Volleyball Footprint - - DAIN BLANTON

This is the full interview we had with 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and AVP Legend, Dain Blanton, during the Friday of the AVP NYC. To say that he generous with his time is an understatement. We caught up with Dain, just before he started his clinic/camp session with AVP First at Pier 25.

As you can see, the AVP and many of its charter members, are very open to speaking with those invested in "Growing The Game." We touched on how, as a leader in the sport of volleyball, he is looking to give the sport a diverse range of appeal to all athletes no matter the age, gender or ethnic background. Blanton believe in this mission and wants to further the reach of the sport the best way he knows how, through coaching the next generation.

In fact, watch as Dain's face light up when he speaks of Kelly Claes and Sarah Hughes and their incredible run through the qualifying rounds and into (what eventually became) their semifinal appearance. Hughes and Claes ran into a Nicole Branaugh and Jenny Kropp in their semifinal loss (set 3 of that match to come in future posts).

We questioned if he and Fonoi would ever look to do a Master's Beach Tour any time soon. You can judge his answer.

Empire Volleyball Club wants to thank Dain Blanton for the interview and giving of his time. Watch him on NBC SPORTS as he is the voice on the courts during the AVP season.

Hope you enjoy.

Volleyball Footprint: AVP1st (AVPFirst) Building Champions from the Grassroots on Up

For one to have a footprint, you must leave an indelible mark in history some how. Whether you are a famous singer or the local butcher, once people can remember who and why you have effected them you have left THE footprint.

The American Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tournament tour, has done just that!

Since its birth in the late 1980's, the AVP has promoted the sport of beach volleyball in an unprecedented way. In fact it was because of the AVP's popularity, that the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball) started having international beach volleyball competitions, since the mid-1990's. From there beach volleyball has grown to be one of the most popular sports at every Olympics.

International players, such as Jose Loyola of Brazil, gained American citizenship just to be able to play and earn money with in the AVP. Just spit-balling here, but, when players from other countries, leave their home lands to make it in your league, you have created a pretty substantial footprint.

However, this article isn't about the AVP's footprint with adult players. No, no. Its about what they are looking to do with the youth players who have not been exposed to such a high level of beach volleyball. 

This article is about the AVP First program and their mission to get the youth out on to the beach with the best in the world.

www.avp.com/avp-first/
Click on the and be taken to the AVP First Homepage

Can you imagine being able to learn how to throw a football from Peyton Manning, or shoot from Stefan Curry? Well, that is what the AVP is trying to do with AVP First. They are attempting to connect the pros to the pupils, in a grassroots effort to improve beach volleyball from the kids up.

AVPFirst (AVP1st) is "inspiring healthy lifestyles and a lifelong connection to the sport of volleyball in youth and their families," as stated on the AVP First homepage, with in their mission. Now that is saying a lot!

Over the years, the sport of beach volleyball has grown so large in popularity, it almost overshadows its older brother, indoor volleyball. More and more young people are playing beach volleyball because of what if offers. No other sport, outside of surfing, expresses the "fun in the sun" attitude as beach volleyball does. The problem has been getting the best players to connect with the youth at the grassroots level.

Well the AVP, its corporate partners and many of the elite players, on tour, want to change that. Just listen to Tony Giarla (sorry I said Garcia in the video), Director of AVP First, in this short interview. We spoke at the AVP tour stop in New York City, July 17, 2015. As we were speaking they were prepping for a clinic that night to be lead by none other than, Dain Blanton. The 2000 Sydney Olympic Gold Medalist and multiple AVP Champion.

As you heard in the video, the AVP is making a concerted effort to the youth of America with the best this sport has to offer.

Dain Blanton
2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in Sydney
Multiple AVP Championships
Currently an NBC Sports Analyst
and On Air Talent

The motto of all great volleyball coaches and leaders is "GROW THE GAME." Nowhere is that more evident than when an entity as big as the AVP decides to become a leader in the sport through grassroots efforts, as AVP First.

Don't get me wrong, there are other programs out there. USA Volleyball has their own grassroots beach programs, and there are local area camps and clinics across the country. My friend Bobby Jones has his beach training program in Austin, Texas called "Project Serve." Please check it out when you're in the state of Texas. However, no one will have the same kind of impact on the sport, at the grassroots level, as the AVP.

Through the AVP First program and its access to the elite of ELITES in the sport of beach volleyball, i.e; Kerri Walsh-Jennings (I know you have heard of her) or the previously mentioned, Dain Blanton, conducting clinics and camps throughout the tour cycle and beyond, the level of the sport will grow exponentially. By exposing these kids to this level of talent, the AVP is giving these fledgling athletes an incredible opportunity no matter where they are from. Connecting the youth, from either inner cities or rural America, to the icons of the sport is undeniably a great advantage! The AVP is learning to make that happen and is putting the right investment where it matters...WITH THE KIDS.

With its efforts through AVP First, the American Volleyball Professionals tour, will be leaving a long lasting footprint on beach volleyball for many years. Who knows, maybe one day a player that came through AVP First, will be winning golds medal in Olympics to come.

The question now stands...where will you leave YOUR volleyball footprint?

Thank you for reading....(see you on the courts)

EVC