Fairfax HS Volleyball - is club experience needed?

[Anonymous]

My DD is in 8th grade, she has played in rec/local travel teams for several years. I know there's a lot of talk about private club volleyball, but it's really pricey and out of our budget. We have multiple kid sports to juggle. Does she still have a chance at making her HS Freshman and future JV/Varsity teams even though we didn't do club? I don't remember athletics being this cut throat when I was younger. We feel so behind that we didn't put her in club, but it's just not in the cards for us. I really hope she can still have a chance at making the team.

Does anyone know how many girls tried out for Fairfax HS team this year?

[Anonymous]

I’m in dc and tryouts for the middle school team were rough. I have been shocked at the level of play (especially the over hand serves) of some of these girls. I had no idea this entire volleyball world even existed. There are like 25 clubs in the area alone. It’s overwhelming. If you HS is upper income then it’s likely the competition will have had a lot of club experience

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the school. Affluent area will have a lot of club players, less affluent areas will have less. Participation in tryouts at one school cannot be predicted by average metrics and it can change from one year to the next. Your best approach is to go to a game and see the level of the team for yourself. Unfortunately, the season is over and you don't have that opportunity.

One option that you might still have is to contact the coach (you might have to go through the athletic director). The coach may get you in touch with some parents who may have recorded some games.

Or you could ask specifically about your high school on this forum and cross your fingers that another poster has knowledge about the competitiveness of that particular school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the school. Affluent area will have a lot of club players, less affluent areas will have less. Participation in tryouts at one school cannot be predicted by average metrics and it can change from one year to the next. Your best approach is to go to a game and see the level of the team for yourself. Unfortunately, the season is over and you don't have that opportunity.

One option that you might still have is to contact the coach (you might have to go through the athletic director). The coach may get you in touch with some parents who may have recorded some games.

Or you could ask specifically about your high school on this forum and cross your fingers that another poster has knowledge about the competitiveness of that particular school.

Better idea is to directly email the high school coach and ask for advice. You will likely get better and more specific information than this message board

[Anonymous]

I can’t speak to Fairfax HS, but she will be in a better position if she has played before (even if it’s not club volleyball per se). I have heard good things about the red league in McLean, if that might be an option: https://www.myathletics.org/volleyball/girls-volleyball

You might also check out spring clinics run by various clubs to try and get her some exposure, maybe try a summer camp or two as well?

[FPYCparent]

Current FHS VB parent

My kid transitioned from years in another sport (NCSL soccer ... think "travel lite") and made the JV VB team as a freshman with no prior club experience coming out of COVID. She's started on varsity after that first year (yes, her first year of club VB followed that JV season).

While I do not closely follow freshman and JV teams, I don't think prior club experience is a hard requirement. Sure, more players are showing up at HS tryouts with club experience, but FHS hasn't traditionally been a powerhouse program with rosters full of club players. The current freshman coach is in her first year at the school, coming from Annandale HS. Not sure if she's ever coached club. JV coach is a former FHS player from two+ years ago (i.e., my kid played with her in 10th grade) and may have only played at a lower level club. Current varsity head coach may have one year of club experience with Monument.

As far as this year's varsity squad, there is one four-year starter who has only ever done beach and there is another player (not a starter) with zero club experience. For players with club experience, they've played at American, BRYC, Monument, VolleyViet, and maybe Vienna Elite. There is one current player (a freshman) who played Metro Travel last year. My kid did one year at Paramount ... two years ago.

I don't think I've seen a player at FHS who was 6 feet or taller. If you kid happens to have some height (or can jump!) she might make varsity right away.

[Anonymous]

OP here, this is all super helpful information! Thanks so much. I did end up reaching out to one of the coaches too asking for more info, and waiting to hear back. I do feel like we're holding her back by not putting her in club this year...but we just can't swing it right now with our current job instability that many others are also facing I'll do my best to find some clinics and other options to help get her reps in before spring season!

[Anonymous]

OP, we are in a similar SES high school, and Freshman DD tryouts were competitive. DD had little experience and did not make it.
So we paid for a fall league at lower ranked club, and now waiting to see if she got a spot on the (lower ranked) team for the Nov-March season. We were definitely put off by the 5-7k fees at most of the clubs and I wonder how many families also feeling financial uncertainty may cause the cheaper but lower ranked teams to become more sought after.
If my DD doesn’t get a spot, her plan is to keep going to clinics and hopes to make JV next fall. It’s about $30 a pop, twice a week or so.
So if your kid wants to keep getting practice, look into clinics.

[Anonymous]

OP again: If anyone recommends some really good winter clinics that are convenient to Fairfax/Centreville/Clifton/Chantilly, please let me know! I'll be researching, but of course first hand feedback is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: If anyone recommends some really good winter clinics that are convenient to Fairfax/Centreville/Clifton/Chantilly, please let me know! I'll be researching, but of course first hand feedback is appreciated.

Maybe this Galaxy league. Inexpensive. Quality is ok, not like the attention of a private lesson.

https://www.nvva.com/galaxy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, we are in a similar SES high school, and Freshman DD tryouts were competitive. DD had little experience and did not make it.
So we paid for a fall league at lower ranked club, and now waiting to see if she got a spot on the (lower ranked) team for the Nov-March season. We were definitely put off by the 5-7k fees at most of the clubs and I wonder how many families also feeling financial uncertainty may cause the cheaper but lower ranked teams to become more sought after.
If my DD doesn’t get a spot, her plan is to keep going to clinics and hopes to make JV next fall. It’s about $30 a pop, twice a week or so.
So if your kid wants to keep getting practice, look into clinics.

Do you mind me asking which league you're looking at that is more affordable?