High Performance Tryouts

USA Volleyball has announced the schedule of 2011 Beach High Performance (HP) Tryouts for athletes looking to compete on beach volleyball national teams.

Tryouts are open to all beach athletes ages 12 and above (born on or after Dec. 31, 1999.

Selected athletes will comprise the future Select-Under 15 (U15), Select-U17, Youth-U19, Junior-U21, and Senior A2-U23 and U26 beach national teams representing the United States in various national and international competitions including the Beach High Performance Championships on July 14-17. 

Adult selected athletes (18 and over) will comprise the beach volleyball team that will represent the United States in the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. Tryouts will be led by USA Volleyball beach staff. All athletes will receive a written evaluation and do not need to sign up with a partner.

Each tryout will include 4 hours of beach time where athletes will receive instruction and strive to be selected for one of the USAV Beach High Performance Programs. 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.

New to the USAV Beach HP Programs will be a Future Select camp for boys and girls born 1997 through 1999. Also, 2011 will mark the first time that the Pan American Games team (open to athletes 18 and older) is selected through the Beach HP Tryouts. 

2011 Beach High Performance Tryout Schedule (click on city to register)

March 12: Hermosa Beach, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
March 13: Hermosa Beach, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
April 10: Phoenix, Ariz., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (All ages)
April 10: Houston, Texas, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (All ages)
April 17: Hermosa Beach, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
April 17: Hermosa Beach, Calif., 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
May 7: Rochester, N.Y., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (All ages)
May 7: Chula Vista/San Diego, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
May 7: Chula Vista/San Diego, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
May 14: Denver, Colo. (All Ages)
May 15: Chula Vista/San Diego, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
May 15: Chula Vista/San Diego, Calif., 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
May 20: Siesta Key, Fla., 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
May 21: Siesta Key, Fla., 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
May 21: St. Joseph, Mich., 9 a.m. - 1 p.m (All ages)
May 22: Chicago, Ill., Boys/Men 8 a.m.- noon
May 22: Chicago, Ill., Girls/Women noon-4 p.m. (All ages)
June 5: Hermosa Beach, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (All ages)
June 5:  Dallas, Texas 9 a.m.-1 p.m (Athletes born 1992 and earlier)
June 5: Dallas, Texas 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (Athletes born 1993 and later)
June 10: Salt Lake City, Utah, 9 a.m.-1 p.m (All ages)
June 12: San Jose area/Saratoga, Calif., 9 a.m.-1 p.m (All ages)

Program Descriptions

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

Beach High Performance Tryout Information

Participants: U.S. citizens, ages 12 and older
Cost: $70
Registration: Online by midnight PT, the Wednesday before each event . Walk-up and late registration accepted on a space-available basis, plus $25 late entry fee
Web site: Click here to register on or after Tuesday, March 1

For U23-26 athletes: In order to be eligible for the World University Games, athletes must submit an official copy of their university transcripts or their degree dated Jan. 1, 2010 or later.

For NCAA student-athletes: The Beach High Performance Tryout Clinics and USAV-sanctioned Beach National Team tryouts are in compliance with NCAA regulations. Your institution may be permitted to pay for your tryout and required travel. Refer questions to your institution’s compliance counselor who may call the NCAA membership services interpretation hotline with questions.

NCAA athletes are required to inform their head coach that they are attending the tryouts in advance. If selected for a National Team event, NCAA athletes must receive proper clearance from their university’s athletic department no fewer than 45 days prior to departure if the event conflicts with any academic or athletic dates. Athletes who are attending the tryouts for training purposes only, and are unable to attend a championship event if selected, should make this known upon registration.

Pan Am Selection Procedures are available at http://usavolleyball.org.

Contact USAV Beach Programs: 222 N. Sepulveda, Suite 2000 El Segundo, CA 90245 Ph (310) 364-5214 Fax: (310) 364-5213.

Beach Programs Coordinator: Jonpaul Roepke Jonpaul.roepke@usav.org.

Director of Beach High Performance and Development Programs: Ali Wood Lamberson Ali.lamberson@usav.org.