As we look back on the past year, we’re filled with optimism and excitement for the continued growth and success of our sport. The progress achieved at both the grassroots and elite levels reflects the dedication and hard work of every member, not just within the Junior Volleyball Association, but across the entire volleyball community. The JVA experienced a remarkable 15% increase in membership, with notable expansion in the Atlantic and West Coast regions. This growth not only reflects the rising popularity of volleyball, but also the trust and value that clubs and athletes place in the JVA’s commitment to developing the sport at every level. JVA stands ready to continue to support the junior volleyball world through its commitment to education, advocacy and operating world class events.
Let’s look at the impact of JVA in 2024:
Grant Program
In the second year of the JVA Grant Program, JVA awarded $49,250 to ten volleyball clubs that created a program or service that meets JVA’s mission and can be used as a model for other clubs to replicate all over the country. The goal of the Grant Program is to promote the growth and accessibility of youth and junior volleyball by financially supporting JVA members in their efforts to provide new programs and services in their community. Through an application process in June, the JVA identified 10 clubs.
In August of 2019 Queen City Volleyball Academy (Charlotte, NC) formed as a nonprofit organization with the goal of making the game of volleyball more widely accessible to young athletes by breaking through systemic barriers that have historically limited full community participation in the game. The club began with a small team of passionate coaches and local professionals who were committed to providing a high-level training experience with holistic athletic development at the core of everything. Two years ago, QCVA started a community program targeting underserved middle school students in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year, with the JVA Grant, the program expanded to three low-income areas: Eastway/Central Charlotte, West Charlotte/Airport, and Southwest Charlotte.
“I just want to express my gratitude for the grant from the JVA. We are a very small program and run a very lean budget, so having these funds allowed us to pay our coaches a competitive rate, rent the gym, create signage, and provide this opportunity to so many young people. It is just really awesome that this grant exists and we are so grateful to have been chosen as a recipient!” said Director, Crystal Redfern.
Champion Volleyball Club (Winston-Salem, NC), is continuously seeking new opportunities to engage their athletes in meaningful activities and share their passion for volleyball within the Winston Salem community. The Champion Outreach Program already hosts Block Out Childhood Cancer and Block Out Hunger fundraising events. Most recently, with the help of Coach Maggie Joyce, and her strong commitment to working with individuals with Down Syndrome, and in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston Salem (DSAGSW), Champion Volleyball Club planned a free event called Aces for Down Syndrome.
“The JVA Grant for ACEs for Down Syndrome has been a game-changer for our volleyball club. With this generous funding, we’ve been able to purchase specialized equipment that ensures our events are accessible and friendly for self-advocate athletes. From adaptive volleyballs to inclusive training aids, the new gear enhances the experience for all participants, fostering a more supportive and empowering environment. This grant not only symbolizes financial support but also represents a commitment to inclusivity, allowing athletes of all abilities to shine and be celebrated on the court. The positive impact of this grant will resonate through our community, reinforcing the values of equality and teamwork,” said Champion Volleyball Club Director of Operations, Olivia Morris.
Sponsor Program
The JVA Sponsor Program is designed to reward its members for promoting the JVA brand, supporting the JVA mission, and growing JVA at the regional and national level. This Program is one of the many ways the JVA creates collaboration, celebration, cohesion and camaraderie among junior volleyball leadership and athletes across the country. $164,500 was given to JVA member clubs through the JVA Sponsor Program. This included 50 indoor clubs and two beach clubs.
“Thank you to all of these clubs for promoting the JVA and contributing to our community through education and resources. This program really does help promote the JVA mission. While we compete fiercely on the court, we know we are stronger by sharing our knowledge and working together,” says JVA Executive Director, Jenny Hahn.”
Officials Reward Program
The Officials Reward Program (ORP) is designed to recruit, retain and reward Officials that support JVA Volleyball Events. Through this program, Officials are recognized for reaching a certain level of achievement during the junior volleyball season, and rewarded for recruiting new Officials to the sport. In the second year, 586 Officials enrolled in the Official Reward Program, 121 officials received JVA swag and $2,000 and several free hotel nights were awarded to officials who reached tier 2 and/or 3.
Not only is it important to reward the dedication of the junior volleyball Officials, the JVA is committed to promoting the opportunity to the next generation in order to grow the number of Officials in our sport.
At a young age, Monica Wang’s dad would toss the volleyball to her until she was skilled enough to pass the ball back to him. She jokes that he pushed her to become a setter so he could have someone to reliably set the ball for him to hit. Today, Monica is sharing her passion for volleyball as “The TikTok Ref,” posting entertaining and relatable videos of her day as a Volleyball Official. A TikTok sensation, she’s approached by players at every tournament, who excitedly request a selfie and connect about one of her videos.
“My ultimate goal is that these players see my videos, relate to them, and envision themselves on the stand. Maybe they’ll fall in love with officiating too and continue the cycle by inspiring some new officials themselves in the future,” shared Wang.
While playing in an adult league in her late twenties Shannon Walter saw that the league was looking for referees, so she signed up. A few months later, an Official saw her reffing an adult tournament and told her she was pretty good, and asked her if she was certified. After replying “No, I just started,” he shared details on how to sign up for the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA). Ten years into her Officiating journey, Shannon officiates across all levels of volleyball: college, high school, elementary, junior, senior, adult league, and private tournaments.
This is Shannon’s second-year officiating JVA events, and she is enrolled in JVA’s Officials Reward Program. She said the reward program is an excellent way to get involved with newer officials and the community. During the 2023-2024 season, the JVA implemented The Sportsmanship Award, handed out by Officials to players who demonstrate one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship during their match, including fairness, civility, honesty, respect and responsibility.
First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball
First Point Volleyball Foundation and the JVA continue a commitment to jointly provide more opportunities for boys to play volleyball through JVA’s $50,000 per year donation. Through JVA’s philanthropy, First Point Volleyball has guided several Division I-II men’s volleyball programs to add the sport. The efforts of First Point have directly led to more youth and high school opportunities as once a state sanctions, the growth curve becomes dramatic.
Junior volleyball clubs are seeing a spike in participation levels, especially at the high school divisions 15U-18U. Boys volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S, with 36 states offering high school boys volleyball; 28 of those states are sanctioned by the high school federation. In the last 7 years, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and Utah became sanctioned or are now emerging status, and many more states are soon expected to follow including Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.
First Point has continued to prove that with intentional advocacy and philanthropy directed to high school and collegiate opportunities, the pace of growth of youth volleyball accelerates.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
JVA sponsored two Directors participation in the AVCA Diversity Award Program at AVCA Convention: Vallery Mitchell, Founder and CEO of Fostering Dreams Volleyball Club, and Nikki Golston, Co-Owner and Associate Director of 3’s Up Volleyball Academy. The AVCA Diversity Award Program is a pivotal initiative of the AVCA Diversity Development Team aimed at: Advancing the sport of volleyball, Engaging coaches as leaders, and Promoting initiatives that foster meaningful change in society and the volleyball community.
JVA hosted two JVA Athletes of Color Alliance gatherings, featuring keynote speakers, Q&A with current HBCU college athletes, sessions for athletes, families, coaches and directors team building activities, snacks and refreshments. Gatherings were held at the JVA World Challenge in Louisville and the JVA Charm City Challenge in Baltimore.
Through JVA’s commitment to promoting the growth and accessibility of volleyball in underserved communities, the JVA partners with Starlings USA, providing all Starlings Volleyball Directors and Coaches with a free JVA membership to include business education and resources, as well as guidance to effectively run their volleyball program and serve their junior athletes.
Starlings’ vision is to provide girls with equal access to quality volleyball programs, regardless of financial hardship or skill level through exposure to training and participation in the sport of volleyball, while using the platform of the sport to empower within each player, academic excellence, healthy lifestyle choices and excellent character. This past year over 280 free JVA memberships were provided to Starlings Club Directors and Coaches from all over the country.
The Side-Out Foundation
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 for the Side-Out Foundation to support research specifically for patients with metastatic breast cancer, the most advanced form of the disease, and the least funded area of research. The JVA is a proud supporter of the Side-Out Foundation and the Dig Pink® Program, and we are excited to share that through our efforts at the 2024 JVA World Challenge April 12-14th we were able to raise over $14,000 that will be donated directly to help save lives.
“Through our collaboration with JVA we have been able to reach new heights in spreading awareness, supporting research, and providing vital resources to individuals and families battling this disease. The impact of our partnership with JVA goes far beyond the volleyball court. It has touched the lives of countless individuals, offering hope, strength, and a sense of community to those facing challenging circumstances. Your steadfast support has been instrumental in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by metastatic breast cancer,” shared Ellen Dempsey, Founder & Executive Director of Side-Out.
Member Services and Education
As a member-driven organization including nearly 1,700 junior volleyball clubs of all sizes, the JVA is always seeking feedback from its members and looking for new ways to make the short term and long term operations easier for its club directors and administrators. This past year the JVA started a Podcast called Sideline Strategy, released the results of the JVA Member Club Survey, which included industry data from over 600 junior clubs, launched our very own Ref Training Videos, with help from Monica Wang (the TikTok ref) and NWAS VOLLEYBALL and launched the Club Management Guide 2.0 with The Art of Coaching Volleyball! The JVA Mentor Program created 20 new mentorships, which are an impactful experience for the mentor and the mentee.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have so much in store for the junior volleyball community, starting with Align ‘25, the premier educational summit designed specifically for junior volleyball club leaders! Hosted by the Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) and powered by LeagueApps, this exciting event will take place in Chicago, Illinois, on May 13-14, 2025. Early bird registration is available through January 20th!
How can JVA help your club in 2025? We want to hear from you! Email members@jvavolleyball.org today.
