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Post by adrimich on Mar 27, 2007 13:07:33 GMT -5
I doubt that it has much to do with the location of the training facilities in these countries, however in the US it does. The United States culture does not value the idea of representing your nation through participation in a sport, as other countries do. The reason for that is that we have an extremely large variety of sports for the youth to play. And the overall idea of playing volleyball at a "high level" is college ball. Also volleyball in the United States is popular but not nearly as much as it is in other countries. And with the thousands of places for kids to play in college and at the same time get an education, it doesn't allow for the United States to gather many of these athletes and keep them in their programs from when they are young up until they are done playing. So essentially it is the collegiate athletic system, the lack of government influence, and the overall social expecations that prevent the US from being an olympic power. I am not saying I would make the sacrifices to make those changes or give anything up, it just means that we have to work even harder in order to have such success.
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Post by foreignball on Mar 28, 2007 13:23:48 GMT -5
China: Ningbo Cuba: Havana or any city in the world where they can get what they need. Brasil: just outside of Rio Italy doesn't have a national training center, they train wherever they can get the infrastructure they need. I think the same is true of Serbia and Poland. Sisam can speak of Turkey and Germany. Example from another country: Bulgaria (men finished 4th in World League 2006 and 3rd at WC2006) also doesn't have national training center for vball and even more - there is only 1 (in words: one) facility that meets FIVB requirements for international competitions in the whole country. So any time they host, they know where the game will take place  Some times the lack of choice makes life easier ;D |
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Post by sIsam on Mar 28, 2007 13:27:51 GMT -5
I hear this argument tossed around a lot -- that olympic success is directly linked to the attractiveness of the training location. I find myself wondering if other top 15 countries really choose locations for their olympic programs with the happiness and personal entertainment of their players in mind. Where are the training centers in China, Cuba, Serbia, Brasil, Korea, Poland, Turkey, Germany, etc.? Turkey is the same was as Italy. Our team trains whereever they are provided the necessary facilities... Istanbul, Ankara, southern cities, depending on what is arranged.... I don't know for sure about Germany but I expect it is the same. China: Ningbo Cuba: Havana or any city in the world where they can get what they need. Brasil: just outside of Rio Italy doesn't have a national training center, they train wherever they can get the infrastructure they need. I think the same is true of Serbia and Poland. Sisam can speak of Turkey and Germany. |
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Post by Netter on Mar 29, 2007 13:30:41 GMT -5
If I were the Stanford coach, I would advise Barboza not to participate. Risking the wear and tear from those practices this soon after knee reconstruction could prove costly. Look at how much they limited her practice and warm ups before games last season. I am sure she has been active during spring workouts at school, but to turn up the notch with the intensity of Olympic training could prove costly at this stage. Wonder what her knee surgeon would say.
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