HP Coaching Opportunities

USAV High Performance Tryouts

USA Volleyball High Performance hosts more than 50 tryouts each year in cities across the country. USAV HP relies on the efforts of our tryout staff to run the tryouts smoothly and effectively. Most important to our efforts is providing USAV HP with accurate evaluations on all athletes and provide the athletes a fun and challenging experience during the tryout. Volunteering at HP tryouts is open to any and all coaches who are current, registered members of USA Volleyball, pass a background screen through USAV, and are USA Volleyball IMPACT certified. Any and all coaches who volunteer for tryouts must submit their online availability by clicking here for girls' tryouts and here for boys' tryouts. Tryout coaches should be cheerful, motivated individuals who are willing to help with whatever needs to be done before, during, and after a tryout. HP tryouts are the first opportunity that new coaches have to be evaluated by USAV staff and be considered for summer programs.

Coaches working a tryout will receive notification in the weeks and days before each tryout with additional information and each coach’s assignment for the tryout, which is decided by USAV HP depending on the needs at that particular tryout. Coaches will also receive instructions on how to perform each job responsibility and should be familiar with their roles prior to arriving at the tryout. In addition, all coaches working a tryout should be very familiar with all of the drills in the Tryout Plan and the Physical Testing Procedures.

Most tryouts are held in the convention center or other sport center where a USAV Junior National Qualifier or other large tournament is being held. These tryouts are usually scheduled the night before an event starts or the evening of the final day of a tournament.

The majority of tryouts start with check-in at 4:00pm, meaning coaches volunteering should arrive at the tryout site no later than 3:00pm. For tryouts with other start times, please plan to arrive no less than one hour before check-in begins. Please know that a USAV HP National Office staff member will be onsite and beginning set up 1 ½ hours before check-in and your assistance is appreciated earlier if you are available.

Coaches should arrive wearing a USAV polo and khaki pants (evaluators) or black USAV coaches’ tryout t-shirt and black court pants (court coaches). Coaches new to USAV will be given a shirt at the tryout. Coaches do not need to bring anything to the tryout as all materials are provided.

Coaches are charged with a number of different assignments during tryout set-up, registration hour, and the actual tryout. Sample duties include:

Registration Hour Tryout

Check-in Concierge Lead Tryout Coach

Check-in Table Lead Evaluation Coach

T-shirt Assignment Court Coaches

Serving Evaluator Evaluators*

Shuttle Station

Measure Station

*Please know that due to NCAA Regulations, Division I Women’s collegiate volleyball coaches are not eligible to evaluate at USAV Girls’ HP Tryouts, but are welcome to serve as court coaches.

USAV High Performance A3, Training, and Development Camps

USAV High Performance Camps boast the highest athlete participation numbers of all of our summer programs and are an integral piece of the HP Athlete Pipeline. A3, Training, and Development Camps are the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th tiers of the Athlete Pipeline, respectively, and consist of 5 day camp experiences at locations across the country.

Coaches for HP Camps are chosen from the HP Coaches’ Pipeline and coaches assigned to camps are required to have assisted with at least one HP tryout during that season. Most coaches who are assigned camps have assisted at tryouts for multiple years and generally help at multiple tryouts each year.

Every coach who coaches in any HP summer program, including camps, is required to attend a USAV HP Coaches’ Meeting Webinar, offered online a number of times at the end of May and beginning of June. Paramount to working in any HP program is excellent, working knowledge of the USA Volleyball National Team Technique Manual for HP Programs, HP Camp Drill Manual, USAV HP Set Terminology, and HP Camp Plan. All of these resources are available to coaches once assigned to a program and is reviewed and discussed in the Coaches’ Meeting Webinars for training purposes. Assignment preference is also given to coaches with USAV CAP certifications.

Compensation for camps varies depending on position and level in the HP Coaches’ Pipeline. Depending on the level of the coach, consideration of travel costs may be given in the amount compensated. Based on camp location, USAV seeks some qualified coaches within driving distance to work each camp. HP coaches who require air travel to get to camp are required to book their own flight within the guidelines: before 11:00am on the first day of camp and after 4:00pm on the final day of camp. All meals and housing are provided. USAV HP Coaches are independent contractors.

There are four positions available:

Head Coach – Head Coaches are responsible for running all aspects of the camp, including administration and serving as the primary contact with USAV. Head Coaches are high level USAV HP Pipeline Coaches who are not only proficient in running the camp but who are also experts with regards to the USA Volleyball National Team Technique Manual for HP Programs.

Associate Head Coach – Associate Head Coaches are used typically when there are more than 3 camps at any one location, in which case there is a Camp Head Coach who oversees all camps and Associate Head Coaches over individual camps or age groups. Associate Head Coaches have the same responsibility characteristics as a Head Coach but do not need to handle as many administrative functions.

Assistant Coach – Most coaches who work a camp serve as assistant coaches. Assistant coaches are responsible for working as court coaches in all sessions and share responsibility with the other camp coaches for instruction of skills, drills, and games, completing comprehensive evaluations all athletes, and supervising athletes throughout their camp stay.

Apprentice Coach – Most first year USAV HP Coaches serve as apprentice coaches. Apprentice coaches complete the same responsibilities as assistant coaches but will have less responsibility with regards to serving as a primary instructor of skills, drills, and games.

Coaching invitations for camps are assigned using the following schedule:

2013 HP Coaching Invitation Timeline

January 1, 2013 – National Team Coaches and HP Championship and Program Head Coaches Named

February 1, 2013 – May 1, 2013 – Initial Girls’ Program Associate Head and Assistant Coaches Invited (Returning, active HP coaches)

April 1, 2013 – All Boys’ Program Coaches Invited

May 15, 2013 – Additional Assistant and Apprentice Coaches Invited (New and returning HP coaches)

Typical Camp Schedule

USAV Camp Coaches are provided with 3 camp t-shirts, Mizuno shoes and a Mizuno USA Volleyball polo. Coaches should bring court clothes for each day, either Mizuno or non-brand name apparel. Coaches wear khakis pants or shorts and Mizuno polos on the first and last days of camp.

USAV High Performance Championship Coaches

The High Performance Championships is an international-style tournament hosted by USA Volleyball in a host US city every July. With the exception of the 12-player USA Youth and National Teams, the HP Championships Program offers the highest level of training and competition to male and female athletes selected each year through HP tryouts in three age groups and is the highest level juniors tournament in the country.

The HPC Program is the main platform for future advancement to HP National Teams. Coaches and athletes train together for the period of a standard HP camp, and then apply those lessons during the HPC competition. Coaches working at the Championships arrive five days prior to the tournament, thereby requiring a 10 day commitment to participate in the HPC Program. All meals and housing are provided for the duration of the 10 days. As with HP camps, coaches book their own individual flights to the training and tournament site.

In general, the staff for programs at the HP Championships is made up of coaches who have proven themselves in the HP Coaching Pipeline for a number of years. These coaches are trusted with training the top athletes in the country in the Select, Youth, and Junior age groups and are therefore the most experienced in the Coaches’ Pipeline.

Programs Participating in HP Championships

Junior A2 Youth A2 Select A1

Junior Continental Youth Continental Select A2

Select Continental

USAV Youth and Junior National Team Coaches