Boys Turn Businessmen at BJNC

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (July 2, 2011) –The athletes competing at the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships are not just good at volleyball, but also are good at striking a deal. These young businessmen trade, barter and bargain volleyball apparel in an impromptu flea market covering the Minneapolis Convention Center floor.

“We hear through other players who have the best jerseys and where and when they will set up in the convention center,” Club Vertical 18-1 team member Elliot Rhodes said. “The popularity of the jerseys depends on the number, when it was worn, how good the team was or just the looks.”

Each day at the USAV BJNC, at random times, players will start unpacking suitcases, back packs and ball bags full of apparel and neatly begin to fold them, placing them in showcase-form on the concrete floor. Once they have secured a chair against a wall, they lie out the clothing in front of them awaiting interested shoppers. Hundreds of athletes participate in this BJNC annual tradition and they do it on their own.  

The USA Volleyball event staff is not aware of when the trading will happen nor are any of the supervisors or parents, the kids just do it on their own.

“Once one person starts, the rest of them join in,” USA Volleyball Coordinator of Events Barbara Eisenbeis said. “They are extremely organized and meticulous in this operation. It’s incredibly impressive to watch.” 

It is all personal interest when it comes to determining what jerseys are the best or what trades makes the most sense. 

“A lot of us mainly look for the jerseys with the most style,” MVP 18 Red’s Aaron Russell said. “Tank tops are the most popular, but it also depends on what team it is and how good they are.”

Copyrighted by USAV/becky Murdy Athletes trade apparel during random times at the BJNC as a tradition. The organization and successful orchestration of this event is incredible as none of the players receive any advice or instruction from the adults in attendance.  The trading begins on the fly and can astronomically grow in the blink of an eye.    

“It is my last year here at BJNC,” Russell said as he stood behind three rows of folded apparel. “I brought all of my jerseys and shirts because I really won’t be wearing them again.”

The origin of the trade is not known, but the operation has happened for years. USAV continues to let the players trade because it is fun for them to participate, fun for everyone to watch and the kids continue to treat it as a business maintaining a professional attitude that is respectful and cooperative with the rest of the merchants.

“I am not trying to cheat anyone,” Eliot said. “It isn’t about making money at all. It is just about finding good trades and being able to give someone a piece of a memory that might mean more to them than it does me.” 

The 2011 USAV BJNC spans from June 29 to July 6 giving the athletes plenty of time to find those rare jerseys or gold-medal winning shorts and to prepare a bargaining campaign worthy of a trade. As teams finish up play, the trading increases as tournament jerseys are added into the mix of existing merchandise.

Who is to say when the convention center will turn into Wall Street again, but when it does, the athletes will be ready and willing to make a deal.   

 For up-to-date results and upcoming schedules for the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, click here. For more information on the tournament, visit http://usavolleyball.org/events/4872.

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2011 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships Results
12 Club: Gold – Vaqueros 12-1 (Puerto Rico); Silver – Outrigger Red B12 (Aloha); Bronze – Gigantes12 G (Puerto Rico)
13 Club: Gold – WA Lightning B13 (Badger); Silver – SCVA 13 Qs (Southern California); Bronze – Ku’Ikahi 13W RoShamBo (Aloha)
14 Open: Finals on July 3
14 Club: Finals on July 3
15 Open: Finals on July 4
15 Club: Finals on July 4
16 Open: Finals on July 5
16 Club: Finals on July 5
17 Open: Finals on July 6
17 Club: Finals on July 6
18 Open: Gold – Balboa Bay 18 Quiksilver (Southern California); Silver – SMBC 18-Black (Southern California); Bronze – HLVBC 18-Black (Southern California)
18 Club: Gold – Spectrum 18s (Southern California); Silver – AVP 18-Errea (Arizona); Bronze – Borinquen Coqui 18-IM 

Tags: 2011 Boys' Junior National Championships, USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships