Club Volleyball vs Academics

[Anonymous]

My daughter played on a club team last year - regional team/ club level (less competitive). Only one stay & play tournament, the rest were VA and MD. Practices were only twice a week. Schedule was quite manageable. She's playing more competitively this year, which was her goal (open level, more travel, more tournaments). Her team plays open but does not win tournaments (they might land in silver or bronze brackets). They practice 3x a week plus a 4th day of strength/conditioning. Her grades have gradually started to slip and we have had to make hard decisions about skipping practice or tournament. I have heard this concern from other players or parents as well.

DD is a good player, but not exceptional. Even if she were, we believe that academics must come first, especially starting high school next year. I am sure we're not the only ones feeling torn between school priorities and vb commitments. It's created enough stress that she is enjoying vb (although I would also attribute most of that to her club/team).

We've been talking about this and goals for next year. She wants to play and she wants to play with other skilled players, but she also needs a bit more balance. Is there any middle ground? Or is this just the nature of club sports (to which I am still relatively new)?

[Anonymous]

You could find a club that has fewer practices. There are a lot of clubs between regional and open level. Sounds like you made a big jump in levels. Maybe join a club that still travels but plays tournaments at club level or American/national level instead of open. Find one that only practices twice a week with optional third day.

[Anonymous]

My 10th grader plays at the open level and has tournaments across the country. Has missed school for the faraway tourneys. Told DC that next year at least one faraway tourney will be dropped.

Kid loves the sport but it is a lot - esp since not sure about wanting to play in college.

[Anonymous]

11:01 again. From my also limited knowledge, this is what open level is about. They want to play so won’t be valedictorian. Mine still makes honor roll - internal and not parental pressure.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. I mean to say that it's getting stressful enough that she is NOT enjoying vb as much.

Thank you for the replies. Yes, she made a big jump. I think the goal next year will be to look for teams somewhere in the middle. I am just not sure what those are, as it seems like more teams that play open are all trying to play the same tournaments. Most seem to have 3 practices/week plus. I think her concern is that she won't find the same skills at club level, and that might be true, but also a possible concession to finding some balance.

She's not honor list and we have to push her in school. She has ADHD (inattentive type) and it's really hit hard this year. I think that is compounding the feeling of being pulled in different directions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I mean to say that it's getting stressful enough that she is NOT enjoying vb as much.

Thank you for the replies. Yes, she made a big jump. I think the goal next year will be to look for teams somewhere in the middle. I am just not sure what those are, as it seems like more teams that play open are all trying to play the same tournaments. Most seem to have 3 practices/week plus. I think her concern is that she won't find the same skills at club level, and that might be true, but also a possible concession to finding some balance.

She's not honor list and we have to push her in school. She has ADHD (inattentive type) and it's really hit hard this year. I think that is compounding the feeling of being pulled in different directions!

DD is in 10th grade and plays open level- add in personal trainer and PT to address different aches and pains... she's doing something or multiple things every single day. She also just doesn't love school so getting her to do homework was challenging. However, she heard about a girl at her HS that had committed to D1 soccer but got dropped b/c she had bad grades and that helped to get her act together. She gives herself about 30 minutes of down time after school and fits in hw/studying between appointments and/or practice. She also only takes 1 AP and 1 honors instead of a full stack of APs. This has helped a lot. Decreasing the academic rigor while being able to focus on a sport she loves has given her the balance she needs. I'm not saying there are some late nights or missed time with friends b/c there are but it's helped.

[Anonymous]

DD picked a lower level club that still had some travel this year because they had two practices per week. I’ll come right out and say it is Vienna Elite. They aren’t doing well but it’s less of a time commitment. They say they are an open level club but they don’t go to the same tournaments as a real open team, the travel is less intense and practices are shorter. She wanted to keep school as a priority. It’s definitely not as serious as other clubs she’s been on since girls sometimes miss practice. This is your in between. It’s good and bad. They lose a lot and sometimes feels more like rec but her grades are good.

[Anonymous]

DD is in HS and this is her second season of club. We are on the top team of an average club. Two practices per week with most tournaments in the region. A few travel tournaments, but we can drive to those. Every time we pretended to be a top team, we lose pretty badly (not a good experience). Every time we played club, we were matched pretty nicely, the games were more competitive, the girls had more fun, and sometimes we would take home some medals. DD knows she has no chance of playing in college (even if she was skilled, the height would work against her). She plays for fun and keeps up with her academics. I think this is where I want to keep the balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in HS and this is her second season of club. We are on the top team of an average club. Two practices per week with most tournaments in the region. A few travel tournaments, but we can drive to those. Every time we pretended to be a top team, we lose pretty badly (not a good experience). Every time we played club, we were matched pretty nicely, the games were more competitive, the girls had more fun, and sometimes we would take home some medals. DD knows she has no chance of playing in college (even if she was skilled, the height would work against her). She plays for fun and keeps up with her academics. I think this is where I want to keep the balance.

I’m the poster above you. Can you say which club you are at? This could be a better option for my DD next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is in HS and this is her second season of club. We are on the top team of an average club. Two practices per week with most tournaments in the region. A few travel tournaments, but we can drive to those. Every time we pretended to be a top team, we lose pretty badly (not a good experience). Every time we played club, we were matched pretty nicely, the games were more competitive, the girls had more fun, and sometimes we would take home some medals. DD knows she has no chance of playing in college (even if she was skilled, the height would work against her). She plays for fun and keeps up with her academics. I think this is where I want to keep the balance.

I’m the poster above you. Can you say which club you are at? This could be a better option for my DD next year.

The name will not help you because you seem to be located in VA and we are in MD. I prefer not to write the club name to avoid identifying my player.

[Anonymous]

I’m not 17:46 but I might guess MoCo or MEVC are the clubs they’re referring to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not 17:46 but I might guess MoCo or MEVC are the clubs they’re referring to.

The top MoCo teams practice three times per week. It's between MEVC and Platform.

[Anonymous]

We don’t need specific club names. I think what matters is that there are other clubs and OP’s daughter will need to find the right fit. She may play down, but be the best player on the team and get the most play time, all while still making school a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t need specific club names. I think what matters is that there are other clubs and OP’s daughter will need to find the right fit. She may play down, but be the best player on the team and get the most play time, all while still making school a priority.

OP here. Yes, this is where we're headed.

[Anonymous]

Not just locally, but nationally, many people (including some college coaches) feel that the US club volleyball system has gotten out of control. Too many practices, too many travel tournaments, too much emotional stress and load on growing humans bodies.

Further, the CHRVA arms race to compete in open and pack in as many qualifiers as possible is just bizarre. Only a small (and shrinking) fraction of players in this area will see any ROI from that strategy.

Threads like this make me a bit hopeful that parents are starting to realize that it’s time to wake up, demand balance, and claw back our children’s (and family) lives.

Hugh school season, then a club season with 2 practices per week, 1-2 qualifiers and a few 1 day local tournaments + AAU Nationals at 16 and 17 really should be enough for any player who is not going to commit D1.