Australian Youth Performance Camp and AJVC Tournament
Earlier this month, 46 U17 athletes from the Youth National Squad arrived in Adelaide for a four-day preparation camp ahead of the 2025 Australian Junior Volleyball Championships (AJVC).
This camp was led by Head Coaches Kell Porter (Women) and Ben Hardy (Men), both former National Team players, and supported by a dedicated team of national assistant coaches.
Across the four days, the athletes engaged in intensive training and high-level match play to prepare for competition in the U19 division at AJVC.
Facing opponents one to two years their senior, they embraced a demanding and purposeful development challenge that tested both their skill and resilience.
Despite competing in the age levels above the four Australian teams achieved commendable results at AJVC:
- AUS Women’s Green – 1st Place
- AUS Women’s Gold – 3rd Place
- AUS Men’s Green – 4th Place
AUS Men’s Gold – 6th Place
Participating in the camp and AJVC is a key part in the National Development Pathway, serving as preparation for the 2026 U18 Asian Volleyball Championships.
The camp gave athletes the opportunity to build team cohesion, develop technical and tactical skills, and continue their journey toward international representation.
Volleyball Australia Deputy National Performance Director Paul Smith said that this opportunity provided the athletes with a meaningful development experience.
“This initiative has been an outstanding success,” Smith said.
“Our U17 athletes competing in the U19 division provided exactly the development challenge we were looking for – the opportunity to test themselves against older, more experienced players was invaluable for their growth.
“I want to thank our athletes for their commitment and willingness to embrace this challenge, our coaching staff led by Kell and Ben for their excellent work, and particularly our state associations for agreeing to allow this initiative at the national junior championship level.
“Their support in enabling these additional competitive opportunities for our next generation of national team players demonstrates the collaborative approach that’s essential for developing world-class volleyball talent in Australia.”
