Help us pick a club - Fairfax area

[Anonymous]

St. James, XFactor, BRYC, or something else I'm not thinking about? We live in the Annandale/Fairfax area and don't want to be in too much traffic going to practice. Two day a week practice preferable. Not a fan of the St. James and it's set up and parking situation but would maybe tolerate it if the experience is excellent. Right now BRYC is winning for price alone. Very low tolerance for disorganized sports programs and communication issues. That's all I can think of now.

[Anonymous]

Go to clinics in the fall and try out for all in October. See your options after tryouts. What age group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to clinics in the fall and try out for all in October. See your options after tryouts. What age group?

This is a good idea. She'll be 13.

[Anonymous]

What's your player's volleyball experience? In many cases it's all about the options you have rather than what you would prefer. I learned that I have to accept some things I don't like because my player could not make it into better clubs. We wanted to play for MVSA based on price alone, but my DD could not make any of their teams. We also wanted to play for Metro Travel because they were the best in the region, but that turned out to be some sort of delusion. When the tryouts are over, you will - hopefully - have some offers and decide what compromises you are willing to make. Almost everybody makes some compromises when reality hits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to clinics in the fall and try out for all in October. See your options after tryouts. What age group?

This is a good idea. She'll be 13.

She’s young. Tryout for both of them as k suggested. You can also see if Volley Viet is forming a team but you won’t know until right before tryouts. They will be the least expensive option and the are loyal to returning players but do not have teams every year for every group.

There is also Metro South.

I’d go to as many tryouts as possible, if they don’t conflict, and then make your choice after you see what she’s offered.

I agree that St James is not worth it because their parking is awful. That is why I don’t let my DD tryout there, among other reasons now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to clinics in the fall and try out for all in October. See your options after tryouts. What age group?

This is a good idea. She'll be 13.

She’s young. Tryout for both of them as k suggested. You can also see if Volley Viet is forming a team but you won’t know until right before tryouts. They will be the least expensive option and the are loyal to returning players but do not have teams every year for every group.

There is also Metro South.

I’d go to as many tryouts as possible, if they don’t conflict, and then make your choice after you see what she’s offered.

I agree that St James is not worth it because their parking is awful. That is why I don’t let my DD tryout there, among other reasons now.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your player's volleyball experience? In many cases it's all about the options you have rather than what you would prefer. I learned that I have to accept some things I don't like because my player could not make it into better clubs. We wanted to play for MVSA based on price alone, but my DD could not make any of their teams. We also wanted to play for Metro Travel because they were the best in the region, but that turned out to be some sort of delusion. When the tryouts are over, you will - hopefully - have some offers and decide what compromises you are willing to make. Almost everybody makes some compromises when reality hits.

Thank you! She's several years of rec experience and some talent - not really worried that she won't find a team. But we definitely aren't looking for Metro or Paramount level of play.

Nice to see that I'm not being unreasonable about St. James and their parking situation. We avoid it at all costs.

[Anonymous]

Alexandria Titans probably isn't the same level of play as the St James, but their practices take place at the Minnie Howard campus of Alexandria High School, which is a pretty easy trip from Annandale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your player's volleyball experience? In many cases it's all about the options you have rather than what you would prefer. I learned that I have to accept some things I don't like because my player could not make it into better clubs. We wanted to play for MVSA based on price alone, but my DD could not make any of their teams. We also wanted to play for Metro Travel because they were the best in the region, but that turned out to be some sort of delusion. When the tryouts are over, you will - hopefully - have some offers and decide what compromises you are willing to make. Almost everybody makes some compromises when reality hits.

Thank you! She's several years of rec experience and some talent - not really worried that she won't find a team. But we definitely aren't looking for Metro or Paramount level of play.

Nice to see that I'm not being unreasonable about St. James and their parking situation. We avoid it at all costs.

Metro South is not the metro you are thinking about. It’s the same level as the other clubs mentioned here and practices close to you.

[Anonymous]

Re: St. James & parking....im confused. Why cant you just drop off your kid and then go home OR if it's not worth the drive home/too far, then find the nearest strip mall and park there and sit in your far, or go for a walk, or whatever. There are like 3 strip malls near the St. James within a 2 mile radius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: St. James & parking....im confused. Why cant you just drop off your kid and then go home OR if it's not worth the drive home/too far, then find the nearest strip mall and park there and sit in your far, or go for a walk, or whatever. There are like 3 strip malls near the St. James within a 2 mile radius.

I’m not OP but one of the other posters. You can do that, but the parking at TSJ is an entirely different level of annoying that any other place. To drive to one of those other strip malls or other places several times per week and sit there and wait gets old fast. If you work, it’s late and you are tired. You might have just sat in traffic and had a long commute to just get there. It’s an extra hassle, a lot of time and thousands of dollars. And not a high level play for girls. There are other options.

If you are willing to become a member and stay or if you live close by it could be worth it. We don’t live that close and it involved the beltway, at rush hour, on top of the parking situation so it was out for us.

[Anonymous]

It's that they aren't that good of a team that comes with the hassle of the St james. There are 15 just as mid clubs in proximity without the same hassle.

[FPYCparent]

Monument? https://monumentvolleyball.com/

One of their locations is not too far from TSJ. The Fairfax HS varsity coach was with that club, but I'm not sure if he's still is.