1. Recruiting the 2 year student-athlete
Sue Sinclair (moderator) – Illinois Central College – NJCAA DII
Terry Gamble – Iowa Western CC – NJCAA DI
Mike Trame – Parkland College – NJCAA DII
Jayme Frazier – Linn-Benton CC – NWAACC
Kim Lester – San Diego Mesa College - CCCAA

2. Organization of 2 Year Colleges
5 two year college volleyball constituencies:
California Community College Athletic Association
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (Washington and Oregon)
National Junior College Athletic Association
Division I
Division II
Division III

3. CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON ATHLETICS
Number of schools that carry women's volleyball: 85.
Organization: 10 conferences, five in the north, five in the south.
Length / Organization of Season: Each school may participate in 24 dates. These dates are divided into conference matches, pre-season matches and tournaments, using a variety of formats.
Organization of Playoffs/Tournament: At the end of the season, 40% of the teams enter into a 16-team regional playoff bracket, in both the north and in the south, playing two regional rounds. A state championship is hosted with the remaining 4 teams from the north and 4 from the south. They play a double eliminations tournament to determine the California State Volleyball Champion.
Awards
12-member All-Northern California and 12-member All-Southern California team.
Top 6 in each region are elected to the All State Team.
The California Community College Women's Volleyball is also eligible for 6 AVCA All American awards, 3 on the first team and 3 on the second team. 
12 Scholar Athletes each year. The COA also awards a Pepsi Scholar Team, which is the highest team grade point average of all 85 volleyball teams.
History/Background: The California Community College athletic system is governed by the Commission on Athletics (COA), which was originally established in 1929 as the California Junior College Federation, governs the California Community College athletic system. The organization united all California Junior Colleges under one single administrative governing entity responsible for statewide rules and policies for the intercollegiate athletic programs.
Other: The cost to attend a California Community College is one of the most reasonably priced educational opportunities with an enrollment fee of $20 per unit.  On average, students will enroll in 15 units per semester.  With the reasonable cost and the need to provide educational opportunities to all of our students in California, there are no athletic scholarships available. 

4. NORTHWEST ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Number of schools that carry women's volleyball: 29
Organization: Four regions consisting of the North (7 schools), South (6 schools), East (8 schools) and West (8 schools).
Athletic Aid/Scholarships: Scholarships and Athletic Employment are available for student-athletes.  Contact individual schools for available scholarships and monies.
Length of Season: The season runs from approximately the third week in August to the third weekend of November.  Teams are allowed 25 single match contests and six tournaments.  The spring season starts in April and lasts six weeks.  Four scrimmages are allowed during the year (fall and spring combined).
Organization of Playoffs/Tournament: At the conclusion of the season, the top four teams from each region go to the NWAACC Tournament.  The tournament is a double elimination tournament spread over three days to determine the NWAACC Champion.
Awards:
Each of the region’s coaches vote for a 12 member regional All-Star team with the student-athlete with the highest amount of votes getting the regional MVP.
Each of the region’s coaches also vote for the Coach of the Year for their region.  Those four coaches are then voted on for the NWAACC Coach of the Year award.
The coaches also vote for the top sophomores from their region to play at the Sophomore All Star tournament after the NWAACC Tournament.
The conference is allowed one First Team All American and one Second Team All American through the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
History: Northwest community college athletics was forever changed when seven schools from the OCCAA joined the NWAACC for the season. The merger between the Washington and Oregon colleges has helped the NWAACC become a strong organization. Since 1984, nine other colleges have added intercollegiate athletics and/or became NWAACC members. Today, the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges has 36 member schools, making it the largest single community college conference in the United States.

5. NJCAA DIVISION I Number of schools that carry women's volleyball: 106
Organization: The U.S., except for California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii is divided into 24 regions. Of these 24 regions, 13 have NJCAA Division I volleyball teams that span 18 different states including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Arizona. 
Length / Organization of Season: Each school may participate in 28 competition dates in the Fall, not counting the postseason, and up to four in the Spring. The first matches of the season may begin on the last Friday of August and continue through the national tournament the third weekend of November.
Organization of Playoffs/Tournament: The NJCAA Division I National Volleyball Tournament is a 16 team tournament. Qualification is done within districts and regions, combinations of smaller regions, or divisions within larger regions. Please see the NJCAA Handbook and Casebook for the current district and regional qualification assignments. The tournament is a double elimination format without playback from the consolation side of the bracket. The 2008 and 2009 national tournament will be hosted by Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa and played at the beautiful Mid-America Center.
Awards:
Regions select all-region teams based on their own guidelines.
Each region nominates its top candidates for the NJCAA Division I All-American Team. The team consists of 12 first-team members and 12 second-team members.
NJCAA Division I Women's Volleyball is also eligible for spots on the AVCA Two-Year All American team.  
History/Background: The NJCAA began in 1937 with 13 California schools. The first NJCAA championship event -- the track and field championships -- were held in In 1975, the NJCAA added its women’s division. The first NJCAA women’s volleyball champion was crowned in There was only one division until In 1996, Division III was separated off from Division I. In 1999, the NJCAA expanded to three divisions with three volleyball national championship tournaments, and has continued with this three-tier divisional split in women’s volleyball.
Other Information: The level of play at the top Division I programs is very similar to the top NCAA level teams. One of the reasons for the high level of play is the influx of international players. The NJCAA DI level programs are permitted to have three international players. Division I NJCAA programs are also permitted to grant athletic aid up to, and including, tuition, fees, books, room and board.

6. NJCAA DIVISION II Number of schools that carry women's volleyball: 117
Organization: The US; except for California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii; is divided into 24 regions. Of these 24 regions, 13 have division II volleyball teams that span 18 different states including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Arizona.
Length / Organization of Season: Each school may participate in 28 competition dates in the fall, not counting the postseason, and up to four in the spring. The first matches of the season may begin on the last Friday of August and continue through the national tournament the 3rd weekend of November.
Organization of Playoffs/Tournament: The NJCAA division II national volleyball tournament is a 16 team tournament. Qualification is done within regions, combinations of smaller regions, or divisions within larger regions. Please see NJCAA Handbook and Casebook for the current regional qualification assignments. The tournament is a double elimination format without playback from the consolation side of the bracket. The 2008 tournament will be played in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Awards:
Regions select all-region teams based on their own guidelines.
Each region nominates its top candidates for the NJCAA Division II All-American Team. The team consists of 12 first team members and 12 second team members.
The NJCAA division II Women's Volleyball is also eligible for spots on the AVCA two-Year All American team. In 2006, two NJCAA Division II athletes were on the first team and two were on the second team.
History/Background: The NJCAA began in 1937 with 13 California schools and the first NJCAA championship event, track and field championships, were held in In 1975, the NJCAA added its women’s division. The first NJCAA women’s volleyball champion was crowned in There was only one division until In 1996, division III was separated off from division I. In 1999, the NJCAA conducted its first division II volleyball championship tournament and has continued this three tier divisional split in women’s volleyball.
Other Information: The level of play at the top division II programs is very similar to the division I teams. The difference between NJCAA division I and II is twofold. One difference is that division II teams are limited to 2 international athletes, whereas, division I teams have a maximum of 4 international athletes. Division I NJCAA programs are permitted to grant athletic aid up to and including tuition, fees, books, room, and board. Division II programs may award athletic aid up to and including tuition, fees, and books. 

7. NJCAA DIVISION III Number of schools that carry women's volleyball: 79
Organization: Ten regions that compete in eight districts across the country
Athletic Aid/Scholarship: No scholarships awarded based on athletic ability or participation.
Length of Season: Practice can begin August 1. Competition can begin August 24. Teams are allowed up to 28 dates in the fall. The season ends the third weekend in November.
Organization of Playoffs/Tournaments:  Eight District champions are seeded into a two day National Tournament the third weekend in November.  The first day is pool play followed the second day by semi finals, third place, and championships games.
Awards:
Each region has an All Region Team
First Team All Americans – 12 players. Honorable Mention All Americans – 6 players
History/Background: Division III members have enrollments ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Participants at the NJCAA Division III level are some of the purest amateur athletes there are. They compete for the love of the game and their teammates and the passion they have for their sport with no promise of monetary reward or assistance. In 1996, the NJCAA began offering a separate national championship for Division III Volleyball.

8. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Experience
High Level of Play
Video of NJCAA DI Championships
Video of COA Championships
Most 2 year athletes have played in over 40 matches per season giving them a great deal of competitive experience
Many have played competitive schedules that involve nationwide travel, exposure, and competition

9. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Great Players being coached by great Coaches
Almost year student athlete’s on NCAA Division I rosters this season
Hundreds more 2 year student athletes playing at the highest levels in NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, and NAIA
Great athletes and coaches like:
Flo Hyman - Russ Carney
Rita Crockett - Gabby Carbone
Mick Hayley - Cookie Stevens
Ray Bachard - Pavlina Stefkova

10. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Great academics at most 2 year schools
Many 2 year student athletes have great academic backgrounds
Many 2 year student athletes have developed their study skills
Many 2 year student athletes have learned how to navigate the academics at the college level and are adept at such things as interacting with professors, utilizing academic support services, etc.

11. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Physical Development
2 year student athletes have two more years of performing in a high level physical training atmosphere
These student athletes have already proven that they can handle the rigors of collegiate level training/playing and thus may not be as much of a physical risk as incoming freshmen
Exposure to collegiate strength, conditioning, and nutrition programs that are sports specific

12. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Developed life skills
2 year student athletes have already developed their time management skills
These student athletes have already made the social adjustment to the college level
These student athletes understand the sacrifices involved with playing collegiate volleyball

13. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Ability to address an instant need:
Can fill in for a player lost to injury, academics, family issues, or other reasons
Can be used when there has been a coaching change at an institution so the coach can bring in experience immediately and bring in players that fit their style of play.

14. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
Ability to balance classes
Adding a 2 year college athlete can help keep lower classes from getting to large when adding players is necessary

15. Advantages of recruiting a 2 year athlete
International Athletes
Many 2 year schools have international athletes that have now made the adjustment to the collegiate environment and are now ready to play at the 4 year level
Many of these athletes now have the language skills needed for admittance to 4 year schools
Graduation from a 2 year school meets NCAA Clearinghouse initial eligibility requirements
Many 2 year programs assist their student athletes with completing the NCAA Amateurism Clearinghouse

16. Panel contact information
Mike Trame – –
Terry Gamble - –
Kim Lester – –
Jayme Frazier – –
Sue Sinclair – –