Friday, June 12, 2015

Growing volleyball in New York

A women's volleyball team from New York has never won an NCAA Division III national championship. And though the level of play has been growing in recent years, it's still never happened.

We want our summer camp this year to be another step towards changing that trend.

NYU was close to winning it in 2003 as the runner-up, but otherwise there's never been a team who's been in the top two.

There's a definite trend that emerges when looking at past championship winners. Here are the past 10 years:

2014 - Hope / Great Lakes
2013 - Calvin / Great Lakes
2012 - St. Thomas (Minn) / Central
2011 - Wittenberg / Great Lakes
2010 - Calvin / Great Lakes
2009 - Washington - St. Louis / Central
2008 - Emory / South
2007 - Washington - St. Louis / Central
2006 - Juniata / Mid-Atlantic
2005 - Wisconsin - Whitewater / Midwest

The trend is obvious: There are no teams from New York (or New England). Not since NCAA Division III volleyball began in 1981 has there been a champion from New York. It's not that it can't be done, it's just that nobody's created an outstanding enough program yet to do it.

For a college coach in New York who wants to compete at the national level there are two solutions: recruit players from other regions instead, or continue developing the younger players in New York. Or both.

Some NY schools have gone to option #1, because it's quick and often effective. But I don't think any coach would agree that we should pursue option #1 while ignoring option #2.

Our goal with this year's summer camp is two-fold: to support the work the youth volleyball coaches are doing in our region (of which there are many), and to offer high school players the chance to improve in a competitive, caring culture. We want New York volleyball to continue ascending.

Details: ONLINE REGISTRATION
  • Collegiate strength and conditioning session
  • Competitive match-play
  • Skill and drill session
  • Suggested activities for traveling parents/family members 
  • Nutrition and team concept discussions