SAY Soccer - Northern Michigan League

06/15/2026

⛈️ SAY NSL Weather Policy & Rescheduling Update

With the unpredictable weather we faced last week—and the potential for more heading our way this week—we want to share a quick reminder of our league weather policy.

Our primary goal is always to keep our players safe while doing our best to ensure everyone gets to play their full slate of games.

06/14/2026

⚽ Week 3 is here just like that! ⚽

Which means we are officially only TWO WEEKS away from the SAY NSL First Season tournaments! 🏆

To make this tournament a success for our players and families, we need a little help stocking our concession stand. Please take a quick moment to check out our SignUpGenius and see what items you might be able to donate:
👉 https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0E4AABAF28A6FCCF8-50012547-say?useFullSite=false 👈

Where do concession proceeds go? 💯
Every single dollar raised goes directly back into our league to help cover:
🌱 Field maintenance
🎨 Supplies like field paint
👕 Coach jerseys
📉 Keeping our registration fees as low as possible!

Thank you all so much for your generosity, your time, and for being such an awesome community. Let’s make this tournament great! 🙌⚽

06/13/2026

SAY NSL Families! Want a fun, easy way to level up your player's game? 🌎⚽️

​Turn the FIFA World Cup matches into a fun learning tool! Next time a game is on, challenge your player to pick one pro playing their position and shadow them with their eyes.

​Have them watch for:
​Proactive Movement: How players step up and move to meet a pass rather than standing still.
​Grit: How they position their body and commit when challenging for a 50/50 ball.
​Spacing: How they avoid clumping and trust their teammates to execute their skills and remain an outlet to move the ball around the field.
​Communication: How they talk and let players know they are available.

​Watching the game is just as important as practicing it!

​💬 Let us know in the comments: What position is your player tracking this summer during the FIFA Cup?

Schedule and What Streaming or TV Network:
https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/scores-fixtures?country=US&wtw-filter=ALL

06/10/2026

: 🌟 Help us celebrate our NSL Stars! 🌟

Attention NSL Members! It’s time to shine a spotlight on the incredible people who are part of First Season who make our league so special. Please take a few moments to nominate players, coaches, and referees to be recognized for their excellence this season.

We want to ensure we get plenty of submissions so that those who constantly go above and beyond are truly seen and celebrated for all they do.

🏆 Don't let their hard work and sportsmanship go unnoticed!

https://www.saynml.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2776929

06/09/2026

🌟 Referee Spotlight: Celebrating Excellence 🌟

We are incredibly proud to celebrate two outstanding members of our referee team who were recently named Eighth Grade Students of the Year! Please join us in congratulating Mason and Lily for their dedication both in school and on the soccer field.

Mason Koch
Mason is in his second year as a referee with us, and his passion for the game shines through in everything he does. Last year, he went above and beyond by earning his official US Soccer certification. Mason consistently demonstrates a deep dedication to the game, a sharp application of knowledge, and a constant willingness to learn and grow. We are so grateful to have him on our team, and we know he is incredibly deserving of the Student of the Year award.
Congratulations, Mason!

Lily Barker
Lily is one of the newest faces on the SAY NSL Referee Team this year, and she is already making an impact. She has stepped up as a perfect role model on the sidelines, helping our youngest Passers and Wings learn the game, build confidence, and grow. We are so excited to have her positive energy and leadership on our team this season.
Congratulations on being named Student of the Year, Lily!

06/07/2026

⚽️ Week Two is officially in the books! ⚽️

​A huge thank you to our incredible SAY members. Whether you’re coaching, refereeing, cheering, sponsoring, or volunteering—you are the heartbeat of this league, and we appreciate you!

​As we head into Week Three, please keep these quick reminders in mind to keep our season running safely and smoothly:
​Give the Game Some Space: Spectators, please sit 4 to 6 feet back from the sidelines to protect yourself and the players from accidental collisions. 🏃‍♂️💨

​​⚠️ Player Bench Boundary: Please do not sit in the space between the first banner (first set) and the last banner (second set). This entire area is reserved exclusively for coaches and players. This keeps the teams focused and everyone safer from stray balls.
​Note: Keeping fans clear of the bench is standard youth soccer practice. Referees will now wait to start or resume games until this area is clear. Thank you for making this adjustment!

​🏆 End-of-Season Award Nominations!
Seen someone demonstrating incredible leadership, fairness, or team spirit? Nominate them for:
​Coach of the Year
​Referee of the Year
​Sportsmanship Award (for each age division)
https://www.saynml.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2776929

​Thank you all again for an amazing start to the season. See you at the fields! 👋⚽️

06/07/2026

🌟 SAY NSL Referee Spotlight: Landon Adam 🌟

Please help us recognize and celebrate one of our incredible SAY Northern Soccer League referees, Landon Adam!
Landon is a graduating Senior of the Class of 2026, and we are absolutely thrilled to share that he is a recent recipient of the Spirit of Hope Award. It is truly so fitting for him.
Looking at Landon’s incredible dedication, it’s easy to see why he inspires so much hope for the future. He is a master of time management, balancing a staggering number of moving pieces with grace and leadership. Not only does Landon referee for SAY NSL, but he also plays SAY soccer, coaches, and works at the YMCA!
Next year, Landon is taking his phenomenal talents to the University of Michigan to study Engineering. All areas of Engineering are all about putting complex pieces together in a way that works perfectly, which is exactly how Landon approaches his life, his work, and his commitment to our league.
Landon, you are a shining light of hope in our community, and we have absolutely no doubt that you will succeed in everything you do at Michigan and beyond.
Thank you, Landon, for everything you do for our players, our league, and our community! Go Blue! 💙💛

Service Award Recognition at Kingsford High School!
Congratulations to Landon Adam on receiving the Youth Spirit of Hope award!

Your dedication, leadership, and commitment to serving others have made a positive impact on our school and community. We are proud of you and grateful for the example you set for others! 💙💛

06/06/2026

🌟 SAY NSL REFEREE SPOTLIGHT: CONGRATULATIONS INGRID HOLT! 🌟
​We are incredibly excited to celebrate one of the SAY NSL Referees, Ingrid Holt, for being named to the All Districts Soccer Team! ⚽🎉
​Ingrid is an absolutely amazing young lady, and we are so incredibly grateful to have her on the SAY NSL Referee Team. If you’ve spent any time at the fields, you’ve likely seen her in action. She is the ultimate team player, always stepping up to pick up matches whenever we need help—even if it means taking on the challenge of refereeing by herself.
​On the field, Ingrid is a champion of fair play. She maintains the highest level of integrity and isn't afraid to remind players to do the same, keeping our games safe, fair, and fun for everyone. She is also never afraid to ask questions, always striving to learn and grow.
​Ingrid is a brilliant member of the Class of 2026 and is planning to pursue a degree in Neuroscience next. Given her remarkable intelligence and fierce determination, this comes as no surprise to anyone who knows her. We know she is destined to do amazing things!
​Thank you, Ingrid, for your dedication, your leadership, and for being such a vital part of the SAY NSL Referee Team. The future is so bright! 🧠✨🎓

Congratulations to our Kingsford Girls Soccer players who earned All-District honors this season! ⚽

Offensive Team
• Ingrid Holt
• Aubrie Moore
• Onika Smeester

Defensive Team
• Avery Edwards
• Jordan Maenpa

Goalkeeper
• Kylie Woodward

We are proud of these student-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance on the field. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

05/31/2026

⚽ We Need Your Help! Field Lining Volunteers Wanted ⚽

Did you know that volunteers are the heartbeat of our league? They are the reason we can keep registration fees affordable and ensure our kids have a great pitch to play on every single week!

To keep our fields game-ready, we need a few more hands to join our Field Lining Crew.

The Details:
When: Every other Sunday.
What: Helping layout and paint the lines that make game days possible.
Commitment: Flex as your schedule allows! Any time you can give makes a huge difference.

Want to join the crew?
We coordinate everything through a quick and easy GroupMe chat. If you’re willing to help out when you can, drop a comment below or send us a message, and we’ll get you added to the group!

Thank you for helping us keep the kids on the pitch! 🙌 Let's work together to make this a fantastic season.

05/30/2026

⚽ Week 1 of Season 1 is in the books! Hope everyone had a fantastic opening week of soccer.

Just a few quick reminders as we head into the season:
🚫 Park Rules: No to***co, ma*****na, CBD, or alcohol allowed at any SAY Soccer game or field.
🤝 Sportsmanship: Please keep all language and comments to the opposing team positive and respectful.
🪑 Fan Seating: Fans should not sit directly behind the players' bench. (Please check the image below for the Niagara complex seating map!) This is for both fan safety and player focus.

🙌 A huge thank you to all of our referees, coaches, and players for making this first week possible! Let's have a great season.