The 2025 KOVO foreign player tryouts have begun. There is growing interest in who the foreign players will be that will navigate the courts of the upcoming season's professional volleyball V-League for men and women.
The foreign player tryouts organized by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) kicked off on the 6th (Korean time) in Istanbul, Turkey. The tryouts for foreign players will continue until the 8th, followed by the draft on the 9th.
This year, a total of 207 players (135 men and 72 women) applied for the foreign player tryouts, and after reflecting the evaluations of the clubs, the number was significantly trimmed. Additionally, due to various reasons, some players who intended to participate canceled, resulting in a final number of 32 men and 34 women participating.
On the first day of the tryouts, the 6th, physical measurements and medical tests were conducted at the Mustafa Ozel Sports Hall in Istanbul. Of the 32 male foreign players, 25 attended. Those who did not participate will join in the subsequent schedules.
Players measured their height and weight and tested their physical abilities, including standing jump, standing reach, and running jump. Sharon Vernon-Evans (Canada), an opposite spiker who received high scores in the men’s club preference survey, stood 202cm tall and weighed 116kg. He is affiliated with the Sakai Blazers in Japan's first division and recorded a standing jump of 49.4cm, a standing reach of 272cm, and a running jump of 372cm. Middle blocker Jose Masso (Cuba), who also received attention, measured 201cm in height and weighed 90kg. He recorded a standing jump of 57.9cm, a standing reach of 266cm, and a running jump of 366cm.
All 34 female foreign players appeared. Elisa Janette (Italy), an opposite spiker who scored high in the club preference survey, measured 191cm in height and 78kg in weight. He recorded a standing jump of 37.2cm, a standing reach of 251cm, and a running jump of 318cm. Victoria Demidova (Russia), who played last season in the German first division and experienced winning the German Cup, measured 186cm in height and 73kg in weight, recording a standing jump of 31.6cm, a standing reach of 243cm, and a running jump of 308cm.
Afterward, the attitude of the players undergoing medical tests was quite serious. The medical testing team, composed of two local doctors, conducted detailed inquiries to check the players' physical condition, covering everything from basic symptoms to injury and surgery history. The inquiry form consisted of 15 types, totaling 27 questions.
The medical testing team checked the players' knee joint conditions while lying down and assessed whether they could fully bend and extend their legs without issues. The medical test for each player lasted about 5 minutes.
Once the medical tests were completed, players lightly warmed up in preparation for the practice matches to be held on the 7th and 8th. Officials from the men's and women's clubs watched the players warming up like hawks. The players must show their best physical condition and performance during the practice games to expect selection by the clubs.
Of course, clubs wishing to re-sign existing foreign players can submit the contracts to the federation by 6 p.m. the day before the draft. Among the foreign players who completed the 2024-2025 season, three men and six women, totaling nine, have thrown in their challenges again.
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