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From January 28 to February 6, 2006, a group of American coaches from top NCAA universities traveled to the Baltic States with BIP in search of potential student athletes and to learn more about international volleyball. Our goals were to meet and make friends with our colleagues in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and come away from the trip with a better understanding of the cultures and volleyball styles of the region - as well as hopefully find some young players interested in studying and playing in the USA.
Please see below for more info the coaches involved, the final schedule, and brief description of our days on the trip.
BIP's Tim Kelly will lead the trip comprising of the following coaches:
Steve AIRD, University of Cincinnati
Katie SCHUMMACHER, University of Illinois at Chicago
Kevin STARNS, Penn State University
| 28-Jan |
Arrive Tallin, Estonia |
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Estonian u18 Cup Competition in Parnu |
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| 29-Jan |
Estonian u18 Cup Competition in Parnu |
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| 30-Jan |
Drive to Tallin |
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Junior National Team Trainings in Tallin |
| 31-Jan |
Drive to Riga, Latvia |
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| 01-Feb |
Meeting with Latvian Federation Heads |
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Watch 2 x Sports School Trainings |
| 02-Feb |
USA Coaches Clinic in Riga |
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(Open Players Clinic + ~40 coaches)
Drive to Daugavpils
View Youth Trainings in Daugavpils Club |
| 03-Feb |
Drive to Jonava, Lithuania |
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Match: Achema KKSC vs. Atletas in Kaunas, Lithuania |
| 04-Feb |
USA Delegation gives a Seminar |
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(Kaunas University of Physical Education)
USA Coaches Clinic after the Seminar
Match: Heksa CSM vs. Tauras VTC
USA Coaches Clinic after the Match
(Open Players Clinic + ~10 coaches)
Drive to Vilnius, Lithuania |
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| 05-Feb |
Match: SM Tauras VTC vs. Al. Prekyba-Parama |
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| 06-Feb |
Departure for USA from Vilnius |
On behalf of the coaches, and from everyone at BIP, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our great new friends in the Baltics. I apologize for not mentioning everyone that we were fortunate enough to meet, but I want to make sure to thank Henn and Peeter from Estonia; Guntis, Inara, Sandra, and Ruta from Riga; Valerijs and Sandra from Daugavpils; and our main man Aurelijus in Lithuania.
I’m sure that we’ll see several Baltic players in the USA in the future from this trip, and I also look forward to bringing a new group of coaches on a similar tour in 2007.
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