Dear Members,

Northern Lights Soccer Club and CR United Soccer Club are strengthening their competitive soccer partnership as we enter into a new season. We realize the impact COVID-19 has had on families, and as the landscape of youth sports changes across Minnesota, and the nation, being able to adapt, evolve and work together is key to creating a soccer environment that is meaningful to families and our youth.

Our competitive programs will expand our partnership starting in the fall 2020 season and moving forward. Our focus is on players, families and their needs. The clubs will benefit from the leadership and experience of two educated, innovative and driven Directors of Coach and Player Development who have an established working relationship nearly a decade old.

“We’re going to be able to provide more opportunities for the kids in our communities to play soccer at their true age group and their developmental level,” said Todd Dusosky, Director of Coach and Player Development for CR United.

The clubs are aligned in their mission to field competitive teams at all age levels while keeping programming cost-efficient and providing quality training for players competing on teams of all levels. Both clubs believe in upholding a sense of community and encouraging players to grow as athletes and people.

“We will work together, providing competitive teams without cost being a hindrance to playing soccer,” said Aaron Lindquist, Director of Coach and Player Development for NLSC. “We will continue to provide a partnered program with a community feel where every team, player and family matters.”

In addition to a focus on development, both organizations aim to provide players with an experience that’s fun and fuels their passion for the game. Leaders of both clubs acknowledge and revel in the fact that the experience kids have on the field will help prepare them as competitive soccer players and quality community members.

Dusosky has a long history as a professional soccer player, has been the Director of Player Development and Coaching with CR United since 2013, he’s worked for MYSA and the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as well as Coerver Coaching Minnesota. He has coached college, select and premier teams and led futsal clinics around the globe.  He’s currently a Technical Director for TC Sala Soccer and a United States Youth Futsal (USYF) National Team Coach.

Lindquist has spent 15 years working in youth soccer in Minnesota. Currently he has six years experience as a Director of Coaching, five years as an ODP coach and two years coaching with the TC Sala US Soccer Futsal Academy. He holds a DOC Diploma and multiple coaching licenses, has head coached high school boys’ and girls’ soccer for nine years, has volunteer-assisted collegiately and has coached boys and girls from level U9 to U19 at all competitive levels.

While this is not a merger of clubs, together both clubs are committed to serving our surrounding communities, opening up more opportunities for all players and keeping soccer affordable and fun. Thank you for placing your trust in our community-driven clubs.

Sincerely,

The leadership boards of Northern Lights SC and CR United SC

THE DETAILS

Why?

We want to be able to offer a soccer team, at an appropriate skill level, for EVERY player in our area communities and by working together we believe we will accomplish that. We know that the COVID-19 outbreak has had an impact on families financially and we remain committed as clubs to provide the best value for our members. By partnering, we will provide more opportunities, while maintaining affordability.

Is this a merger?

No. Our partnership is about being able to allow players to play soccer and stay strong as clubs that serve our community, and the surrounding areas while not causing financial stress on our families.

What do the clubs bring to the table?

Both clubs believe, through our partnership, we will better able to serve players and families. Our dedication to our communities will never change. The clubs have already been partnering on recreational programming, training offerings and rostering. Each club brings common beliefs about player development, competitive soccer, coach/parent education and fun. We each have teams that compete at all competitive levels in MYSA soccer and each have outstanding soccer complexes with fields in Anoka, Andover, Coon Rapids and Ramsey. Travel will be short for anyone living within those cities or surrounding communities.

Both clubs have developed players across all competitive, and college soccer levels. Finally, both clubs have worked well together for the past two years and we are happy our focus is on the families and players, not just singular top teams. 

Are my fees changing?

The fees may look like they are increasing but, with uniforms now included in the cost of registration, players will see a reduced overall cost. We are working hard to bring you soccer that’s affordable, while other clubs have rising costs totaling $1,110-$2,100 plus other fees. We can provide quality, competitive programing for the following prices:

Fees for 2020-2021 season

9U-10U      $550

11U-14U    $640

15U+          $550

Where do my fees go?

Your club fees cover the fall and summer season for those players at level U9-U14 and summer only for 15U+ since players are in high school in the fall. Winter training, starting in November, is. Included in this cost. Each team will train two times per week incorporating futsal and soccer. All players for both clubs will receive a new two-year uniform including two jerseys, shorts and socks. Entry into one CR United tournament during the season will also be included. The only fees that are variable are additional summer tournaments selected by the team, potential coach fees and additional training selected by the team. There are NO other hidden fees.

How will tryouts work?

We will hold joint tryouts between the clubs. All competitive players will tryout one night at the Coon Rapids Soccer Complex and one night at Elmcrest Park in Ramsey, two of the largest soccer complexes in the state. There will be a one-night goalie only tryout. Tryout dates, times and locations will be posted online within one week.

How much is the tryout fee?

The fee will be $25 to cover the cost of two training jerseys given to players at tryouts and theirs to keep. These training jerseys will be used during team training for the fall and summer seasons.

How will team formation work?

Like any new soccer season, teams may change. This is based on individual players' improvement and new players to the club. We will evaluate all players twice at tryouts and form teams factoring previous training/season performance, any coach or DOC evaluation prior to tryouts, commitment level and tryout performance.

While we understand and admire all players' desire to be on the “best team” we also understand the difference between that and “the best team for your player right now”. Part of the benefit of our partnership will be to form multiple teams at age groups, some possibly at the same level of play. Some teams will look very similar and some teams will change. There is no difference between this season and any other season in that sense. We will continue to monitor players over the fall, winter and spring to ensure that all players are playing on the best team for each player right now.

What’s the downside to this partnership?

We don’t see any soccer-related cons to partnership. We want to provide all our players with an option to play soccer if they want to without over-paying to receive the same, or fewer, soccer opportunities. While we can’t exactly predict our team numbers, we will be able to field full teams at appropriate skills levels for ALL our players. Soccer is a sport that UNITES people and this partnership will increase the opportunity for the most players to take the field in the coming seasons.

What about recreational programing?

Northern Lights Soccer Club and CR United Soccer Club offer and implement their own, separate recreational programming in the fall and summer. We will continue to partner in the winter months as well as summer recreation with training and “cross-over” nights. We will also be working to provide “connections” between our competitive staff and our recreational players so that they may transition smoothly into competitive soccer if they desire.

Coon Rapids United Soccer Club is a community-based, non-profit soccer organization.  The objectives of CRU are: promoting the sport of soccer; providing a safe and healthy atmosphere for our members to participate in organized competition; ensuring our members develop proper skills and sportsmanship; improving the welfare and recreation of the community through the sport of soccer.