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
- Volleyball Performance Index (avcaVPI™) Testing: a specific measurement of physical potential.
- Curious about avcaVPI™ Testing? Watch an explanation here! Accurate metrics are more important than ever in this new world of digital recruiting.
- Athlete Behavioral Profile (ABP): a unique profile of your learning style
- Educational sessions regarding recruiting, life as a college athlete, nutrition, mental health training, and more!
- Parent-specific educational sessions with the NCSA about recruiting rules and what to expect during the process
- Asics T-shirt
- Comparative VPI metrics, ABP assessments, and a list of college coaches who attended or viewed the Talent Showcase provided after the event.
- New for 2023- We are 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.
The 2023 schedule will be posted upon confirmation of speaker details. The schedule for 2023 will be similar to 2022, with the exception of the National Championship match taking place on Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night. Please note that the NCAA Championship match will be the only Phenom-related event on Sunday, December 17th.
Registration
Registration will open to eligible athletes on September 27, 2023.
Registration package options will be 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.
- $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. 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.
Please note: add-on NCAA tickets are refundable through November 10th.
Hotel Room Block
Registered athletes will be able to view the private event page for hotel room block links.
Cancellations
Cancellation requests will 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
