Pro Beach Coaches

[Billy]

I have a couple of kids I coached through club volleyball and are now graduating from D1 programs. A least one, maybe both would like to give pro beach volleyball a try. They are athletic but not much beach experience. Both have financial means to play and train for a couple of years and may pursue a post graduate degree in the LA area. My question is: How do you locate a good beach coach? Do current coaches who work with the AVP players train other players as well?

[downtheline]

Usav is a place to start as they help train many aspiring beach players in their HP programs.

Barb, Holly, Jose, & Anjino all do privates.

So does greats like Dane S.

Ed R does solid training down in the OC & Jeff C maybe starting some sessions in OC.

Butch M. also does privates if your talented enough .

[Billy]

Thanks so much, downtheline. That was very helpful!

[Billy]

Nov 19, 2014 9:48:56 GMT -5 downtheline said:

Usav is a place to start as they help train many aspiring beach players in their HP programs.

Barb, Holly, Jose, & Anjino all do privates.

So does greats like Dane S.

Ed R does solid training down in the OC & Jeff C maybe starting some sessions in OC.

Butch M. also does privates if your talented enough .

[Billy]

Being an indoor only coach, I am wondering how the top AVP pairs practice. That is, with only two players they can't scrimmage unless they do so against another top team. This wouldn't make sense to me for normal practice as you really can't work on what you trying to do because to some extent you are showing the other team your weaknesses and strategy...even though maybe that is not a big secret.

Or would a two person team have practice players that train with them. It doesn't appear that one coach, coaches multiple teams. So I am just generally curious how the top teams run their practices. Thanks

[geddyleeridesagain]

All of the above. Good teams will often play each other, although you don't really see, say, number one scrimmaging number two (Misty/Kerri and April/Jen did not practice against each other). You will also see teams training (conditioning and drills) together, but not scrimmage. Top teams will also invite "up and comers" - younger teams - to scrimmage against. Women's teams will also train against guys. It's kind of all over the map.

I just saw this thread. If I could make a suggestion...if you have players who want to come out here and take a shot at the beach game (which I applaud), a very good introduction would be for them to attend the USAV High Performance Beach Tryouts in (usually) January for Under 21's, Under 23's, & Under 26's. It's held at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA - about 30 minutes East of San Diego. That way they get to see where their games are, train with some very good players and coaches, see and be seen, and start to network. I don't remember the cost, but it's pretty cheap. The best contact point would be Patricia Daugherty at USAV Beach, I think. A very good way to get their feet wet (or sandy, as it were).

[volleyballjim]

GLRA: Great summary...Makes sense and that what I've seen/heard about in my few accidental sightings while in the southland . . .

[Billy]

Thanks GLRA. These girls will not be out until July at the earliest. What is the EVP? Is this similar?

[geddyleeridesagain]

Dec 2, 2014 9:35:38 GMT -5 Billy said:

Thanks GLRA. These girls will not be out until July at the earliest. What is the EVP? Is this similar?

The training camp is four days, January 2-5. I think most schools are on Winter break then? Anyway, just food for thought.

I don't know much about the EVP these days, I'm sure someone else around here has more current information than me. Guy name of Ross Balling ran (runs?) it. But it's a very good idea to find out it's current status and whether they have any relationship with the AVP. Back in the day (6-7 years ago), playing on the EVP could get you banned from playing on the AVP. But that was under the old AVP management. See also: National Volleyball League (NVL). In the domestic pro beach scene, it's unfortunately just as important to understand the political landscape as it is to learn footwork and match strategy. The AVP is the big dog (although compared to the FIVB World Tour the AVP is a Chihuahua barking at a Great Dane, but that's a whole 'nother story), with tours like the EVP and NVL occupying lower rungs. And they don't all get along.

[Semp12]

Dec 2, 2014 23:42:57 GMT -5 geddyleeridesagain said:

Dec 2, 2014 9:35:38 GMT -5 Billy said:

Thanks GLRA. These girls will not be out until July at the earliest. What is the EVP? Is this similar?

The training camp is four days, January 2-5. I think most schools are on Winter break then? Anyway, just food for thought.

I don't know much about the EVP these days, I'm sure someone else around here has more current information than me. Guy name of Ross Balling ran (runs?) it. But it's a very good idea to find out it's current status and whether they have any relationship with the AVP. Back in the day (6-7 years ago), playing on the EVP could get you banned from playing on the AVP. But that was under the old AVP management. See also: National Volleyball League (NVL). In the domestic pro beach scene, it's unfortunately just as important to understand the political landscape as it is to learn footwork and match strategy. The AVP is the big dog (although compared to the FIVB World Tour the AVP is a Chihuahua barking at a Great Dane, but that's a whole 'nother story), with tours like the EVP and NVL occupying lower rungs. And they don't all get along.

Only way playing in the NVL or EVP gets you banned from the AVP is if you have already qualified for an AVP(and signed their contract).

EVP is basically a small regional tour that moves its location around. It does not resemble a professional tour really, but is a way to make some extra money trying to make it on the real tours.