The MNUFC Academy conducted the first Summit on High Performing Soccer in Minnesota on February 24 at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Led by Academy Director Tim Carter, the audience included directors of coaching from 24 Twin Cities soccer clubs and the U.S. Soccer technical advisor for the region, Arron Lujan.

The summit was an opportunity for club directors to discuss the challenges and barriers to player development within the market through various topics presented by the Academy.  Directors then engaged in small group discussion and presented their group recommendations to the entire audience.

“The opportunity to have so many club directors in one room discussing what needs to be done to improve the player development process was invaluable,” said Carter. “The discussions were incredibly powerful, and certainly demonstrated that when technical leaders come together in a non-threatening environment to discuss the challenges that we all face in Minnesota, we can find common ground and ways to collaborate for the betterment of our players.”

Looking ahead, 10 directors of coaching will join the MNUFC U12 Pre-Development Academy selection when they travel to Dallas for the MLS Generation adidas Cup at the end of the month, providing them with insight into how each MLS Academy approaches developing players in this age group.