The annual Pre-season Boot Camps is Volleyball Development Camp’s annual week of pre-season preparation. It is a multi-level collection of highly structured training curriculums ranging from the New Kids on the Court beginner syllabus to the Emerging Elite advanced syllabus. Each is presented in partitioned sessions directed at a specific level of ability with some offering an opportunity to progress the next highest level of training. The range of curriculums is suitable for athletes from age 8 to 18.
At Boot Camp athletes begin the process of preparing for their approaching volleyball season, whether it is seasonal as in most school interscholastic competition, or year-round in the club scene. It is intended to get those athletes who may have had months away from the court ready to take part in the high-pressure environment of team try-outs and school or club training.
The wide range of available training (each level is taught in separate events at different days and times during the week-long programme) offers curriculums for:
- beginners wishing to try volleyball at their school or a club for the first time; based on the New Kids on the Court, First Stepz and Pathways curriculums;
- intermediate athletes who want to enter their first structured school and club youth volleyball competition events in either 4v4 or 6v6 disciplines; based on the Skillz and Skillz Plus curriculums;
- advanced school and club athletes who require a revision of their ball-control technique combined with basic team scrimmaging and tactical analysis; based on the Rising and Emerging Elite curriculums;
- advanced university or club athletes who have been unable to maintain a regular training regime over the summer, and want to bring their physical and mental skills up to speed before joining their school or club training sessions.
Who it’s for: Athletes preparing to start the volleyball season who may not have been able to attend an earlier VbDC summer camp for their level of ability, or who have been away from the court for an extended period.
VbDC’s message to the athlete: You want to either begin volleyball or return to it in the coming season, which is only weeks away. You are aware that pre-season preparation can give you the advantage of being several steps ahead of other athletes who wait until the last minute to begin preparing for team selection and training. At the higher performance levels you are looking to demonstrate to the team coach that your consistently dependable technical form for serving and service receive, for defending with blocks and passes, and for attacking with accurate sets and spikes will be an important contribution to the collective level needed for team success. As a beginner or intermediate you want to move up the performance ladder as quickly as possible, and you understand that much of the fun of volleyball is in playing the sport as well as you can.
Average age: 8-14 for beginners and intermediates; 14-18 for advanced and expert
Athlete information: Registration for the advanced and expert camp requires you to provide information about your playing history and competitive experience.
