Volleyball club- recap and thoughts

[Anonymous]

I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

The level of play over the last 10 years has really risen in this area, though still way behind south, Midwest, and west. You really need to start kids with rec at 9-10 and club u12 and also do beach at 12. So many more girls playing it’s really tough if not highly skilled or really tall at 12.

[Anonymous]

FPYCparent wrote:As a relative newbie parent, what's the "short story" behind ECP and MOJO? So the two clubs merged at one point (how long ago?) ... and may be separating now?

Short story is they merged 2 years ago since they were both vying for mainly inside the beltway players where ECP mgmt was focused on 15+ ages and MOJO original mgmt focused on 14 and under ages. Decided to join forces to help across management and coaches. They shared facilities with MOJO facilities being Tysons area based and ECP smattering of Alexandria Day, Georgetown Day and maybe a few others (before merger, many players for ECP were around Huntington/Alexandria areas, I think).

Didn't work out between ECP director and MOJO along with at least one of the other original ECP mgmt/coaches. ECP and MOJO will both have fall clinics going on although ECP had done joint-ish fall league (separate from tryout prep clinics) for younger age groups which is staying ECP. Will see how things shake out and where players decide to go but returning coaches definitely look like they are skewing MOJO.

If you are younger age group, go MOJO as that has been their niche. Up in the air for older age groups and depends on team and coaches.

Do a search on ECP and you will see an even longer history as ECP came out of the original The St. James club where head coaches left to start up ECP before current ECP director came in. Go back even further, and turns out that some of the original ECP (coach) worked with MOJO directors for Arlington Elite back when they had a club and MOJO decided to branch out. It is a very very small world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

The level of play over the last 10 years has really risen in this area, though still way behind south, Midwest, and west. You really need to start kids with rec at 9-10 and club u12 and also do beach at 12. So many more girls playing it’s really tough if not highly skilled or really tall at 12.

Agree with PP. Yes, volleyball has been one of the fastest growing sports and just booming, particularly now at HS freshman tryouts at most schools. COVID reduced a lot of facilities and club offerings so there is just not enough club supply to accommodate demand, especially with Cassels closing shop and fewer court options until new ones can be found and/or built. Maybe your DD could try beach as that is so much more individual where you go to the clinics and can find and pair up with different partners. More 'self directed.' If she still wants indoor vball, go to the fall clinics being offered by local clubs - again with facilities so limited, the number of girls going to the few offerings will likely bust at the seams depending on the age groups (namely 14s and 15s and maybe less so for older ages). Otherwise it is a lot of self practice and some lessons. There are some rec leagues that have a 'select' option where players tryout so they can differentiate a little more by skill level for your HS DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

The level of play over the last 10 years has really risen in this area, though still way behind south, Midwest, and west. You really need to start kids with rec at 9-10 and club u12 and also do beach at 12. So many more girls playing it’s really tough if not highly skilled or really tall at 12.

Agree with PP. Yes, volleyball has been one of the fastest growing sports and just booming, particularly now at HS freshman tryouts at most schools. COVID reduced a lot of facilities and club offerings so there is just not enough club supply to accommodate demand, especially with Cassels closing shop and fewer court options until new ones can be found and/or built. Maybe your DD could try beach as that is so much more individual where you go to the clinics and can find and pair up with different partners. More 'self directed.' If she still wants indoor vball, go to the fall clinics being offered by local clubs - again with facilities so limited, the number of girls going to the few offerings will likely bust at the seams depending on the age groups (namely 14s and 15s and maybe less so for older ages). Otherwise it is a lot of self practice and some lessons. There are some rec leagues that have a 'select' option where players tryout so they can differentiate a little more by skill level for your HS DD.

+1 This is a great synopsis with good recommendations. Volleyball in this area, while getting better, is still behind the West Coast, Midwest, Texas and all the other strong areas for volleyball. This is simply due to the fact that most girls in those areas begin playing when they are 7-8 years old, whereas girls in our area often don't start playing until U12 (and often at a very low level at U12, at that). So, girls in our area at U12 are learning skills that girls in more competitive areas learned at U8-U9. Some clubs in our area are starting to offer more programs/teams for these young age groups, and that will help to close the gap between the CHRVA Region and other more competitive areas.

By the way, I have heard that one CHRVA club is making a major move in regards to a new facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

The level of play over the last 10 years has really risen in this area, though still way behind south, Midwest, and west. You really need to start kids with rec at 9-10 and club u12 and also do beach at 12. So many more girls playing it’s really tough if not highly skilled or really tall at 12.

Agree with PP. Yes, volleyball has been one of the fastest growing sports and just booming, particularly now at HS freshman tryouts at most schools. COVID reduced a lot of facilities and club offerings so there is just not enough club supply to accommodate demand, especially with Cassels closing shop and fewer court options until new ones can be found and/or built. Maybe your DD could try beach as that is so much more individual where you go to the clinics and can find and pair up with different partners. More 'self directed.' If she still wants indoor vball, go to the fall clinics being offered by local clubs - again with facilities so limited, the number of girls going to the few offerings will likely bust at the seams depending on the age groups (namely 14s and 15s and maybe less so for older ages). Otherwise it is a lot of self practice and some lessons. There are some rec leagues that have a 'select' option where players tryout so they can differentiate a little more by skill level for your HS DD.

+1 This is a great synopsis with good recommendations. Volleyball in this area, while getting better, is still behind the West Coast, Midwest, Texas and all the other strong areas for volleyball. This is simply due to the fact that most girls in those areas begin playing when they are 7-8 years old, whereas girls in our area often don't start playing until U12 (and often at a very low level at U12, at that). So, girls in our area at U12 are learning skills that girls in more competitive areas learned at U8-U9. Some clubs in our area are starting to offer more programs/teams for these young age groups, and that will help to close the gap between the CHRVA Region and other more competitive areas.

By the way, I have heard that one CHRVA club is making a major move in regards to a new facility.

Yes, and in those other areas, the girls momma, and mommas momma played.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll keep this short. We’ve had a tremendously disappointing run in volleyball. Started with a less known clinic run by a club not mentioned here for good reason. The. Played on that club team but never got to play and felt hated by the coach despite loving the game and her teammates. FF15 to doing a couple summer camps including at UVA and another at the high school where she is now a freshman. She didn’t make the team… tried a rec team but kids were all 3 years younger and she want getting anything out of it. Feels like volleyball is a big disappointment wrapped in a money grab, especially if your kid is not a star or tall from the get go. Hoping she falls in love with another sport.

The level of play over the last 10 years has really risen in this area, though still way behind south, Midwest, and west. You really need to start kids with rec at 9-10 and club u12 and also do beach at 12. So many more girls playing it’s really tough if not highly skilled or really tall at 12.

Agree with PP. Yes, volleyball has been one of the fastest growing sports and just booming, particularly now at HS freshman tryouts at most schools. COVID reduced a lot of facilities and club offerings so there is just not enough club supply to accommodate demand, especially with Cassels closing shop and fewer court options until new ones can be found and/or built. Maybe your DD could try beach as that is so much more individual where you go to the clinics and can find and pair up with different partners. More 'self directed.' If she still wants indoor vball, go to the fall clinics being offered by local clubs - again with facilities so limited, the number of girls going to the few offerings will likely bust at the seams depending on the age groups (namely 14s and 15s and maybe less so for older ages). Otherwise it is a lot of self practice and some lessons. There are some rec leagues that have a 'select' option where players tryout so they can differentiate a little more by skill level for your HS DD.

+1 This is a great synopsis with good recommendations. Volleyball in this area, while getting better, is still behind the West Coast, Midwest, Texas and all the other strong areas for volleyball. This is simply due to the fact that most girls in those areas begin playing when they are 7-8 years old, whereas girls in our area often don't start playing until U12 (and often at a very low level at U12, at that). So, girls in our area at U12 are learning skills that girls in more competitive areas learned at U8-U9. Some clubs in our area are starting to offer more programs/teams for these young age groups, and that will help to close the gap between the CHRVA Region and other more competitive areas.

By the way, I have heard that one CHRVA club is making a major move in regards to a new facility.

Yes, and in those other areas, the girls momma, and mommas momma played.

And their dad's played in the NFL/NBA

[Anonymous]

Disclaimer: I’m just a mom and a former player and a college fan, and not an expert.

I’m in a west coast area with really competitive opportunities and huge college pipelines, but we still don’t see much action before the U12 level and most girls are still following the path from 1-2 generations ago and starting in other sports first. Even around here you don’t see those 7/8/9 year olds unless they are hanging out during a sister’s practice.

I think one problem with volleyball is that there isn’t the depth or breadth of opportunity at the beginning. Girls who start early get slotted into the “will be tall” or “will be a libero” or “not great” categories early on. Girls who join in late elementary really dilute the competitiveness of clubs so you end up with one excellent team and a bunch of others on the struggle bus as girls learn the sport. The girls on the beginning teams improve so slowly because they’re not experiencing the same volume of active plays. Then girls start to grow and those tall girls get a TON of attention even if they’re struggling and a lot of the other girls get sidelined regardless of their potential.

Volleyball’s a sport where you can’t get better just practicing or running drills- if you’re not in the court, rotating through and in live plays, you never develop court sense. And there’s only so much room for average and short girls, and teams are small. So when girls get sidelined for 1-2 club seasons and 6-8 girls on the team get all the playing time, the gap widens even more.

I think it’s a sport problem and not just geographic.

[Anonymous]

FPYCparent wrote:CHRVA club tryout dates are November 3 -7. Is it normal to have all age groups tryout the same weekend (vs. last year when the tryouts were split over two weekends to separate young age groups from older groups)?

https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/46c4-2262193/2023-2024_CHRVA_Junior_Recruiting_and_Tryout_Policy.pdf

This new change to all age groups over the same weekend is making it an administrative nightmare for clubs. For the larger clubs, having to form 15+ teams all in one weekend (and making sure they have the requisite gym space to accommodate all their tryout needs) makes it incredibly difficult. Our Region is behind and seems to always make it harder on itself for no apparent reason.

[Anonymous]

By the way, I have heard that one CHRVA club is making a major move in regards to a new facility.



Which club and what new facility????

[Anonymous]

New volleyball parent trying to navigate this seemingly complicated volleyball world. I had to Google CHRVA for starters and it looks like I need to pay for a membership with them before I can even figure out which club my DD should tryout for...speaking 9f which....
Why is it so difficult for these different clubs to post when and where practices would (potentially) be? Although some have their fees listed and tournaments scheduled, not all of them do.
For example, Elite has a Loundon address. So does that infer practices are out all the way out there too (we're in Springfield so, yes, Loudon Co is "all the way out" there for us)?

Curious, too, how do families with siblings do this? It's seemingly impossible to trek out to Sterling (NVVA) or battle rush hour traffic trying to get to Telegraph Rd (Evolution) for practices 2x/3x/week. I have other kids besides DD who also have sports and extracurricular and throwing travel volleyball ("club" is such a misnomer) is really time consuming to the point of impossible for 2+ kids in a family.

I had no idea how intense this would be . Dd is on freshman volleyball team, but either of us didn't realize how expensive and committed off season training would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New volleyball parent trying to navigate this seemingly complicated volleyball world. I had to Google CHRVA for starters and it looks like I need to pay for a membership with them before I can even figure out which club my DD should tryout for...speaking 9f which....
Why is it so difficult for these different clubs to post when and where practices would (potentially) be? Although some have their fees listed and tournaments scheduled, not all of them do.
For example, Elite has a Loundon address. So does that infer practices are out all the way out there too (we're in Springfield so, yes, Loudon Co is "all the way out" there for us)?

Curious, too, how do families with siblings do this? It's seemingly impossible to trek out to Sterling (NVVA) or battle rush hour traffic trying to get to Telegraph Rd (Evolution) for practices 2x/3x/week. I have other kids besides DD who also have sports and extracurricular and throwing travel volleyball ("club" is such a misnomer) is really time consuming to the point of impossible for 2+ kids in a family.

I had no idea how intense this would be . Dd is on freshman volleyball team, but either of us didn't realize how expensive and committed off season training would be.

Every girl I know who does club is an only child or has a SAHM or dad. My daughter has not participated in club because of the money and time commitment. I played USVBA when I was a teen in the 1980s, and it was way more fun.

[FPYCparent]

Let's see if I can keep this short (well, I failed ... apologies in advance!)

DD1 started club/travel soccer in 3rd grade with a mid-level team here in NoVA. She remained with the team through the fall season of 9th grade (there is no spring club season at the mid/low level as it competes with HS soccer here in VA). DD2 is six years younger.

DD1 joined a co-ed middle school VB team in 8th grade (first full year back in the buildings aftetr COVID) as a part of an FCPS pilot. She loved it and proceeded to play two rec seasons (winter and spring, I think) that had little conflicts with club soccer.

She asked if she could try out for a HS team in 9th grade. We discussed the matter before financially committing to club soccer (typically, a year-long commitment) and agreed that if she was going to try out for VB ... or anything else, she might as well do it in 9th grade. In the worst case, she makes a team and doesn't like it ... allowing her to return to soccer in 10th grade. She ends up earning a spot on the JV VB team and we managed to navigate only one or two conflicts with club soccer during the fall of her 9th grade year (she missed one or two soccer practices and no games). To be fair, her HS hasn't been strong in VB for years ... and perhaps her years of soccer provided enough of an athletic base for her to "excel" in VB at her school as a relatively new player.

As the first HS season winds down, some of the JV parents started asking if she's been playing club VB. Having been in club soccer for years, we were like "Wait? Are you saying there is club VB too?" We never knew! Many of the HS players were playing at one nearby low-level VB club. We met one of the coaches at a HS game and proceeded to attend a few clinics with that club. Another club spotted her at a JV match and invited her to some clinics as well. After a minimal amount of research, we also checked out clinics at one more club (with the middle school team coach). Somehow, we managed to have her try out at all three clubs during the same weekend as a soccer tournament (yeah ... not doing that again). She got offers from all three VB clubs and we let her choose which one she wanted (all three options were within our logistical and financial reach).

So, for the first six months of 2023, DD1 played at the Open level and the entire family is exposed to high-level club VB life. DD1 is now addicted. She has no plans to return to soccer as long as it conflicts with VB (she really wishes she could do both sports ... at a high level. If only she didn't have to go to class and learn something not related to VB.). She even got a name-only mention in PrepDig during the AAU Nationals in Orlando (team didn't get a USAV bid). We got her into a few VB camps over the summer (including a full week of sleep-over camps out at JMU). DD1 continues raising some eyebrows, but she cannot fully engage with colleges until after 10th grade. Did I mention she tries to watch/stream every D-I college VB match she can find? She knows many collegiate players on top 25 teams by name. She's also making her own highlight videos and posting them on YouTube. (I learned to record matches during the preceding club season. Yes, I am that guy!)

This year, she's on varsity at her HS (one of three sophs) and is a starter. As of last night, the team has already won more matches that it did all of last season. DD1 is now only looking at top-flight VB clubs and we have a spreadsheet to plot how we'll get her in front of club coaches before the tryout weekend. She's got two invite-only clinics (one is from last year's club) coming up and is still seeking more. Right now, we don't anticipate that she'll choose to go back to the old club ... assuming she has worthy tryout performances at "better/higher-level" clubs in November.

Meanwhile, DD2 is far more artsy that DD1, but is perfectly content with rec soccer. She's similarly athletic as DD1, and is technically playing soccer a year up. However, she has no desire to jump to club/travel soccer ... or volleyball. (She's tall enough to get asked regularly if she plays VB.)

So, yes, club VB is a madhouse here in NoVA (just wait until you see tryout weekend!), but it can be done within a family of 4 (dual-income ... none from home, two kids).

And for anyone counting pennies, we've spent more on VB in one year than we did in six years of soccer. We're well into five-figures for a single year of club VB.

Pay for each pre-tyout clinic? Yep!
Pay for each summer camp? Yep!
Pay for each tyouts Yep!
Pay for CHRVA and AAU memberships? Yep!
Pay for the uniforms that may only get used for one year? Yep!
Pay the mid-four-figures in club fees? Yep!
Oh, you need new shoes ... and knee pads ... and too-short shorts? Stank Sticks? A club-branded backback? A ball? Yep!
What about out-of-state travel ... including flights, vehicle rentals, meals, and hotels? YEP!

[Anonymous]

FPYCparent wrote:Let's see if I can keep this short (well, I failed ... apologies in advance!)

DD1 started club/travel soccer in 3rd grade with a mid-level team here in NoVA. She remained with the team through the fall season of 9th grade (there is no spring club season at the mid/low level as it competes with HS soccer here in VA). DD2 is six years younger.

DD1 joined a co-ed middle school VB team in 8th grade (first full year back in the buildings aftetr COVID) as a part of an FCPS pilot. She loved it and proceeded to play two rec seasons (winter and spring, I think) that had little conflicts with club soccer.

She asked if she could try out for a HS team in 9th grade. We discussed the matter before financially committing to club soccer (typically, a year-long commitment) and agreed that if she was going to try out for VB ... or anything else, she might as well do it in 9th grade. In the worst case, she makes a team and doesn't like it ... allowing her to return to soccer in 10th grade. She ends up earning a spot on the JV VB team and we managed to navigate only one or two conflicts with club soccer during the fall of her 9th grade year (she missed one or two soccer practices and no games). To be fair, her HS hasn't been strong in VB for years ... and perhaps her years of soccer provided enough of an athletic base for her to "excel" in VB at her school as a relatively new player.

As the first HS season winds down, some of the JV parents started asking if she's been playing club VB. Having been in club soccer for years, we were like "Wait? Are you saying there is club VB too?" We never knew! Many of the HS players were playing at one nearby low-level VB club. We met one of the coaches at a HS game and proceeded to attend a few clinics with that club. Another club spotted her at a JV match and invited her to some clinics as well. After a minimal amount of research, we also checked out clinics at one more club (with the middle school team coach). Somehow, we managed to have her try out at all three clubs during the same weekend as a soccer tournament (yeah ... not doing that again). She got offers from all three VB clubs and we let her choose which one she wanted (all three options were within our logistical and financial reach).

So, for the first six months of 2023, DD1 played at the Open level and the entire family is exposed to high-level club VB life. DD1 is now addicted. She has no plans to return to soccer as long as it conflicts with VB (she really wishes she could do both sports ... at a high level. If only she didn't have to go to class and learn something not related to VB.). She even got a name-only mention in PrepDig during the AAU Nationals in Orlando (team didn't get a USAV bid). We got her into a few VB camps over the summer (including a full week of sleep-over camps out at JMU). DD1 continues raising some eyebrows, but she cannot fully engage with colleges until after 10th grade. Did I mention she tries to watch/stream every D-I college VB match she can find? She knows many collegiate players on top 25 teams by name. She's also making her own highlight videos and posting them on YouTube. (I learned to record matches during the preceding club season. Yes, I am that guy!)

This year, she's on varsity at her HS (one of three sophs) and is a starter. As of last night, the team has already won more matches that it did all of last season. DD1 is now only looking at top-flight VB clubs and we have a spreadsheet to plot how we'll get her in front of club coaches before the tryout weekend. She's got two invite-only clinics (one is from last year's club) coming up and is still seeking more. Right now, we don't anticipate that she'll choose to go back to the old club ... assuming she has worthy tryout performances at "better/higher-level" clubs in November.

Meanwhile, DD2 is far more artsy that DD1, but is perfectly content with rec soccer. She's similarly athletic as DD1, and is technically playing soccer a year up. However, she has no desire to jump to club/travel soccer ... or volleyball. (She's tall enough to get asked regularly if she plays VB.)

So, yes, club VB is a madhouse here in NoVA (just wait until you see tryout weekend!), but it can be done within a family of 4 (dual-income ... none from home, two kids).

And for anyone counting pennies, we've spent more on VB in one year than we did in six years of soccer. We're well into five-figures for a single year of club VB.

Pay for each pre-tyout clinic? Yep!
Pay for each summer camp? Yep!
Pay for each tyouts Yep!
Pay for CHRVA and AAU memberships? Yep!
Pay for the uniforms that may only get used for one year? Yep!
Pay the mid-four-figures in club fees? Yep!
Oh, you need new shoes ... and knee pads ... and too-short shorts? Stank Sticks? A club-branded backback? A ball? Yep!
What about out-of-state travel ... including flights, vehicle rentals, meals, and hotels? YEP!

This will help a lot of parents get a better sense of the club landscape! Thank you! I know you mentioned invite-only clinics above... I think those are one of the worst parts of club volleyball. Are most of the top clubs in our area running secret invite-only clinics? I know VaJRs does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

By the way, I have heard that one CHRVA club is making a major move in regards to a new facility.

Which club and what new facility????

Anybody else have this information? I'm curious too.