May 18, 2012

Dear Hopkins Dynamo & Tonka United families,

This letter is to inform you of exciting news that is impacting our organizations.  For the past several months, board members from Hopkins Dynamo and Tonka United have been exploring the possibility of a merger.  We have carefully and thoughtfully weighed the pros and cons of merging and have come to the consensus that merging our two clubs would benefit everyone involved.  Listed below are a few of the positive outcomes we expect to experience as a result of a merger.

• Increased access to outdoor fields and indoor training space through combined facility use.
• Increased number of players allowing for more cohesive and competitive age groups and teams.
• Increased overall quality of the program through the availability of additional resources both on and off the field. 
• Increased player development opportunities at all age levels resulting from increased numbers of players and coaching staff.

The decision to pursue a merger came after much thought and consideration for the best interest of the kids playing soccer today and in the future.  We will be holding a general membership meeting to answer any questions you may have.  This meeting will be held at 8:00pm on May 24, 2012, Thursday at Hopkins Pavilion.                                              

Thoughtfully,

The Hopkins Dynamo and Tonka United Board Members

FAQ's
posted 5/18/2012 by Dynamo Board

Frequently Asked Questions

Why merge with Tonka?

Our goal is to provide the best possible soccer experience for every player and family.

 

Why merge with Tonka? Why not another Club?

Our player development philosophies are aligned. We are neighbors geographically and we already share some facilities. 

 

Why don’t we just form a new soccer Club? 

We would incur many additional costs and administration tasks to form a new Club. It is a much simpler transaction to merge Hopkins Dynamo with Tonka United.

 

How will this change increase player development opportunities?

With greater numbers of players at any given age, we will be able to create groups of players with similar playing ability and commitment level. Staff coaches are assigned groups and will run practices for every team in the club.

 

What will happen with my team?

2012 Summer Hopkins teams will be given the choice to stay together. We will work with each team and age group for the transition to Tonka. You will need to attend tryouts.

 

What happens if my team does not stay together?

You may attend tryouts for your age group and be placed on a team. With the increased numbers of players in any given age group pool, players have a much better opportunity to be placed with like ability players.

 

How is team placement determined?

Teams will be formed based on ability and level of play. Geographic area for younger teams (U9-U12) will be taken into consideration after dividing by level of play.

 

How many players are there at my child’s age group?

Refer to the combined age group chart for the 2012 teams for both clubs.

 

What will happen to my coach?

Dynamo coaches will be integrated into Tonka. Keith and Jonathan Schaefer (Tonka’s Coaching Director) will work together to determine appropriate coaches for each team. 

 

Where are the practice fields? 

Hopkins & Tonka combined resources will expand the geographic range of our practice and game fields. Our range will be from Freeman Park in Shorewood to Hopkins High School in Minnetonka.

 

Are the costs different?

Tonka United fee structure is $125 for fall soccer. 2013 spring/summer fees are yet to be determined but should be similar to past years. $430 U8-U10, $445 for U11-U17, $200 U18. 

 

What is included in the cost? Player registration fees include MYSA fees and insurance, games for the 2013 MYSA spring/summer league, referees, outdoor fields, Club equipment, administration and one time per week indoor training January through mid-March.

 

What is not included in the cost? 

There may be additional fees assessed for coaching, tournaments, indoor leagues, team gear, additional indoor winter & spring training, etc.

 

Will we need to change uniforms?

The goal is to have all teams wearing the same uniform. Tonka will be in their 2^nd year of the Adidas uniform. The current cost is $110 for U8-U12, $130 for U13-U17. We will work on this transition with each individual Dynamo team.

 

What happens to Keith?

Keith will continue in a coaching leadership role at Tonka

 

What happens to JoAnn & Carol?

They will help with the transition and beyond as needed.

 

How can we assure Hopkins Dynamo has a voice in decisions?

Join the Tonka United Board of Directors. Hopkins Dynamo needs parents to volunteer to fill positions.

 

How can I give feedback?

We look forward to hearing from you. Please email your comments. Use the ‘Contact Us’ link on the left menu on our website. www.hopkinsdynamosc.org

We will continue to add to our FAQ page as we get questions from families.

2012 High School Summer Training Program
posted 4/10/2012 by Keith Pavelka

Hopkins High School Varsity Soccer Coaches, Keith Pavelka (Girls) and Justin Hegre (Boys) are excited to announce a summer training program for soccer players.   Objective: The objective of this program is to provide a summer training program to prepare athletes to become better all around soccer players.  Players will receive ongoing summer training, working on specific skill sets to help them grow into the best possible players.  Each player will receive professional training and feedback pertaining to their skill level and position along with areas to target to become an all around better player.  Drills and activities will be designed for each player’s needs.  Curriculum: Coaches Pavelka and Hegre have worked to create a curriculum to help players in all aspects of their soccer game.   The main focus will be working on individual technical skill.  We will work on many technical aspects of the game including dribbling, passing, shooting (power and accuracy), 1v1s, etc... We will also touch on tactical aspects of the game.  Working from small sided and larger games we will talk about and work on positioning, creating space, making runs, and decision making on the ball.  We will also discuss setting goals for yourself and working to achieve your short term and long term goals.   Training  Program: The program will begin with a kick off week of training Monday through Friday. The following weeks, athletes will have 2 days per week of training on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Week 7 is our High School Preseason Camp where players come every day Mon-Fri. This week is included in the entire summer soccer training program cost of $310)  Boys and Girls:  7th - 9th Grade – 9:00am to 10:30am  Boys and Girls:  10th - 12th Grade - 10:30am-Noon  Week 1 – June 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Week 2 – June 19, 22 Week 3 – June 26, 29 Week 4 - No training Week 5 – July 10, 13 Week 6 – July 17, 20 Week 7 - July 23, 24, 25, 26, 27   (All Girls are 9-11am.   All Boys are 11am-1pm)   Cost $310 Entire program – weeks 1-7  Register by May 15, 2012 & take advantage of the early bird discount Early bird discount – deduct $50 **Attending this Preseason soccer camp is not required and does not guarantee placement on a High School Soccer team.   LOCATION: Hopkins West Jr. High, 3830 Baker Road, Minnetonka

2012 Preseason High School Soccer Camp posted 3/31/2012 by

2012 Summer Cleat Camp
posted 2/23/2012 by Keith Pavelka

For Boy and Girl Campers Ages 4-12
June 11-15, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Hopkins West Jr. High, 3830 Baker Road, Minnetonka

 

Coaches: Our coaching staff is led by the Hopkins Girls High School Varsity Coach, Keith Pavelka, and will include former players.
 
Goal: To improve each player’s individual soccer technical skills and have FUN!
 
“Free” - Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt.
 
 

Great Value at only $85.00 per week
Sign up with a friend!
Call for special pricing for groups of 8 or more. 952 931-9154
Registration is limited: Sign up before May 15, 2012 to reserve your spot and save $10. You will receive a confirmation e-mail upon receipt of your registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why merge with Tonka?

Our goal is to provide the best possible soccer experience for every player and family.

Why merge with Tonka? Why not another Club?

Our player development philosophies are aligned. We are neighbors geographically and we already share some facilities. 

Why don’t we just form a new soccer Club? 

We would incur many additional costs and administration tasks to form a new Club. It is a much simpler transaction to merge Hopkins Dynamo with Tonka United.

How will this change increase player development opportunities?

With greater numbers of players at any given age, we will be able to create groups of players with similar playing ability and commitment level. Staff coaches are assigned groups and will run practices for every team in the club.

What will happen with my team?

2012 Summer Hopkins teams will be given the choice to stay together. We will work with each team and age group for the transition to Tonka. You will need to attend tryouts.

What happens if my team does not stay together?

You may attend tryouts for your age group and be placed on a team. With the increased numbers of players in any given age group pool, players have a much better opportunity to be placed with like ability players.

How is team placement determined?

Teams will be formed based on ability and level of play. Geographic area for younger teams (U9-U12) will be taken into consideration after dividing by level of play.

How many players are there at my child’s age group?

Refer to the combined age group chart for the 2012 teams for both clubs.

What will happen to my coach?

Dynamo coaches will be integrated into Tonka. Keith and Jonathan Schaefer (Tonka’s Coaching Director) will work together to determine appropriate coaches for each team. 

Where are the practice fields? 

Hopkins & Tonka combined resources will expand the geographic range of our practice and game fields. Our range will be from Freeman Park in Shorewood to Hopkins High School in Minnetonka.

Are the costs different?

Tonka United fee structure is $125 for fall soccer. 2013 spring/summer fees are yet to be determined but should be similar to past years. $430 U8-U10, $445 for U11-U17, $200 U18. 

What is included in the cost? Player registration fees include MYSA fees and insurance, games for the 2013 MYSA spring/summer league, referees, outdoor fields, Club equipment, administration and one time per week indoor training January through mid-March.

What is not included in the cost? 

There may be additional fees assessed for coaching, tournaments, indoor leagues, team gear, additional indoor winter & spring training, etc.

Will we need to change uniforms?

The goal is to have all teams wearing the same uniform. Tonka will be in their 2^nd year of the Adidas uniform. The current cost is $110 for U8-U12, $130 for U13-U17. We will work on this transition with each individual Dynamo team.

What happens to Keith?

Keith will continue in a coaching leadership role at Tonka

What happens to JoAnn & Carol?

They will help with the transition and beyond as needed.

How can we assure Hopkins Dynamo has a voice in decisions?

Join the Tonka United Board of Directors. Hopkins Dynamo needs parents to volunteer to fill positions.

How can I give feedback?

We look forward to hearing from you. Please email your comments. Use the ‘Contact Us’ link on the left menu on our website. www.hopkinsdynamosc.org

We will continue to add to our FAQ page as we get questions from families.