The latest news and articles from JVA
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Recently Added
Practice Planning for Junior Volleyball Coaches: A Framework for Deciding What to Work On
When I started coaching, I planned practice by collecting drills. I'd find a few I liked, put them in an [...]
Blog Categories
Leading With Purpose: Desmond Brooks Exemplifies the Spirit of the JVA AthLeader Award
For Desmond Brooks, volleyball is much more than a sport. It is a platform for leadership, personal growth, mentorship and creating opportunities for others. The 2026 JVA AthLeader Award winner and 2028 setter for [...]
Building More Than a Team: Lessons From Don Shondell’s Legacy
Long before volleyball became the sport it is today, Don Shondell was building something that extended far beyond a college volleyball program. As the founder of the Ball State University men's volleyball program and [...]
Reduce Chargebacks Before They Happen: A Better Experience for Clubs and Families
Every Club Director has experienced it. A family reaches out after an athlete can no longer participate because of an unexpected injury, illness, or family emergency. While your club's refund policy may be clear, [...]
News
JVA Announces Strategic Alliance with Husch Blackwell Consulting and The Playbook to Transform the Club-to-College Experience
(Naperville, IL) Junior Volleyball Association (JVA), the leading organization focused solely on junior volleyball, announced a strategic alliance aimed at transforming the club-to-college experience for student-athletes, families, and club programs nationwide. Central to this [...]
JVA World Challenge Raises Over $17,000 to Support Metastatic Breast Cancer Research
JVA is a proud supporter of the Side-Out Foundation for over a decade, and through the JVA World Challenge, held APRIL 11-13, 2026, JVA raised $17,650 that will be donated directly to help save [...]
2026 JVA Girls’ All-National Team powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles
Naperville, Illinois (June 2, 2026) - JVA is proud to announce the 100 female student-athletes selected to the 2026 JVA All-National Team. Powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles, this prestigious honor recognizes the top female [...]
Club Directors
Athlete Safety Is a Shared Responsibility: JVA Will Do Our Part. Clubs Must Do Yours.
Our athletes deserve to play volleyball in an environment where they feel safe, respected, supported and protected. That responsibility does not belong to one organization, one Club Director, one Coach or one governing body. [...]
The Rise of Specialty Injuries in Youth Volleyball: Are You Covered for Potential Liability?
The competitive nature of youth sports and the growing opportunities for young athletes to participate on multiple teams make it possible for players to train and compete in their favorite sport year-round. It is [...]
What Is Player Registration Protection? A Guide for Club Directors
As registration season approaches, Club Directors face the challenge of balancing two priorities: providing a positive experience for families while protecting the financial stability of their club. Unexpected injuries, illnesses, or family circumstances can create [...]
Coaches
Plyometric Vertical Training for Volleyball Athletes
If you don't have access to a gym or performance training coach, there are still ways to improve at home. Take your game to the next level with this equipment-free home workout to improve your vertical jump.
Fueling for Volleyball Performance: A Practical Framework for Time-Based Nutrition and Hydration
Athletes spend hours training their skills, but nutrition is often overlooked as a key performance tool. Volleyball players may have anywhere from 10 minutes to three hours before practice or competition to fuel and hydrate, [...]
How Volleyball Clubs Can Prevent Mid-Season Burnout
By March and April, the club volleyball season has already demanded a great deal from players and Coaches. Long tournament weekends, travel, school responsibilities, and the pressure to perform can take a toll. Even [...]
Boys
Absolute Zero Wins JVA Club of the Month
Absolute Zero Volleyball Club began as a Girls' Program created to meet the need for high-quality training in fundamentals and mechanics within a fun, engaging environment. The club is grounded in the “Science of [...]
An Official’s Impact: Recruiting the Next Generation (Z) of Volleyball Officials
Volleyball did not become part of Kim’s life until she was 30, when she joined a co-ed adult volleyball league that played once a week. As her skills grew, she moved into a women’s [...]
2025 JVA Boys’ All-National Team powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles
The JVA is pleased to announce the 70 student athletes selected to the 2025 JVA Boys All-National Team powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles, which recognizes the top male indoor volleyball players competing for a [...]
Girls
Behind the Whistle: Playing in the Opponent’s Space
Under current USA Volleyball (USAV) rules, there are specific conditions under which a player may legally enter or play the ball within the opponent's space, whether above, below, or across the net. Reaching Beyond [...]
JVA Partners with AIM Sports Group to Elevate the Youth Volleyball Experience with AIM+
AIM+, the AI-Powered Digital Platform and Ecosystem for the Youth Sports Industry, is now Being used to Enhance the JVA Event Experience NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Junior Volleyball Association (JVA), the leading organization focused solely [...]
Recruiting Solutions: A Guide to NIL and Revenue Sharing for Aspiring Volleyball Athletes
College volleyball recruiting is undergoing one of the most rapid transformations in the sport’s history. As University of Minnesota Head Volleyball Coach Keegan Cook emphasized in a presentation to Club Recruiting Coordinators, the pace [...]
Beach
Beach Solutions: Common Objections to Beach-Only Volleyball and How to Address Them
Choosing a beach-only volleyball path can feel unfamiliar for families accustomed to traditional indoor programs. Addressing concerns directly helps parents and athletes make informed, confident decisions. Let's review some common objections that athletes and parents [...]
Beach Solutions: Marketing Strategies for Beach Volleyball Programs Not Connected to an Indoor Pipeline
Building a successful beach volleyball program does not require an established indoor club to supply athletes. Some of the strongest beach programs grow independently by positioning themselves as distinct, accessible, and lifestyle-driven. The key [...]
Beach Solutions: How to Increase Awareness of Beach Volleyball Opportunities for Young Athletes
As beach volleyball continues to grow, it offers indoor athletes more opportunities than ever to elevate their game and expand their college pathways. Yet many families still view beach training as seasonal simply because [...]
Culture
Legacy’s Metro Program Empowers Youth in Communities of New York City
Legacy Volleyball Club was created in December 2011 by Afrolatino community member and advocate, Joel Sanchez, with the mission to serve as a youth empowerment organization that offers various programs in underserved communities, exposing youth [...]
Avoid the Mid-Season Slump with These 5 Tips
Regardless of your record, most teams will experience a mid-season slump of some sort. However, as a coach there are some things you can do to keep your team engaged and the athletes' morales [...]
Recruiting Solutions: The Evolution of the Transfer Portal
The NCAA Transfer Portal is transformational in collegiate athletics. It was established October 15, 2018 as an online interface to systematically manage the transfer process from start to finish, add more transparency to the [...]
Events
Behind the Whistle: Penetrating Under the Net
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER GOES INTO THE OPPONENT'S SPACE UNDER THE NET? Center-line penetration rules are designed to protect athletes and prevent collisions at the net. While USA Volleyball (USAV), the National Collegiate [...]
Building Better Tournaments from the Sidelines Up: How the Ohio Volleyball Association is Raising the Standard
Every successful volleyball tournament begins long before the first whistle. It starts with intentional planning, thoughtful scheduling, and a commitment to creating an exceptional experience for every athlete, coach, official, and family. Those principles [...]
More Than a Whistle: How Officiating Strengthened Ethan Grassl and Myakel Kapalko’s Love for Volleyball—and Each Other
For many volleyball players, the final point of their competitive career marks the end of their time in the sport. For Ethan Grassl and Myakel Kapalko, it marked the beginning of a new chapter—one [...]
Awards
2026 JVA Girls’ All-National Team powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles
Naperville, Illinois (June 2, 2026) - JVA is proud to announce the 100 female student-athletes selected to the 2026 JVA All-National Team. Powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles, this prestigious honor recognizes the top female [...]
JVA Club of the Month: Grayhawk Beach
Founded on a simple love for the game and a desire to create meaningful opportunities for young athletes, Grayhawk Beach has become one of Arizona’s most respected and community-driven beach volleyball programs. Based in North [...]
JVA Announces the 2026 JVA Beach Watch List powered by VKTRY Performance Insoles
(Naperville, IL) JVA is pleased to announce the 2026 JVA Beach Watch List, presented by VKTRY Performance Insoles, that recognizes the top female beach athletes from JVA member clubs this season. Over 400 JVA [...]
Training
More Than Volleyball: How Nebraska Volleyball Academy Builds Confident Athletes Through Emotional Intelligence
Nebraska Volleyball Academy Club Director Jonie Fader has spent nearly two decades searching for ways to help athletes become more than skilled volleyball players. Her goal has always been to develop confident teammates, resilient [...]
Coaching Confidence, Confidently
Confidence is one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — qualities in sports. Everyone wants their athletes to “play with confidence,” but few can clearly explain what that actually means, where it [...]
Building Stronger Minds: How Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy Uses Neurofuel To Transform Athlete Performance
On a tense court during qualifier season, a Michigan Elite 14s team gathers in a tight huddle—shoulders squared, eyes closed, breathing in sync. There’s no panic, no frantic last-minute coaching. Instead, the athletes are [...]
Parents
Behind the Whistle: Playing in the Opponent’s Space
Under current USA Volleyball (USAV) rules, there are specific conditions under which a player may legally enter or play the ball within the opponent's space, whether above, below, or across the net. Reaching Beyond [...]
JVA Partners with AIM Sports Group to Elevate the Youth Volleyball Experience with AIM+
AIM+, the AI-Powered Digital Platform and Ecosystem for the Youth Sports Industry, is now Being used to Enhance the JVA Event Experience NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Junior Volleyball Association (JVA), the leading organization focused solely [...]
10 Tryout Tips for Volleyball Players: The Skill Checklist
Trying out for a volleyball team can be both exciting and nerve-wracking—for players eager to show their skills and for parents hoping to see their child succeed. Whether you're stepping onto the court for [...]
Recruiting
Inside the NCAA Settlement: Financial Implications for the Future of Collegiate Beach Volleyball
It is the dawn of a new era in collegiate athletics. The landmark NCAA House Settlement has finally been approved. The settlement ends three separate antitrust lawsuits alleging that the NCAA unlawfully limited the [...]
Recruiting Solutions: The State of Summer Recruiting
There’s a lot of uncertainty in collegiate athletics right now. Things are changing rapidly and it makes it very difficult to truly understand what’s going on, especially for those on the club/youth side of [...]
Beach Solutions: How to Run an Effective College Recruiting Showcase for Beach Volleyball
Hosting a beach volleyball college recruiting showcase is one of the most powerful ways to support your athletes’ journey to playing at the collegiate level. But a successful event doesn’t happen by chance—it takes [...]
Travel
Travel Safety Tips for Volleyball Families
A volleyball trip is around the corner. Our main goal as parents is to get the family there and home safely. However, if something goes wrong on the way, are you ready? Some of us [...]
VLA’s Hancock Builds Momentum in the Professional League
Dave Hancock steps outside his apartment at 5:20pm and heads to practice. The 6'7'' middle blocker/opposite is in his third season abroad, competing for VK Kladno in the top league in the Czech Republic. The [...]
JVA and VLA Partner to Promote the Growth of Boy’s and Men’s Volleyball
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (October 11, 2021) – The JVA is excited to announce an extended partnership with the Volleyball League of America to bring professional men's volleyball to the junior volleyball audience across the country. "We [...]
