We don’t even know yet who’s playing next year at the 2012 Olympics, Brazil has already started preparing their future players for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro..
Dang!
We really like what they’re doing!
Young players have started their training in the small surfing town of Saquarema. In case you didn’t know, Brazil doesn’t have NCAA or university teams like in the United States. Players join club teams which is their stepping stone to be discovered and eventually be part of the National Team – Junior and/or Senior.
The young players train 6-8 hours a day. Their training session for defense features a machine which spits out serves at the same speed from a human server like Clay Stanley but there 3 to 4 are in the air at the same time. Blocking involves the 17 to 18 year old players stand on blocks that are the height they will be jumping and run through technique over and over again.
The Brazilian Volleyball Federation has also launched a program called VivaVôlei which provides equipment and instruction for children across the country. 500 players out of 200,000 have been reviewed and identified as their future stars.
To honor their past and current players, the hallways of the X-Mansion training center has pictures of their big stars like Endres Murilo, Giba and even handprints of Brazilian volleyball luminaries are cast in cement outside the gym. Other perks include extra long beds, weight machines are adapted to the long, lean physiques of most players and a table full of fresh vegetables, salads, pasta, rice and beans, a protein entrée, cheese, polenta, juices and coconut water with low-sugar desserts.
We learned that learning English is mandatory for the players during volleyball camps and they are also required to take psychological sessions on topics such as concentration, perseverance and how to handle adversity.
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With this kind of support they get and a facility geared for volleyball, Brazil remains as one of the gold medal contenders in the next Olympics to come. No wonder lots of beach and indoor teams from other countries go to the Land of Samba to train and improve their game. Brazil offers one of the best volleyball programs in the world. No doubt.
Side Dish: One of the factors which makes Brazilian volleyball programs very successful is because of their network of sponsors which includes including Banco do Brasil, sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Olimpikus, Gatorade and ball maker Penalty.
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