HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body for the sport of volleyball in the United States. We run and manage the USA National Mens and Womens Volleyball Teams, the USA Olympic Teams, and also USA Youth and Junior National Teams for each gender. The Youth and Junior National Teams, along with a number of tiered training programs, fall under the High Performance Department.

The High Performance (HP) Department works to advance volleyball talent and build a broader and stronger pipeline of athletes and coaches for our USA Olympic Teams.

2008 FIVB/High Performance Program Age Definitions

Men/Boys' Age Groups

Women / Girls' Age Groups

High Performance Tryouts

Entry into HP programs is based upon selection at one of many USA National High Performance Tryouts. These tryouts are held across the country from January through April. Boys HP Tryouts are typically held from January through February and Girls HP Tryouts are typically held March through April.

Registration is required to participate in a High Performance tryout along with a tryout fee. To register: CLICK HERE.

Evaluation and Selection from HP Tryouts

Through the HP Tryouts (which includes approximately three hours of court time), athletes strive to be selected for a National-level Team or Camp in their age group. Athletes are evaluated and ranked based on the entire tryout population from across the country.

National High Performance Programs

USA Select Programs

In the youngest age group (USA Select), athletes selected to the National A1 Program will participate in a five-six day training camp with the other top athletes selected from tryouts. That group will then be broken into USA SELA1 teams that compete at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships.

Below the National A1 Program in each gender there are one to three levels of training programs that athletes may be selected to participate in. These include A2 programs, Development A1 Camps and Development A2 Camps. Each camp is five-six days and provides athletes the training and feedback necessary to move to the next level of performance.

Youth & Junior Programs

In the Youth and Junior Age groups, nineteen athletes are selected to the National Training Team. The National training Team will train for 10-14 days during which the team will be paired down to a final squad of twelve athletes. In 2008 each National Team will compete in The NORCECA Qualifying Tournament competing for a bid to the World Championships in 2009.

Below the National Team, the athletes selected to the National A2 Program will participate in a five-six day training camp with the other top athletes selected from tryouts. Athletes will then be divided into USA A2 teams and compete at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships.

Our subsequent training programs for Youth and Junior Athletes are the Development A1 Camps and Development A2 Camps. Each camp is five days and provides athletes the training and feedback necessary to move to the next level of performance.

Looking at 2008

Each year USA High Performance works to expand and/or enhance the types of training and competition opportunities available to our HP tryout participants.

Again in 2008, we are again combination the USA Volleyball High Performance Boys' and Girls' Championships. We were very pleased with the excitement and energy this brought to the event in 2007 and expect the same success in 2008. We will continue to work on bringing foreign teams to the event as well.

In 2008, we will increase the number of Development A1 and Development A2 Camps offered and begin to offer Training Camps as an all-comer training opportunity.