Programs and age groups

Mini Bees welcome boys and girls around ages 4–5 with coordination-focused, fun-first sessions. Little Bees and combined Little Bees / pre-travel blocks serve roughly ages 6–8, bridging recreational play into more structured skill work. Pre-travel academy groups target players about ages 8–12 who want extra training without a full travel commitment, or who are preparing for travel evaluations. Travel soccer tryouts focus on boys in birth years 2019 through 2015 (roughly U7–U11) for seasonal roster placement; families who miss open tryout windows can still contact the club to schedule a private evaluation.

Across the BVBIA pathway, Black & Yellow Academy programming (ages 6–10 nationally) emphasizes Dortmund-style technical fundamentals, and older elite players can pursue higher platforms and college-placement support through the broader academy system. Chicago North spring academy blocks have offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening practice tracks with weekend internal 3v3/4v4 games, moving indoors during cold weather and outdoors when fields open.

Training locations

Indoor sessions run at The Zone, 550 E. Business Center Dr., Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (turf or indoor shoes only; cleats are not allowed indoors). Outdoor training and games use Burning Bush Trails Park, 1313 Burning Bush Lane, Mount Prospect, IL 60056, east of the playground and tennis courts and south of the church. Administrative mail may be directed to PO Box 7304, Prospect Heights, IL 60070, but day-to-day training is centered in Mount Prospect, a short drive from Schaumburg.

Tryouts, registration, and seasonal fees

Travel tryout interest starts with an online registration form, followed by a conversation with coaching staff to schedule tryout and evaluation dates during spring months. Travel season registration for upcoming cycles is also offered through the club’s CoachBetter registration product linked from BVBIA Chicago communications.

Recent spring Mini Bees, Little Bees, and pre-travel academy pricing has been structured as ten- or eleven-week practice packages with four Sunday internal games: about $325 for a Monday-only track, about $350 for Wednesday or Friday tracks, plus a one-time $50 registration fee that includes a BVB jersey, shorts, and socks. Payment options have included Venmo to BVB International Academy Chicago North, Zelle to 773-886-9263, or cash on site in a labeled envelope before the first session. Confirm current season dates, blackout weeks around tryouts and holidays, and payment deadlines with the director before registering because schedules shift each semester.

Coaching philosophy and league play

Training follows the BVB way: purposeful sessions, passion for the game, and age-appropriate progressions aligned with the same developmental philosophy used at Borussia Dortmund. Director of Coaching Jakub "Kuba" Lisek oversees the Chicago North program, with additional staff such as Coach Andres Moreno leading younger academy groups. Competitive travel-age teams participate in YSSL under the BVB International Academy – IL club code, giving Schaumburg-area families a local league structure with regional competition.

Registration and contact

For program fit, tryout scheduling, or spring academy enrollment, email chicagonorth@bvbinternationalacademy.com or call 773-886-9263. You can also reach Director of Coaching Jakub Lisek at jakub.lisek@bvbinternationalacademy.com. Follow BVBIA Chicago North on Facebook and Instagram (@bvbiacn) for seasonal announcements.