Get ready to kick-off the outdoor soccer season with a bang! NSC Kick-Off Challenge sets the stage for great competition and even better memories. As the new season begins, take the opportunity to shine in early season competition!
April  25 , 2025 -
April  27 , 2025

NSC Kick-Off Challenge

Registration Deadline: 3/28/25
Age Ranges: 9U – 19U
Game Length: Full-Length Games
Sanctioned by partners Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (USYS), and Twin Cities Rush Soccer Club (US Club Soccer)
  • Early Bird Code: EBKOC25 
  • Early Bird Registration Deadline: February 28, 2025
  • Registration Deadline: March 28, 2025
Schedule /
Results
Tournament
Fees
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Required
Forms
Tournament
Rules
Hotels /
Lodging
Apparel
Referees /
Officials
College
Coaches
Guest /
Player Pool

Additional Information

Join us for an early-season tournament outdoors! All 13-19U games played on artificial turf. Event is geared towards more competitive teams looking to get in some full-Length games before the season starts. Events are sanctioned by partners Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (USYS) and Twin Cities Rush Soccer Club (US Club Soccer).

  • Tournament ranking committee will place teams into a flight that best fits the team’s competitive ability
  • Tournament reserves the right to combine age groups, depending on the total number of teams in identified age divisions
  • Teams will be notified prior to the tournament if age groups are to be combined
  • All games will be played on artificial turf for 13U-19U.
  • Age groups may be flighted to help parity of competition if a group exceeds eight teams.
  • 13U-19U games played on the artificial fields of the world’s largest soccer complex
  • World Cup groups, top teams advance to playoff round
  • Three FIFA regulation-length games guarantee
  • Three-person referee system (13U-19U)
  • 11U will play 9v9 format
  • 12U age divisions may play 9v9 or 11v11 format

Please Note

  • All metro area teams should be prepared to play games starting Friday at 3 p.m.
  • All non-metro teams should be prepared to play games starting Saturday at 8 a.m.
  • All games will be played at the National Sports Center

Registration Deadline – March 28, 2025

Early Bird Deadline – February 28, 2025

Application in closed for all divisions. Please email Tournament Director to be place on the wait list.

Please click here for the Required Forms Information and Details. All steps must be completed by the required forms deadline.

  • Start by adding players to your tournament roster using the link below.
  • Required Forms includes completing the NSC Roster, Player Waivers, Submit/Upload Current Player Passes, and Submit/Upload Travel Documentation (if applicable).  

Final Team Check-in – All teams are required to send one (1) team representative to check-in 90 minutes prior to the team’s first game.

  • Location: Welcome Center Building (1750 105th Ave NE Blaine, 55449) 
  • Time: 90 Min. Prior to the team’s first scheduled game.  
  • What is needed? Physical laminated player and coach passes are required at check-in and before each game, along with any outstanding documents needed for the event.
  • Pro Tips:
    • Anyone (Coach, Manager, Parent, etc.) can check in for the team at Final Team Check-in. 
    • Arrange player passes in the same order as your roster to ensure you have all passes and for a faster check-in. 

US Club Soccer Teams

US Youth Soccer Teams

  • Request Official State Roster and Travel Documentation (Not required for Minnesota MYSA teams )
    • Contact your USYS state association for an official state roster and Notification-to-Travel to a USYS sanctioned tournament. Copy of approved travel permit and state roster must be on file before Final Team Check-in.
    • 2024 Application to Host Tournament

United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA)

  • Must provide an official state roster from association
  • Certificate of Insurance
    • Must be on file before Final Team Check-in.

Canadian Teams

  • Request Team Notification-to-Travel and Official Province/Club Roster
    • Contact your province/club for official state roster and Notification-to-Travel to a USYS sanctioned tournament. Copy of approved travel permit and province/club roster must be on file before Final Team Check-in.
    • 2023 Application to Host Tournament provides information necessary to complete your province’s notification-to-travel application.

Scheduling requests are due Friday March 29.

Schedules will be released on Monday, April 21st, 2025 by 5pm. Please email the Tournament Director with any questions.

Please Note

  • All metro area teams should be prepared to play games starting Friday at 3 p.m
  • All non-metro teams should be prepared to play games starting Saturday at 8 a.m
  • All games will be played at the National Sports Center

13U-19U games played on the artificial fields of the world’s largest soccer complex
World Cup groups, top teams advance to playoff round
Three FIFA regulation-length games guarantee
Three-person referee system (13U-19U)
11U will play 9v9 format
12U age divisions may play 9v9 or 11v11 format

Please Note:
All metro area teams should be prepared to play games starting Friday at 3 p.m.
All non-metro teams should be prepared to play games starting Saturday at 8 a.m.

Please see the 2025 age categories for the tournament.

Attending
Check out coaches below that have attended in the past. Current year registrations coming soon.

Coaches from around the region scout individual 15U-19U players through a program designed to display a player’s talents for opportunities to play college soccer.

Questions? Contact Lucas Camargo at 763.717.3231 or email lcamargo@nscsports.org.

Registration
Please click the link below to register if you are a college coach who would like to attend this year’s tournament.

2025 Registration Link Coming Soon!

Registration List
Check out the links below to see which coaches have previously attended NSC Kick-Off Challenge.

2021
2019
2018
2017

Each player who is on the first or second place team will receive a medal and the coach will receive a trophy.

Refund Policy
Refunds will not be issued. Teams dropping from the tournament prior to March 28th, 2025 will receive a voucher in the amount of the team fee paid. The voucher is valid within one year of the event and can be used for the following NSC tournaments Using the voucher is based on availability and does not guarantee acceptance into the event.
  • NSC College Showcase
  • NSC Kickoff Challenge
  • NSC Spring Cup
  • USA CUP Qualifier Minnesota
  • NSC All American
  • NSC Fall Cup
Teams dropping from the tournament on or after March 28 will not receive a voucher
  • Weather Cancellation Policy. If cancellation of the entire tournament occurs due to spring weather conditions, each team will receive a refund in the amount of the tournament fees or a voucher to be used at future NSC 2024 and 2025 events. This does not apply to weather delays, shortened, rescheduled games and/or cancellation of tournament games after the event has begun.
Event Cancellation Policy. The following policy will be enacted IF an event hosted by the National Sports Center MUST be canceled by the directives of the State of Minnesota or the Minnesota Department of Health. Please know that our top priority on making decisions moving forward will be the safety and health of our players, coaches, referees, employees, and fans. Team will receive a refund for your event entry.
  • Team registration refunds will be processed at 100% of the registration total. Refunds will be credited to your account *Please note that if a team elects to drop prior to the event cancellation, the above refund policy will be in effect. This includes teams making their own decision to withdraw prior to the potential cancellation. If a customer (club, team, individual) is required to quarantine due to illness or exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and are unable to participate for this reason, a refund will not be issued unless done within the parameters of the existing policy.

The National Sports Center has frequent opportunities for competitive vendors to support campus events. Please apply by completing the request form below to be considered for an event. The National Sports Center will contact you upon receipt of your completed document. 

Vendor Request Form

NOTE: Submitting this form does NOT guarantee that you will be selected as a vendor. 

The National Sports Center thanks you for your interest in doing business with us.

Event Contacts

Tournament Fees

  • 9U-10U Competitive


    $500

    Register now for Lowest Team Fee! 

    Use Early Bird Code EBKOC25  

    Price increases to $550 on Feb. 28, 2025. 

  • 11U–12U (9v9)


    $655

    Register now for Lowest Team Fee! 

    Use Early Bird Code EBKOC25  

    Price increases to $705 on Feb. 28, 2025. 

  • 12U (11v11)


    $655

    Register now for Lowest Team Fee! 

    Use Early Bird Code EBKOC25  

    Price increases to $705 on Feb. 28, 2025. 

  • 13U – 19U


    $710

    Register now for Lowest Team Fee! 

    Use Early Bird Code EBKOC25  

    Price increases to $760 on Feb. 28, 2025. 

A 3% surcharge will be added to all payments made by credit/debit card. This fee will be due at the time of registration and is non-refundable.

History

Last Year’s Champions

Past Results

Thank You Event Sponsors