Once your college career is over it can be difficult to find opportunities to continue playing volleyball. Some players choose to play beach volleyball, some choose to retire and pursue careers elsewhere, and some choose to play abroad. Playing in Europe can be a great way to continue playing the sport you love while making a little bit of money at the same time.
Level of Play
The level of play varies depending on which country you decide to play in. Italy, Russia, and Turkey are noteworthy for having higher levels of play than other countries. France, Spain, and Germany have slightly lower levels of play. Any of these countries would be considered on par or above with a championship NCAA team. This is because many National Team members are playing on these teams, so, essentially you are playing with Olympic level competition.
For the average NCAA player, going to play in Europe would most certainly be a step up in the level of competition.
Level of Commitment
The level of commitment and the intensity of your training will vary depending on the country and team for which you play. The intensity of the training for most teams would be comparable to a typical NCAA program. There is some variance, however, depending on the resources of the team. You will find that most programs are not as well-funded as a top-level NCAA program.
Top programs like Russia would most likely practice twice daily and have one competition per week. A smaller team may practice 4 to 5 times per week and compete less often.
Regardless of where you play, you should view playing in Europe as a firm commitment to play volleyball and not simply a vacation.
Compensation
The two most important variables in how much you will make are your skill as a player and the financial capacities of the team for which you play. There is a great deal of variance, with contracts ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per month. Some contracts may also include room and board, airfare, health care, or the use of a car. Some of the better programs may provide language tutors or airfare home for the holidays.