2023-2024 Boys Team Expectations
Mark Yueill
Boys Director
Matt VanBenschoten
Juniors Director
Terry Leiendecker
GK Director
Sophie Horn
Asst Juniors Director
Max Lom
Asst Juniors Director
Minnesota Thunder Academy 2024-2025 Season
MTA continues to raise the bar in Minnesota in terms of player development, team performance, college recruitment and national exposure. 15 years ago we embarked on a new journey to ensure stronger competition and a more direct path to collegiate soccer for our players, and MTA was one of the founding members of the Girls ECNL. That success story has proven itself every year since. We joined the Boys ECNL for the 2019-2020 season, which was canceled by the pandemic, but made us the only club in the state to offer such a national platform for players to excel.
In 2020-21, we joined TCSL in re-defining the local landscape in Minnesota by joining the new Minnesota National Premier League. This was the obvious next step for us to align with our goal of continuing to be the leader in high level soccer not only in Minnesota, but nationally.
MTA – Raising the Bar
As part of our comprehensive player development approach, MTA continues to offer services and benefits that cannot be found anywhere else in Minnesota.
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College Exposure and Recruiting to DI, DII and DIII Programs – MTA has trained more collegiate and professional athletes than all other soccer clubs in MN combined! Other clubs may say this, but MTA can prove it – check out the 1100+ college commitments and the player accomplishments on our website - with 30+ professional players and 30+ National team players.
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Proven MTA Development Path – MTA has developed a path to success. From our ThunderBolts programming to NPL and ECNL, from expert, high level coaches to Elite Club Benefits we provide a holistic approach to development, identification & competition that completes the player.
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Top Players Play Here – The athletes awarded Mr and/or Ms Minnesota have been MTA players for the last 23 years. Athletes come to MTA from all over the state to play on teams where all players are dedicated to soccer, and are working together to get to the next level.
- Highly Licensed Coaches
- Excellent Goalkeeper Training included in player fees - by former professional player
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Elite Club Benefits
- Excellent, centrally located turf and dome facilities –
- MTA Winter Park Training Facility, Eden Prairie
- Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield
- Innovative technologies to enhance player performance (TrainingHAUS Performance training, Veo Camera system, Normatec athlete recovery pants)
- Strategic Partnerships – to enhance the player experiences and performance, and continue to educate our coaches (Twin Cities Orthopedics and TrainingHAUS powered by TCO provides athletic trainers and Performance training)
- Byga Comprehensive Club Management System – from player evaluations to registrations, MTA is committed to the highest level of communication and excellence.
- Snap!Spend team financial system - ease and transparency for collecting team fees.
- Excellent, centrally located turf and dome facilities –
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How do I pay my fees?
There are 2 types of fees at MTA:
- Player fees - these are billed by MTA through Byga, our club management and registration system. Payment plans are available.
- Team fees - these are fees paid for team events, and are paid securely through Snap!Spend. Every team has their own bank account, with visibility regarding team expenses.
Player Fees Include:
(Player fees are billed by MTA in Registration)
- Applicable league fees
- Referee Fees (home games)
- Outdoor Training/ Game Fields & Equipment
- Indoor Training/ Game Fields (domes)/ Facility Rental/ Equipment
- Goalkeeper Training
- Coach Fees/ Coach Education
- Club Operations/ Administration/ Insurance
Player Fees Do Not Include:
- Uniforms
- Winter League Fee
- Winter Futsal
- Tournament fees
- ECNL Showcase event fees
- National Championships/ Playoffs
- Personal travel expenses
Team Fees Include:
Team fees are collected by Team Treasurers via the Snap!Spend system
- Tournament & ECNL Event registration fees
- Coach Travel Expenses
- Team events
- Scrimmages
- Winter league
- Winter futsal
- Add’l Team Fees/Activities
- Some Team Fees may be collected by the MTA Office
Subscribe for More Info
Subscribe to our MTA Nation Newsletter for the most up-to-date info.
Our Leagues
ECNL
Elite Clubs National League
The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform. The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential.
The ECNL’s mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports.
The ECNL Commitment:
We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.
Girls and Boys ECNL will continue to compete in the ECNL Midwest Conference, and in ECNL Showcase events and Playoffs nationally. This will allow for earlier tryouts, more focus on ECNL level competition, and allow time for additional College Showcases, and other high level events, as well as the Puma Cup U17 Elite at Gothia Cup in Sweden (for the girls).
Learn more about Girls ECNL here
Learn more about Boys ECNL here
NPL
Boys & Girls Minnesota NPL – will compete in the TCSL Minnesota NPL.
The NPL is a national competition platform created to elevate and change the soccer landscape through development, meaningful competition and identification platforms culminating in the NPL finals.
This league will have 14-20 games September (or November for U15+) through June, and emphasizes calendar decongestion, appropriate training-to-match ratios, and club-driven scheduling. TCSL will provide a college recruiting platform, ID camp and Showcase events for 15U+ age groups. MTA also hosts a Girls College Showcase and a Boys College Showcase for our NPL players.
It provides post-season play-off competition for top teams across the country, with the possibility of advancing to NPL Nationals in Colorado.
TCSL
Twin Cities Soccer Leagues (TCSL) aims to provide the highest quality soccer league experience in Minnesota.
All MTA Juniors teams play in the TCSL league, and some U13-U19 teams play in TCSL.
Levels: Three levels of play at U9 & U10 (Red, White, Blue) and four levels of play at U11-U14 (National, Regional, State, Cities).
Tryout FAQs
How many teams will be formed at each age?
We expect to form two teams at each age group, U13 and up.
- Girls: 1 ECNL team & 1 NPL team.
- Boys: 1 ECNL team & 1 NPL team.
An ECNL team will be formed for both Boys & Girls at birthyears 2012, 2011, 2010, 2015, 2009, 2008 and 2006/2007.
Girls’ Pre-ECNL teams will be formed at 2013 and 2014 birthyears.
Boys’ Pre-ECNL team will be formed at 2013 and 2014 birthyears.
For Juniors teams (U9-U12) , we expect to form 2-4 teams at each age group.
Please explain the different U13+ tryouts?
Girls: The majority of our ECNL rosters will be formed after ECNL ID tryouts in early July.
The tryouts on the last weekend of July are for players that were unable to attend the earlier ECNL ID tryouts or are interested in playing Girls Minnesota NPL or Girls U12 Pre-ECNL.
All NPL teams will be formed at these tryouts and any remaining ECNL roster spots will be filled. If you attend ECNL Tryouts and are not offered a roster spot, please return for the NPL Tryouts at the end of the month to see if you might still make an ECNL team or an NPL or TCSL team. Your registration fee covers you for either or both tryouts. You do not need to register twice.
Boys: The majority of our ECNL rosters will be formed after ECNL ID tryouts in early July. U17 and U18/19 Boys ECNL will have 3 tryouts.
The tryouts on the last weekend of July are for players that were unable to attend the earlier ECNL ID tryouts or are interested in playing U12 or U13-U19 Boys Minnesota NPL or Boys U12 Pre-ECNL.
All NPL teams teams will be formed at these tryouts and any remaining ECNL roster spots will be filled. If you attend ECNL Tryouts and are not offered a roster spot, please return for the NPL Tryouts at the end of the month to see if you might still make an ECNL team or an NPL team. Your registration fee covers you for either or both tryouts. You do not need to register twice.
When will players be notified of a team offer?
ECNL: Players will be emailed a roster offer within 24 hours after the second ECNL tryout.
NPL/TCSL and U13-U14 Boys ECNL: Players will be notified as soon as possible after the end of Tryouts, the week of August 1st.
What other clubs are in Minnesota NPL?
In addition to Minnesota Thunder Academy, teams accepted for the 2021-22 season were: Edina, Eden Prairie, Fusion, Lakeville, North Suburban, Prior Lake, Salvo, St Croix, Blackhawks, Tonka United, and Twin Cities Rush.
How often do ECNL teams travel?
ECNL schedules for the upcoming season are not yet set, but we should be able to provide a good idea of the travel requirements at tryouts. Depending on the age group, teams will have 1-3 National Events and 4-6 Away fixture weekends. Some teams also have additional travel with College showcases, additional tournaments and possible National Playoffs and Championships.
Refer to the team expectations that will be posted on the website, as well as the Season Plan handouts at tryouts. You will receive a detailed Season Plan if you are offered a roster spot on any Minnesota Thunder Academy team.
Is travel chaperoned or are families responsible?
In general, families are always welcome to travel with the team, and the majority of families do. Individual families can choose how to travel.
Most players stay in a hotel room with a family member. To reduce cost, 4 families can get together and send 4 players and 1 chaperone, trading off travel trips with the other families. If players will be staying in all-player rooms, those families are required to appoint a chaperone and share the cost of the hotels and meals.
How long do training sessions run in the winter?
All teams are provided 3 training sessions in the dome with 60-90 min on field. There is often extra fitness time added, and many teams have additional events outside of their scheduled training sessions.