The latest news and articles from JVA
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Recently Added
Serving Up Opportunity: How Epic Volleyball Club Is Changing Young Lives
The city of Racine, Wisconsin has a strong athletic legacy but faces real socio-economic barriers. Over 20% of the [...]
Blog Categories
4 Ways to Manage the Chaos of Volleyball Tournament Travel
Club volleyball teams are constantly on the move. Between multi-day qualifiers and regional tournaments, teams travel nearly every weekend across the state and country. Coaches, club directors, and team parents juggle travel schedules, hotel [...]
Coaching Solutions: Volleyball Defensive Technical and Tactical Player Feedback Using Match Film
Minnesota Select coaching staff wanted to provide their defensive specialists with some feedback on their defensive position utilizing match film from the previous tournament. This is done throughout the season for the coaches of [...]
4 Important Rules Every Volleyball Parent Should Know
Let’s be honest—being a volleyball parent is a full-time job. You’re the chauffeur, the snack provider, the emotional support system, and sometimes, the ref team (for your own sideline debates). As a former volleyball [...]
News
JVA and AAU Join Together to Host the Chi-Town Boys Challenge
The JVA is pleased to announce a collaboration with the AAU to co-host the Chi-Town Boys Challenge November 19-21, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. The event is expected to bring over 350 boys volleyball teams from [...]
The JVA Grant Program Launches to Increase Opportunity and Accessibility for Junior Volleyball
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - The JVA is pleased to announce that it is launching the JVA Grant Program to promote the growth and accessibility of youth and junior volleyball by financially supporting JVA members in their [...]
JVA’s Dig Pink Campaign Raises a Record High for the Side-Out Foundation
The JVA is thankful to be a long-time partner of The Side-Out Foundation and its Dig Pink® Program. Each year, the JVA raises funds for Side-Out that go toward research specifically for patients with metastatic [...]
Club Directors
From the JVA Office: 6 Reasons JVA Purchased Cyber Insurance and Important Considerations for Your Club
We all know what “getting hacked” is, but did you know cyber exposures are the #1 risk impacting businesses today in all industries? More importantly, small businesses are impacted the most. Why? Because small [...]
Club Fusion Wins JVA Club of the Month
Established in 1999, Club Fusion sprung into the club volleyball world when Bill Milborn held a tryout at Huntley High School and marched into Fusion’s first season with less than 10 teams. 25 years [...]
JVA Announces a Partnership with VKTRY Performance Insoles to Help Junior Volleyball Athletes Enhance Performance and Reduce Injuries
The Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) is pleased to announce a partnership with VKTRY Performance Insoles that will allow junior volleyball players to take their game to the next level. Made from full-length, 100% aerospace-grade [...]
Coaches
Recruiting Solutions: 7 Expectations of Commitment
"College coaches aren’t looking for kids who just want a scholarship, but for kids who want to PLAY in college. Signing isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. Continue to grow, to work & commit [...]
Coaching Mental Performance: Effective Feedback During Training
When we look at how coaches are specifying feedback to the athletes, we can engage in a conversation of what stage of learning the athletes are in for any given skill. Sometimes we find that [...]
12 Creative Scoring Ideas To Encourage Competitive Practices
The season is filled with opportunities to win and lose during tournament play. Most clubs organize some sort of scrimmage or intra-club competition early in the season to prepare their teams for the first tournament, [...]
Boys
4 Ways to Improve Your Team’s Volleyball Game Without a Ball
On average, a volleyball player spends only 1% of the time in a match actually playing the volleyball. The rest of the time is spent tracking the ball, moving around the court, and communicating with teammates and coaches. Here are four...
A Letter to High School Athletes,
This is an exciting, yet stressful time for you. One sport, two sports, three sports, National Honors Society, mock governments, club or travel ball, SAT, ACT, GPA, and more – you have or will put a lot into your four years...
From the JVA Office: Boys Volleyball is on the Rise and All Clubs Can Have an Impact
Boys volleyball is becoming increasingly popular, as many decide to leave the field and step onto the hard court. With the transition, male athletes are entering an entirely new competitive environment. In every sport male athletes are naturally driven to...
Girls
3 Components that are Essential to Training the Vertical Jump
Volleyball is a sport where an athlete's vertical jump can make all the difference in performance whether it's blocking, attacking, or making a great defensive save. Here are three components necessary to elevate your vertical [...]
How Volleyball Athletes Can Gain Control of Your Thoughts
Have you ever been in a game and for some reason you can’t seem to get a grip on your actions and thoughts? You are making one mistake after another, even though you’ve done these [...]
Best Practices for Rest and Recovery in Junior Volleyball
The human body is built to withstand intense periods of physical strain and pressure. When a tournament runs multiple days, and into the late evening hours, players can rally and perform to their best abilities. [...]
Beach
3 Fun Ways to Improve Your Beach Game
Technique and skill in any sport will only get you so far. To be the best beach volleyball athlete or coach you can be, it is essential to also enjoy your experience and have fun. Founding coaches at Beach Nation...
2019 JVA Beach Watch List is Released
The JVA is pleased to announce the 2019 JVA Beach Watch List that recognizes the top female beach athletes from JVA member clubs across the country this season.
Beach Solutions: 7 Important Details to Create a Business Plan
When starting a beach club, it's important to do some business planning before you roll out the balls, especially if you'd like your club to be around for a while. To create a business plan there are seven important areas that affect the budget. Here's a checklist to get your club headed in the right direction.
Culture
Events
Technology Solutions: Setting up Live Stream for Your Club
Junior volleyball club directors and program administrators are shopping around for the best solution to live stream practices and matches. You do not necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars to make it happen. Zoos, [...]
From the JVA Office: Modifications and Considerations for Fall and Winter Competition
We are all anticipating that this club season will look different from years past. Typically, club directors map out a 6-8 month club season with 8-12 tournaments on the calendar by the end of September. [...]
West Coast Volleyball Association Plans for Inaugural Junior Volleyball Season
This spring and summer many volleyball clubs across the country were forced to shut down and end their seasons abruptly. Directors were faced with so much uncertainty about what the next club season could look [...]
Awards
Minnesota Select Wins JVA Club of the Month
Minnesota Select was founded late in 2003 for the 2004 junior volleyball season. The club fielded 12 teams during that first year and has grown steadily over the past two decades to its current [...]
JVA Announces the Recipients of the 2021 JVA Junior Club Service Award
“Coaching is something that takes place only when learning does. No matter what you are doing in your practices, if your players are not learning something significant, you're really not coaching. If a player [...]
JVA Selects the 2021 JVA Best in Beach
(July 7, 2021. Milwaukee, Wisconsin) The JVA is pleased to announce the 2021 JVA Best in Beach that recognizes the nation’s top female JVA beach athletes for outstanding achievement during the competitive beach season. [...]
Training
From the JVA Office: How We Can Help Players Learn to Take Ownership of Their Mind and Motivation
As many know, coaches are already overextended in their duties. Many give their time freely and work with players because they are passionate about the sport and youth development. A Mindset Coach is there [...]
Mental Health Guidance and Resources for Coaches, Athletes, and Parents
Youth sports create a wonderful opportunity for young athletes to learn and grow. Sports have been associated with many positive outcomes and opportunities such as creating active living habits, setting goals, providing social support, forming [...]
How to incorporate volleyball specific yoga into your club training program
Some athletes and volleyball clubs currently have a pause from their typical volleyball training and routine. This can be a great time to evaluate where you currently are physically, and where you want to be. [...]
Parents
The Current State of Recruiting
Just 10 years ago, college coaches were watching the top recruits in the country during their sophomore year. The players spent their junior year visiting campuses, attending college camps and looking for the best fit. That calendar, at least for the...
Is Summer Camp a Recruiting Opportunity?
The regular season of club volleyball has ended, and while many teams are still training in preparation for the national championships, summer is rapidly approaching. With summer, comes summer camps and unofficial visit opportunities. Here is some advice to help...
The Sacrifices of a College Walk-On Player
With the ever increasing number of talented high school age volleyball players, combined with the constant in college volleyball programs, it has created a situation where many families are considering 'walking on' to a college volleyball team. For many talented walk on players, who were the best on their high school or club team, this can be a tough transition.
Recruiting
Coach Tips for Dealing with New Club Athletes and Parents
Club volleyball can sometimes present a challenging situation for parents and athletes. That’s because the head coach makes nearly all of the on-court decisions for the athletes involved, but unlike a high school or college team, the players (or...
Finding Success in the Evolving World of Collegiate Recruiting
Over the past few months there has been much conjecture regarding the decision to exclude Freshman/Sophomore volleyball recruits from taking unofficial visits to Division I programs until September 1 of their Junior year of High School. As a Recruiting Coordinator...
4 Ways to Find the Best Division for Your Talent Level
One of the most important—and difficult—parts of the recruiting process is projecting the right division level for you based on your athletic talent. Finding the right division level early on will help you focus on the right schools...