Youth Development |
 Welcome to the 13th year of Minnesota¨ˆs most popular summer soccer camp program, the Minnesota Thunder Summer Soccer Camps. With over 3,000 summer camp participants in 2007, we are looking forward to another summer full of soccer and smiles! We understand the commitment you are making by sending your young soccer player to a Minnesota Thunder Camp; in return we commit to creating the most valuable learning experience available. We offer an opportunity unlike any other camp in Minnesota, the chance for your players to learn from the professional players of the Thunder and Lightning. To make things as easy as possible we offer a mail-in registration form along with an online form found at www.mnthunder.com . Once you¨ˆve registered you will receive a ⌠First Day Checklist¡ö so that you and your camper can be prepared for the first Monday morning. Staff greeters will be stationed at each campsite on Monday to welcome parents and players and provide any assistance that may be required. Parents have an extended invitation to observe their child at camp at any time. Upon the completion of your child¨ˆs camp week, players will receive evaluations on their strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. The Minnesota Thunder and Lightning adhere to the guidelines set by the US Youth Soccer Kid Safe Program and MYSA Player Protection. These guidelines can be found at http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/programs/risk_mgmt.cfm . O ur staff and coaches have been trained using the MYSA/PACT (Parents and Coaches Together) program emphasizing the need for each camper to feel cared for, to be given choices within the training framework, and a feeling of competence to perform at their highest level. Register before April 15th and receive a Youth Gold Pass good for admittance into all 2008 Thunder and Lightning regular season home games ($180 value!) Campers are still encouraged to use their complimentary MYSA ticket at one Thunder or Lightning game this summer. Here is a brief overview of what we offer: * * 2008 Spring Camps * * Rugrats Camp Open to all players ages 5-7 Morning $125 // Afternoon $85 The ultimate goal of this program is to give a positive introductory soccer camp experience to the beginning soccer player. The focus will be on basic soccer instruction in an extremely fun and active environment. Along with instruction, these young players will begin to learn valuable lessons like sportsmanship, respect for teammates and coaches and how to build new friendships. Spring Tune-Up Camp Open to all players ages 8-12 Morning $ 140 // Afternoon $95 Get your bundle of energy out of the house this week with the Minnesota Thunder Spring Break Camp. Players will focus on improving a full range of techniques as well as competing in team activities designed to get them prepared and excited for their league and tournament play. Skills covered include dribbling, passing and receiving, ball control, shooting, heading, defending and more. Rugrats & Spring Tune-Up Time: 9am - 12pm or 12pm - 2pm Dates: March 17 - 20 // National Sports Center, Blaine // 9:00 - 12:00pm March 17 - 20 // Irish Dome, Rosemount // 12:00 - 2:00pm March 31 ¡Ì April 3 // Bielenberg Sports Center, Woodbury // 9:00 - 12:00pm Crash Camp Open to all players ages 12-18 Morning or Evening Sessions // $85 Aaron Leventhal, Certified Fit Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach for the MN Thunder, has designed this camp specifically to improve the strength, speed and foot skills of young players. Small group training allows for each participant to receive instruction on proper form and technique from multiple professional athletes. Players will develop skills to increase joint stability, dynamic power, multi-directional speed, advanced footwork and more. Crash Camp Time: 10:30am - 12pm or 6:30pm - 8pm Dates: March 17 - 20 // FIT Studio, St. Paul or Minneapolis // 10:30am ¡Ì 12:00pm March 31 - April 3 // FIT Studio, St. Paul or Minneapolis // 10:30am ¡Ì 12:00pm April 21 - 24 // FIT Studio, St. Paul or Minneapolis // 6:30pm - 8:00pm * * 2008 Summer Camps * * Day Camp Programs RUGRATS // Half Day $130 Open to all players ages 5 to 7 This introduction into the sport of soccer will leave your little players wanting more. The focus will be on basic soccer instruction in an extremely fun and active environment. Along with instruction, players will begin to learn valuable lessons like sportsmanship, respect for teammates and coaches and how to build new friendships. RECREATIONAL PLAYER // Full Day $215 // Half Day $140 Open to all recreational players ages 8 to 12 Designed with the recreational player in mind, this program will cover many different aspects of the game of soccer including dribbling, passing and receiving, shooting, heading, defending, and more. The goal will be to help solidify the basic technique of these young players while getting them ready to make the jump to the Competitive or Traveling programs. (Players will be further subdivided by age group and gender) JUNIOR BALL MASTERS // Full Day $225 // Half Day $150 Open to all U9 and U10 competitive players This program is designed to help lay the technical foundation for aspiring young soccer players. If proper technical soccer skills are not taught at the young ages, it becomes increasingly more difficult to break ⌠bad¡ö technical habits as the years go by. Footskills will be the focus and, while still fun, young players will likely be asked to work harder than they have been used to with their club teams. BALL MASTERS // Full Day $225 // Half Day $150 Open to all U11 and U12 competitive players While still concentrating on technical development, the Ball Masters Program will teach players how to apply their skills in real game situations. Competitive drills and exercises as well as small-sided games will give participants plenty of game-realistic practice that will help them become more comfortable under pressure. ADVANCED BALL MASTERS // Full Day $225 // Half Day $150 Open to all U13 and U14 competitive players This intensive program will cover advanced technical skills as well as tactical applications of these skills. Topics include advanced dribbling moves, advanced passing and receiving techniques, advanced shooting techniques, advanced heading techniques, defending techniques and more. GK POSITIONAL TRAINING // Full Day $225 // Half Day $150 Open to all U11 to U14 competitive players Featuring MN Thunder Goalkeepers, this specialized program is designed for the developing goalkeeper. Topics covered will include ball handling skills, footwork, controlling the penalty box, positioning, collecting air balls, diving technique, breakaways, and more. Players will work on these skills and then have a chance to put them to use every morning in our ThunderCup Tournament. FULL DAY CAMPS 9 am ¡Ì 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, 9 am ¡Ì 12 pm on Friday HALF DAY CAMPS 9 am ¡Ì 12 pm Monday through Friday
Based on the tremendous results of our expanded All Girls Camp Program last summer, we are excited to once again provide multiple weeks of this popular program in 2008. This camp is designed for the female soccer player looking to develop her skills and soccer knowledge in a positive and challenging training environment. Directed by Danny Storlien, Head Coach of the MN Lightning, these camps will feature an almost entirely female soccer staff made up of Lightning players and some of the most capable female coaches that Minnesota has to offer. The special curriculum will target the development of the young female player and emphasize both technical and tactical aspects of the game in a fun and competitive atmosphere. Players will be divided into training groups based on age and ability. Time: 9am - 12pm All Girls Camp participants will receive:
A Thunder GameBreaker is a player who can completely change the outcome of a soccer game in a split second. For attacking players, it¨ˆs all about scoring goals. Attackers will learn advanced 1v1 techniques, shooting for power, volleys and half volleys, bending balls, finishing breakaways, head to score, finishing crosses, attacking runs, wide play, attacking combination play, creativity around the box, and more. GameBreakers participants will receive:
This clinic is geared towards the overall development of the defensive player. Participants will work in small groups with star Minnesota Thunder defenders, then test their abilities against GameBreakers participants. Topics covered will include defending 1v1, defending numbers up, delay/jockeying, advanced tackling, defensive shapes, distributing from the back, starting counter attacks, clearing the box, defensive heading, defending crosses and more. The Art of Defending participants will receive:
Advanced Shot Stopping Open to all U11 to U17 competitive players The Advanced Shot Stopping Program has been created for the competitive goalkeeper. Players will focus on technical development and tactical ideas and then put them to the test by competing against the GameBreakers attackers. Techniques covered include footwork, shooting angles/reducing the goal size, catching and boxing, breakaways, handling crosses, diving and deflecting, the second save, controlling the box and more. Advanced Shot Stopping participants will receive:
Residential Camps These camps are geared towards the advanced field players and goalkeepers. All residential camps are held on the campus of Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Two residential camps are available for both boys and girls ages 9-17. Players will learn from experienced Thunder and Lightning camp coaches as well as youth, high school and college coaches specifically chosen for this camp based upon their exceptional background and experience. -Youth Residential Camp 9 to 12 -Senior Residential Camp 13 to 18 This intensive camp will prepare the players for the physically demanding high school season. Minnesota Thunder Strength and Conditioning Coach, Aaron Leventhal, has designed a speed and conditioning program that will allow players to excel physically throughout the grind of the season. Along with speed and conditioning, technical training and competitive games will leave players more than ready for their upcoming season Quick Links |