Mark Burik's take on AVP/FIVB Cincinnati - Articles

The tournament was a huge point-grabbing opportunity for a slew of American teams. It also turned out to be a good chance for the international guys and gals who were willing to make the trip. This is obvious to us as players but spectators on the outside looking in are still left befuddled when all of these “World Tour” events don’t consistently field the top teams. Let me break it down for you. Every team has to make decisions about which tournaments they want to attend and several factors weigh in: 1. Travel Money — How much is it going to cost us to go to this tournament? 2. Travel Energy — How long is the trip? How early am I able to get there? What competitions immediately follow this one? 3. Travel Time — Can I play a tournament before this one and still get there on time? What about the backside? Are 35 hours in airports, planes and taxis really worth it this time? 4. Partners — Who can/will play with me? Is my guy/gal healthy? 5. Projected Competitiveness of the Tournament — What are my chances of getting a good finish with the teams that will be there? Things to note: European tournaments are always LOADED. The travel is very easy for so many countries, so the time/financial risk is much lower. America and Brazil are much more costly to get to, so many teams elect not to make the trip. However, that is sometimes outweighed by that fact that the host country...

from Articles - Volleyball Magazine http://ift.tt/1syWbUI