BTFC Families,

Here is some detailed program information about our merger with the Minnesota Thunder and the Wings Soccer Club.

Minnesota Thunder Academy Program FAQs

• General Academy Information (pdf)
• ThunderRec Program (pdf) coming soon
  
• Regional Development Program (pdf) coming soon
  
• Thunder Juniors Program (pdf)*
• Elite Development Program (pdf)
  

 * Note to current U8 to U11 BTFC Academy participants.  The Thunder Juniors Program is the same as our current Academy program that you've been used to with our club.  Structured, year-round training in a team context for next year's U8 to U12 age groups.  Just a different name. 

More information will be forthcoming. 

More questions?

Please contact the following Minnesota Thunder Academy Directors.

General Information - Mark Abboud, Steve Bellis, MTA Technical Directors

ThunderRec Program - Dave Alberti, MTW Regional Academy Director

Regional Development Program, North - Brian Pederson, MTN Regional Academy Director
Regional Development Program, South - Rob Zahl, Interim MTS Elite Regional Academy Director
Regional Development Program, East - Andy Kaasa, MTE Regional Academy Director
Regional Development Program, West - Dave Alberti, MTW Regional Academy Director
Regional Development Program, Urban - Tod Herskovitz, MTU Regional Academy Director

Thunder Juniors Program - Mark Abboud, MTA Technical Director

Girls Elite Development Program - Mark Cook, Chad Moore, MTA Girls Elite Academy Directors

Boys Elite Development Program - Rob Zahl, Tod Herskovitz, MTA Boys Elite Academy Directors

Minnesota Thunder Academy Tryouts

Detailed information about tryout dates, times, and locations, will be posted by Friday, July 4th.  Online tryout registration will also open at that time.

We realize that members may have questions regarding our recent merger with the Minnesota Thunder and the Wings SC.  Know that we are working hard to provide full program details by the end of this month.  For now, here are the tentative dates for our upcoming 0809 Tryouts. 

Full program details, FAQs, and registration information will be posted by June 30.

MTA Juniors Street Soccer Festival

Sunday, July 20 - National Sports Center (Blaine)
Open to all current U7 to U11 players

MTA Juniors Team Tryouts

Sunday, July 27 - Neiman Sports Complex (Minneapolis)
Sunday, August 3 - Neiman Sports Complex (Minneapolis)
For next year's U8, U9, U10, and U11 age groups

August 5, 6, 7, or 8 - Site TBD
Saturday, August 9 - Neiman Sports Complex (Minneapolis)
For next year's U12 age group

Current BTFC North, South, and East Academy programs are now called the Minnesota Thunder Academy Juniors programs.  More details on this in the coming weeks.

• Minnesota Thunder Academy East - Woodbury
  
• Minnesota Thunder Academy West - New Hope/Plymouth
• Minnesota Thunder Academy North - Andover/Blaine
• Minnesota Thunder Academy South - Bloomington/Lakeville
• Minnesota Thunder Academy Urban - Minneapolis/St. Paul
  

MTA Elite Team Tryouts

August 5, 6, 7, or 8 - Neiman Sports Complex (Minneapolis)
Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10 - National Sports Center (Blaine)
For all U13 and older Elite teams

These dates are posted to give our membership an idea of the time frame of the 0809 Minnesota Thunder Academy Tryouts.  Dates are subject to change.  Time will be posted next week.

To BTFC Families,

The Bangu Tsunami FC board is excited to announce that our BTFC clubs (BNG, BTE, BTN) will be joining forces with the Minnesota Thunder and Wings Soccer Club to launch the Minnesota Thunder Academy.

We know many of you have heard rumors over the past few months as we discussed options and possibilities with the Thunder.

The changes your teams will see are minimal.  The biggest change will be the name change for the U13-U19 teams from Bangu Tsunami FC to Minnesota Thunder Elite Academy and for the U8-U12 teams from Bangu Tsunami (East, North or South) Academy to Minnesota Thunder Academy (East, North or South).   The press release states there will be two teams formed at each age group/gender U13-U19.  That is the plan for the future, but please rest assured that we have no plans to eliminate any teams from age levels where we currently have more than two.  We envision increased opportunities for our players, coaches, and teams as a result of this merger.

The people involved with the success of Bangu Tsunami will still be leaders and decision makers for Minnesota Thunder Academy teams and players will now have access to the resources the Minnesota Thunder has to offer as well as the combined resources Wings SC and Bangu Tsunami bring to the table.

We understand you will have many questions and we will provide more details in coming weeks.

Barry Neal - President
Bob Hoaglin - Vice President
Rob Zahl - Boys Coaching Director
Mark Cook - Girls Coaching Director
Danny Storlien - Elite Director
Mark Abboud - Director of Player Development

(June 12, 2008) The Minnesota Thunder Professional Soccer Team has taken a bold new step to help reshape the soccer landscape and make Minnesota a national innovator in soccer development.  After seven months of extensive dialogue and collaborative research, the Thunder has combined two of the elite soccer clubs in Minnesota under the Thunder banner to add a new dimension to youth soccer in the state.  With the inclusion of Bangu Tsunami FC and Wings SC, the Thunder Academy will begin with over 90 competitive teams forming one of the largest clubs in the Midwest.  Together the two elite clubs have produced 39 State Cup Champions, 6 Regional Finalists, and 3 Regional Champions since 2002. 

Coinciding with the inception of the Minnesota Thunder Academy (MTA), the Thunder will offer an Open Affiliate Program which is available to all soccer clubs.  This program is designed to help Minnesota soccer youth organizations promote the sport in their community, by offering access to the Thunder’s growing network of resources, players, and coaches.  “Since our inception in 1990 the Thunder has served as a soccer ambassador to the Minnesota community,” comments Thunder owner Dean Johnson, “This new program is an extension of our overall cooperative vision.”

The Minnesota Thunder Academy will be comprised of Regional Academies (North, South, East, West, and Urban) and the Minnesota Thunder Elite Academy. 

Regional Academies are open to all interested players and will provide professional leadership for recreational and competitive players ages 4 to 19.  “The great thing about this collaboration is that these Regional Academies will embrace the structure and programming of both Bangu Tsunami FC and Wings SC, in addition to the youth development philosophy of the Minnesota Thunder,”  says team President Manny Lagos.

The Minnesota Thunder Elite Academy will be focused on the development of Minnesota’s top players.  There will be two teams formed at each age group/gender from U13 to U19 with the goal of regional and national success.  “Our philosophy is to bring together talented players under the guidance of top-level coaches in order to help the players reach their full potential,” states Thunder Technical Director Steve Bellis. 

Including Thunder Regional Academies and the Thunder Elite Academy, over 1400 players will wear the Thunder badge beginning in the fall of 2008.

Modeling the structure on existing European and South American academies, the Minnesota Thunder Academy will provide a uniquely American path from youth to professional.  “I’m committed to adding more Minnesota players to the Thunder roster,” states Thunder Head Coach Amos Magee,  “This youth initiative will help us identify and develop future Thunder and Lightning first team prospects.”

The Minnesota Thunder Academy has hired the following Directors to oversee this progressive program:

    Mark Cook - MTA Girls Elite Team Director
    Chad Moore - MTA Girls Elite Team Director
    Rob Zahl - MTA Boys Elite Team Director
    Tod Herskovitz - MTA Boys Elite Team Director
    Mark Abboud - MTA Technical Director
    Steve Bellis - MTA Technical Director   

The Thunder Academy’s innovative youth to pro structure, along with its history of successful soccer in the Midwest, has already sparked dialogue and interest from potential European partners.  These relationships are expected to include player and coach exchange as well as shared best practices. 

The Thunder Academy will be a non-profit organization focused on providing soccer opportunities for all participants regardless of economic status.  “In the United States, many high potential athletes are prohibited from taking advantage of professional-level training due to financial restraints.  A goal of the Thunder Academy is to provide cost reduction and eventual program cost elimination for all players through Thunder partnerships and sponsorships,” adds Thunder Technical Director Mark Abboud.

The Thunder Academy is actively seeking out the most interested soccer players and coaches to participate in structured, year-round training within team contexts.   Tryouts for U8-U11 players will be in July and for U12 and older players in August.  Tryouts will be open to all interested players, regardless of previous club affiliation and led by Thunder Academy Directors, Thunder Academy professional staff members, and Thunder/Lightning players. 

Full program details will be available by June 30, 2008, at the Thunder website, www.mnthunder.com

John Jerabek, Wings SC Board Member
Wings SC is extremely excited about this opportunity.  One of our main goals in structuring this arrangement was to provide opportunities for growth for all players within the organization, without requiring the children to leave their neighborhood teams at an early age or lose the community programming that both clubs have found successful.  The combined programs will provide for the development of every player at every ability and level of interest by bringing together Minnesota's top youth and professional coaching staffs, providing additional training opportunities for all players and enhancing those programs that have a proven track record of success.  This model provides the best of both worlds for the children in our community and provides a model organization for Minnesota youth soccer where the good of the players and families come first.

Rob Zahl, Bangu Tsunami FC Boys Coaching Director
I have been with Bangu Tsunami FC as a player, coach and director for nearly 20 years and have seen us grow from a handful of teams to the most competitive club in the state.  We began discussions with the Thunder late last year and the end result is an amazing collaboration for Minnesota soccer.

Along with the Wings SC and the Minnesota Thunder, we have created a unique development environment that will enable us to set the curve not only statewide but also nationally.  I am thrilled to be involved with this group and very excited to see the quality opportunity we will provide for the soccer community.

2008 BTFC Elite Girls Development Camp

Bangu Tsunami FC Girls Director of Coaching, Mark Cook, would like to invite you to the Nike Girls Camp geared toward the motivated player who is looking to improve their individual soccer skills.

Download Registration PDF

2007 Camp Recap 

A Friday rain delay and eventual cancellation of all games didn't put a damper on our Academy teams' spirits last weekend at the Blaine Breakout Tournament.  Both our U10B and U10G East Blue teams played some terrific soccer up at the U11 age group, both taking home the first place trophies with overtime victories in the championship games.

The U11B BTFC 97.n Blue (North) team won the U11 C2 division, beating the Minneapolis United Cyclones 4-0 in the final game.

Our U12G BTFC Academy 96.w (West) White team also emerged victorious as the U12 C2 champs!  Also up in Blaine were the U8B BTFC Academy 00.e Blues,  the U11G BTFC Academy 97.e Whites (2-0-1), the U11B BTFC Academy 97.e Blues (2-1-0).

Great job guys!