TCSL Magazine - Fall 2023

FROM TCSL

TCSL Members,

We’re excited to kick off the 2023-24 soccer year with this issue of the TCSL Magazine!

After wrapping up a successful 2022-23 campaign, we’re excited to share with you the many accomplishments of TCSL members and clubs over the course of the past year.

• Minnesota National Premier League (NPL) teams enjoyed unprecedented success at this year’s NPL Finals. With three National Champions, and four semi-finalists, TCSL teams represented in incredible fashion.

• The TCSL Reps program concluded a successful first year, with many of the top 2011 and 2010 boys and girls representing TCSL in a supplemental training program which culminated in the Midwest Select Games.

• The Final 4 – the culminating event in both the Fall and Summer TCSL seasons – continued to gain in stature and prestige.

• TCSL hosted more coach education events in 2022-23 than ever before, providing accessible and local opportunities to develop as a coach at every level.

This issue of TCSL Magazine highlights our 23-24 initiatives, including a preview of TCSL’s most robust coach education calendar ever, 23-24 NPL leagues, our plans for TCSL Reps and important dates for events such as the TCSL Final 4.

Players, families, coaches, managers, referees and supporters – thank you for your partnership and trust. Our mission remains – raise the level of every facet of the game.

We can’t wait for another great year!

Matt Tiano CEO

Peter Reid Technical Director

Dawn Ellerd Club Development Coordinator

Shayna Salloway Events Coordinator

WHAT’S NEW

CONGRATULATIONS

TO EPSC 05 / 04 GIRLS NPL!

» 2023 Minnesota Cup Winner

» National Cup Qualifier

» National Cup Champion

MINNESOTA CUP

After the 2023 event saw a record number of teams participate, we can’t wait for the 2024 edition! Stay tuned for location announcements and other important information. Registration will open late Fall.

2024 Minnesota Cup | May 29-June 4, 2024

» SUPER GROUP - Advance to US Club Soccer National Cup Finals

» PREMIER GROUP - Advance to US Club Soccer Midwest Regionals

TCSL REPS

Program Updates & Calendar

MORE INFORMATION

This popular player development program returns for its second year and will feature 2011, 2010 and 2009 boys and girls. Trials this fall will lead into the Reps season, which will feature meaningful training, local competition and one out-of-state event. A highly complementary program, TCSL Reps concludes in early March to allow participants to be fully engaged in their club team.

COACH EDUCATION

More Courses, More Opportunities

MORE INFORMATION

The TCSL Coach Education program continues to grow, with more education opportunities available than ever before. A multitude of courses (USSF 7v7, 9v9, 11v11, D, C, B) are scheduled or pending approval from U.S. Soccer.

LEAGUE PREVIEW

FALL 2023 TCSL

We are excited to welcome back to the field 9U-14U TCSL teams for play this Fall!

All teams play six-match schedule

9U-10U: Red (highest), White, Blue

September 8-October 8

11U-14U: National (11U-12U), Regional, State, Cities

SCHEDULES & RESULTS

TCSL FIVES

TCSL’s youngest players will take the competitive pitch for the first time during four fall play dates designed just for 8U teams.

All teams play 2 matches per date, 5v5 in 2x20 minute halves.

TCSL FIVES PLAY DATES:

September 17

September 24

October 8

October 15 at the TCSL Fall Festival

TCSL FIVES INFORMATION & SCHEDULE

MN NPL 2023-24

13U-19U teams set to compete on the biggest stage!

MN NPL represents a club collaboration that is the highest level of the TCSL pyramid for 13U-19U teams.

13U-14U TEAMS: One continuous season Sep - June

15U-19U TEAMS: One continuous season Dec - June

Super division winners advance to the NPL Finals.

SCHEDULES & RESULTS

MN NPL GUIDE

MN NPL 23-24 LEAGUES & FORMATS

2023 NPL FINALS REPRESENTATION

Minnesota NPL teams had unprecedented success at this year’s NPL Finals, held in Commerce City, Colorado. These league-winning teams earned their way to the Finals, and showed incredibly well.

SEMI-FINALISTS:

» Lakeville SC 07 Girls Select

» Boreal FC 06 Girls Matesi

» Tonka Fusion Elite 09 Boys

» Tonka Fusion Elite 04/05 Boys

CHAMPIONS:

» St. Croix 08 Girls Academy

» Tonka Fusion Elite 07 Boys

» Minneapolis United 06 Boys

CUPS PREVIEW

FALL FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY TRIA

Open to all TCSL 8U-10U TCSL teams!

OCTOBER 14 – Boys 9U/10U

OCTOBER 15 – Girls 9U/10U and TCSL Fives

All matches played at Kingston Park (Cottage Grove, MN)

Conclude your season in style at the TCSL Fall Festival! Jamboree format, 3 matches (9U-10U) or 2 matches (TCSL Fives, 8U). Teams matched up with other similarly skilled teams who they haven’t played in league, as much as possible, so that matches are competitive and enjoyable.

All players receive a medal. This one-day event is sure to be fun for the whole family!

REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 29.

MORE INFORMATION

TCSL FALL FINAL 4, PRESENTED BY TRIA

OCTOBER 13-15, 2023

17th Avenue Sports Complex (Shakopee, MN)

Fernbrook Athletic Fields (Maple Grove, MN)

Sanneh Complex (St. Paul, MN)

Back by popular demand, the Final 4 event is a true league championship that invites the top league teams to compete for a chance to be crowned Final 4 Fall League Champions! Celebrate your season with good competition for all ages and divisions, photo-ops, music, food, awards, and fun!

The top 4 teams in each age/gender/division are automatically qualified based on standings in League play at season’s end. Reference the Final 4 rules.

All teams will play two matches over October 13-15, 2023. Semi-Final winners play in the Final 4 Championship, while Semi-Final losers play in the Shield (3rd Place) match.

MORE INFORMATION

WINTER LEAGUE PREVIEW

WE ARE EXCITED to roll out plans for Winter 2023-24 to aid in your planning!

TCSL WINTER LEAGUE *

» Open to TCSL 11U-19U teams

» TCSL to build divisions for appropriate competition

» 6-match schedule

» Approximate dates of season: November 17, 2023-March 10, 2024

» Opportunity to blackout dates

» TCSL to help teams/clubs find dome/facility space, if needed

TCSL WINTER FESTS *

» Open to TCSL clubs for 9U-10U (7v7) age groups

» Flexibility: Clubs register for match days

» 2023-24 Match Days:

• December 9, 2023: Sanneh Dome

• January 6, 2024: Maple Grove Dome

• February 10, 2024: Academy of Holy Angels

• March 9, 2024: Sanneh Dome

TCSL FIVES FESTS *

» Open to TCSL clubs for 8U (5v5) age groups

» Flexibility: Clubs register for match days

» 2023-24 Match Days:

• January 7, 2024: Location TBD

• February 4, 2024: Academy of Holy Angels

• March 3, 2024: Academy of Holy Angels

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

TCSL REPS

This fall season, TCSL is excited to bring back the Reps program for its second year.

2022-23 saw this new program get off to a successful start with a training program, local matches and a culminating event in Illinois.

The 2010 and 20011 age groups will once again represent TCSL in Illinois at the Midwest Select Games, held November 3-5, 2023. This event sees our league Reps competing against other leagues from Iowa, Illinois and Ohio/Pennsylvania/Western New York.

The 2009’s return to complete a two-year cycle and will begin the Reps program after the High School season ends.

Candidates for Reps are submitted by club leaders and attend a trial process in mid-September (2011s & 2010s) or November (2009s) from which the squads will be selected to “Rep”resent TCSL for the Winter 2324 season.

TCSL Reps features a strategic calendar, conflicting with the TCSL/NPL schedule as little as possible, and concluding in early March so players can fully be engaged with their club teams.

US CLUB SOCCER id2

TCSL GOALKEEPER CAMP

US Club Soccer, in conjunction with TCSL, will hold a national talent identification program, id2, here in the Twin Cities this December.

This year’s id2 sees the 2010 boys and girls as the target group. TCSL will bring a national scout to the Twin Cities to oversee and identify players to move on to the regional camp in California. The end goal is to select a squad to represent the id2 program in 2024 as they travel to Europe.

TCSL Reps players will be invited to the id2 event, with additional players nominated by club leaders.

id2 is an event that is open to all players, regardless of affiliation.

TCSL held a successful Goalkeeper camp in July and many of the participants are excited, as are we, to continue this tradition annually.

Thank you to the staff and players who attended the camp, and we look to growing this event in 2024!

COACH EDUCATION

TCSL

HOSTS

COACH EDUCATION COURSES

This past year has seen TCSL host coach education courses ranging from the US Soccer B License to several repetitions of the Grassroots courses.

There has been great attendance and feedback about the education program, and we will continue to offer a wide variety of courses going into 2023-24.

In 2023-24, we are excited to again host a number of Grassroots courses, two D License courses, a C License course and a B License course, all local to the Twin Cities!

TCSL knows that better educated coaches lead to better coached players, and we are fully aligned with US Soccer’s player-centric approach to the game.

US CLUB SOCCER REGIONAL COACH EDUCATOR VISITS TCSL

TCSL recently hosted Marcie Schwartz (Coach Licensing Technical Lead-Education & Development Specialist) and we were fortunate enough to have Marcie lead our 11v11 Grassroots course in July.

Marcie also met two of TCSL’s Student Coach Educators to mentor them through the extensive qualification process to be able to instruct courses in the future.

Marcie was impressed with TCSL’s approach to coach education, and it was a terrific opportunity to brainstorm future programming with her.

Thanks to US Club Soccer and Marcie Schwartz for visiting us and their support of all we do in this space.

U.S. SOCCER LEARNING CENTER

THE SIDELINE PROJECT

» 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

» A positive sideline culture creates an environment most beneficial to the players

NEW for 2023, Winning on Gameday focuses on creating a positive gameday experience for the players. From pre-game at home to post-game in the car, this course touches on the full player experience. For those that haven’t already, take the course today!

TCSL believes that a positive gameday experience is critical to the health of youth soccer.

CORNER

Support the game

by becoming a referee!

This past year, TCSL expanded its influence in the referee space by providing on-field clinic opportunities in April. Although it was a bit wet, the participants gained confidence before their first games in May. Stay tuned for more opportunities in 2023-24!

We are also pleased to announce that for the first time in quite a while, the number of referees certified in the state of Minnesota increased over the prior year.

We look forward to building on this trend as we assist clubs with referee recruitment and onboarding.

» Flexible schedule

» Good pay

» Give back to the game

PLAYER HEALTH & SAFETY

treated by TRIA. tria.com/sportsmed

It’s why you’re treated and how you’re NO REFERRAL NEEDED | ONLINE SCHEDULING | WALK-IN CARE

When that happens it feels like we all win.

treat your foot so you can get back in the match.

y our high school pitch. A t TRIA Orthopedics, we’ll

to go away so you can take the corner kick on

the world stage. But you just want your foot pain

SPORTS INJURY

ADMIN CORNER

TCSL has launched a new Help Center for the 2023-24 season that compiles all of our support services in one convenient location.

The Help Center enables users to quickly contact the league, easily search and access club administrator and team management resources, reference league rules, find answers to frequently asked questions and much more!

Just click the orange “Help?” button on any page and the new chat bot will appear to answer your questions!

Photos by Christopher Mitchell | sportshotphoto.com