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THE NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPERIENCETwo more National Championships in 2011!10 Total National Championships 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011Northern Lights was one of two only
two clubs in the nation that had the most medals
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November 8 Update: Response to our 17's age level tryout has been so strong we are considering adding a 5th team. Please register now if you are interested in playing with Northern Lights 17's so we can get an accurate count. Costs & Schedule will be the same as our 17 Black & Red teams. |
In 2011 we had 262 players.....98 of them were NEW to the club in all age groups. Contrary to the many rumors you hear....our teams are not set and this year's new player numbers will probably be very similar to last year. You can join us and play with the best! |
How much actual quality uninterrupted court time are you getting?Most Northern Lights teams have 3 guaranteed and scheduled practices per week, with none of them interrupted for SAQ, and none of them ending past 9:30pm. The number of practices our teams receive are not affected by a weekend tournament running in our building. |
Our teams do compete in the National Qualifiers and US Jr Nat Championships. The top events in the nation. |
For 2012
Northern Lights free Open Gym for 15's - 18's will be held on Wednesday November 9, 6-7:30pm. |
Why play Northern Lights ? See what our players say!
| ELITE TRAINING: | High level technical training by the area's finest high school, club, and collegiate coaches. |
| TRAVEL: | Competition in top USAV National Qualifiers, USAV Jr Nationals, AAU National Championships, and Regional tournaments. |
| EXPOSURE: | Northern Lights is known as an elite club among college coaches. We are
recognized as a training ground for future collegiate volleyball players.
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| REGIONAL/NATIONAL SUCCESS: | Home of Minnesota's only USAV & AAU National Champions. Lights undisputedly has had the most competitive club program in the North Country Region, has qualified more teams for the USAV Junior National Championships than any club in Minnesota, is the only club in Minnesota to win USAV National Championships, and is the only club in Minnesota to win AAU National Championships.
Previously in the USJO Championships:
Regionally: Northern Lights remains the undisputed leader in Regional Qualification Championships.
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| FACILITY: | With one stop at one facility (Midwest Volleyball Warehouse), the
experience of learning from other coaches and athletes becomes the true power
of the warehouse. All of our athletes train in one facility, and
all receive equal treatment. Our offices are located right behind the courts, and communication with players, parents, and staff is instaneous. The new Midwest Volleyball Warehouse is the premier volleyball facility in the USA. There is no other facility in like it in the world.
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| SETTER TRAINING: | The Northern Lights coaching staff has always believed that the success of
any team will be determined to a large degree by the skill level of the setter
running that team. Lights supports this philosophy by offering special setter
practices. Northern Lights is proud to announce that in 2012 we will have three top level setters coaches working with our players. Cathy Noth, Walt Weaver, and Dennis "Aame" Amundson will be involved in coaching our setters at specialized practices. Cathy Noth is recognized as one of the top setters coaches in the nation, Walt has been coaching setters for over 30 years, and Aame has been working with them for the past 25 years. Setter practices are designed to train the fundamentals of setting to those athletes who play the setter position for their team. Fundamentals include: setter footwork, hand positioning, jump setting, principles of running an offense, and setter deception skill |
| MIDDLE BLOCKER TRAINING: | For the eleventh consecutive year Northern Lights is going to offer our
Middle Blocker School. The middle blocker school is designed to train middle attackers in the fundamentals of: spike approach mechanics, arm swing mechanics, transition footwork, blocking footwork, slide hitting, read blocking, quick attacking and blocking within a system. |
| OUTSIDE HITTER TRAINING: | Northern Lights will once again offer it's outside hitters additional
training. Advanced sessions will be led by our top coaches. Northern Lights outside hitters are taught advanced hitting techniques that are not detrimental to their shoulder joints. |
| LIBERO TRAINING: | If setters and middles are your keys to offense, then Libero's are your
keys for defense. Northern Lights believes in a strong defensive program, and our Libero's will have the opportunity to participate in additional specialized training for their position. |
| STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING: | Now in the 7th year of our unique volleyball specific SAQ program we are seeing the benifits of stronger players and lower injury rates than other clubs in the area. Our players also typically see a 3-5" gain in their vertical jump, some of our athletes have seen some incredible vertical increases, as high as 9+" !
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| BANQUET: | At the end of each season we have a fabulous year end banquet with some
awesome Multi Media shows. The banquet has been held in the Minneapolis
Convention Center Ballroom the past five years to accommodate the FOUR huge
wall sized AV screens used. You can
click here to view 5 of the 16 multimedia presentations
used in our 2011 banquet. There is no cost to the players for this banquet, another advantage for those athletes playing with Northern Lights. |
| Northern Lights has been wonderful to my daughters and I and we are
truly blessed to have so many family members to turn to. My daughters have
grown into incredible young athletes with the help of you and your staff. My
daughters feel safe and know that they can turn to any Mom / Dad within your
club and be treated as one of their own. I never worry about travel as I know
that they are in the best care possible. The way that you go through and
determine chaperones, so there are no worries. Your top priority is creating
incredibly strong athletes and safety for every girl that walks through your
doors.... For that, I am truly grateful. I look forward to many more years with
Northern Lights. |
| Another GREAT banquet!!! Truly, Northern Lights is the BEST volleyball
program in the state, and I believe in the country! We are sooo thankful to be
part of your wonderful program!! Even last year when we had a daughter on both
a (XX)'s team AND a (XX)'s team, we were so thrilled to be a part at each
level. You made our daughter's feel important no matter which team they
competed on. I have told many people that no matter which team you have a
daughter on, Northern Lights supports ALL teams, and EVERY player is important,
be it a 1's player or a 5's player. The banquet tonight re-iterated this. ALL
teams are important :) Wanted to send you a note thanking you for all you do.
We LOVE being part of your volleyball family!!! |
| "We just wanted to say thank you for the great year. (Players Name)
played (another club) last year and it was not a good experience for us, we
knew there had to be something better in the cities. We were encouraged to try
Northern Lights and one season later, (Players Name) is a "lights"
girl! It has been a growing year for her and she has loved it and so have we as
parents. We just wanted to say Thank You for seeing and growing her
potential as a vb player, Thank You for setting up the chaparones with
great black and white boundaries that make the job enjoyable and keeps the
girls safe when they are away from home, Thank You for the coaching
staff that puts their hearts into our girls, Thank You for the SAQ
stafff that encourages and builds the bodies in preparation for court play,
Thank You for knowing all the players by name, Thank You for the
end of year banquet, and Thanks for having great popcorn! Thanks again
for everything, it has been a great season for us! " |
| "As a first time parent to Northern Lights, we were very impressed
by the banquet put on last night in honor of the girls, coaches and parents. It
was a first-class event and made us proud to be part of this organization. This
was a huge undertaking, the pictures and videos was an incredible amount of
work but made the night very special. (Players Name) commented that this gives
them a whole new motivation going into the AAU tournament in Florida. Thanks
for a very enjoyable night." |
| "We just got home from the banquet and I personally wanted to thank
you all for a wonderful evening! Since this was our first Northern Lights year,
we had only heard what to expect. It was obvious that much love and time was
spent on all details of the banquet and the video and pictures. Our family
thoroughly enjoyed the evening but I can tell you that without the wonderful
video and pictures the night would not have been complete. So, I just want you
to know that your time and efforts are appreciated. We were also talking on the
way home and we are so very happy that we chose to come join the Northern
Lights family. Once again, we did not know what to expect and our experience
has been nothing but wonderful. (Player's Names) were blessed to have such a
terrific coach and they have both grown as young women and as volleyball
players. Kudo's to everyone at Northern Lights! |
| "I can't say enough about the Northern Lights program. My daughter
has fulfilled her dream of playing volleyball at the collegiate level and it is
because of the quality of coaches and club experience she had at Northern
Lights. When (player's name) made the XX team last year, she couldn't believe a
short little setter could earn a spot with the top club in Minnesota. We never
regretted the decision to keep her on the XX team as she was given the
opportunity to set a 5-1 the entire season. She was ecstatic to play again as
an 18 even though it meant another year of commuting over an hour each way. We
will all tell you that she wouldn't have traded this experience in for any
other. Every coach in the club, (Gene, Doug, Jeff, Jodi, the setting coaches,
Trainer Lynn and, of course, Curt) have been so supportive of our daughter.
Playing for NL gave her the confidence to take her play to another level. We
often talk about how NL is really an extended family. We will never forget the
people and experiences you have given our daughter over the past 2 years.
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| A sincere and special thanks to Curt and the club for allowing us many opportunities to work off much of the fees. No one could possibly understand how hard it would have been for us to say "no" to club ball for (player's name) this past year when her father was layed off from work. Anyone who thinks NL is over-priced is wrong. NL is truly the best value for club volleyball in Minnesota! The cost is minimal for all the travel, quality coaching, and high level of competition you receive. |
| I wish I would have taken the time to let you know in writing each time
a coach made a difference in our daughters life. You certainly know how to pick
the best! I am amazed at the relationships the girls and coaches continue to
have after they leave the club. Best wishes with the new construction and I hope our paths cross again in the near future!" |
| "As (player's name) mom I was continually impressed with the volleyball skills you were able to show (player's name). She learned a great deal from you! Also impressive were the variety of drills you used to teach these skills. The fun and laughter sprinkled in with the hard work and determination was in my opinion, a large part of the success of this team. Your ability to deal with teenage girls was amazing! Pulling together 10 girls of various personalities into a team takes a special person! Somehow you were able to manage this. I am very proud to have (player's name) a part of your team with this great group of girls. Not only are the girls great athletes, but they too are great people. Thank you both for the great volleyball season! It was fun to watch your team." |
| Thank you for a great season! We really enjoyed being a part of the Northern Lights Club. Our daughter had participated on two other club teams before Northern Lights. We always heard such negative comments. Well those comments were totally off reality. Northern Lights was, by far, the BEST club we were involved with. Jealousy is a curious beast. If only we would not have believed the comments we heard, perhaps we could have enjoyed years with your outstanding program! We were always impressed with the entire Northern Lights programs. The facility, organization of the club, coaching staff, opportunity for players to be seen by the recruits, the level of play, and the generosity of everyone at Northern Lights. Thank you for giving our daughter the opportunity to play in your premier club." |
| Northern Lights is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of junior age volleyball athletes. Besides acquiring advanced skills and improving performance levels, players will learn the value of teamwork, responsibility, motivation, and discipline. The club is also committed to the development of volleyball in Minnesota by providing a showcase and support system for young women intending to extend their volleyball careers to college and beyond. |
| Playing time is based on practice and event performance. Playing time is not guaranteed. Court time at major competitions may be geared toward the best possible lineup. Local court time may be more evenly distributed. |
| Northern Lights will continue to attend National Qualifiers in Denver, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Minneapolis, USJNC Championships in Columbus, and the AAU National Championships in Orlando. |
| Lights will also bolster its schedule by once again playing/inviting other elite programs 3-4 times this season. These special Elite Series Tournaments may be held in Mpls., Rochester, Chicago, & Omaha. |
| Last year our players and their families raised over $55,000, with several athletes raising almost 100% of their club costs. |
| Players and/or parents have the opportunity to work in our concessions, handle door admissions, be site and building supervisors, or do several other club activities to raise funds for their fees. Each player in our club also has the opportunity to receive a $200 credit simply by helping with the setup and takedown of the Northern Lights Qualifier. |
| If you want to play, there is a way! |
| Special grants may also be available for some participants. |
| ° | Player fees are paid in 6-7 monthly installments starting in December. |
| ° | Our cost includes USJNC Championships for qualified teams. |
| ° | Our cost includes AAU Nationals for most of our teams. (1 week in Florida in June) Other clubs charge the same or more than Northern Lights but do not go to AAU Nationals! With Northern Lights you get more travel and more high level competition for the same or lower costs. |
| ° | ALL players receive uniforms from head to toe! From oldest to youngest, each player will get: -Practice Shirts (2-4 depending on your practice schedule) -Practice & Game Shorts -Game Jerseys (2-3 depending on your team's schedule) -Complete Warm-ups -Player Bag -Kneepads -Socks (2-3 pairs) -Shoes and there's always some extra surprises! In some clubs you have to buy items such as the player bags, kneepads, & socks ($70+)....not at Northern Lights, they are included as part of the uniform you receive. |
| ° | No & Low Cost Private Lessons are available from our full-time staff |
| Northern Lights is nationally recognized! Northern Lights is the best value! | |