Junior Beach Programs
2011 Junior Beach Programs
Beach High Performance Tryouts * Youth and Junior Beach National Teams * Junior Beach A2 Program * Senior Beach A2 National Team * Age-Group Classifications * 2011 Pan Am Games Selection Procedures
USA VOLLEYBALL'S BEACH HIGH PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Many people do not realize that USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body for the sport of beach volleyball in the United States. We run and manage the U.S. Beach National Volleyball Teams, the U.S. Beach Olympic Teams, and also U.S. Youth and Junior Beach National Teams for each gender.
The Youth and Junior National Teams, along with a number of tiered training programs, are operated by the USAV Beach Programs office.
USAV Beach works to advance beach volleyball talent and build a broader and stronger pipeline of athletes and coaches for our U.S. Olympic Teams. The Beach Programs at USA Volleyball build the "pipeline" for young beach volleyball athletes who aspire to reach the elite level of their sport and who dream of representing the United States on the Beach Volleyball National Team.
USAV Beach provides team and camp opportunities for beach athletes in several designated age groups. These age groups are determined by an athlete's year of birth (using international criteria) and begin when they are 7 years old, continuing for 18 seasons, often into their collegiate years and transition to professional.
The goals of the Beach Programs include:
- To bring young beach volleyball athletes together in challenging and rewarding training environments;
- To provide opportunities to learn and develop with the best coaches in the United States and compete at elite and international levels;
- To grow the number of opportunities available to beach athletes, the number of high-level competitions, and the amount of time they are able to participate;
- To participate in as many FIVB and related events possible;
- To prepare a broad pool of qualified and experienced athletes available to compete for spots in national and international competitions;
- To prepare athletes for collegiate sand participation and to expose athletes to collegiate sand coaches;
- To grow the game at the grassroots and development level; and
- To introduce outdoor volleyball to a new audience.
Beach High Performance Tryouts – Ages 12-25Click here for dates and registration information.
Entry into Beach High Performance (BHP) programs is based upon selection at one of several USA National Beach High Performance Tryouts held in key regions March through June. Each tryout will include 4-6 hours of beach time where athletes strive to be selected for the USA Youth and Junior Beach National Team; Select, Youth, and Junior High Performance Teams (Junior A2), or U-26/Senior A2 Team. Athletes are evaluated and ranked based on the entire tryout population from across the country. Registration and a fee of $70 per tryout are required; athletes may attend more than one tryout. Participants must be USAV members. A membership link will be sent to those who are not verified as current USAV members.
Youth and Junior Beach National Teams (A1 Program)
The junior national level of the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance Program consists of the Junior Beach National Teams (JBNT) and Youth Beach National Teams (YBNT). Junior and Youth Training Teams include the top eight athletes per gender and age group chosen from Beach High Performance Tryouts. After a period of team training, the squad will be paired down to a final four athletes per age per gender who will represent the United States at the FIVB U19 and U21 World Championships.
FIVB Youth (U19) World Championships – June 21-26, 2011 Umag, Croatia (must tryout by May 22)
FIVB Junior (U21) World Championships – Aug. 30–Sept. 4, 2011 Halifax, Canada
For more information: FIVB Beach Information
Junior Beach High Performance Teams (Junior A2 Program)
Below the National Team, the athletes selected to the Junior Beach High Performance Teams will be invited to participate in various Beach High Performance Camps in July and to compete in the USAV Beach High Performance Championships July 14-17 in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Select athletes will also be invited to Holiday High Performance Camps in December. Other Youth and Junior Beach High Performance events may be added.
New to the USAV Beach HP Programs will be a Future Select camp for boys and girls born 1997 through 1999.
Under 26 and Under 23 Beach National Teams (Senior A2)
The senior national level of the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance Program consists of the U26 and U23 Beach National Teams (Senior A2 program). Senior A2 Training Teams include up to eight athletes per gender chosen from Beach High Performance Tryouts. After a period of team training, the squad will be paired down to a final four athletes per age per gender who will represent the United States at select international competitions. For 2011, the Senior A2 teams will attend the FISU World University Games on Aug. 13-18 in Shenzhen, China (Note: athletes chosen for the FISU World University Games must be current or recently graduated college students).
U26 and U-23-A2 Team FISU World University Games – Shenzhen, China
FISU World University Games Information
Pan American Games
New in 2011, athletes 18 and older are eligible to be selected to attend the Pan American Games in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
2011 FIVB / USA Volleyball High Performance Age-Group Classifications
In accordance with the goals of USA Volleyball to provide aspiring young volleyball players with world-class training and competition, Beach High Performance age-group classifications are consistent with those established by the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball). Those age-group classifications govern international competition and all levels of Beach High Performance programs. Please note that these age-group classifications differ from USA Volleyball Junior club and Junior Beach Tour age definitions and also from grade classifications of U.S. school systems.
Pan Am Team: Born 1993 or before
A2-U26: Born in 1986, 1987, or 1988
A2-U23: Born in 1989 or 1990
Junior-U21: Born in 1991 or 1992
Youth-U19: Born in 1993 or 1994
Select-U17: Born in 1995 or 1996
Future Select-U15: Born in 1997, 1998, or 1999
