113 players attend national youth camp run by Austrian Volleyball Federation
News
From Saturday to Tuesday, the Austrian Volleyball Federation (ÖVV) organised their youth national camp 2023 at the VIVA Sports Centre in Steinbrunn. Since Wednesday, the U17 national teams are now preparing for the second round of their European qualifiers scheduled for later this month.
As many as 113 young players from all federal states were supported by 30 national team and state coaches in Steinbrunn. All participants were checked out in cooperation with “Leistungssport Austria” in terms of sports science and physiotherapy. The youngsters received the test results and training recommendations during the camp. The content of the exercises in Steinbrunn included ball and technique, physical training, and tactics.
The former national team captain Sophie Wallner and national team player Max Thaller held keynote speeches. There was anti-doping training and internal training courses for the coaches too. The Belgian Kristof De Loose, an expert in working with young players, attended the camp as well. The federal youth camp 2023 was the starting point in the selection process for the upcoming youth national teams (involving players born in 2009 and 2010).
ÖVV Sports Director Roland Schwab: “The national youth camp 2023 was a complete success, everyone – players and coaches – showed great commitment. A big thank you to our guest trainer Kristof De Loose, who held great training sessions in the areas of ball control and basic motor skills. The boys and girls as well as the trainers were able to take a lot of valuable input with them. Great work was done at all stages of the camp.”
ÖVV Junior Coordinator Florian Sedlacek: “It is great that so many talented people from all over Austria came to Steinbrunn again. All coaches were able to get a very good overview of the performance of the next national team generation. The federal youth camp is also an excellent opportunity for the ÖVV and state trainers to exchange their know-how.”
U17 national teams prepare for second and last stage of European qualifiers
For the U17 national teams, the second round of the European Championship qualification is scheduled between April 20 and 23. The girls meet tournament hosts Georgia, Israel and Romania. The top two teams from each pool will reach the Final Round. The boys are going to Serbia, where in addition to a duel with the hosts, the Latvian and German teams are waiting as opponents. The top two go to the European Championship together with the third-placed team with the best result across all five pools.
The U17 girls coached by Tereza Soukup will play friendlies against Czechia and Slovenia in preparation for the event in Georgia. The U17 boys coached by Nina Sawatzki want to get the finishing touches for the European Championship qualifier in test matches against Spain and Czechia. The first part of the preparation takes place in Steinbrunn from Wednesday to Monday.
Roland Schwab“The goal is to get at least one team to take part in the European Championship. Both are capable of a successful qualification. The boys have drawn some tough opponents, but they were close to securing the European Championship ticket in the first round. The girls may have a slightly easier task.”
ÖVV Sports Director
ÖVV Junior Coordinator Florian Sedlacek: “In this age group, the teams are extremely close together. The boys were not lucky with the draw, but they are a strong, very focused team. If they manage to deliver similar performances to those that they showed in the first qualifying round, they can do anything. Our girls have, at least it seems like, slightly easier opponents. They have the potential to make it through their group, but it will not be easy.”
Photos courtesy of Xaver Kitzmüller