RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Athletes from across the Air Force have descended on Randolph for a two-week camp that could land them a coveted spot on the All Air Force Women's Volleyball Team, which starts competing this summer.
The Rambler Fitness Center is hosting this year's All Air Force Women's Volleyball Trial Camp, which began May 14 and runs through May 31. Camp participants are going through two workouts a day, morning and afternoon, in hopes of getting one of the 11 spots on the team.
Airmen who make the final cut will be part of the All Air Force Women's Team that will compete in the 2008 Armed Forces Women's Volleyball Championship June 1-8 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The All Air Force Women's Team will try to hold on to the Armed Forces Championship they won last year at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
During the Armed Forces Women's Championship, the Armed Forces Women's Volleyball Team will be selected to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Conseil International du Sport Militaire Championship June 19-29 in Warendorf, Germany.
Al Johnson, Air Force women's volleyball coach, said the camp usually has upwards of 23 women trying out for the team, but because of deployments and mission essential duties, over 10 players will be in camp this year.
Regardless of how many players are in camp, Mr. Johnson said he is not wavering from his original goal of finding those people who will be a good fit for the women's team.
"We are looking at people who can enhance our program and have a tactical awareness for the game," said Mr. Johnson, a retired Air Force captain who has a 23-year career playing on and coaching Air Force volleyball teams. "Volleyball is a pure team sport. We want to see if they can relate to the other players and if they have the mental and positive attitude for the game."
Besides being in top physical condition and having game experience, Mr. Johnson said the women trying out for the team must be knowledgeable about the game.
"They must understand our offensive and defensive systems and the adjustments that will need to be made in those systems; that is crucial," he said. "We will teach the players the strategic and tactical things they need to enhance their basic skills and put them in a position where their strengths will be put to the forefront."
The women participating in the camp are Air Force active-duty or active-duty reserve members. They were chosen by a committee after submitting an Air Force 303 form to Air Force Sports, which is "a resume of volleyball accomplishments," Mr. Johnson said.
Women were eligible to try out for a spot on the Air Force team if they played at a collegiate, junior college or junior Olympic level.
Mr. Johnson said Randolph is the perfect location to hold this year's camp because of the base's facilities and lodging.
"Randolph has been a fantastic host," Mr. Johnson said. "They have an amazing gym facility and with the proximity of the lodging on base we can get everywhere quickly. The logistics of their package is amazing."
Monika Johncour, a student flight commander at Randolph, is a veteran of services volleyball competition, having played on the Air Force women's team that won the USA Volleyball National Championships, where she was selected to the all-tournament team.
Ms. Johncour, who is trying to earn a spot on her third Air Force-level team, said having less people in the camp benefits the team as it prepares for the Armed Forces Championship.
"This year will be totally different because we will be focused on getting the girls we have here on the same page and learning how to play as a team as opposed to weeding out girls in the first week," she said. "As we go through practices, we will be looking to see what works in getting each girl to focus on what needs to be accomplished."
Off the court the players will get a chance to spend time together because they will be housed on base, which will benefit team unity, Ms. Johncour said.
"We have gone out to dinner and lunch together," Ms. Johncour said. "The whole point is to get to know each other and see what makes each other tick."
Carly Johnson, a setter who is trying to make the team for the second year in a row, said the camp allows her to improve her skills against some of the best players in the Air Force.
"I can expect tough practices here," said Mr. Johnson, who played four years of volleyball at the Air Force Academy. "It is great to play with people who have the same skill level you do and can challenge you."