The 2009 AVP Juniors Beach Volleyball Camp series kicked off in Atlanta, GA on May 26-28 at Atlantic Station. The camp was coached by AVP Pros Albert Hannemann and Angela Lewis. Campers were taught beach drills and work out techniques that will help them become stronger, faster, and better volleyball players. Many of the campers were primarily indoor players and were experiencing the beach game for the first time, but have now become lifelong beach players!

“It was so awesome, I love playing beach volleyball!” said Courtney Oster, 13, second year club player. “I learned so much during camp. I loved the pros, they were fun and taught me a lot. I know it has improved my movement to the ball and my approach on hitting. I can’t wait to play more and I think I would play beach every day if I had the opportunity! I will definitely be back next year.”

Beach Volleyball was just voted by the NCAA as an emerging sport for college and will be offering full ride scholarships for women all over the country. Beach club teams are popping up all over the country as parents are looking forward to seeing if beach volleyball might be a great alternative for their kids to focus on and play at the next level. These camps are a great way for kids to gain exposure to the game of beach, and to be taught by the best beach volleyball players in the world.

"I was pleasantly surprised how fired up the kids were to learn how to play on the beach,” said Hannemann. “Many of them said they would play every day if they had the opportunity. I couldn't be happier with what we accomplished. These kids are the future of the AVP Tour.”

AVP Juniors Beach Volleyball Camps will also be held in Ocean City, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach prior to each of the Crocs tour events. For more information please visit avp.com or contact us at camps@avp.com or (310) 426-7139

Also successful in Atlanta was the AVP Ultimate VIP Experience, also run by Hannemann. Fans participating in the VIP experience will be treated the highest level of luxury the AVP has to offer. Fans participating receive a private clinic with top AVP professionals, VIP tickets to the AVP’s onsite hospitality suite, including food, snacks, and drinks (where available), VIP passes to player parties and other events throughout the weekend, gift bags, a private clinic, and a meet and greet with top AVP players.

“People flew in from all over the country and from Canada to join the AVP VIP experience in Atlanta to get to play and party with their favorite AVP players,” said Jason Dunaway, who participated in the AVP Ultimate VIP Experience in Atlanta. “It was awesome. We sold out the program in 2 weeks with 40 people signed up and had another 40 that wanted to join the program. It was an amazing experience and I think it is the best thing the AVP has ever offered the fans. To have someone like AL-B showing us around the event after a top notch clinic was something my entire group of friends is still talking about. I think that fans across the country will be spoiled when they join this program.”

The program also offered AVP athletes a chance to get to know local fans.

"I love how this program allows us to interact with the fans,” said AVP Tour athlete Paige Davis. “After a great clinic we were all able to hang out together at some amazing parties. I think the pros had as much fun as our new friends.”

By joining the AVP Fan Experience program the Atlanta fans were automatically entered to win a free Volleyball Vacations trip to the Turks and Caicos islands in November. Find out how you can play and party with the pros at  www.volleyballvacations.com

All participants in the AVP Ultimate VIP experience must be 21 and older. To sign up for the VIP Experience at coming events, please click here.