The latest news and articles from JVA
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Recently Added
3 Benefits of Jump Training for Volleyball Athletes
Jump and Plyometric training are a great tool to help volleyball players physically improve their body for the [...]
Blog Categories
Business Solutions: The Responsibilities and Impact of a Parent Liaison
Absolute Volleyball Academy, just south of Houston, was formed in 2006 and today has grown to 34 girls travel teams. Matthew Gotsch started as the Parent Liaison for Absolute Volleyball Academy in 2019 after [...]
2024 JVA World Challenge Raises Funds for the Side-Out Foundation to Help Save Lives
The JVA World Challenge has always been more than a volleyball tournament. The midyear championship brings teams from all over the country together to not only compete on the court, but to raise funds [...]
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 [...]
News
Optimum Beach Wins JVA Club of the Month
Optimum Beach was established in 2014 as a high level beach volleyball training program with an international approach. Director Pri Piantadosi-Lima recognized early on that there was a need for a more dynamic approach to [...]
JVA Presents the 2023 JVA All-National Team powered by Fivestar
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN (June 5, 2023) The JVA is pleased to announce the 88 student athletes selected to the 2023 JVA All-National Team powered by Fivestar, which recognizes the top female indoor volleyball players competing for [...]
Matchbox Volleyball Club Wins JVA Club of the Month
Matchbox Volleyball Club, based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota, is one of the largest club volleyball organizations in South Dakota and provides athletes ages 8-18 with a developmental and competitive volleyball experience. The club was [...]
Club Directors
Risk Management Solutions: Volleyball Leaders and the Crucial Responsibility of Supervision and Emergency Planning
*Information provided in this article is not to be considered a substitute for legal advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of a licensed attorney familiar with youth sport laws and regulations within [...]
Elite Volleyball Training Center Wins JVA Club of the Month
Elite Volleyball Training Center was founded in 2007 by current club co-directors and husband/wife team, Randy and Jackie Cline. The club started with only 10 girls and quickly grew from one team to [...]
Business Solutions: The Responsibilities and Impact of an HR Position
VCNebraska is entering its 14th club season, and has seen tremendous growth in participation. As the number of teams, athletes, and programs have grown, so has the need for qualified staff. Most club directors would [...]
Coaches
Club Training Model: End of Season
Teams who are attending Nationals in June have the month of May and much of June to prep for a Championship. However, the girls' indoor season can take a toll on the mind and the [...]
Create an Exploratorium Not a Dungeon: Reasons Why Physical Punishment is Not the Answer
It amazes me that this far into the 21st century, coaches still believe that doing physical punishment is a valuable use of their limited training time. I addressed this over a decade ago in “Coaching [...]
Recruiting Solutions: April Qualifiers Bring May Maintenance
May is a great month to assess and maintain the recruiting process. Many clubs have limited weekends of play in May and will train more in the gym to prepare for June championships. It [...]
Boys
VLA’s Nelson Capitalizes on an Underdog Mentality
Although he grew up playing baseball and soccer, Thomas Nelson found himself surrounded by opportunities to watch and play volleyball at a young age. Both of his parents played volleyball in adult leagues and tournaments [...]
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 [...]
VLA’s Harpenau Reflects on His Journey to the Professional League
In 5th grade Matt Harpenau was invited by the coach to try out for his school volleyball team. Standing at 5'2'', Matt was primarily a baseball player, but thanks to his cousin Missy, he got [...]
Girls
Keeping Athletes Healthy This Winter
Flu season is upon us now. Since athletes are often around many other people when training or playing, they are more likely to be exposed to infection or virus. It’s crucial for athletes to stay [...]
An Athleader’s Journey: A Desire to Serve Others and Make a Positive Impact
As the tallest in her class all through grade school, Kaitlyn's parents knew that introducing her to a sport that would utilize her height would be valuable to her sports journey. Since the first grade, [...]
Technology Solutions: Using Video and Stats to Take Charge of Athlete Development
Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy (OJVA) club director and master coach Steve Suttich says that OJVA players are committed to using video and data not only for recruiting, but to develop skills and improve their volleyball [...]
Beach
Developing a Beach Program with the Club Dual Format
After focusing on its indoor program for more than 13 years, Grand Strand Juniors is making new investments in a beach program. Club Director Alex Sing notes “It’s funny how things go full circle. GSJ [...]
The 2022 BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by JVA Unites the Nation’s Elite Beach Events
The JVA is pleased to announce the 2022 BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by the JVA and in partnership with the Beach Volleyball Clubs of America. In its fourth year, the series has nearly doubled [...]
Beach Solutions: Is there still space for the hybrid athlete?
At the collegiate level, the dual athlete is becoming extinct. Only a handful of athletes can handle the rigor of two sports during a collegiate year, especially at the Division I level. The trend is [...]
Culture
A5 Trains and Competes in Japan: Key Takeaways for Coaches and Directors
Over Thanksgiving of this year, A5 was fortunate to travel to Japan with a select group of 16 athletes from three different age groups. The trip to Japan marked the club's 9th international outing, and from a volleyball perspective, was in many ways the most impactful trip to date. Club Director Bob Westbrook shares the important takeaways from a coach's and club director's perspective.
From the JVA Office: Making Safety a Priority
Safety of our youth is an extremely important focus in the news, in political discussions, among school meetings, and at the dinner table. The JVA is also prioritizing the safety of the junior volleyball athletes to provide the proper resources...
Three Keys That Have Helped a Young Club Establish a Strong Foundation
Maylen Mitrovich loved volleyball, and she wanted better coaches and tougher tournaments than what her small, local club provided. So her mother, Monica, researched and identified a few other options. But Maylen Mitrovich didn’t have the best experience, and...
Events
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 [...]
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 [...]
From the JVA Office: Growth of Volleyball Events Escalates the Demand for Officials
It is a known fact that quality events increase participation in the sport of volleyball. One aspect of an event experience that teams and spectators will be quick to note and comment on is the [...]
Awards
360 Sports Academy Wins JVA Club of the Month
360 Sports Academy Volleyball was founded in 2011 with one team comprised of girls ages 14 to 18. During the first season, the team competed at the 18U level and went winless. Fast forward to [...]
The 2023 JVA Boys Watch List powered by Fivestar is Released
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) The JVA proudly announces the 2023 JVA Boys Watch List powered by Fivestar featuring nearly 600 boys indoor junior volleyball athletes from JVA member clubs nationwide. The players nominated are among the best [...]
The 2023 JVA Girls Watch List powered by Fivestar is Released
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) The JVA is pleased to release the 2023 JVA Watch List powered by Fivestar featuring over 3,600 girls indoor junior volleyball athletes from 200 JVA member clubs across the country. The players nominated [...]
Training
Keeping Athletes Healthy This Winter
Flu season is upon us now. Since athletes are often around many other people when training or playing, they are more likely to be exposed to infection or virus. It’s crucial for athletes to stay [...]
Signs, Symptoms and Resources for Concussions in Volleyball
Volleyball is growing in popularity all over the world. While it's not a high contact sport like football and ice hockey, the combination of high speed hits and aggressive diving and defense pose a high [...]
How Yoga Can Help Prevent Common Volleyball Injuries
Implementing prevention strategies is the key to keeping your athletes healthy, playing, and assisting the team with earning more wins. Since injury is often caused by poor biomechanics, neuromuscular deficiencies, overtraining, and decreased flexibility, effective [...]
Parents
3 Ways to Balance Academic Workload with Your Volleyball Commitment
Attempting to balance academics and athletics can often make you feel like you’re walking on a tightrope. Having to maintain a constant fitness level, attend team practice and travel to competitions alongside all the typical academic requirements of a...
Four ways to get recruited if you’re not from a hotbed region
Like it or not, recruiting hotbeds are a real thing. When it comes to volleyball, California, Chicagoland, Louisville, Indianapolis and Texas tend to be the areas most commonly recruited by college coaches. But if you’re not from those areas...
JVA Safety Policy
Our young athletes deserve to be safe. You are practicing good risk management by In having policies and procedures in place to protect your members. The JVA prioritizes the safety of junior volleyball athletes by providing the proper resources and...
Recruiting
Recruiting Solutions: 3 Ways to Liven Up the Recruiting Process During the Dead Period
The recruiting process has changed a lot over the last couple of years, but one constant is the importance of being proactive and continuing to build relationships with college coaches. Here are 3 ways to [...]
Recruiting Solutions: Campus Tours and Virtual Options for Beach Prospects in the Age of COVID
Visiting college campuses and their surrounding areas is a critical part of the beach volleyball recruiting process. The "feel" of the campus, and the characteristics of the town in which it resides, is among the [...]
Recruiting Solutions: 5 Tips for the Class of 2021
In September, the DI Council extended the recruiting dead period for all Division I schools through January 1st. This means there can be no in-person recruiting taking place through the end of the year. Phone [...]
Travel
JVA Announces BVCA Club Challenge Series
Junior beach volleyball is now one step closer to the college game with the start of the BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by JVA. The new format includes 4 weekend events where junior beach volleyball clubs align their ranked teams to...
A5 Trains and Competes in Japan: Key Takeaways for Coaches and Directors
Over Thanksgiving of this year, A5 was fortunate to travel to Japan with a select group of 16 athletes from three different age groups. The trip to Japan marked the club's 9th international outing, and from a volleyball perspective, was in many ways the most impactful trip to date. Club Director Bob Westbrook shares the important takeaways from a coach's and club director's perspective.
JVA Event Registration is Now Open
This season the JVA is hosting 6 indoor events, all of which are among the nation's elite events. Registration is open and if you have not experienced a JVA event before, now is the time.
