We have just returned from the AVCA Annual Convention. Here’s a shout out to all of our members who were able to take time out from the busy club season to join us in Kansas City. This is our JVA staff’s favorite time of the year. We are able to interact with so many of our members, partners and colleagues. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth in the Market Place to say “hi” and share war stories.

Here is a re-cap of the events and updates from Convention, including the JVA Annual Meeting.

JVA Beach Committee
Beach Coaches’ Education was the main topic. Everyone agreed that there is a gap in juniors education for coaches. Three events were identified as locations for beach coaches to gather: NCAA Beach Championships in Gulf Shores, BVCA Championships in Hermosa Beach and the AVCA Convention in 2018. The committee will share information on possible presenters/speakers and topics for 2018.

Member Council
We were able to meet with a few members to discuss the new JVA Member Council. The group was able to define the different zones of the country, and where each respective state belongs. Our goal is to appoint zone leaders and then create a sub committee to act as liaisons between that zone and the JVA. The purpose of the JVA Member Council is to be able to serve each zone individually and meet their specific needs. We also discussed the JVA sponsoring educational clinics/coaching seminars in three zones per year.

Club Management Education Committee
At last year’s meeting, the committee identified club management core competencies. This year, we sorted the competencies into three learning paths. During the next year we will be reviewing the resources we have and what resources we may need to develop. Our goal is to roll out a comprehensive club management education program in the next two years.

Annual Meeting
The JVA motto this year is JVA ALL United. There are many forces whose decisions can affect our clubs: our NGB, your State High School Association, AAU, state and federal laws, Department of Labor, and even JVA. While it is impossible to make a change on our own, as a group, speaking in one voice, we can accomplish so much together.

Greg Dale, Sports Psychologist and Leadership Programs for Duke University, shared attributes of the best coaches. It is more than “how” you coach, it is about “why”. If you know your why, you will gain the respect of your athletes.

At the Annual Meeting we recognized several individuals.

Junior Club Service Award
This year the JVA honored 8 individuals from JVA member clubs with the JVA Junior Club Service Award for their service to junior volleyball for over 20 years.

Vicki Fleissner – Director of Coaching. NKJV (KY)
Cindy Gritzman – Club Director. Top Flight Volleyball Club (IL)
Sean Gritzman – Owner. Top Flight Volleyball Club (IL)
Chad Marshall – Head Coach – 16 Elite. The Academy Volleyball Club (IN)
Susan Meadows – Master Head Coach. Axis Elite Volleyball Academy (SC)
Scott Mebruer – Executive Director. High Performance-StL (MO)
Skip Weston – Junior Director. Richmond Volleyball Club (VA)
Jen Woolf – Club Director. NKJV (KY)

Above and Beyond Award – Jodi Schramm
The Above and Beyond award is nominated and voted on by our staff. It is our way of saying thank you to the people who never say “no” when we call and have shared themselves with us and our community. This year’s award was giving to Jodi Schramm. Jodi founded Premier Academy in Toledo, Ohio in 1996. She has served as facility owner, club director, and 18’s head coach She has achieved much over the past 22 years as she has trained and guided hundreds of athletes on their path to collegiate volleyball careers. She led her teams to many AAU/USA Indoor and Beach National Championships. She has also has guided 36 coaches and 19 alumni to collegiate coaching positions. Jodi is not all serious and business, she has four dogs: Peanut, Gizzy, Scoop and Kit…..Scoop is secretly her favorite. A connoisseur of anything sugar, Jodi’s sweet tooth is also internationally known. A lover of books, organizational bins and old-school pencils; Jodi continues to teach her athletes and coaches to be strong, trustworthy and accountable, embodying her motto to teach excellence and inspire greatness.

With all that, Jodi answered every call for help from JVA. Jodi has unselfishly shared her expertise with our volleyball community. She has presented for JVA at this convention in the classroom and on the court. Jodi has done webinars for JVA and contributed to our Blog. Jodi introduced us Meister Task a Project Management App which has helped our staff efficiency ten-fold. Jodi stepped again this year and will be heading up our 1st All JVA community service project, Operation Christmas Child (attach link to video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHDePWMe-I

Bill Milborn, Past President’s Award
The Past President’s Award is given to a Board member who has served as our JVA Board President. The members of this committee are important to the leadership of JVA. While they have no voting privileges, they have life-long voice on our Board of Directors.

For Bill, volleyball is a family affair, starting with college pick-up games with his wife’s (then girlfriend’s) family, coaching his 8-year old son, cheering on his two daughters through high school and college careers, beach vacations with heated 2 on 2 battles… Bill has shared his passion for the game with his whole family.

Bill’s passion for coaching inspired the founding of Club Fusion Volleyball in 1999. Since then, Fusion has gone from startup to one of the most respected organizations in youth volleyball, garnering 11 National Championships and being named as Rich Kern’s #1 club for college recruiting in 2016. Bill’s love for coaching has also passed to his three children, Karen, Kelly, and Kyle. Karen and Kyle each own and direct their own volleyball clubs and Kelly works for Dad directing the Crystal Lake Fusion Satellite program.

Bill has been with JVA in a leadership position since 2007. In ten years, I believe Bill may have missed one board call. Bill also served as our Treasurer for six years. With the rapid growth of JVA, his love to “noodle on the financial statements” as he would often say really helped give our Board and myself a clear picture of what we could do for our organization.

This award does not let him go from our leadership group. It is a recognition of his service to JVA. The members of our Past President’s Committee retain voice on our board and Bill has volunteered to remain on as our Financial Advisor.

JVA “Thank You” Mug Award
Thirteen of our members who were in attendance at the meeting received a JVA Coffee Mug with treats and a Starbucks Card as a thank you for contributing to our educational resources by serving on a committee, presenting on a webinar or AVCA session, or sharing a Coach to Coach Video.

Robert Pickens of Volleyball Development Camps in London, England, who joined JVA on Friday, told us after the meeting, “Thank you so much, I have been a member for less than 24 hours and I’ve already gotten my money’s worth.”

If you missed this year, set your calendar now for 2018 in Minneapolis.

For more news from the JVA click here. Click here to view the JVA Annual Report. Click here to view the JVA Annual Meeting PowerPoint.