USA Tryouts - for What Teams?

[rocket]

I read that USA Volleyball will be conducting tryouts in late February. Does anyone know what teams this tryout is for and who is coaching these teams? Also, what is the timetable for practice and competition for these teams. I have a former club player who needs to know dates for the summer.

[gobears]

try this...I copied if off old stuff in my files.
I am sure Bill Kauffman by email or phone no below can answer further questions.
This is for HP.

If you want to know about NTeam and summer Elite etc teams, call Colo Springs as well.

good luck.



Nov. 14, 2006
Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]
USA Volleyball Announces Tentative 2007 High Performance Tryout Schedule
Web Story at www.usavolleyball.org/VolleyballNews/news.asp?id=1399
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2006) – USA Volleyball has tentatively scheduled 37 tryout dates its High Performance Program in 2007, including 25 for girls and 12 for boys.

[beachman]

rocket said:

I read that USA Volleyball will be conducting tryouts in late February. Does anyone know what teams this tryout is for and who is coaching these teams? Also, what is the timetable for practice and competition for these teams. I have a former club player who needs to know dates for the summer.

On the women's side they use the "tryout" scam as nothing more than a fundraiser, FOR THE MEN'S PROGRAM! The charge these kids $100-$200 to fly out, AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, and 'TRY OUT' for the National Team(s).....the money, for the women's tryouts goes to the MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM.......how do you like them terds???

[Wolfgang]

Wow! If they got 10,000 kids to "tryout", USA Volleyball could make roughly $1,000,000-$2,000,000. Better than a bake sale, I say.

At first blush, it sounds like a scam. I mean, why should I pay $100-$200 to tryout for a team?!?! The nerve of these damn bastards! But then, they probably house you in their dorms, provide you with living accommodations, and feed you, not to mention give you some medical insurance (don't know...). So, the $100-$200 doesn't sound too bad. As for piping it to the men's program, I don't give a rip.

But yeah, it does sound like a scam. I wouldn't let my daughters go near Colorado Springs. Boulder...maybe. But not Colorado Springs.

[beachman]

wolfgang said:

Wow! If they got 10,000 kids to "tryout", USA Volleyball could make roughly $1,000,000-$2,000,000. Better than a bake sale, I say.

At first blush, it sounds like a scam. I mean, why should I pay $100-$200 to tryout for a team?!?! The nerve of these damn bastards! But then, they probably house you in their dorms, provide you with living accommodations, and feed you, not to mention give you some medical insurance (don't know...). So, the $100-$200 doesn't sound too bad. As for piping it to the men's program, I don't give a rip.

But yeah, it does sound like a scam. I wouldn't let my daughters go near Colorado Springs. Boulder...maybe. But not Colorado Springs.

Wolfie, it IS a scam.....most of these are 1 day deals, at locations throughout the country, not necessarily in CS....these kids are enamored by the thought of being in a 'TRY OUT' for the National Teams and their program.....it IS a fundraiser, and a rip-off!!! At least they could pump this money into the WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, not the Men's National Team.....let me see now, who runs our National Teams????Doug someone.....former coach of the MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

[rocket]

Now I know that it is a scam, but I have no idea what teams these players are trying out for. Is there a WUG team, an A2, a USA B team, or what. And if so, when will these teams train and compete?

[beachman]

They try out for anything......just so they can tell people, and mommies and daddys love to brag about it, that they "tried out for the USA National Team Program......once again, just a way to make money and really do NOTHING for these players....doesn't make em better players!

[eastcoastvb]

Beachman seems to be on a rant so let me add alittle info to help clear things up. Quoted from the website, "The High Performance Program at USA Volleyball is the "pipeline" for young volleyball athletes who aspire to reach the elite level of their sport and who dream to one day represent the USA on the National Mens or Womens Volleyball Team."

I coach boys club/hs and have them tryout and have had some make it. For $65 they can see how they stack up against competition from our region. I have had boys make the just the developmental camp all the way up to Youth National team with a chance to make the men junior national team.

The program works as it develops these athletes at a young age to one day compete on our National/Olympic teams. As for the money to pay to be part of these teams is pretty minimal considering what they are getting.

[cyberVBmidwest]

beachman said:

They try out for anything......just so they can tell people, and mommies and daddys love to brag about it, that they "tried out for the USA National Team Program......once again, just a way to make money and really do NOTHING for these players....doesn't make em better players!

There is no way USAV is making any money off of the minimal charges the athletes pay for these tryouts. It is a way to see a lot of different athletes, collect the raw stats in a uniform way and get to see them "play" a little. If they find a couple of diamonds in the rough over the years, great for USA. The kids have very realistic expectations when they go to those tryouts. Some of them do it for the tryout t-shirt! At least there is an avenue for getting seen by someone linked to the national teams, as imperfect as it may be.

What is your system beachman and how much would it cost to implement it?

[beachman]

My system would at least put money where it belongs.....if we are going to "charge" these kids to "try out" or to go to one of the one day "clinics" WHICH THEY DO!!!!!!!!!!!!, THEN THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE PUMPED INTO THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, NOT THE MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, which is what is happening.....there's a lot more about this that I could expound on but it wouldn't really change anything now would it??? EVERYBODY OUT THERE ON VOLLEY TALK WHO THINKS THAT USA VOLLEYBALL is doing such a great job stand up and be counted!!

[Phaedrus]

eastcoastvb said:

Beachman seems to be on a rant so let me add alittle info to help clear things up. Quoted from the website, "The High Performance Program at USA Volleyball is the "pipeline" for young volleyball athletes who aspire to reach the elite level of their sport and who dream to one day represent the USA on the National Mens or Womens Volleyball Team."

I coach boys club/hs and have them tryout and have had some make it. For $65 they can see how they stack up against competition from our region. I have had boys make the just the developmental camp all the way up to Youth National team with a chance to make the men junior national team.

The program works as it develops these athletes at a young age to one day compete on our National/Olympic teams. As for the money to pay to be part of these teams is pretty minimal considering what they are getting.

The boys tryouts are at least honest and they get a good look over by coaches who's input is noted. At the girls tryout, especially those that happen at qualifiers, all the coaches except maybe for a couple are unpaid volunteers, they did it for the resume fodder and the polo shirt. The facility is free, all USAV did was to get one maybe two people there to run it, ship the shirts over from Colorado Springs, collect the money and sign people up. Yes, they make money, hand over fist.

[cyberVBmidwest]

beachman said:

My system would at least put money where it belongs.....if we are going to "charge" these kids to "try out" or to go to one of the one day "clinics" WHICH THEY DO!!!!!!!!!!!!, THEN THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE PUMPED INTO THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, NOT THE MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, which is what is happening.....there's a lot more about this that I could expound on but it wouldn't really change anything now would it??? EVERYBODY OUT THERE ON VOLLEY TALK WHO THINKS THAT USA VOLLEYBALL is doing such a great job stand up and be counted!!

First, how many kids do you think turn out for these tryouts @ $100 (or less) each?

Second, how much of the money goes to court rental, t-shirts and maybe a few other misc. expenses? (I don't think USAV flies anyone out but if they did it would include some airfare & hotel).

Out of the net proceeds, just how much money do you think the tryouts generate for the MENS programs?


Lastly, I think there is always room for improvement in any organization so I will not step forward and say USAV is doing a GREAT job. However, I have great disdain for people who like to complain but are not willing to spend time and effort in producing a better solution or process. Hopefully, you will reply with the list of things you personally have done recently to help out women's (or men's) volleyball and how that it is better than the way USAV is doing it. I believe you participated as a volunteer in the NCAA Final Four in Long Beach a few years ago, correct?

It is OK to criticize if you are doing something about it (even in a little way). This forum is all about voicing your opinion.

[cyberVBmidwest]

phaedrus said:

The boys tryouts are at least honest and they get a good look over by coaches who's input is noted. At the girls tryout, especially those that happen at qualifiers, all the coaches except maybe for a couple are unpaid volunteers, they did it for the resume fodder and the polo shirt. The facility is free, all USAV did was to get one maybe two people there to run it, ship the shirts over from Colorado Springs, collect the money and sign people up. Yes, they make money, hand over fist.

I only know the boys side of the program, not the girls. Is it a whole lot different? How many girls participate and do they charge more than the boys?

[OverAndUnder]

Eating cereal is a SCAM!!! No matter how much milk I pour, I always seem to have some more cereal left in a box somewhere, and the next morning I have to pour milk into a bowl AGAIN! And what's worse is that in just a few days the jug is EMPTY, but the grocery store won't let me REFILL the jug with milk at a low cost, noooooo, they got it set up to where I have to THROW AWAY that jug that I ALREADY paid for and turn around to give them even MORE MONEY for another jug with milk in it JUST A FEW DAYS LATER! I grew up in a world where we bought milk simply because it was the right thing to do, and we could rest easy at night knowing we were decreasing our sisters' and daughters' future risk for osteoporosis as well as supporting the backbone of american culture and values -- our farmers! But in the last few years I have begun to wonder if it isn't all a BIG scam whereby the GROCERY STORE OWNERS are raking in fat wads of CASH by preying on the hopes and dreams of patriotic and athletic american families! It sickens me to consider the possibility that maybe some of these GROCERY STORE OWNERS in fact don't give a FEATHER or a fig about my little Britannie's dreams of playing basketball well into her 60s, but instead are using their brightly lit refrigerated aisles of CREAMY CALCIUM GOODNESS to conceal a crass ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE!!! I say FIE to those who would put our tried-and-true ideals of dairy democracy out to pasteurized pastures. FIE!

[D. B. Cooper]

rocket said:

Now I know that it is a scam, but I have no idea what teams these players are trying out for. Is there a WUG team, an A2, a USA B team, or what. And if so, when will these teams train and compete?

Rocket , if you are asking about the National Team Tryouts to be held on February 23-25 in Colorado Springs, it's for the National Training Team and the A2 Team. Really, I'd say that making the actual National Training Team via this tryout is a pipedream but not impossible. What the players really have a shot at making is the A2 Team that the USAV sends to play in the Adult Open Championships in Austin over Memorial Day Weekend. The team is made up of college players and coached by college coaches. If I remember correct, last year the team practiced for a week before the tournament. Hope that helps but I'm sure someone here knows more or better.