clubs, players, parents recognize the importance of good sportsmanship for the sake of our young players. Treat others with dignity and respect, always.

Both teams must appear to the match site unless the home team contacts the opposition to cancel the match in the event of adverse weather. Reference contact information located in GotSport for phone numbers and email addresses. Do not solely rely on the chat function in GotSport to communicate urgent cancellations.

#TCSLSoccer Tag us on social platforms!

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LEAGUE PREVIEW

Fall League

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With over 800 teams (a record!) registered in the Fall TCSL league, we are excited that so many kids have been able to come back to soccer. We know the last year was different, but we are proud of the soccer community for being resilient and moving the game forward despite the challenges.

As always, we prioritize balanced, meaningful competition with appropriate travel in mind.

NPL The Minnesota NPL is back and growing! The league represents a club collaboration that is the highest level of the TCSL pyramid for both boys and girls ages 13U through 19U. This year we welcome back 13 returning clubs and add 3 new ones! EPSC, Edina SC, Fusion Soccer Club, Kickers FC, Lakeville Soccer Club, Minneapolis United, Minnesota Thunder Academy, North Suburban SA, Prior Lake SC, Salvo SC, St. Croix Soccer Club, STMA United, St. Paul Blackhawks, Tonka United, Twin Cities Rush and Wave SC. League winners will represent TCSL at the NPL Finals, held in late Summer. *Bolded clubs are new for the 2021-22 season.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NPL

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Fall 2021

EVENT PREVIEW

TCSL Fall League Cup, Presented by TRIA **Two-match guarantee on Championship Weekend!** **New for Fall 2021 – Semis AND Finals are TCSL-hosted on October 15–17** Qualifier Match (if necessary) | September 27–October 12, 2021 Semis & Finals Weekend | October 15–17 | TCSL-Hosted The League Cup is a Championship event open to all TCSL 11U-14U fall league teams.

The Advantages of League Cup: 1. Avoid multiple games per day event 2. Developmental Soccer – A format that is used around the world as part of long-term player development 3. Limited Scheduling – 1 Qualifier round played before Oct 12 with weekdays being an option (pending daylight) 4. We work with coaches who coach multiple teams to avoid conflicts 5. Play your event at the end of the season, not during!

6. As many matches as possible scheduled on turf facilities!

INFORMATION + REGISTRATION

Fall Festival, Presented by TRIA Girls will play Saturday, October 16 Boys will play Sunday, October17 The Fall Festival is a tournament designed to conclude the Fall 2021 League Season for 9-U through 10-U age groups. Fans will fill the sidelines as hundreds of kids take part in this fun one-day event. Teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games with medals, and fun, for all.

INFORMATION + REGISTRATION

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Fall 2021

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT TCSL to host 2008 Boys & Girls at Invite-Only Player Development Program (PDP) Event!

Saturday, September 11 Academy of Holy Angels TCSL is excited to host a US Club Soccer id2 Selection Event for top players in Minnesota. 2008 Boys and Girls were submitted by club recommendations.

PDPs, sponsored by Verizon, are identification and development opportunities conducted within the id2 Program umbrella.

Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, there is no cost to participate. PDPs are approved as an Olympic Development Program by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.

2008 Boys will be considered for a National Training Camp in December 2021. 2008 Girls will be considered for a National Training Camp in February/ March 2022.

The Benefits of the PDP Program: » Play and compete with some of the area’s top players in your age group and showcase your talents » Receive the benefit of working with top coaches and US Club Soccer national staff » Players are considered for National Training Camps » Receive training gear provided by US Club Soccer and Nike

ADMIN CORNER Thank you to our clubs – especially the Administrators – who have embraced the new system, GotSport.

No system transition is easy, but we can’t thank you enough for being good sports along the way.

MANAGER RESOURCES

CLUB ADMIN RESOURCES

LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER

TCSL offers the only sanctioned winter league in Minnesota!

Register today for a high level of play against meaningful competition to stay sharp during the winter months.

TCSL Winter League » Open to all 11U-19U boys and girls teams » Take the hassle out of scheduling scrimmages and play real matches!

INFO + REGISTRATION

TCSL Winter Fests » Open to all TCSL clubs (clubs register, teams do not) » 4 festival events for 9U & 10U teams INFO + REGISTRATION

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SPOTLIGHT

Summer League Winners

U11 Boys Cities

Wright County Soccer Club 10 Boys Cities

U11 Boys Cities

Shakopee SA 10 Boys Cities

U11 Boys Cities

Mahtomedi Soccer Association 10 Boys Cities

U11 Boys State

Orono Westonka Soccer Club 10 Boys State

U11 Boys State

Wave SC 10 Boys State

U11 Boys Regional

Shakopee SA 10 Boys Regional

U11 Boys National

Fusion Soccer Club 10 Boys Academy 1

U11 Boys National

Minneapolis United 10 Boys Premier

U12 Boys Cities

Waconia SC 09 Boys State Pozega

U12 Boys Cities

Twin Cities Rush 09 Boys select One

U12 Boys Cities

Prior Lake SC 09 Boys Comp

U12 Boys State

Orono Westonka Soccer Club 09 Boys State

U12 Boys State

HFC United 09 Boys State

U12 Boys State

Salvo SC 09 Boys East Grey

U12 Boys Regional

North Suburban SA 09 Boys Academy 1

U12 Boys Regional

Prior Lake SC 09 Boys select

U12 Boys National

St. Paul Blackhawks 09 Boys Black

U13 Boys Cities

Fusion Soccer Club 08 Boys Navy 2

U13 Boys State

Wright County Soccer Club 08 Boys State

U13 Boys State

Prior Lake SC 08 Boys select

U13 Boys Regional

Lakeville Soccer Club 09 Boys Academy

U14 Boys Cities

Fusion Soccer Club 07 Boys Navy 2

U14 Boys Cities

East Select Soccer 07 Boys Academy

U14 Boys State

St. Paul Blackhawks 07 Boys Gold

U14 Boys Regional

BV United 07 Boys Regional Powell

U14 Boys Regional

Shakopee SA 07 Boys Regional

U15 Boys Cities

Mahtomedi Soccer Association 06 Boys

U15 Boys State

St. Paul Blackhawks 06 Boys Gold

U15 Boys Regional

Kickers FC 06 Boys Elite

U16 Boys State

Orono Westonka Soccer Club 05 Boys State

U16 Boys State

Cottage Grove United 05 Boys

U16 Boys State

St. Paul Blackhawks 05 Boys Gold II

U16 Boys Regional

Hudson Soccer Association 05 Boys National

U17 Boys Cities

STMA United 04 Boys Travel

U17 Boys State

Southeast Soccer Club 04 Boys Pumas

U17 Boys Regional

North Suburban SA 04 Boys Academy 1 Boys

U19 Boys State

EPSC 02/03 Boys TCSL

U19 Boys Regional

BV United 02/03 Boys regional

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Fall 2021

TCSL Team of the Week TCSL believes in recognizing its players, coaches and referees, both in terms of performance on the field but also for acts of good sportsmanship. Through a nomination process, TCSL will select a Team of the Week each week through the summer 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!

U11 Girls Cities

Fusion Soccer Club 10 Girls Navy 2

U11 Girls Cities

Centennial Soccer Club 10 Girls Cities

U11 Girls Cities

Tonka United 10 Girls Select 2

U11 Girls State

Orono Westonka Soccer Club 10 Girls State

U11 Girls State

Lakeville Soccer Club 10 Girls-Gold

U11 Girls Regional

Twin Cities Fire 10 Girls Regional

U11 Girls National

Salvo SC 10 Girls South Steel

U12 Girls Cities

STMA United 09 Girls Travel

U12 Girls Cities

St. Croix 09 Girls Academy White

U12 Girls Cities

Shakopee SA 09 Girls Cities

U12 Girls State

Lakeville Soccer Club 09 Girls Gold

U12 Girls State

East Ridge Soccer Club 09 Girls Black

U12 Girls Regional

Fusion Soccer Club 09 Girls Academy 2

U12 Girls Regional

Minneapolis United 09 Girls Premier

U12 Girls National

Fusion Soccer Club 09 Girls Academy 1

U13 Girls Cities

Park Valley United FC 09 Girls White

U13 Girls State

CC United Soccer Club 08 Girls state

U13 Girls State

Wave SC 08 Girls Academy White

U13 Girls State

Centennial SC 08 Girls Black

TCSL is excited to welcome three new clubs this fall.

U13 Girls Regional

Minnesota Thunder Academy 09 Girls Pre ECNL

» CR United

U14 Girls Cities

Salvo SC 07 Girls South Scarlet

U14 Girls Cities

East Select Soccer 07 Girls Academy

» Maplebrook Soccer Club

U14 Girls State

Shakopee SA 07 Girls State

U14 Girls State

Dakota SC 07 Girls State

U14 Girls Regional

Wave SC 07 Girls Academy White

U15 Girls Cities

Fusion Soccer Club 06 Girls Navy 2

U15 Girls State

Fusion Soccer Club 06 Girls Navy 1

U15 Girls Regional

Lakeville Soccer Club 06 Girls Gold

U16 Girls Cities

Mahtomedi Soccer Association 05 Girls Cities

U16 Girls State

East Select Soccer 05 Girls Academy

U16 Girls State

Salvo SC 05 Girls East Red

U16 Girls Regional

Wright County Soccer Club 05 Girls Regional

U17 Girls Cities

STMA United 04 Girls Travel B

U17 Girls State

Prior Lake SC 04 Girls Select

U17 Girls Regional

St. Croix 04 Girls Academy Blue

U19 Girls State

East Select Soccer 03 Girls Academy

U19 Girls Regional

Prior Lake SC 02 Girls Select

NOMINATION FORM + ARCHIVE

Welcome to TCSL

» Northern Lights SC

COACH EDUCATION Firm with our belief that “better coaches develop better players”, TCSL continues to be a leader in offering coach education opportunities to its members.

The 2020-21 soccer year featured many coaches participating in U.S. Soccer Coach Education Courses.

Most recently, TCSL was thrilled to host the first ‘C’ License Course in Minnesota in several years. Thirty-four coaches successfully passed the intensive course. Congratulations!

2021-22 Course Education dates and specifics will be announced soon.

REFEREE CORNER

Without referees, there is no game!

Calling all soccer enthusiasts of all ages. » Exercise » Earn Extra Income » Challenge » Friendship » Responsibility REFEREE CERTIFICATION INFORMATION CONNECT WITH AN ASSIGNOR AT A TCSL CLUB TCSL MAGAZINE

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SOCCER PARENTING Are Our Children Learning or Performing?

by Skye Eddy Bruce (This article was originally published at SoccerParenting. com, a TCSL partner.)

As a new school year began this week I have been especially aware of my son’s learning environment at school. I’ve asked him countless questions about his new teachers and their teaching styles, and about his first impression of how his year learning with them will go.

What is the best environment for our children to learn?

I want my son to experience classrooms where learning abounds. I want him to be provided space for critical thinking and curiosity, a learning environment where he feels safe making mistakes and asking questions, and is motivated with a sense of autonomy to challenge himself. I want him to experience the tests, quizzes and papers as a welcomed, albeit formidable, challenge to gauge his progress, instead of a stress-ridden experience where he is hyperfocused on the outcomes. I want him to feel like he

has support and encouragement from me at home, his classmates, and his teachers and advisors as he dives into new subjects.

And the same goes for him on the soccer field.

I want my son's environment on the soccer field to be one in which he is able to experience learning, not performing. Learning on the soccer fields means being able to concentrate, having the peace of mind to be able to stay focused and acutely aware of the movements of the ball, his teammates and opponents.

Learning on the soccer fields means trying new things, pushing previously conceived limitations, taking risks without the fear of retribution from coaches or parents, and feeling a sense of anticipation as decisions are made and a sense of inspiration as skills are executed.

What is a poor environment for our children to learn?

I absolutely don’t want my son's learning environment on the soccer fields to be invaded by hostile behaviors from parents who care too much and are

screaming at the referees, players or just too loudly voicing their opinion about moments in the game.

I absolutely don’t want my son's learning environment to be muddled with distracting behaviors from coaches and parents who are telling him what to do in the moment he is making a decision. He doesn’t need someone telling him where to pass, or how fast to run, or where to throw the ball in. Instead, he needs the space to be able to think faster in order to perform better. Distracting him will not help him learn.

When we distract our children by telling them what to do we may be helping to positively change the outcome of a decision in the moment – they may make the pass that leads to the breakaway, or move to a better position to defend, or shoot the ball and score - so it may appear they are learning. But, in fact, telling a child what do to in the moment – "Pass to…", "Go to….", "Shoot!!!"...does not lead to long term, cognitive growth. When we distract our child with these behaviors we are helping them perform, not learn.

Supportive vs Distracting and Hostile Behavior

Distracting behaviors lead to performing.

In order to learn, my son needs and deserves to be surrounded by supportive behaviors, not distracting or hostile behaviors. Supportive behavior means encouragement and praise at the appropriate times in a game - NOT when he is concentrating and trying to perform a task or make a decision. He needs to hear statements such as "Good Job", "Keep Working Hard" and "You Can Do It".

Supportive behaviors lead to learning.

You can make a difference in improving the soccer learning environment of children.

I invite you to The Sideline Project - a program developed by Soccer Parenting to improve sideline behavior. It's simple:

I imagine you feel the same way about the learning environment you want for your child on the soccer field? Or course we don't want our children to be distracted or feel the stress of being in the presence of hostile communication.

1. Watch the 2.5 minute video about Supportive, Distracting and Hostile Behavior,

And yet…our soccer sidelines are out of control. We show up with the best of intentions and excited to watch a game, and then before we know it – we are riddling the environment with distracting behaviors and allowing for hostile behaviors to go unchecked.

We know our children’s teachers are critical to their learning environment at school. We know our children’s coaches are critical to their learning environment in soccer. And we also must appreciate the critical role we play as parents in facilitating the best learning environment for our children during a soccer game.

Supportive vs. Distracting Behavior One thing I’ve found with the work I do as the Founder of Soccer Parenting – is that when parents and coaches learn the difference between supportive and distracting behavior – the distracting behavior decreases. While it feels like we are helping our children learn by telling them what to do – we are not.

2. Read the Sideline Pledge, 3. Add your name to the virtual pledge wall.

It’s time we eliminate distracting behavior, set strong standards and expectations around eliminating hostile behaviors, and be supportive of our children - allowing them to find joy, inspiration and learning on the fields.

TCSL is proud to be a founding member of The Sideline Project.

Did you know that all TCSL clubs and their families receive free access to the Soccer Parent Resource Center?

TAKE THE PLEDGE

MORE INFORMATION + ACCESS TCSL MAGAZINE

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PLAYER HEALTH AND SAFETY TRIA’s tips on managing shin splints As we get back into fall soccer season, make sure to avoid shin splints, one of the most common soccer injuries. Shin splints usually occur when jumping back into training too quickly, causing pain and soreness along the shins. Untreated shin splints can lead to stress fractures, so it’s important to take care of them before they escalate.

Lauren Loberg, physical therapist at TRIA Orthopedics, shared a few prevention tips: » Increase your workouts, especially running, slowly. Let your body get used to increased activity over time. » Change your shoes every 300-500 miles. Over time, shoes can start to lose their shock-absorbing quality. » Strengthen your lower legs with exercises like “heel lowers” - standing on the edge of a step and raising and lowering your heels.

If you do experience shin splints, treat it with an ice massage, stretches and a decrease in activity. If the pain is localized or not getting better, experts at TRIA can help you get back on the soccer field.

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Fall 2021

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tcslsoccer.com Photos by Christopher Mitchell | sportshotphoto.com