It’s true for anyone who has ever spiked a ball over a net, served an ace against an opponent or simply passed and set a ball with a friend, Volleyball is just plain fun! This is the message that promotes every day in everything it does, and it seems to be a pretty good selling point for the sport.
According to Kristy Cox, events manager for USA Volleyball, the sport has seen reasonable growth over the last couple years, even with the down economy. She said it is especially popular with junior girls, who are eager to get into the game along with their friends and peers.
“Once they pick up the sport, they just love it,” said Cox. “It may start out as a social thing, but they soon realize how much fun it is.”
This kind of mentality is something USA Volleyball hopes to instill in junior boys and adults, two groups that have seen stagnant growth in recent years. Even with these hurdles, USA Volleyball continues to push the competitive, exciting and entertaining nature of volleyball across the country.
USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body for volleyball in America and oversees all age levels and events from junior leagues to professional and Olympic teams. It sets the standards for indoor, beach, grass and Paralympic disciplines for both men and women. It is committed to working with communities to build successful programs around the country and create volleyball as a lifetime sport. Through work with its 40 regional associations and 31 affiliate organizations, USA Volleyball has become very involved at the local level.
USA Volleyball has launched many initiatives aimed at reaching young players, parents, coaches and organizations, in an effort to provide them with ample opportunities to participate in volleyball. Many of its grassroots initiatives target the under-represented populations—mainly young boys and men, and the disabled. The Ludus Tours Sport Development Grant is meant to support growth in junior boys programming, and any club that is in good standing with the USAV can apply for one of five $1,000 grants. As Cox mentioned, junior boys are one group that has not seen much growth, and the organization would like to see more interest from this demographic in the future.
For those who join as members, the organization provides a number of programs, training camps, clinics and international competitions. In addition, players are taught by some of the best and most skilled coaches around, who have all gone through USAV’s required Coaching Accreditation Program. For those who are interested in becoming leaders, USAV offers the IMPACT program for introductory level coaches, which includes clinics through the regional and national offices. Also, the USAV High Performance Coaches Clinic brings together top coaches from across the U.S. to help expand and improve the curriculum for instructors, mentors and teams.
USAV puts a great deal of emphasis on player development and coaching standards, but it also wants to reach out to parents. The RVA Parents as Partners Initiative is in its third year and is available at little to no cost. The effort includes the Team Enhancement Program that puts players and parents together to work on team planning. But it isn’t all business at these events. After the meetings, players get to teach their parents how to play volleyball, giving them a better understanding of the sport and the amazing experience their kids get to enjoy.
USAV helps to organize, brand and manage thousands of volleyball events across the country. It urges local sports commissions, facilities, clubs and communities to get involved because these tournaments can truly bring together a city—as well as draw thousands of visitors. Some of the most popular and big-ticket events, according to Cox, are the National Championships for men and women in June and July; the Adult Nationals in May; and the Collegiate Club events, which the organization recently took over from the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation.
“We sanction a number of qualifier tournaments,” Cox said. “We will have events that range in size from 400 teams to 1,200 teams.” With tournaments of this capacity, USAV appreciates the help of local businesses, volunteers and families, and hopes to continue developing these relationships in the future.
Through passionate recruiters and a dedicated staff, USAV has been able to boost awareness of volleyball around the country; and through its clinics and leagues, it has opened the eyes of many young players, exposing them to a sport that is truly fun and thrilling to play. Its main focus, of course, is to create a strong sense of community around volleyball and encourage athletes of all ages and skill levels to give it a try. USAV contends that once people try volleyball, they will love it forever.
—By Vanessa Day