Volleyball club- recap and thoughts

[Anonymous]

In my DD’s Metro division (and others) the Metro Regional teams kicked the asses of several teams from ECP, Vienna, NVVA, MD Jrs, etc. I know bc I was at the tournaments!

[Anonymous]

Metro North is good and Metro Central is ok; but to me, the other metro regional teams are really weak.

[Anonymous]

Don’t be fooled by aes rankings - Metro regional are just that, regional, playing lower level teams and tournies. Our DD came up against them a couple times last season and it was over quickly, despite them being ranked higher. Regional teams are a money making scheme for Silvia, and why not - she’s done great things with Metro as a club, but don’t expect the same experience as the travel teams….

This is cliche old news and no longer true, and the rankings show it. The Metro Regional teams have made a strong showing over the last several years and have ranked in large tournaments (Capitol City Classic) over several other clubs that are supposedly more elite and competitive. Metro North is especially impressive. Central and South also hold their own against any other local club. You could make the same financial “line-the-pockets” argument for any club that has different tiers of travel teams, like former ECP with three 15s (whose 15s, lost to several Metro regional teams last year, BTW) or NVVA with their red, black and performance level teams. Who also lost to Metro regional teams, BTW. So… yawn…

Metro Regional is solid. The coaching staff is consistent, and coaches return each year without infighting and drama. Some decidedly left other clubs bc of drama and toxic behavior from directors. It’s a positive culture. Not every family/player can or wants to get on a plane to travel to tournaments. Not every 13 year old kid is a 6’2” behemoth (though Metro regional has those girls as well).

But if you want a positive culture that isn’t toxic, coaches that are supportive, well trained, consistent and *appropriate,* Metro Regional teams are solid. I can say with firsthand knowledge that my daughter’s Metro Regional team prevailed over several other clubs mentioned in this thread. Often winning in two. The Metro girls shut them out - often surprisingly so- given how “talked up” the teams are on these board. Lol. Grain of salt, folks. Don’t believe the hype.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have the 411 on No Panic and Xfactor clubs? How about VaVa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have the 411 on No Panic and Xfactor clubs? How about VaVa?

I only know about VAVA. Good club, but they lost their practice space last year and are only fielding a few teams this year, which is unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Don’t be fooled by aes rankings - Metro regional are just that, regional, playing lower level teams and tournies. Our DD came up against them a couple times last season and it was over quickly, despite them being ranked higher. Regional teams are a money making scheme for Silvia, and why not - she’s done great things with Metro as a club, but don’t expect the same experience as the travel teams….

This is cliche old news and no longer true, and the rankings show it. The Metro Regional teams have made a strong showing over the last several years and have ranked in large tournaments (Capitol City Classic) over several other clubs that are supposedly more elite and competitive. Metro North is especially impressive. Central and South also hold their own against any other local club. You could make the same financial “line-the-pockets” argument for any club that has different tiers of travel teams, like former ECP with three 15s (whose 15s, lost to several Metro regional teams last year, BTW) or NVVA with their red, black and performance level teams. Who also lost to Metro regional teams, BTW. So… yawn…

Metro Regional is solid. The coaching staff is consistent, and coaches return each year without infighting and drama. Some decidedly left other clubs bc of drama and toxic behavior from directors. It’s a positive culture. Not every family/player can or wants to get on a plane to travel to tournaments. Not every 13 year old kid is a 6’2” behemoth (though Metro regional has those girls as well).

But if you want a positive culture that isn’t toxic, coaches that are supportive, well trained, consistent and *appropriate,* Metro Regional teams are solid. I can say with firsthand knowledge that my daughter’s Metro Regional team prevailed over several other clubs mentioned in this thread. Often winning in two. The Metro girls shut them out - often surprisingly so- given how “talked up” the teams are on these board. Lol. Grain of salt, folks. Don’t believe the hype.

The only non-regional teams around are Metro Travel, Paramount, Juniors and VAE. I’m not aware of a Metro Regional team beating (or even getting a set off) any of them. I could be wrong tho, and willing to stand corrected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is mojo likely to be any better that ECP? Aren’t they the same people?

I’ve been super happy with Mojo.

Yep, SAME people.

I don't think that's accurate or fair.

Mojo coaches and leadership were established and well-respected in the DC area long before ECP came into the picture. ECPDC coaches that came from Arlington Elite and The St. James were solid as well.

The major issues with ECPDC began last year during the 2022-23 season. From the volleyball gossip mill, the problems are attributed to either A) 3 Step Sports National corporate leadership or B) the influx of Delaware coaches and director (Chris Smith) just not meshing with the local group. Either way, the merger between corporate franchise, Delaware, and DC local coaches did not work out. The DC local coaches are now back with Mojo. Former Delaware coaches seem to be with Renaissance.

Being a DC volleyball parent with older kids, I know the Mojo/St James coaches and hate to see them smeared. My kids owe a lot of their skills and confidence to Mojo.
N
I'm inclined to give the Renaissance coaches the benefit of the doubt as well. Unlike 3 Step Sports, the coaches do not profit personally from clinic or registration fees that are not refunded.

Then consider your family fortunate that you got to see the pretty side.
Mojo coaches and directors play such obvious favorites and have no problem taking your money for clinics and even inviting you to invite only to add a few extra bodies. But when you go to tryout day and they suddenly avoid eye contact and immediately put you on the “thanks for coming” court without even pretending to observe your tryout, you know you were just one of the suckers.
I’m sure other clubs are the same way in making up their rosters in advance, but those clubs do a much better job of trying to make it appear that the tryout is a tryout.

This is true from before they transferred the club to ECP. Experienced it 2 years ago and would say it’s accurate

I was planning to have my DD tryout for Mojo. So I should skip and focus on the other clubs then to save a possible bad experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is mojo likely to be any better that ECP? Aren’t they the same people?

I’ve been super happy with Mojo.

Yep, SAME people.

I don't think that's accurate or fair.

Mojo coaches and leadership were established and well-respected in the DC area long before ECP came into the picture. ECPDC coaches that came from Arlington Elite and The St. James were solid as well.

The major issues with ECPDC began last year during the 2022-23 season. From the volleyball gossip mill, the problems are attributed to either A) 3 Step Sports National corporate leadership or B) the influx of Delaware coaches and director (Chris Smith) just not meshing with the local group. Either way, the merger between corporate franchise, Delaware, and DC local coaches did not work out. The DC local coaches are now back with Mojo. Former Delaware coaches seem to be with Renaissance.

Being a DC volleyball parent with older kids, I know the Mojo/St James coaches and hate to see them smeared. My kids owe a lot of their skills and confidence to Mojo.
N
I'm inclined to give the Renaissance coaches the benefit of the doubt as well. Unlike 3 Step Sports, the coaches do not profit personally from clinic or registration fees that are not refunded.

Then consider your family fortunate that you got to see the pretty side.
Mojo coaches and directors play such obvious favorites and have no problem taking your money for clinics and even inviting you to invite only to add a few extra bodies. But when you go to tryout day and they suddenly avoid eye contact and immediately put you on the “thanks for coming” court without even pretending to observe your tryout, you know you were just one of the suckers.
I’m sure other clubs are the same way in making up their rosters in advance, but those clubs do a much better job of trying to make it appear that the tryout is a tryout.

This is true from before they transferred the club to ECP. Experienced it 2 years ago and would say it’s accurate

I was planning to have my DD tryout for Mojo. So I should skip and focus on the other clubs then to save a possible bad experience?

It will really depend on the age group and the level of play your DD is looking at/for. Has she gone to any clinics? Based on question, sounds like DD has not experienced any MOJO yet... chances are slimmer of getting much of a look if DD hasn't been seen before but if DD is super good (and being tall helps the older you get), clubs will always look at tryouts for the major standouts to make an exception. Again, it will depend on age group and how girls are dividing between ECP and Mojo. The younger the age group, the better chance of getting a shot. Older age groups will be pretty hard if they haven't made contact with MOJO (or other clubs for that matter) unless you have good video, play at one of the top HS vball programs and/or clubs in the area

I would stay away from 16-1/16 Black team if people haven't been to an invite clinic to experience it yet and get noticed to be a back up. Possibly a chance with the #2 team at the age group? What has been said earlier of both Chris Smith and MOJO relative to that 2026 ECP age group returning from last year are accurate with the girls right in the mix with the mean girl club referenced in prior post. Seems to be a repeat of last year where this year MOJO seems so hungry to lure the ECP girls away from Chris other girls didn't have much chance of making the 1st team although pre-tryout discussions made them think otherwise. Last year, ECP was salivating at getting the StJ girls and their besties to come to ECP and succeeded. It's no wonder the mean girl entitlement of at least 6-8 of the returning ECP girls (16s) displayed at the latest clinic was so blatant - appalling was more like it with many ECP girls actively and vocally preventing nonECP girls from taking the court and coaches turning a blind eye, validating or rewarding it. I'm sure they can be nice once on the same team with them... maybe. It may unravel so may be both sides will scamper to fill if they don't get enough of a quorum.

17s seems to have some volatility and will depend on what details finally come forward for Renaissance as players make their decisions between that and MOJO because they prefer to stay together. Likely multiple opportunities still open to get in there.

Just not enough club team supply and vball facilities to meet demand. Tryout at more than one place because you never know until the actual written offer comes through (this is for many clubs not just ECP and Mojo).

[Anonymous]

I’ll be watching more closely next clinic, but it would seem if you are a coach or director you’d try to break up mean girl dynamic and save yourself a headache. Plus, doesn’t MONO market themselves as a fun and positive club? This would set an impression for the club image going forward. Trying to keep my DD away from mean girls as much as I can. I had No idea ECP had that reputation

[Anonymous]

DD has several ECP players on her HS team, and they are the cliquey/bossy/mean girls on the team. Examples: (1) ignoring the non-ECP players on the team. (2) Loudly and haughtily scolding and telling teammates what to do and how to play their positions. (3) smirking/mocking/eye rolling at teammates and opposing team. (4) During one game, DD’s Team was up by a lot (like 20-0 in the second set after winning first set) and one of the ECP players started showboating during serving - overly-dramatic jump serving and laughing and making a mockery of the game. Thankfully, at that point the coach called a time-out and actually scolded the girls and said it was bad sportsmanship and disrespectful to be “bad winners.”

DD was appalled at this behavior and grateful the HS Coach did something. Yes, the ECP girls are decent players. Outstanding? No. DD has decided not try out for Mojo bc of those girls. She is looking at VA Elite, Monument, BRYVC, and Metro instead.

[Anonymous]

Mojo was there before. Later Mojo merged into ECP , but seems only got the club name, not ECP coaches, at least for u14 and under. People are talking about ECP coaches left ECP to Mojo. Who are those coaches?

[FPYCparent]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have the 411 on No Panic and Xfactor clubs? How about VaVa?

Our player was "introduced" to club volleyball via No Panic last year by a recommendation from another parent. I'd say that at least 5 (and maybe even 10) girls across current varsity and JV players at DD's high school played at No Panic last year. My kid did try out with the club last year but ultimately decided to accept another offer.

As the name suggests, this is/was a low-to-no-stress club. Based on last year's experience, I'd say it's a decent place for players starting to get into organized volleyball. However, if you are looking for your player to excel, this may not be the place that will push you kid to elite levels of skill/play. But that's not a bad thing! Everyone needs to find a level of play that's compatible.

Based on the club's website, they're now located in Manassas and not in Chantilly like they were to start last year's season. I don't have any details behind the location change.

The only other thing I can add is that one of the NP coaches from last year now appears to be on staff at VA Juniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have the 411 on No Panic and Xfactor clubs? How about VaVa?

X-Factor is a newer club that was started two to three years ago. The founder used to coach for Arlington Elite and VA Elite. He was the head coach for Northern VA Community College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any players make teams if they haven’t been selected for invite-only clinics? Do most teams know their roster before tryouts start?

It depends. Some clubs don’t do invite clinics. A good way to tell if your daughter is in the mix for consideration for the team is if the open clinics use two courts for her age group. If she’s on the court with the tall and more experienced girls, this is the “good” court, and she is likely going to be considered for a spot on the team. It’s important to go to as many pre tryout clinics as possible to get seen before tryouts. Tryouts can be crowded and they are usually short. It helps to be known before going in to the tryouts.


If you haven’t been given the nod before tryouts, your only route into any club is as a bench warmer. Some clubs tell their kids not to go to other clubs clinics or they’re out.

Paramount do a great job marketing on this forum btw.

For clarity, if my kid hasn’t received any invites to invite-only clinics, there is no point in going to tryouts?

What has been the coaches feedback at clinics you have attended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mojo was there before. Later Mojo merged into ECP , but seems only got the club name, not ECP coaches, at least for u14 and under. People are talking about ECP coaches left ECP to Mojo. Who are those coaches?

I know there are many, but the one that comes to mind is Amy Skidmore who helped to bring ECP here in the first place.