Pro Tour schedules

[haze]

Just a question -

I believe in the 90's, and even when it was the Croc's tour, there was 15+ stops and in some years a lot more. Plenty of tournament opportunities for the athletes on a yearly basis to progress.

Any thoughts on the current AVP schedule at only being 7 tournaments, are these athletes (players not playing FIVB), able to get action elsewhere? 7 tournaments or whatever does not seem like a lot at all for these players and the quality of the game to really improve. Are the athletes playing other grassroot type tournaments, and if so are they getting competition to really get bet better? I always wonder how the Bomgrens stay competitive in MN, there are good players there but nothing in any way comparable to AVP type to make them better. I know they play on grass at Waupaca but what else are they really playing.....

If these guys aren't able to play something that can help them progress other than the AVP's, could that be a big reason why the tour we're seeing and US Volleyball is loaded with the only veterans tipping the retirement scale, the Crabbs, and then basically everyone else who has had their growth stunted by lack of playing quality tournaments to help them improve?

Taylor Crabb is kind of a unique case where he has made this transition to Beach, and basically in a matter of like 12 months is a legitimate AVP contender knocking on the FIVB doorstep at only 24. I know he has some special qualities about him and he could very well be the exception to the rule but I'm wondering what these younger players are doing in competitive settings (other than training) that can help them progress other than the 6 or whatever AVP tournaments a year.

[unrated]

Short answer: Move to Hermosa and train.
Longer answer: Women or men?

If you're talking financially, then the answer is no. You cannot survive as an up-and-comer in sand volley.
Also financially, none of the leagues (AVP, NVL, FIVB) are at a point where they can afford to run a dozen domestic tournaments per year. (FIVB obviously runs a ton of stuff around the planet).

For the younger women the college game is on it's way up and will be solid in a few years.

CBVA and err... the current Florida equivalent at the open level are good for training.
The NVL is another possibility, though it's contract (like the AVP) limits your opportunities to play elsewhere.
The line of grassroots tournaments (sandroots?) helps, but you can't make a season out of it: Seaside, Motherlode et al.
Also if you hang out in the mix you might sneak into an FIVB Norceca or two.
Also a few AVPNext tournaments out there.

There is no set path to ProVolley, though the phenoms (Taylor, Summer Ross) can kinda jumpstart the process.

[haze]

I think more competitively than financially. More so competing to improve as a young player rather than financially.

I think more men is my concern. Women with college have kind of a tier progression of development to help them progress through the ranks.

I think more on the men's is a little concerning.t. These guys come in young and can play tournaments like the CBVA to help develop them to a certain point, but I would imagine they need to find something more competitive to help them make that jump up to AVP qualifiers.

Look at Page - young guy, main draw AVP player, can't play in the NVL, last year he get's 7 AVP tournaments and 1 FIVB tournament. That doesn't seem like enough quality tournaments for a guy like where he's at to really develop in a competitive environment to get better. Is it worth it to play CVBA for a guy like him? Or maybe training is enough to progress in a sport like Beach Volleyball.