PLAY TO WIN. The U18 athlete will be considered an advanced athlete level I at Loudoun Elite Program. A higher level of function specialization is expected at this age, with players playing at the same position, but with slightly different characteristics that will enrich the team repertoire, both offensively and defensively. At U18 it is expected that athletes make their (game-wise) decisions more independently, being able to contribute to the team strategies. At this age it is expected that the athletes have developed a solid basic technique and a vast tactical repertoire so a new approach to the fundamentals development can take place: how to hide what you intend to do, how to deceive your opponent, how to play smarter than your opponent. Considering that modern volleyball starts to get very physical at this age, the conditioning will have a major focus on protecting the athlete’s joints and developing power and specific game resistance. We understand the number of commitments the U18 athlete has, and for that reason, even though we highly recommend a consistent strength and conditioning program, tailored to each athlete's needs and the demands of the sport, we do not make it mandatory. Liberos and defensive specialists may be designated at the discretion of the coaching staff. For the same reason, the U18 tournament schedule is also shorter, with an average of one tournament per month from January to May. At U18 we continue the recruiting process by attending the major recruiting tournaments and building athletes' college recruiting resumes.