Blizzard Elite Program ... In Detail (*some items subject to change)

What does the Blizzard Elite Program and Fee cover?

Blizzard Elite Traveling Tournaments

  • The Blizzard Elite teams will participate 6-7 tournaments that include both local and national tournaments.
  • 3 traveling tournaments (outside the Twin Cities)
  • Tournament fees paid (includes insurance for games and practices)
  • Gate fees paid
  • Coaches fees (plane ticket, hotel, meal, practice, etc.)
  • Fees do not include – airline tickets and meal money

Blizzard Elite Fall Training and Games

  • Blizzard players ages 10u-18u will play in the AFBL fall season which includes two 3-game series in August and September.
  • Most of our Blizzard Elite teams will play a heavy fall tournament schedule playing many local tournaments and college teams against DCTC Junior College, Century Junior College and Concordia St. Paul (DII in St. Paul)
  • Umpire fees, website fees, field fees, field maintenance, admin fee included
  • Insurance

Blizzard Elite Facility Membership and Lessons

  • Each player receives a Player Membership through January 1st enabling them access to the Blizzard Baseball Academy to hit, throw, workout or even do their homework. Open Hitting times will be subject to availability.  *Note* All players required to wear to wear Blizzard Shirt and Hat for access.

Blizzard Elite Coaches

  • Assistant Coaches this year will be primarily a roving instructor specifically chosen by each team’s head coach.  We will have 2-4 coaches at winter practice this year and will also bring to our tournaments roving instructors and coaches based on coach availability and tournament.

Blizzard Elite Uniforms, Apparel and Equipment

  • Uniform provided includes:
    • Blizzard jersey
    • Blizzard hat and/or undershirt
    • Equipment (will be provided if needed)
    • Balls / Bats / whiffle balls, etc.
    • Please wear Blizzard's dominant colored sleeves (royal blue or black) –  no off-color sleeves.  Stirrups are allowed (and encouraged!)

Blizzard Elite Practices

  • Approx. 25 team practices (August-January 1st)
  • August
    • 2x week at either Inver Grove Heights / Century College / Concordia St. Paul / Blizzard Academy
  • September
    • Saturday Practices – Times TBA
    • Week Day Practice Times - TBA
  • Winter Practice
  • October 1st - last tournament
    • 1 weekend practice (Saturday or Sunday)
    • WEEK END PRACTICES:  All teams will practice on the weekends at one of the two primary locations (Blizzard Baseball Academy - Vadnais Heights and/or Edina facility)
  • Practice location:
    • Blizzard Academy - 3200 Labore Road, Suite 102 - Vadnais Hts.

Our coaches will run a prepared, efficient and a results-based practice that will include: hitting, fielding and throwing instruction plus live pitching and at-bats to get prepared for tournaments.

Players of all ages are encouraged to come to other practices if they cannot make their own or if they would like to get additional reps in.

Blizzard Elite Game and Practice Fields   

  • Practice and game fields are covered by your Blizzard fee.  Once late fall arrives and the snow flies, teams will practice indoors at Blizzard Baseball Academy in Vadnais Heights, MN.  An additional fee may be added if for additional practices or additional winter games.

Blizzard Performance Center - Strength Training !

  • As a part of the Blizzard Elite program this year, all players will have the opportunity to enroll into our Blizzard Performance Center, an advanced training program for baseball players and athletes.  This program will focus on making our players faster, stronger and quicker by going through baseball specific workouts geared toward our players who want to take their game to the next level - whether it is arm strength, a quicker 60-yard dash time or vertical leap, this program is designed for the intense and results-based athlete.
  • Shoulder/Elbow Consultations and Arm Rehab with Twin Cities Orthopedics
  • We also have a formal partnership with Twin Cities Orthopedics as our primary medical provider and consultant with our athletes.

Blizzard Elite Developmental and College Consultations

  • The ultimate goal for any junior and senior is the opportunity to play after high school.  Looking for colleges, being recruited and who to talk to can sometimes be a complicated and confusing process before you graduate high school.  Our staff provides free college consultations to both players and parents offering helpful advice to make the recruiting process easier and less stressful.
  • 100% of our players have had the opportunity to play college and/or pro ball after high school.  Our goal is to keep that stat the same every year.  From making personal calls to coaches and scouts, writing letters of recommendation to helping players with homework, our goal is to see our players succeed.
  • And while it’s too early to get into serious detail about college at ages 10u-15u, it’s not too early to discuss what steps need to be taken in the development of a player.  Much like our consultations with our college-bound players, we sit down with younger players and families and give assessments of where players currently are and what he needs to work on to progress to the next level.

Blizzard Elite Team Bonding – date TBD (usually October)   

  • ‘Family’, ‘Best Friends’ and ‘Brothers’ are all terms that our players use when they are involved in the Blizzard program.  Having talented players isn’t the only thing a team needs to win championships.  Playing together and playing for each other are just as important.  We’ve implemented team outings and bonding days where the entire team will enjoy time with their teammates outside the lines.
  • Team quizzes, games, camp fires, specific team outings and our ‘Blizzard Circle’ are just some of the activities the Blizzard players and coaches go through in one of the biggest Blizzard events of the year.  Many former players remember this weekend as their best time during their Blizzard playing years!
  • This date also serves as our Blizzard Hit-a-Thon

Location for this event changes annually.  In years past, we have stayed at: Kimball Retreat, Jordan Ropes Course, Shakopee Bowl, Roseville Athletic Center.

Blizzard Elite Awards Ceremony

  • At year’s end, the Blizzard program has an awards ceremony to recognize the top players from each team.  Plaques are awarded and voted on by the players and the banquet gives everyone a chance to say their good byes, reminisce and look forward to the next season.

AWARDS CEREMONY - Post-Season Award Winners

  • Every year, players on each team vote for each other in four categories: the "Johnny Price" Most Valuable Player, "Joe Loftus" Top Hitter Award, "Logan Shore" Top Pitcher Award, "Blue gLove" Top Defensive Player Award and the “Jake Kuschke” Leadership Award.  The staff also awards one coach with the "Montana" Coach of the Year Award and "Diesel" Award.