American Volleyball Club

[Anonymous]

My daughter’s team played a couple of different American teams last spring and they were always strong. I see that they are starting a “North” team that’s based in Montgomery County, and my daughter is thinking about trying out: https://americanvolleyballclubnorth.sportngin.com/

Any thoughts about the club or first hand experience? I realize a new team will always be a bit of a leap of faith, but curious to see if anyone has predictions about how the new team will do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter’s team played a couple of different American teams last spring and they were always strong. I see that they are starting a “North” team that’s based in Montgomery County, and my daughter is thinking about trying out: https://americanvolleyballclubnorth.sportngin.com/

Any thoughts about the club or first hand experience? I realize a new team will always be a bit of a leap of faith, but curious to see if anyone has predictions about how the new team will do.

We also played American and we found them competitive. However, there are several red flags with American North:
* They are located in Beltsville, yet their tryouts are in Bethesda / Rockville. It is not clear where they will be practicing. I would not be happy to drive for practice to Beltsville if I live in Bethesda / Rockville.
* They have opened registration for tryouts without publishing their club fees. Just imagine paying for tryouts, then realizing that you have to pay some outrageous club fee. Knowing the club fees should inform the decision whether to try out or not.
* Their website is not working properly. I don't know if it's just my browser or others have the same problem. I am not interested in them enough to try different browsers.
* You already mentioned that they are a new club, which is partly the case (they are an extension of an existing - and a pretty good - club).

Now the speculative question on whether they will be competitive. If they charge as much as they charge in Virginia, they will end up with the players who cannot make a decent, but cheaper club (a copy of DMV). To become competitive in Maryland, they would have to align their prices with MOCO, MEVC, and Platform. They are not Metro for people to flock to them no matter how much they charge.

[Anonymous]

Looks like one of their coaches used to coach for RVA. DD saw one of their Instagram reels and noticed a few RVA players at the clinic. That’s about all the intel we have.

[Anonymous]

I asked the co-director, and they will have practices at Sparc DMV in Beltsville. Cost is $4,350, which does not include uniform package (about $350) and player/parent travel expenses.

[Anonymous]

Did you ask why they have their tryouts in Bethesda / Rockville? They should draw from the players local to Beltsville if they plan to practice in Beltsville. It is weird for players in Beltsville to go all the way to Bethesda / Rockville for tryouts. Or, if players local to Bethesda / Rockville show up at the tryouts, they learn that the practices would be in Beltsville. Any way you look at it, this is just poor planning.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t ask. Beltsville isn’t that far from Bethesda. People drive all over for volleyball practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t ask. Beltsville isn’t that far from Bethesda. People drive all over for volleyball practice.

It's not that far if you ignore the traffic. Good luck getting on the other side of the beltway during the rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the Sparc DMV gym is formally opening on 10/20. They may be hosting clinics in Bethesda until the practice location opens.

It’s not too far fetched for someone to drive to Bethesda for a clinic or tryouts but prefers a Beltsville based club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the Sparc DMV gym is formally opening on 10/20. They may be hosting clinics in Bethesda until the practice location opens.

It’s not too far fetched for someone to drive to Bethesda for a clinic or tryouts but prefers a Beltsville based club.

I do understand. It is very hard to find a high school in Beltsville to organize clinics and tryouts. People of Beltsville should not get used to too much convenience...

[Anonymous]

I wish they practiced in Montgomery Coubty rather than Beltsville! My daughter is going to attend the clinic on the 19th and we’ll make a decision about whether to try out based on that. Getting to Beltsville at rush hour will be a pain!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish they practiced in Montgomery Coubty rather than Beltsville! My daughter is going to attend the clinic on the 19th and we’ll make a decision about whether to try out based on that. Getting to Beltsville at rush hour will be a pain!

We won't go to their clinics. Even if we like the clinics, nothing will change because there is no way we will drive to Beltsville. If we don't like the clinic, it's just wasted time and money. There is no winning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish they practiced in Montgomery Coubty rather than Beltsville! My daughter is going to attend the clinic on the 19th and we’ll make a decision about whether to try out based on that. Getting to Beltsville at rush hour will be a pain!

We won't go to their clinics. Even if we like the clinics, nothing will change because there is no way we will drive to Beltsville. If we don't like the clinic, it's just wasted time and money. There is no winning.

Don’t sleep on Beltsville. Depending on the time it can be a lot faster than trudging up 270, or god forbid, over the American Legion Bridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish they practiced in Montgomery Coubty rather than Beltsville! My daughter is going to attend the clinic on the 19th and we’ll make a decision about whether to try out based on that. Getting to Beltsville at rush hour will be a pain!

We won't go to their clinics. Even if we like the clinics, nothing will change because there is no way we will drive to Beltsville. If we don't like the clinic, it's just wasted time and money. There is no winning.

Don’t sleep on Beltsville. Depending on the time it can be a lot faster than trudging up 270, or god forbid, over the American Legion Bridge.

You are trying too hard. I would expect this reply from someone who is not familiar with the traffic on 495 or someone trying really hard to funnel players from Potomac / Rockville into the new AVC club.

[Anonymous]

Approach with caution because these fees are substantial for a brand new branch of a club based in Beltsville. Those fees may make sense across the river but facility rentals in Beltsville are much cheaper.

[Anonymous]

A flag worth calling out with the new North location. They are encouraging attending both days of their tryouts, stating they give offers via email to the top 5 players on day 1. If you do not receive an offer that evening, you’re encouraged to come back to the second day and “tryout again.” I found it odd that they push two days, especially for such a small tryout number. Some clubs have 80+ athletes trying out and are able to make offer & waitlist decisions in the one day. The weekend is too hectic to hold blocks on two days for one club.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I’ve not seen another club push this.