JaVA Strengthen Bilateral Ties With Str8dn Sports
The Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) is to reap further benefits from its relationship with US-based organization Str8dn Sports (pronounced Straight Down Sports). Subsequent to the National Senior Female team winning the first round 2014 World Championship Qualifier in November last year, Str8dn Sports has extended an invitation to the team to play some friendly matches against Club teams in Pennsylvania as the team continued their preparation for the second round of the Qualifiers. The local-based members of the contingent will depart Jamaica on 17 January, play five friendly matches between 18 - 20 January, before returning on the 21st. They will be joined en route by other US-based players.
The arrangement sees Str8dn Sports absorbing the cost of accommodation, meals and other administrative costs while JaVA covers the cost of airfare. Major Warrenton Dixon, President of JaVA, views the invitation as an opportunity to invest in the future of volleyball locally. "We have not been able to afford to participate in friendly matches far a very long time. As the girls get ready for the Qualifier in May it is important that we give them whatever preparation we can afford. It is clear that we are not going to be able to take on the full cost of these ventures, especially in the absence of sponsorship. We have to therefore leverage whatever partnership we can to achieve the desired result."
Scouting Opportunity
Major Dixon also revealed that JaVA will be using the opportunity to scout some additional US-based players. Three such players have confirmed that they will be joining the Jamaican contingent in Lancaster. A few others have indicated their general interest in playing for Jamaica but could not make the trip at this time. "We have a fairly large number of female players in the US who are playing volleyball at a very good standard. We intend to capitalize on this as much as our funding will allow. This trip provides us with a glorious opportunity to assess some of them in person. Actually, the scouting objective is more strategically important to us than the results of the friendly matches. From all practical standpoint, within the relatively small contingent of ten players there will be three players who will be completely new faces to JaVA, let alone the other players. Three others will be travelling directly from their respective Universities to join up with the team for the first time since November 2012. We will have to depend on their intelligence, ambition and general competence to put on the best show they can under the circumstances. JaVA is however focussed on how we can fit the new invitees into the national senior programme.
Investment in Jamaica
Str8dn Sports is currently engaged in plans to erect volleyball and beach volleyball facilities on the Jamaican North coast, a move that Major Dixon believes will place significant operational capability in the reach of JaVA. "The partnership with Str8dn Sports stands to be one of the biggest and most potent single investment in local volleyball and beach volleyball since JaVA was founded. Our sport will gain immensely from their activities in Jamaica in the very near future.