What is the AVCA Phenom College Preparatory Program?
For the twelfth year, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) will host the invitation-only, AVCA Phenom College Preparatory Program. Since the start of the Phenom College Prep Program, 80% of participating athletes end up on college rosters! Check out the most recent data here.
The program is the only showcase that consistently has more than 200 college coaches in attendance. In 2022, 242 college coaches RSVP’d in advance or registered onsite in Omaha. View the 2022 RSVP list here.
The 2023 AVCA Phenom College Prep Program will take place on December 14-17, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. All events will take place at the Tampa Convention Center.
2023 Phenom participants will receive or participate in:
- AVCA Phenom Talent Showcase, where athletes will demonstrate their skills in front of the college coaches in attendance in person.
- Volleyball Performance Index (avcaVPI™) Testing: a specific measurement of physical potential. New for 2023: we are partnering with College Sports Eval (CSE) to administer the avcaVPI™. Test results will be accessible via the CSE portal.
- TAP Testing: learn more about your athlete behavioral style and strengths!
- Player and parent Q&A session with Jordyn Poulter, 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist with USA Volleyball
- Player educational sessions regarding recruiting, life as a college athlete, careers in volleyball, etc.
- Parent-specific educational sessions with NCSA about recruiting rules and what to expect during the process
- Parent and player education session with the Hospital for Special Surgery (NY) Sports Medicine division regarding sports injury prevention
- New for 2023- parent and player education session with Neurofuel High Performance Mental Training, regarding athlete mental health, visualization, and how to sharpen your mind in order to perform at your best.
- Asics T-shirt
- Comparative avcaVPI™ metrics and a list of college coaches who attended or viewed the Talent Showcase provided after the event.
- New for 2023- AVCA is partnering with University Athlete in order to provide access to player information to college coaches onsite using the UA database.
This unique event is designed to prepare and educate participants and their parents about playing volleyball at the collegiate level.
Who is invited?
The AVCA Phenom College Prep Program is an invitation-only event for uncommitted seniors on the AVCA All-American Watch List and uncommitted underclassmen on the AVCA Phenom List.
Athletes recognized on the Phenom List have been identified by the AVCA as elite rising high school volleyball student-athletes (2025, 2026, and 2027 grad years). These athletes have received some significant external form of recognition for their outstanding play (All-State, Prep Volleyball, USAV NTDP or Regional High-Performance Team, etc.). The athletes are nominated through the AVCA Nomination form which is then evaluated by the AVCA.
Additionally, the Phenom Watchlist nominee’s high school coach, club coach, or club director must be an active AVCA Member under the High School/Interscholastic, Club Coach, or Club Director AVCA membership categories in order to be placed on the Phenom List and receive an invitation to the Phenom College Prep Program.
Athletes recognized on the AVCA All-America Watchlist have been identified by the AVCA as elite Senior (2024 grad year) high school volleyball student-athletes. These athletes are underclassmen who have received some significant external form of recognition for their outstanding play (All-State, Prep Volleyball, USAV NTDP or Regional High-Performance Team, etc.). The athletes are nominated through the AVCA Nomination form which is then evaluated by the AVCA.
In order to be eligible for the AVCA All-America Watchlist, an athlete’s High School Head Coach must be an active AVCA member. Nominations can be submitted by the player’s club coach or director, but eligibility is tied to the membership status of their High School Head Coach.
When & Where
The AVCA Phenom College Prep Program will be held on December 14-17, 2023. The Phenom Program will be held in Tampa, Florida, at the Tampa Convention Center.
Please note that the NCAA Championship match will be the only Phenom-related event on Sunday, December 17th.
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Registration package options are as follows:
$374 Lower Level Registration: Includes registration to the AVCA Phenom College Prep Program as well as one (1) Lower Level ticket book for the registered athlete. Each ticket book includes Lower Level tickets to the NCAA D1 Women’s Semi-Final matches as well as one Lower Level Ticket to the NCAA D1 Women’s National Championship.SOLD OUT- $289 Upper Level Registration: Includes registration to the AVCA Phenom College Program as well as one (1) Upper Level ticket book for the registered athlete. Each ticket book includes Upper Level tickets to the NCAA D1 Women’s Semi-Final matches as well as one Upper Level ticket to the NCAA D1 Women’s National Championship.
Up to two (2) additional parent/guardian ticket books may be purchased per athlete. Additional Upper-Level ticket books will cost $40 per person, while additional Lower Level ticket books will cost $125 per person. SOLD OUT Each ticket book contains one ticket to the NCAA D1 Women’s Semi-Final matches and one ticket to the NCAA D1 Women’s National Championship.
NCAA match tickets will be distributed electronically ONLY via Ticketmaster Account Manager. No printed ticket books are available. Tickets will be sent out via e-mail in early December.
Hotel Room Block
Registered athletes are able to view the private event page for hotel room block links.
Phenom Partners
We are partnering with several organizations in order to provide the BEST Phenom experience yet! Partners this year include:
Neurofuel High Performance Mental Training
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO)
Hospital for Special Surgery (NY) Sports Medicine
Cancellations
Cancellation requests were be accepted through November 10th, 2023. All refunds of Phenom Program Upper or Lower Level Registration Packages are subject to a 25% processing fee. Add-on NCAA tickets will be refunded with any Phenom Registration request.
Testimonials
“My favorite part was the NCAA matches. Being around the high-quality players was inspiring to want to be one of them.” – Athlete
“Participating in the showcase was awesome, seeing so many college coaches together was surreal. There were soo many. It was a really cool program that tested me, and my abilities.” – Athlete
“The Phenom Program definitely created exposure with college coaches. I am now corresponding with 3 DII schools and 5 NAIA schools that I had no previous contact with.” – Athlete
“Since attending this event, my daughter was immediately contacted by college coaches before we even got on a flight back home and has been receiving emails ever since. She now has more choices than ever.” – Parent
“I loved the All-American Panel. It really helped me figure out what is important when looking for a college.” – Athlete
