210 Beach was formed by Jason Kaiser in 2012 as a small training group for his daughter, Maja, and a few other athletes to get reps after the indoor season. The training group competed for the first time in the 2012 AAU National Championships in Hermosa Beach. After experiencing the event, Jason came back to San Antonio to build a bigger and stronger training program so his club could go back and compete at a national level.
“We started with approximately 20 athletes on two courts with the goal to grow the game in San Antonio and compete at a national level. Fast forward to 2021, and we have 140 athletes on over 10 courts,” shares Kaiser. “In addition, we have five National Championship junior pairs between AAU and USAV, and over 50 athletes who competed at the D1 or D2 level for beach at USC, LSU, TCU, LMU to FSU, Arizona, South Carolina, and more.”
Kaiser started the Texas Beach Volleyball Association in 2018 as a 501c(4) nonprofit organization to bring together the local beach volleyball communities across the state of Texas. TXVBA partners with Madsand, AJV Sand, 692 Beach, Thirdcoast, and other beach clubs across the state to come together and run quality events, sharing the weekends, and collaborating schedules to give athletes in Texas the best opportunities to compete against each other. Kaiser was integral in bringing Texas stops to the BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by JVA. Currently 210 Beach is ranked near the top of BVCA Club rankings.
“Bringing Texas powerhouse clubs to the BVCA Club Challenge Series was integral in moving our sport forward, and Jason was a huge part of that move” states BVCA founder Jeff Smith. “What many clubs are starting to realize is that when we collaborate to host and support each others’ events, rather than try to host separate events on the same weekends, we bettering the experience for our athletes and providing stronger, matched competition for them. Jason got all of the TXVBA clubs on board with the club vs club model, and it’s been an exciting season to have so many quality athletes representing their club each weekend.“
210 Beach also partnered with p1440 to start the Texas p1440 series, and the AVP to coordinate AVP 2, 3 Star, and AVP Next events. Every collaboration has been with the same goal to grow the game together and provide competitive events.
The beach community in San Antonio, along with 210 Beach, has supported The Dr. Mathew Rowan Memorial Foundation, and their efforts to provide scholarships for athletes in need of funding for their training and travel to help off set costs of junior beach volleyball. The Foundation was created in memory of Matt Rowan and his wife, Sunday. Matt and Sunday perished in a tragic hot air balloon accident on July 30, 2016. Among his many qualities, Matt was an avid beach volleyball player. The scholarship opportunity is something that 210 Beach athletes are able to apply for, and the club support the Foundation as well. This opens the door for athletes who otherwise may not have been able to afford to train and compete in beach volleyball.
210 Beach offers a 13U Clinic Series for basic volleyball skill development, and afterwards athletes can transition to the training program to train and compete year round or seasonally.
In order to support the education of its coaches, 210 Beach coaches are USAV BCAP and Beach Impact certified. The club hosts an annual coaching clinic where Kaiser and his coaches review the previous seasons, set new goals, generate new ideas for growing the game in San Antonio, as well as prepare new drills for the next season.
“We are looking forward to creating new formats for juniors, such as 3 on 3, 4 on 4, and so on. Expansion of boys to the beach remains a challenge and a continued goal” adds Kaiser.
Kaiser hopes to expand the beach program to adults so juniors have an outlet as they grow older into the next phase of their competitive volleyball life. Like the juniors program it will be competitive, fun, and supportive as adults prepare for beach events or simply want to remain active in this life sport.
210 Beach (San Antonio, TX) is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization committed to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for club directors, coaches, players, and fans.
For more information about joining the JVA click HERE. For more information about JVA Awards click HERE. To nominate your club for JVA Club of the Month click HERE.
