It should first be noted that the highest levels of professional volleyball are not exclusive to Western Europe. In fact, China, Korea, Japan, and Brazil have some of the best and highest paying teams in the world. Within Europe, Italy is still generally considered the best league (from top to bottom) although there […]

Professional leagues in Europe are not necessarily a vertical step up from college. European professional teams are often less organized and have fewer resources most universities in the United States. Depending on where you go, the training may or may not be as strenuous as your collegiate training. Suffice it to say, however, that if […]

The top countries throughout Europe play in multi-country playoff tournaments to determine the best teams in all of Europe for any given year. Champions League, CEV Cup, and CEV Challenge Cup are international, cream-of-the-crop tournaments.

Champions League is the highest-level tournament consisting of the top team from most of the best countries.

CEV Cup and CEV Challenge […]

The typical European season begins sometime between August and October and ends sometime between March and May. The duration of the season depends entirely on the country, the team, and the playoff schedule for the particular league.

The number of times you practice in any given week depends on the country, the team, and the division in which you play. Many highly competitive European teams practice twice a day and compete at least once each weekend. Other mid- to lower-level teams practice three to four times each week and compete once on the […]

In many cases the answer is no. It is common for the coaches to speak little to no English, but there are almost always players on the team can speak English. Language tutors are also available in many cities. As part of the European assimilation process, you should want to learn at least the basics […]

Normally, two or three foreign players are permitted on any one team. There are countries, however, that have an unlimited number of foreign spots. Examples include: Austria, Holland, Germany and Switzerland; Switzerland now requires 2 Swiss players on court at all times, not including libero. Spain can have 6 foreigners and Portugal permits up to 5. […]

Your salary depends on your skill level, the location, and the financial capabilities of the team. Professional contracts can range from a few hundred US dollars to $10,000 a month or more. Some contracts also include signing bonuses and performance-based incentives packages for wins. It is important to keep in mind that, aside from the very […]

Typical European contracts include provisions for a furnished apartment (usually to be shared with another foreign player on the team), one roundtrip airline ticket (to Europe at the beginning of the season and back to the States at the end of the season), health insurance, and sometimes the shared use of a car. Higher-profile contracts can […]

In recent years the added tax burden from current EU laws has made it more difficult for teams to match the salary expectations of top-level players. As a result, player salaries are decreasing throughout Europe and in some cases players may have to work a side job in order to obtain the necessary visa to […]

Most professional contracts include some type of formal health insurance. BIP highly recommends having some type of emergency insurance provider in the States as a back-up as well. If your injury is minor, local doctors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers will be equipped to treat you. Major injuries can also be treated in Europe, however most […]

Unfortunately, it is not unheard of for a team to default on a player salary payment. This is another benefit of signing with BIP. We have developed an extensive network of professional team contacts across the world and has placed players in 40+ different countries on 5 continents. Most, if not all, of our client placements […]

As with any job, if you do not perform to the desired expectations, it is possible that you may be released without pay. However, such a scenario is highly unlikely, especially if you were on an Exposure Tour and the team was able to watch you play prior to the signing of your contract. Most […]

We understand that emergencies happen in life and sometimes there’s just nothing you can do. However, it’s also important for players to understand that it teams have player add-on deadlines and pay high international transfer fees to get foreign players on their team. Breaking a contract after you have already signed and committed can literally destroy […]

This is not a simple yes or no answer. Great players playing on great teams in the most competitive countries have much more bargaining power for such accommodations. For second tier players, wanting your partner along usually counts as a strike against you in potential contract negotiations. By and large, most clubs in Europe would prefer […]

Yes, of course however all the travel details of visits should be coordinated with your team. Also keep in mind that you will still be required to attend all practices even despite having visitors from the States.

If you get a job in Europe, you will probably need to set up a bank account with a foreign bank near to where you will be living. This European bank account can be linked to a U.S. bank account at a later date. They work more or less the same way as an American bank. […]

The most important questions should revolve around living situation in the city where the team trains and competes. Your living situation will have a big impact on how happy you are during the season. Other important questions include asking about the teammates you are playing with, whether there are other foreign players on the roster, […]