Minnesota United FC will host a first-of-its-kind amputee soccer clinic, in collaboration with the American Amputee Soccer Association (AASA) and Minnesota Amputee FC, on Saturday, May 16 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota starting at 10:00 a.m. CT. It’ll be the first of three soccer clinics hosted at the NSC in an effort to create amputee soccer opportunities across the state of Minnesota and upper Midwest.
“We’re excited to launch amputee soccer clinics in Minnesota as part of our commitment to making the game more inclusive and accessible to all,” said Minnesota United Director of Community Relations Jen Winterfeldt. “Building on the impact of our Unified and Power Soccer teams, this program creates new opportunities for athletes with limb differences to connect with and enjoy the game. We’re grateful to partner with Minnesota Amputee FC, along with the American Amputee Soccer Association, to bring this vision to life and continue growing a more inclusive soccer community."
The inaugural clinic will be led by U.S. Men’s National Amputee Soccer Team captain Nico Calabria. Calabria will teach athletes the fundamentals of the game, including: crutch techniques, ball control and game play. The clinic is open to athletes of all ages, genders and skill levels.
Minnesota Amputee FC was founded by Make-A-Wish Minnesota Kid Tommy Schweinitz, his mother Liz Giel and father Gerd Schweinitz, in the hope of creating a soccer community in the North Star State that invites and welcomes individuals with limb differences. Tommy, a Minnesota United fan, was granted his wish of becoming a professional soccer player for Minnesota United in the summer of 2025. Tommy signed a first-team contract, participated in training and pregame activities, and scored a goal in front of MNUFC fans in the match against the Colorado Rapids on August 10, 2025.
“Amputee soccer has given Tommy a new way to compete, to grow, and to fall in love with the game all over again,” said Giel, who also serves as the American Amputee Soccer Association Regional Co-Director. “Having Minnesota United as a true partner in this — a club that genuinely wanted to open that door for more adaptive athletes — has meant more to our family than we can express. We believe this is just the beginning for amputee soccer in Minnesota, and hope to see this grow into a dedicated team of adaptive players across the state and surrounding areas discovering the same joy and possibilities in the sport.”
The two additional clinics will be held on Saturday, July 25 and Saturday, October 3 at the National Sports Center (1700 105th Avenue NE, Blaine, MN, 55449) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT.
Media interested in covering the clinics, please reach out to AASA Regional Co-Director Liz Giel at lgiel@usampsoccer.org
