Mexico, Porto Rico, Cuba and Costa Rica have already played all their 3 (THREE) games before VNL dead line for the ranking, while the CEV teams get to play more than 10 games, If I understood correctly the new format of European League.
That’s not entirely correct; European League participants play a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 matches.
Part of the issue is the NORCECA events are after the deadline, which doesnt help the present team... but those points are still available.
Mexico needed to be better at last year's Pan Am Cup
they lost to Puerto Rico and Peru... thats -12 points there... those points would've put them above Argentina
The major issue is money. PR for example has less money to invest than other teams. They haven't been able to keep their best players all together for years by now. A big part of their NT players - even their best, such as Deborah Seilhamer, who is a lawyer - have regular jobs outside the court. When they go to play for NT not only they have less comfort than other NTs, but they also lose money from their jobs. Some declined because of their job, some declined because they arent fully fit, some declined because the team is incomplete and they have smaller chance to move up the ranking, others are involved in other projects, like Neira Ortiz, that is doing some kind of TV show like Dancing with the stars for example.
Colombia used to be promising as well, but they have no longer enough money to invest in their NT and lost their great coach. Now they struggle to put together their best players, which obviously don't wanna take risks of injuries (losing their only source of money, the club season) to travel from a country to another with cheap flies and spent their time in cheap hotels without any comfort, without any chance to win anything relevant for their careers.
Mexico has a smaller pool of NT players than PR, but their new league is fully pro and it was a great success in terms of environment, with full halls, strong marketing and big support from local autorities... If it settles, their NT conditions could improve with the players trated like pros. They are already investing a lot more in coaching. Since Negro joined all their best players are joining the NT, not only because it gives them a chance to train with a far better coach than any other Mexico ever had before, but also because they archive better results and can attract better teams to play for abroad.
For some NORCECA teams today is more important than tomorrow. We can easily guess next summer PR could be weaker than this year, unless something good happens this summer for them...
I remember youth championships in Mexico always being packed, even when it wasn't the local national team.
It wouldn't surprise me if they soon become a powerhouse with these investments, especially since it's a very populous country.
Besides, you have an increase in girls playing volleyball because that can a scholarship at an American university.
I remember youth championships in Mexico always being packed, even when it wasn't the local national team.
It wouldn't surprise me if they soon become a powerhouse with these investments, especially since it's a very populous country.
Besides, you have an increase in girls playing volleyball because that can a scholarship at an American university.
They used to have some amateur tournaments for teams from each state of Mexico, like in Cuba. And they had some kind of university league with Tigres UANL and other teams...
Their semi-pro league didnt work great, but their fully pro league had quite low level and still managed to bring a lot of people in the halls and it's expanding to men's volleyball. They will soon have a larger pool of players, because more girls are now pro players and can focus on the sport instead of doing it as a second job.
It's likely the opposite of the scenarium in PR. LVSF had the request for 5 expansion teams last year but only Leonas de Ponce happened. There are rumors Indias de Mayaguez will be back as a brand new franchise in 2027. And there are other rumors for Toa Baja, Barceloneta and Carolina. They need more teams, because right now they have nothing to lose with almost all the NT going abroad, so it's the best chance to develop as many players as they can. Pity there isn't enough money for good imports, but once USA leagues will be over, they will try to sign players from there again. Playoffs had a decent level compared to a very off regular season.
I wonder if they'd ever consider switching LVSF and LVSM
the puerto ricans could play locally in the fall before heading to USA in January
They are talking about moving the league in the fall and playing both LVSF and LVSM at the same time. Only Corozal has a team in both the leagues, but is seems not all presidents agree with this move. They won't move LVSM, 'cause their men's team right now is better and their top players want to play both LVSM and then abroad. This is the reason why only Gaby Garcia is making a name for himself in Europe after the NORCECA championship gold medal, while there are more guys able to play at high level, such as Pelegrín Vargas and Pedro Molina (the latter is staying full time abroad now, but Pele is symbol of Caribes de San Sebastian and I don't see him leaving full time any soon). Del Valle is coming back to LVSM (his last time in the league was 2019) with Plataneros de Corozal. Lawrence is likely coming back to play for Corozal. On the womens side, the situation is the opposite and most of the girls are willing to play in the home country only when they are done abroad, giving the priority to their richer contracts abroad.
Display MoreNORCECA published the NORCECA championship regulations
8 teams are allowed to compete in the NORCECA championship
USA, DOM, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica
August 21-23: Group Stage
August 24: Quarterfinals
August 25: Semifinals
August 26: Medal Matches
August 27: off-day
August 28: Olympic qualification semis (1v4, 2v3)
August 29: Olympic qualification medal matches (evidently they're playing bronze for some reason)
NORCECA guidelines allows DOM to choose which pool they want to be in... so it could be
Option A
A: DOM, CAN, MEX, TTO
B: USA, PUR, CUB, CRC
or Option B
A: USA, CAN, MEX, TTO
B: DOM, PUR, CUB, CRC
goofy ahh qualification
Display MoreAugust 25: Semifinals
August 26: Medal Matches
August 27: off-day
August 28: Olympic qualification semis (1v4, 2v3)
August 29: Olympic qualification medal matches (evidently they're playing bronze for some reason)
NORCECA guidelines allows DOM to choose which pool they want to be in... so it could be
goofy ahh qualification
DOM/Canada could go 2-1 against the other, be continental champion, and still not automatically qualify for LA28.
USA brings about a problem. but tbh.... I dont have a better idea of how you avoid USA influence on the event... without excluding USA from the continental championship, which it seems they cant do.
Imo that's so weird
DOM/Canada could go 2-1 against the other, be continental champion, and still not automatically qualify for LA28.
USA brings about a problem. but tbh.... I dont have a better idea of how you avoid USA influence on the event... without excluding USA from the continental championship, which it seems they cant do.
Do USA even care about NORCECA? I think only europeans care about their continental championships.
Do USA even care about NORCECA? I think only europeans care about their continental championships.
correct. they havent won once since like 2015? lol
I would say you can't exclude them because its a WCH qualification event... but they're already hosting that too lol
DOM/Canada could go 2-1 against the other, be continental champion, and still not automatically qualify for LA28.
USA brings about a problem. but tbh.... I dont have a better idea of how you avoid USA influence on the event... without excluding USA from the continental championship, which it seems they cant do.
The regulations said the US would not participate in the Olympic qualification part so...
The regulations said the US would not participate in the Olympic qualification part so...
I know.
but the separate Olympic qualification from the NORCECA championship is dumb.
The NORCECA champion could go 2-0 against whoever wins the OQT... and not be the automatic LA28 qualifier.
They should just have an 8 team round robin like the old world cup format. That way everyone plays everyone and there's no advantage/disadvantage to USA being there.
Display MoreThey released the groups
A: USA, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago
B: DOM, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Costa Rica
I dont think there's a scenario where a team gets left out of the OQT unless they lose to a team they shouldn't at NORCECAs.
It just kinda stinks the NORCECA championship means way less than the OQT.
Not surprised....dominicana get the easiest group
Not surprised....dominicana get the easiest group
marte will marte.
i dont think it will matter though. They're still going to get USA or Canada in the semifinals. which i imagine DOM or canada will throw to get more rest before the OQT afterwards.
marte will marte.
i dont think it will matter though. They're still going to get USA or Canada in the semifinals. which i imagine DOM or canada will throw to get more rest before the OQT afterwards.
Make DR great again. 
