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U8–U12 · July Tryouts

Juniors

Kick your skill development up a notch.

Year-round TCSL teams for boys and girls U8–U12, led by licensed, paid coaches who stay with the team from August through July. U8 starts in a training pool. U9–U12 teams train 3–4 times a week.

  • U8–U12
  • Boys & Girls
  • Aug–July
  • TCSL
Get Tryout UpdatesSee Teams & Costs
Juniors players chasing the ball in a game
Aug–JulyYour coach stays with your team all year
AgesU8–U12Born Aug 2014 – Jul 2019
Training3–4x per weekU8: 2x per week
SeasonAug–JulyFall · Winter · Spring/Summer
WhereEden Prairie & RichfieldWinter Park · Holy Angels
Player FeeSee belowSee live costs below
How to JoinJuly TryoutsU8 can join anytime
2027–28 Tryouts: Coming July 2027Multiple dates in July. Join the MTA Nation newsletter to get dates the moment they’re announced.Get Tryout Updates
The MTA Pathway

The bridge to U13 and beyond.

Juniors builds the technical foundation for N1, ECNL-RL, ECNL and Thunder Girls Regional. Top U11–U12 players can play on Pre-ECNL teams.

Ages 2–4Thunder SparksParent and childU5–U7ThunderBoltsYear-round, join any season
U8–U12JuniorsTCSL teams, July tryouts
U13–U19N1 · ECNL-RL · ECNLPlus Thunder Girls Regional
Why Juniors

A full year of real development.

Licensed, Paid Coaches

Every Juniors team is led by a licensed, paid coach, with younger coaches mentored by experienced staff.

Your Coach All Year

Your coach is with the team for training and games from August through July, not just a few sessions in winter.

Real Practices All Winter

Teams train in the dome through the winter, so players keep growing while it’s cold outside.

Pre-ECNL Pathway

U11 and U12 Pre-ECNL teams play national Pre-ECNL events and prepare players for ECNL.

Teams & Costs

2026–2027 MTA Juniors Teams

Coaches, training days, fees and season plans for each team. A full season, not a patchwork of add-ons.

MTA Player Fee—Billed by MTA in Byga. Payment plans available.
Est. Team Fees—Tournaments, showcases and team events, paid through each team's Snap!Spend account. Plus personal travel.
Typical Year (Estimate)—Player fee plus estimated team fees, before uniforms and personal travel.
Loading teams…

Coaches, levels and season plans are set by the program directors and can change after tryouts. Team fees are estimates.

U8 · The First Team Year

U8 is where competitive soccer starts.

U8 players (born August 2018 – July 2019) train in a pool and split into teams for TCSL Fives Fests. It’s a head start into the competitive pathway, led by licensed, paid coaches.

Training
2x per week, mid-August to mid-July
Typical Days
Tuesday and Sunday
Games
TCSL Fives Fests: 2 in fall, 3 in winter, 3 in spring/summer
Where
Winter Park, Eden Prairie (Holy Angels as needed)
How to Join
Attend July tryouts, or join anytime after by emailing admin@mnthunderacademy.org
Player Fee
$1,590 (live in the team list above)
Est. Team Fees
$0–$200

The U8 player fee covers training, fields and equipment, licensed coach salaries, league fees, coach education and secondary insurance. Younger players start in ThunderBolts.

Program Leadership

Led by people who have been there.

Matt VanBenschoten
Sparks, ThunderBolts & Juniors Director

Matt VanBenschoten

USSF B License

Matt leads MTA’s youngest players from their first touches through the Juniors years, and mentors the coaches who work with them.

See All Coaches →
Ian Smith
Assistant Juniors Director

Ian Smith

UEFA B License

A former MTA player and D1 player at UW–Green Bay, Ian coached youth and first-team soccer in Norway before coming home to MTA.

See All Coaches →
“The chemistry on my son’s team is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced and we feel much of that is due to the example set by the coaches and club directors.”Ashley B., MTA Parent
FAQ

Questions families ask.

When are tryouts?
Tryouts for the 2027–28 season will be held on multiple dates in July 2027. Dates aren’t set yet. Join the MTA Nation newsletter to hear the moment they’re announced.
How many teams are formed at each age?
It depends on the age group and tryouts. This season’s teams are listed above, with coach, level and season plan for each.
What is Pre-ECNL?
Pre-ECNL teams at U11 and U12 are for top players preparing for ECNL. They play TCSL National plus two Pre-ECNL national events.
Can we join after tryouts?
U8 players can join anytime. For U9–U12, contact us and we’ll let you know where there’s room.
How many tournaments do Juniors teams play?
Most teams play a fall travel tournament, TCSL winter fests or winter league, and 3–4 spring/summer tournaments, as listed in each team’s season plan.
Which age group is my player in?
Teams are now formed by school year (August 1 – July 31 birthdates), so most players play with their grade. Find your player on the Age Groups & Grade Alignment page. Players with August or September birthdays can apply to play with their grade.
What do player fees cover?
Player fees cover league and home referee fees, indoor and outdoor fields, coach salaries and education, goalkeeper training, and club operations. Tournaments, showcases, uniforms and personal travel are separate. Full details are on Teams, Costs & Expectations.
How do we pay?
Player fees are billed by MTA through Byga, with payment plans available. Team fees are paid through Snap!Spend, where every team has its own account so families can see every expense.
Join the Thunder

Great people make great players.

Tryouts for 2027–28 are coming in July. Get the dates first, and find your player’s age group.

Get Tryout UpdatesTryouts Overview