Nike Volleyball Camp at the University of Arkansas
A Game-Changing Volleyball Experience
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3-in-1 Development
Volleyball
Develop the on-court skills needed to get noticed by coaches and help your team win more games
Leadership
Learn the leadership skills and behaviors needed to become your best and lead your teammates
Mindset
Build a resilient mindset that separates you form the pack and improves your performance
About the Camp
This Volleyball Academy (Court + Classroom) program is designed for athletes that are serious about raising their game to the next level. The RYG Athletics Volleyball Academy combines classroom and court time to teach athletes (ages 10-14) the leadership, mindset, and volleyball skills they need to thrive. The camp features two classroom sessions a day that dive into leadership, mindset, volleyball principles of play and film. The twice daily court sessions give athletes the opportunity to immediately put into practice the things they're learning in the classroom in a fun, challenging, and competitive environment.
What Parents are Saying About Our Camps...
Don't Let Your Athlete Miss Their Shot
Even though young , many of them never achieve their dreams because they lack volleyball IQ, play with poor habits, and lack a resilient mindset.
They Need to Learn How to Play the Game Differently
At RYG, your child will develop a high volleyball IQ, special on-court habits, and a resilient mindset, so they can make the team, help their team win, and become their best.
More from Parents...
“Wow, where to start… My daughter came home from camp in the afternoon and took naps (not normal for her), so I knew she was being pushed and exerting herself. The classroom training was a big draw. There aren't camps or programs that focus on teaching athletes the fundamentals of the game, and the mental strength and conditioning needed to make it. She had practice during the week of camp, and I immediately saw a difference in her level of confidence and on-court play. She was a different player after just a few days at camp! The camp was professional, thoughtful, and smooth. The way they worked with the kids was very impressive. It was clear that you had their attention, but more importantly, their respect.”
“The ability to keep the kids engaged in classroom learning and then take those new skills out onto the court for practice, feedback, and refinement is an excellent model. The kids wanted to learn about the theory because they were excited to put it into action. Clearly, the concepts were presented in a way that took the theory and made it a lasting reality. Well done.”
Meet the Directors:
Jordan Neal
Jordan Neal completed his fourth season as an Assistant Coach at Arkansas in 2024. In that time, three Razorbacks have received All American status, (Jill Gillen, Taylor Head and Hannah Hogue) and 5 athletes have been chosen 9 times for All-SEC honors.
As a team, the Razorbacks have excelled, appearing in a program first NCAA Elite Eight in 2023, finishing the season with a program best #8 AVCA ranking. In 2022 the Razorbacks made it to the NCAA Second Round finishing the year ranked in the AVCA Top 25.
In the last three seasons the Razorbacks are 69-26 (.726) with 7 wins against Top 25 teams and a 4-2 record in the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to Arkansas, Neal coached at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona
While at Highland High School, Jordan won the school’s first Region Coach of the Year award. His teams also won the school’s first region championship, and twice finished ranked top 5 in Arizona. In that time, Highland produced 19 All-Region Selections and 6 All-State honors.
Jordan is married to Audrey and has a son Carson and a daughter Lily.
Meet the Directors:
Jill Gillen
Gillen, an outside hitter from Stilwell, Kansas wrapped up her playing career at the University of Arkansas in December 2023 as the team concluded its season in their first-ever Elite Eight. She was named an All-American, is a four-time AVCA All-South Region honoree, and a five-time All-SEC selection. Jill also finished as the program all-time ace leader (189), second in program career kills (2,075), seventh in program career digs (1,261), and played the fifth-most matches of any Razorback with 143.
Following the end of the NCAA slate, Gillen was taken eighth overall in the Professional Volleyball Federation’s inaugural draft and played 79 sets with the Orlando Valkyries in the spring. She recorded 240 kills, 205 digs, and 13 aces. She signed a contract with the Columbus Fury for the 2025 season, which begins in January.
Gillen began her coaching career in the fall of 2024 at the University of Arkansas. She aided the offensive core in a young group of pin hitters. She also assisted with back-row serve receive and defense.
What People Say About Coach Neal...
"Coach Neal brings a style of coaching that instructs, uplifts, and challenges you to be the best version of yourself both physically and mentally. He provides direct, informative training that develops not only skills but knowledge of the game as well. He is a very dedicated, intentional coach, that cares deeply for his players and their progress."
"Jordan is, first and foremost, an outstanding teacher. He has a passion for developing and mentoring young people that is clear in his coaching demeanor & the way he creates a beautiful space for athletes to learn."
"Coach Neal is incredibly organized. Your athlete will learn solid fundamentals of the game as well as strategies of the game that will separate them from the rest. Most importantly though, they will learn these things while PLAYING the game! Your athlete will be learning how to improve their game as they play the game. How fun is that!! Coach Neal is as passionate about helping others as he is about volleyball. You won’t be disappointed!"
The Next Steps
Register
Register your athlete for camp before it fills! Spots are limited
Attend Camp
Experience a game-changing volleyball camp with dynamic on-court and classroom sessions
Raise Your Game
Apply everything you learn on the court and in the classroom to raise your game
Nike Volleyball Camp at the University of Arkansas HPER
$395
Camp Details
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June 9-12, 2025
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University of Arkansas, HPER Building
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Female athletes, ages 10-14
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9am-3pm
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Limit spots available
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Price is subject to change
Meet the Founder: Coach Luke
Luke Gromer is the founder and director of RYG Athletics.
Luke has been coaching basketball for nearly a decade and holds a bachelors and masters degree in education. For the last 15 years, Luke has spent his summers working at, leading, or directing summer camps.
Luke is passionate about helping athletes have better experiences in sport and using sport as a vehicle to teach athletes the leadership and mindset skills they need to thrive in sport and life.
Luke also created and hosts The Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast where he has conducted over 100 interviews on effective coaching with some of the top coaches, sports psychologists, experts, and leaders from across sports.
What Coaches Say About Coach Luke...
“Luke is a high-level coach and teacher of the game. He’s passionate about using sport to positively impact the lives of young people. I have no doubt that RYG Basketball Camps will help numerous young players become better basketball players, and more importantly, better people!”
"Luke is an intentional and well studied teacher of the game. He has a great approach to teaching and is one of the most prepared and effective I have been around."
"I’ve known Luke for several years, and I’m always impressed with the job he does teaching the game to players. Not only does he deeply care about their skill development, but he also puts a premium on building their confidence and character as well. Any player would benefit from working with him!"
"Coach Luke has consistently impressed me since we met nearly 5 years ago. He has tremendous perspective about the game of basketball and the methods for teaching the game. Luke’s attention to detail, organization, and preparedness, as well as a commitment to establishing strong rapport with athletes have inspired me to be better in my craft!"
Is my child good enough for camp?
Skill and ability levels will vary from camp to camp, but we commit to finding the right level of difficulty and competition for each player within a session.
If your child loves volleyball and likes to work hard, they'll love our camp!
If they don't love volleyball, or they're not motivated to raise their game, then RYG probably isn't the best place for them.
What's the ratio of campers to coaches?
Each camp is led by a director, then athletes are split into groups based on ability level with a court coach.
The ratio of court coaches to athletes is between 1/12 and 1/15.
What's the daily schedule like?
Here's an outline of a typical day at an RYG Athletics Volleyball Camp:
- Classroom #1
- 9:00-9:45
- Court #1
- 9:45-11:45
- Lunch
- 11:45-12:15
- Classroom #2
- 12:15-1:00
- Court #2
- 1:00-3:00
What does the classroom time consist of?
Each dynamic classroom session includes teaching and film in 3 areas:
- Volleyball skills
- Leadership skills
- Mindset skills
What's different about what RYG does on the court?
A lot!
First, RYG Athletics camps use a Constraints-Led Approach to coaching underpinned by the Ecological Dynamics theoretical framework.
In short: We have a WHY behind our WHAT.
Everything we do on court is about developing adaptable skills that actually transfer to the game.
Too many camps, clinics, and practices attempt to isolate skills outside of the context they occur in. This isn't how volleyball skills are learned or the game is played.
We put all our athletes in games or game-like situations that help the skills and habits we're teaching emerge. When they use these skills in a game-like context, it makes it more likely that those skills will transfer to the game.
Is lunch provided?
No, lunch is not provided.
Athletes will need to bring a sack lunch each day.