+++++++Fountain Valley, Calif. – The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the world’s premier beach volleyball organization, is energized to announce a new partnership and strategic alliance with Beach Nation, the leader in beach volleyball education. Through their camps and clinics, Beach Nation offers an elite educational experience that teaches athletes and coaches “the skills not just the drills.” The distinctive, process-driven curriculum includes internally developed philosophies to enhance motor learning, fundamental keys, strategies and tactics to empower athletes and coaches to learn, improve and grow. Beach Nation’s staff and certified coaches are composed of some of the most notable nationally and internationally recognized names in the sport including: NCAA coaches of the year, Olympic Gold Medalists and some of the best Junior’s coaches to ever teach the game.
“The AVP has always been committed to growing the sport of beach volleyball,” said Donald Sun, CEO. “Our partnership with Beach Nation is an opportunity for two like-minded brands, with the same core values and passion for volleyball to collaborate with the goal to enhance participation across the U.S.”
He added, “Beach Nation will help athletes and coaches learn, grow and excel with their proven curriculum and leadership in education, skills and strategy.”
“For Beach Nation to be selected as the educational partner, running camps and clinics for the most iconic of beach brands, the AVP, is an honor. We have worked to build a new way to teach coaches and players and are led by an all world leadership team” says Mark Fishman, CEO of Beach Nation. The leadership team includes founding partners:
- Olympic Gold Medalist and now Head beach coach at Cal Poly, Todd Rogers
- 3-time US National Juniors Club Champions head coach and club owner, Patty Dodd
- Head Men’s Volleyball coach at Sacred Heart University, Bob Bertucci
- Head Beach Coach at Grand Canyon University, Kristen Rohr
- Assistant Coach at Grand Canyon, Joe Rich
- Head Beach Coach at Georgia State, Beth Van Fleet
- Teaching and volleyball icon, John Kessel
The addition of Beach Nation’s educational components to the already robust offering of programming furthers the AVP brand’s pledge to build on its campaigns through the growth of junior and adult initiatives as a commitment to the past, present and future of the sport. AVP America continues to blaze the trail of the grassroots world, solidifying their vision of enhancing the growth of volleyball (indoor, beach, snow, grass, etc.) by providing unparalleled benefits to both athletes, and organizations. To date, AVP America encompasses 215 participating organizations, more than 45,000 players and 2,000 events nationwide. Over the past two seasons, the AVP and AVP America teamed up with Pottstown Rumble, Seaside Beach Volleyball, Waupaca Boatride, East End Volleyball, Great American Volleyball, Volleyball of the Rockies, Dig the Beach Volleyball Tour and Texas Volleyball Tour – to name a few. Recently, in 2020, when much of the country was at a standstill, the AVPA team successfully and safely operated the marquee national annual event Grass Nationals and the inaugural Beach Week, which was a week’s long event encapsulating one of the largest participatory gathering at all levels including the Junior Nationals, AVPNext Gold Plus semi-pro tournament and various other adult divisional competitions. Approaching the next two months, Beach Open Nationals and Junior East Coast Championships will round out the event calendar.
Upcoming AVP x Beach Nation collaborations:
Friday October 23, 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET
Beach Nation CEO and moderator Mark Fishman will be leading a panel discussion including AVP Pros Tri Bourne, Sara Hughes, Emily Stockman and Crissy Jones. Athletes and parents are invited to join LIVE. Click here to register for the FREE panel discussion. More details will be sent out in this weekend’s weekly AVP e-blast.
Thursday December 17-20, AVCA Virtual Convention
Beach Nation and AVP have worked over the past few months to produce 4 unique presentations for the annual convention. Sessions include an on-court drill demonstration with juniors and pros, discussion panels with AVP athletes and college coaches & a game-footage analysis breakdown from current NCAA beach coaches.
- For local and national Beach Nation events and programming coming to your area, please visit https://www.beachnation.net/ and make sure to check for updates and periodic content in the weekly AVP newsletter.