Volleyball tryouts in real time

[Anonymous]

Anyone still trying to decide where to go? Was this year’s tryouts just like the others or were there any new issues that came up for any teams? Any surprises with teams?

[Anonymous]

MOCO did not prioritize returning players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If anybody has any more information on how the XP tryout process fits in with everything else, I'd be interested. Specifically, other clubs require an answer by 10 PM Tuesday (today). However, XPs tryouts didn't start until yesterday (Monday), and the XP tryout results won't be sent out until earliest Wednesday. So how are athletes supposed to choose between XP and other clubs? Am I correct in thinking that XP athletes are ones that either a) didn't get an offer from any other clubs or b) they only want to tryout for XP anyway. If (b), then I guess those athletes are out of luck if XP doesn't offer them a spot, because all other club tryouts are mostly done by that point. Am I understanding this correctly?

To answer this question, NVVA/XP does is not a member of the Chesapeake region (CHRVA), and therefore is not subject to the CHRVA rules for tryout periods and offers.

NVVA made the business decision to really use their gym, which is one of the best facilities around and they need it filled to make money. The flooring doesn't work for pickleball so all V-ball, all the time. To do that, they have many teams and leagues. Most are rec level and skills development. They have a few club teams (XP) and my DD played on one last year. Some of the club teams were pretty good. Ours struggled, but played a major club's #1 and lost 2-1 in a tight one so there was talent on the team.

One big change: Last year, NVVA did their try outs the week before CHRVA so kids weighed CHRVA offers with NVVA offers. Doing the tryouts after CHRVA is an odd choice. It likely means there will be a drop off in talent. However, NVVA has some good coaches so your DD will get better. And any club is better than none.

Someone asked about the "drop off" of NVVA as an org- You will find that a lot of CHRVA coaches worked at NVVA at some point. So the NVVA has had trouble keeping some coaches. Their head of operations left in May to return to Brazil (I think) and a new CEO has come in. I don't know him, but I'd be optimistic in general. He has some core coaches that have been there, a great facility, and a broad young base of players in their developmental leagues. They probably can't get back older kids that they have lost to CHRVA, but if they play it right, NVVA can rebuild quickly and keep coaches and young players long term.

Of note- Last year it took them 4 days to issue offers. They confirmed this through email that they had planned to get them out right away, but it took 4 days for the first ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If anybody has any more information on how the XP tryout process fits in with everything else, I'd be interested. Specifically, other clubs require an answer by 10 PM Tuesday (today). However, XPs tryouts didn't start until yesterday (Monday), and the XP tryout results won't be sent out until earliest Wednesday. So how are athletes supposed to choose between XP and other clubs? Am I correct in thinking that XP athletes are ones that either a) didn't get an offer from any other clubs or b) they only want to tryout for XP anyway. If (b), then I guess those athletes are out of luck if XP doesn't offer them a spot, because all other club tryouts are mostly done by that point. Am I understanding this correctly?

To answer this question, NVVA/XP does is not a member of the Chesapeake region (CHRVA), and therefore is not subject to the CHRVA rules for tryout periods and offers.

NVVA made the business decision to really use their gym, which is one of the best facilities around and they need it filled to make money. The flooring doesn't work for pickleball so all V-ball, all the time. To do that, they have many teams and leagues. Most are rec level and skills development. They have a few club teams (XP) and my DD played on one last year. Some of the club teams were pretty good. Ours struggled, but played a major club's #1 and lost 2-1 in a tight one so there was talent on the team.

One big change: Last year, NVVA did their try outs the week before CHRVA so kids weighed CHRVA offers with NVVA offers. Doing the tryouts after CHRVA is an odd choice. It likely means there will be a drop off in talent. However, NVVA has some good coaches so your DD will get better. And any club is better than none.

Someone asked about the "drop off" of NVVA as an org- You will find that a lot of CHRVA coaches worked at NVVA at some point. So the NVVA has had trouble keeping some coaches. Their head of operations left in May to return to Brazil (I think) and a new CEO has come in. I don't know him, but I'd be optimistic in general. He has some core coaches that have been there, a great facility, and a broad young base of players in their developmental leagues. They probably can't get back older kids that they have lost to CHRVA, but if they play it right, NVVA can rebuild quickly and keep coaches and young players long term.

Of note- Last year it took them 4 days to issue offers. They confirmed this through email that they had planned to get them out right away, but it took 4 days for the first ones.

I’m the PP who posted the original question. Thank you for this! This is exactly the kind of background I was curious about. My daughter tried out at XP on Monday but she decided to accept another offer. I just didn’t understand their business model in which they chose to have tryouts and send offers AFTER most athletes have to decide about other clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have thoughts on DC Academy's chances of growing into a competitive club? Coach Amy, who founded the club, was successful at MoCo. This will be her third year running her own club. My daughter played for them in years one and two, and they were not very competitive. I think the coaching staff is great, but I have a kid who loves playing there but would like to win some games. She has improved a ton and was easily one of the better kids on her jv team.

It seems like there is a focus on recruitment and they've been running a ton of clinics so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Thoughts?

Get her out of Academy pronto. It's not only about coaching, it's also about the teammates. A coach told me once that if you are the best player on your team, then you have to find yourself a new team. Teammates will decide the level you will be playing at, not the coaches. When balls keep dropping, you are losing practice time. When balls gets shanked, you are losing practice time. You get to develop your skills when the balls stay in play. And who keep the balls in play? Your teammates. So find yourself not only a good coach, but also a good team, so you can grow. Get yourself into the most competitive team you can get into and that's where you belong and grow the best.

[Anonymous]

This was only our second year trying out for club, but it seemed like offers came later this year. My daughter tried out for 3 clubs and got 2 offers. The first offer arrived late Saturday night, and second offer came Sunday afternoon (after a 2.5 hour “callback” tryout). And she played over 10 hours of volleyball, which I’m guessing is pretty typical but felt like a lot. We feel lucky that she got offers and is happy with the club she picked, but it was an exhausting weekend. Last year everything was sorted by Sat afternoon, so this year felt more like a marathon!

[Anonymous]

RVA announced makeup tryouts for U9-U14 on October 29, 2025 between 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM at 14615 Bauer Dr, Rockville, MD 20853.

This set of tryouts conflict with the DMV tryouts (only 13s and 14s: same day 6-7 PM, Rockville Sportsplex), which were posted well in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone not hear anything back from a club? Is that common if we didn’t make the team?

A club that cares will send you an email telling you "Tryouts are over, we've seen a lot of talent, decisions were difficult, we finished putting together our rosters. Thank you for trying out, but unfortunately your child didn't make it. We wish her the best and we hope she continues to play volleyball. " That email should come shortly after the rosters are finalized. Top clubs are likely done with their rosters, but bottom clubs are still struggling to find the best player to place on some of their positions. Stop trying out for clubs that don't have the courtesy to send you this kind of a note.

[Anonymous]

MOCO sent out this info:

"If you did not make a club team during the Open Tryout period and still want to play club volleyball, All City Volleyball is still evaluating players and has a few spots left on their teams. The have a final evaluation this Thursday from 6-8 PM at Waters Landing Elementary School. You can register for the tryout here."

https://allcityvolleyball.sportngin.com/register/form/743869652

[Anonymous]

I noticed VA athletics added a session to have last call tryouts tonight for U14 for anyone still looking. I’d email to see if they need your position before going. https://www.vaavbc.com/page/show/8252463-2025-2026-tryouts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone not hear anything back from a club? Is that common if we didn’t make the team?

A club that cares will send you an email telling you "Tryouts are over, we've seen a lot of talent, decisions were difficult, we finished putting together our rosters. Thank you for trying out, but unfortunately your child didn't make it. We wish her the best and we hope she continues to play volleyball. " That email should come shortly after the rosters are finalized. Top clubs are likely done with their rosters, but bottom clubs are still struggling to find the best player to place on some of their positions. Stop trying out for clubs that don't have the courtesy to send you this kind of a note.

Thanks for this note. I’m surprised, it seems pretty cold to not even send a note. This is for a 12U team too… I’m surprised and disappointed that it’s so cut throat even for young kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone not hear anything back from a club? Is that common if we didn’t make the team?

A club that cares will send you an email telling you "Tryouts are over, we've seen a lot of talent, decisions were difficult, we finished putting together our rosters. Thank you for trying out, but unfortunately your child didn't make it. We wish her the best and we hope she continues to play volleyball. " That email should come shortly after the rosters are finalized. Top clubs are likely done with their rosters, but bottom clubs are still struggling to find the best player to place on some of their positions. Stop trying out for clubs that don't have the courtesy to send you this kind of a note.

Thanks for this note. I’m surprised, it seems pretty cold to not even send a note. This is for a 12U team too… I’m surprised and disappointed that it’s so cut throat even for young kids

It’s better you learn now. It’s business and they don’t care about you or your kid at all. It’s all about $$$$. Remember this next year, there will be no loyalty and you don’t need to have any either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone not hear anything back from a club? Is that common if we didn’t make the team?

A club that cares will send you an email telling you "Tryouts are over, we've seen a lot of talent, decisions were difficult, we finished putting together our rosters. Thank you for trying out, but unfortunately your child didn't make it. We wish her the best and we hope she continues to play volleyball. " That email should come shortly after the rosters are finalized. Top clubs are likely done with their rosters, but bottom clubs are still struggling to find the best player to place on some of their positions. Stop trying out for clubs that don't have the courtesy to send you this kind of a note.

Thanks for this note. I’m surprised, it seems pretty cold to not even send a note. This is for a 12U team too… I’m surprised and disappointed that it’s so cut throat even for young kids

It’s better you learn now. It’s business and they don’t care about you or your kid at all. It’s all about $$$$. Remember this next year, there will be no loyalty and you don’t need to have any either.

This. +1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone not hear anything back from a club? Is that common if we didn’t make the team?

A club that cares will send you an email telling you "Tryouts are over, we've seen a lot of talent, decisions were difficult, we finished putting together our rosters. Thank you for trying out, but unfortunately your child didn't make it. We wish her the best and we hope she continues to play volleyball. " That email should come shortly after the rosters are finalized. Top clubs are likely done with their rosters, but bottom clubs are still struggling to find the best player to place on some of their positions. Stop trying out for clubs that don't have the courtesy to send you this kind of a note.

Thanks for this note. I’m surprised, it seems pretty cold to not even send a note. This is for a 12U team too… I’m surprised and disappointed that it’s so cut throat even for young kids

All the clubs we've tried out for sent this kind of a note with one notable exception: the club we are playing for (during our first tryout). They promised to tell us something the night of the tryout, but they dragged it on and on. I think we were on the bubble, but they didn't want to tell us one way or another. They eventually came through with an offer, but it was stressful and we almost ended up accepting an offer from a different club, which came one hour after their tryouts. I am not trying to humblebrag here, both are terrible clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Last time we tried out we never got a followup email. Crazy because it’s so easy to do. They appreciate your money and once they have it they don’t really care unless you are in. They issue some offers before tryouts start as soon as the tryout period opens. If you didn’t get a good feel and have a conversation with someone from the club who expressed interest in your player it’s unlikely you get an offer.

It was silly of them to even promise it then. I am used to NOT being informed of a decline, but they ask that we please wait to hear back (in other words, hold out hope). See below.

From their first email, Sat 5pm:
“ Our goal is to get all offers, declines, and alternates out by 5pm on Sunday evening. If you haven't yet heard from us, you can expect to hear from us sometime between now and 5pm on Sunday.”

Later in the email, they say “… if Paramount is a club your child is interested in, we ask (but of course cannot mandate) that you please wait to hear from us before you make any decisions on other offers your child may have received. We promise to get back to every player who tried out for us.”

From their second email:
“Here is an update about our U10-U14 Tryouts. I know that we previously said 5pm is when we were hoping to notify all the families who attended our Tryouts of their tryout result. However, we are now pushing this back to 8pm this evening. By 8pm tonight, every player who attended our U10-U14 Tryouts will have been notified of their Tryout result via email. You will receive one of three statuses in writing via email: an Offer, a Rejection, or an Alternate.”

LOL! Hope nobody is still waiting.