Junior Beach Programs
Beach High Performance Tryouts * Youth and Junior Beach National Teams * Junior Beach A2 Program * Senior Beach A2 National Team * Beach Development Camps * Age-Group Classifications * 2009 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 USA Beach National Volleyball Teams, the USA Beach Olympic Teams, and also USA 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 is 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 National Volleyball Team.
USAV Beach provides team and camp opportunities for young beach athletes in four designated age groups. These age groups are determined by an athlete's year of birth (using international criteria) and begin when they are approximately 12 or 13 years old, continuing for 13 seasons, often into their collegiate years and transition to professional.
The goals of the Beach Programs include:
- Bringing young beach volleyball athletes together in challenging and rewarding training environments;
- Providing them the opportunity to learn and develop with the best coaches in the U.S. and to compete at elite and international levels;
- Increasing the number of opportunities available to beach athletes, the number of high-level tournaments that they are able play and the amount of time they are able to train;
- Participating in all FIVB or related international events possible; and
- Preparing a broad pool of qualified and experienced athletes available to compete for spots in national and international competitions.
Beach High Performance Tryouts – Ages 14-25
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 April 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, Junior A2 Group, or Senior A2 Team by their age group. Athletes are evaluated and ranked based on the entire tryout population from across the country. Registration and a $65 tryout fee is required to participate in a Beach High Performance Tryout. Athletes may attend more than one tryout.
Tryout Schedule and Online Registration
Youth and Junior Beach National Teams
This is the junior national level of the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance Program consisting 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 annually.
FIVB Junior (U21) World Championships - Aug. 30-Sept. 7 in Monterrey, Mexico
FIVB Youth (U19) World Championships - Aug. 16-24 in Alanya, Turkey
FIVB U26 Event - Aug. 17-23 in Aland, Finland
Below the National Team, the athletes selected to the Junior Beach A2 Program will be invited to participate in a three day BHP training camp with the other YJBNT athletes.
This is the senior national level of the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance Program consisting of the Senior A2 Beach National Teams (SA2BNT). 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 USA at one international (FIVB, NORCEA, World UniversityChampionships, or Pan Am Games) competition annually.
Our subsequent training program for Youth and Junior athletes age 12-18 is the Development Camps. Each camp is three days and provides athletes the training and feedback necessary to move to the next level of performance. Development Camps are OPEN all levels of beach volleyball athletes.
With an 8:1 camper to coach ratio, emphasis will be placed on individual and small group instruction including skill development, technique, beach strategy, combating the elements, fun, and competition. The final day will include a half day tournament. Each camper will receive a written evaluation and will be added to the USAV Beach athlete pipeline database. Space is limited so sign up early! Cost: $250
Orlando, Fla.: July 8-10, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Long Beach, Calif.: July 22-24, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Holland, Mich.: July 29-31, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
2009 FIVB / USA Volleyball High Performance Age-Group Classifications
In accordance with goals of the 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 HP programs.
Please note that these age-group classifications differ from USA Volleyball Junior club age definitions and also from grade classifications of US school systems.
A2-U26: Born between 1984-1988
Junior-U21: Born in 1989 and 1990
Youth-U19: Born in 1991 and after
