The Minnesota Racquetball Junior Team Minnesota exists to improve the racquetball skills of its participants by sponsoring racquetball programs for girls and boys ages 6-18 and by working closely with the Minnesota Racquetball Association to promote and foster youth racquetball. Please note if you are 18 years old as of January 1st 2016 you are of age to participate in this seasons events. If you need more information about Junior Team Minnesota or have questions please contact Andrea Hartman at [email protected]
MRA annually donates a lump sum of money to support Junior Team Minnesota expenses including uniform and Junior National Tournament registration. To be eligible for these donations from MRA, you must register by Feb. 1st.
Please note that juniors are still able to register for these tournaments and participate in Junior Team Minnesota activities after the registration deadline, but new this year, anyone that registers for Junior Team Minnesota after the registration deadline, will not receive any financial support from MRA Previous years this financial support covered basic uniform costs and Junior National Tournament registration). We anticipate a larger number of youth playing on junior team Minnesota this year. Each junior will receive an equal percent of the overall stipend from MRA amount tbd depending on number of juniors who register by Feb. 1st
Program Requirements for the 2016 Season
As part of the online registration process, you'll be asked to acknowledge and consent to the following program requirements:
Requirement #1: Feb. 1 Registration Deadline
I understand I must register my junior player for Junior Team Minnesota by Feb. 1st to be eligible for MRA financial assistance to assist with the costs of team uniforms and/or the costs associated with signing up for the junior national tournament.
Requirement #2: Jr. National Tournament Participation
I understand I must register my junior player for Junior Team Minnesota by Feb. 1st to be eligible for MRA financial assistance to assist with the costs of team uniforms and/or the costs associated with signing up for the junior national tournament.
Requirement #3: Team Activity Participation
It is expected that Junior Team Minnesota players will attend the National Junior Racquetball Championships in Fridley June 22-26 and a minimum of five additional team activities listed below.
- Local Event Activites
- January 15th - 17th MN Hall of Fame Life Time Fitness Bloomington
- February 6th Life Time One Day Shootout Life Time Fitness Fridley
- February 21th 1-3pm Life Time Fitness Junior Shootout Bloomington
- February 26th - 28th Spring Shootout The Club - St. Cloud
- February 29th 6pm-8pm Coaches Clinic and Parent informational meeting “Demystifying tournament play”. Kids will work on skill advancement with Coach Brian and Dan while parents meet with Andrea to learn how tournament play works for beginner junior players. Saint Louis Park Life Time Fitness (pending remodel completion this event may move to Fridley Life Time Fitness).
- March 11th - 13th MN State Singles Life Time Fitness Fridley
- April 15th - 17th IRT Pro Nationals Tier 1 Life Time Fitness Fridley
- April 25th 6p-8pm Junior Team Minnesota Junior shootout Saint Louis Park Life Time Fitness
- May 15th 1-3pm Life Time Fitness Junior Shootout Bloomington
- May 16th 6-8pm Junior Team Minnesota Clinic and Pizza party. Gear up for Junior Nationals 7-8pm challenge match/coach instruction. 7-8pm pizza party. Saint Louis Park Life Time Fitness.
- June 12 1-3pm Life Time Fitness Junior Shootout Bloomington. Gear up for Junior Nationals with our last big junior shootout of the seaso.
- June 22-26 2016 National Junior Racquetball Championships Fridley (required)
- Non-Event Team Activities
- Write an article about your favorite pro player and post it on the Minnesota Racquetball facebook page.
- Introduce another junior to the sport of racquetball (have someone sign off as witness that you played racquetball with a youth that hasn’t played the sport before. (If you introduce multiple juniors to the sport, each junior counts as a separate activity).
- Setup and lead a junior clinic at your home club (invite junior Team Minnesota to travel to your club for this clinic).
- Play racquetball twice a week for 6 weeks and document your goals/accomplishments over this six weeks of practice and/or match play (have someone sign off on completion of this activity) you can do this more than once for multiple activity credit.
- Write a 500 word essay on how to display sportsmanship on and off the racquetball court.
- Other (send activity proposal to [email protected] for approval prior to completion of activity).
Requirement #4: Uniforms & Apparel
I understand that it will be my responsibility to purchase one Junior Team Minnesota outfit (either performance shirt and shorts combo at the cost of $67 or the girls shirt and skirts combo at the cost of $62) all other apparel is optional. It will be my responsibility to submit a check or cash made payable to Lakeside Promotions within 7 business days of placing my uniform order. I also understand upon completing registration I will receive further communication via email regarding purchasing the Junior Team Minnesota uniform.
