Boys History

The Minnesota state high boys' soccer tournament began in 1974.  Thirteen years earlier, in 1961, six club teams from various private and public schools started competing in soccer at the interscholastic level.  By 1966, more than three times that number of schools had programs and recognized soccer as a varsity sport.  Conferences like Lake and MISSL had enough teams for league play.

From that handful of schools in the 1960's, soccer in Minnesota had enjoyed tremendous growth through the 1970's, '80's, and '90's.  The growth of the metropolitan area and its suburbs in the '70's, the addition of soccer in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and larger out-state communities in the '80's, and the spread of the sport beyond the larger cities and school to many smaller communities in the '90's, has increased the number of schools participating to 242 in 2012, playing throughout the state from Crookston and Two Harbors in the north to Winona and Worthington in the south.

This increase in participation is not the only thing in Minnesota High School soccer that has changed through the years.  Originally, the state tournament included four qualifiers, with the state semifinals, third-place and championship games played at Richfield High School.  By 1980, there were eight teams that had qualified for the state tournament.  Game sites were at the fields of the participants for a few years, but the soccer coaches and the Minnesota State High School League decided to designate four fields as sites for the tournament games, based on field size and conditions which promoted optimum soccer play by the participants.  By the late '80's and early '90's, the semifinal and final games were moved into the Metrodome to assure perfect weather conditions.  The growth of soccer participants warranted the establishment of two classes in 1997, Class AA for the larger schools and Class A for the smaller schools.  The Class AA schools still qualified eight teams, while the Class A teams qualified four teams.  In 2000, 70 boys' teams were competing in Class A and 76 boys' teams were competing in Class AA.

Beginning in 2001, Class A expanded with eight teams qualifying to the state tournament, the same as Class AA.  Class A had 86 teams registered while Class AA had 68 teams registered to participate.  The 2012 season had 126 Class A teams and 64 Class AA teams.

Other changes through the years have occurred in soccer: most high school stadiums are constructed to accommodate the greater field width in soccer; most communities have erected soccer field complexes and entertain multi-team tournaments during the season; state high school coaches have become licensed at the national levels; and communities have established fields and programs for players in elementary school to beyond high school.

All of this has led to not only better players, but more players who play the game well. Every year, more Minnesota soccer players, boys and girls are being recruited by colleges and universities, and several former Minnesota High School soccer players are playing at the professional level.

Girls History

From 1977 through 1979, girls' soccer was being played as an informally organized spring activity. It involved about 15 to 20 teams. Many of these teams are now recognized as member of the Lake, St. Paul Suburban, Minneapolis and Twin Cities Suburban Conference.In 1980, the Minnesota State High School League adopted soccer as an official League-sponsored activity with a total of 21 schools participating in the fall season. Only four teams competed for the state title in 1980 and 1981, with favored Bloomington Jefferson compiling and 18-0-1 final record, defeating Edina West 1-0 for the first state championship.By 1981, the number of participating schools had nearly doubled to 41 as more schools added soccer to their programs. By 1982, more than 50 schools were competing for eight section championships. Previously, only four schools earned state tourney berths. Total paid attendance at this new eight-team format was a record-setting 2,881.

The number of players participating at the high school level stabilized during the mid '80's, with a few schools such as Minneapolis Washburn, Coon Rapids and Bloomington Jefferson having made three to four state tournaments already. The boys and girls tournament was held together for the first time in 1984 and these doubleheader games attracted 6,300 spectators.

The High School League and the Soccer Advisory Board continued to look for ways in which to improve the promotion of the game of soccer. The combined efforts of many coaches and League personnel were able to secure the Metrodome as an indoor facility for the finals for the state tournament in 1986. This pushed attendance figures close to 11,000 for the boys and girls games combined. By 1988, the semifinal games were also played in the Metrodome. This continued to improve the numbers as more spectators enjoyed the indoor facility, including bands, cheerleaders, school officials and, of course the fans!

By the late 1980s and early 1990s the continued growth of soccer was expanding beyond the metro area and schools were sponsoring new programs all over the state. They extended south to Northfield, Rochester and Winona, as well as north to St. Cloud, Duluth, Moorhead and Bemidji. The girls' teams in Minnesota by that time numbered 118 participating schools.

From 1997 thru 2000, soccer was being played in two classes: Class A qualifying 4 teams to state, and Class AA qualifying 8 teams to state. There were 71 girls' teams competing in Class A and 70 girls' teams competing in Class AA in 2000. Beginning in 2001, Class A expanded to and 8-team tournament as well with 82 teams registered in Class A and 76 teams registered in Class AA. In 2012, 224 schools from Two Harbors to Crookston in the north to Winona and Worthington in the south, are registered to participate, and there are 122 Class A teams and 64 Class AA teams.