Volleyball tryouts in real time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
MOCO rarely does. Each tryout seasons is a new beginning the way they do it, and they basically make offers to the best players they see at tryouts, then figure out who else to invite (still based on tryouts but also sometimes previous MOCO membership) if their top offers don't accept. No one in any club should assume loyalty to returning players, although a few clubs definitely have good reps of keeping promises if they tell a returning player they've got a spot.

I like that as a parent of returning player. No bias.

[Anonymous]

NVVA green offers started to go out today.

Super tough year - I know families that didn't get any offers even for players that played club last year. It was brutal this year.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have an in at Md Jrs, it’s not worth trying out. My DD tried out for Elite and Open and there were over 150 girls trying out for each. No way for them to actually evaluate players. My DD and some of her friends that have been playing club for 2+years and on high school teams were not even looked at by the coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Any player can advance exponentially with that commitment and resources like private coaching. But throw those resources at her when she is in on more competitive team and you will see an even steeper growth. Mine is the type that likes to play with her team, but she is doing very little outside practice. Getting her on a better team would help a lot (her team is not that good). But with her current skills, she would need a miracle to get an offer for a better team. We are in a vicious cycle: get an offer on a mediocre team, play with mediocre teammates, avoid practice outside club, improve at a relatively lower rate, then repeat.

[Anonymous]

If anyone in the Bethesda/Silver Spring area is still looking for a place to play, Bethesda Volleyball Club is holding a supplemental tryout Thursday -

https://bethesdavolleyball.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Totally agree, as long as the player doesn't have an interest in playing in college. If they do, the competitiveness of the team absolutely matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Any player can advance exponentially with that commitment and resources like private coaching. But throw those resources at her when she is in on more competitive team and you will see an even steeper growth. Mine is the type that likes to play with her team, but she is doing very little outside practice. Getting her on a better team would help a lot (her team is not that good). But with her current skills, she would need a miracle to get an offer for a better team. We are in a vicious cycle: get an offer on a mediocre team, play with mediocre teammates, avoid practice outside club, improve at a relatively lower rate, then repeat.

Sounds like it’s best to follow the lead of the player. There is nothing wrong with a “mediocre” club. Too many parents on here (not necessarily you) trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just have fun playing a great sport!

[Anonymous]

With Maryland high school playoffs games on Friday and Saturday, I just don't know how high school players manage their tryouts this weekend.

MDJrs has announced adding a makeup tryout on Sunday:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZqLLXEext/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With Maryland high school playoffs games on Friday and Saturday, I just don't know how high school players manage their tryouts this weekend.

MDJrs has announced adding a makeup tryout on Sunday:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZqLLXEext/

The player side is hard. Your scheduled tryouts get moved and you sometimes have to make tough decisions about who to try out for in the now more limited tryout time. Most players prioritize their "reach" clubs but at the high school ages doing that can sometimes result in you not making a team anywhere.

On the other hand, MD clubs should be used to this since its happened for the second year in a row. Most of the large competitive clubs like MVSA, Metro Travel/National, MOCO, etc. already had additional tryout times available on Saturday either as primary tryout times or makeup times. The downstream impact on the other clubs at the lower competitive levels may be pretty significant. I'd bet there will be others that follow the MDJrs approach an announce additional tryout times on Sunday/Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Any player can advance exponentially with that commitment and resources like private coaching. But throw those resources at her when she is in on more competitive team and you will see an even steeper growth. Mine is the type that likes to play with her team, but she is doing very little outside practice. Getting her on a better team would help a lot (her team is not that good). But with her current skills, she would need a miracle to get an offer for a better team. We are in a vicious cycle: get an offer on a mediocre team, play with mediocre teammates, avoid practice outside club, improve at a relatively lower rate, then repeat.

Exactly. We have lost sight of the purpose of sports - it's playing with your friends and having fun. Most kids are not going to play in college. Accept that and let your kid have fun.

Sounds like it’s best to follow the lead of the player. There is nothing wrong with a “mediocre” club. Too many parents on here (not necessarily you) trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just have fun playing a great sport!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With Maryland high school playoffs games on Friday and Saturday, I just don't know how high school players manage their tryouts this weekend.

MDJrs has announced adding a makeup tryout on Sunday:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZqLLXEext/

I know that some kids are coming late to the Friday tryout. I'm hoping that clubs will be flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With Maryland high school playoffs games on Friday and Saturday, I just don't know how high school players manage their tryouts this weekend.

MDJrs has announced adding a makeup tryout on Sunday:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZqLLXEext/

This is pretty common. If your DD is in the situation, reach out to the club now to ask if she can be moved to a different tryout time, assuming the club has other times this weekend. Our experience is that in this situation clubs are accommodating about moving the player to another time. Hopefully there is one available that doesn't conflict with other tryouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Any player can advance exponentially with that commitment and resources like private coaching. But throw those resources at her when she is in on more competitive team and you will see an even steeper growth. Mine is the type that likes to play with her team, but she is doing very little outside practice. Getting her on a better team would help a lot (her team is not that good). But with her current skills, she would need a miracle to get an offer for a better team. We are in a vicious cycle: get an offer on a mediocre team, play with mediocre teammates, avoid practice outside club, improve at a relatively lower rate, then repeat.

Sounds like it’s best to follow the lead of the player. There is nothing wrong with a “mediocre” club. Too many parents on here (not necessarily you) trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just have fun playing a great sport!

Yes! I learned this as a parent watching my child lose love for her sport - primarily due to too much pressure, negative coach, and a "mean girl" type teammate. Although she wants to play competitively, she wants to balance this enjoying her sport. For her, this means a club that is more "mid" (her word), but with friends and positive coaching. She does not plan to play in college, so I think this really is a good decision for her. I support her 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a teammate from Academy on her JV team. Her mom was telling us that she likes Academy so much that she won't try out anywhere else. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this would be a big mistake. She will likely grow, but not at the same rate as the players in more competitive clubs: that's simply because her teammates will not be very competitive and that will slow her development. Volleyball-wise, we are in a very competitive high school and she will likely not make the Varsity team next year (she won't have the chance to play JV again because she will be a junior).

This is not necessarily true and depends on the kid. I have a kid on a "lower" club who also loves her team. She eats, sleeps, and breathes volleyball. She played all summer, every fall clinic, private lessons, etc. that she could find, practices at home, and has improved exponentially.

Any player can advance exponentially with that commitment and resources like private coaching. But throw those resources at her when she is in on more competitive team and you will see an even steeper growth. Mine is the type that likes to play with her team, but she is doing very little outside practice. Getting her on a better team would help a lot (her team is not that good). But with her current skills, she would need a miracle to get an offer for a better team. We are in a vicious cycle: get an offer on a mediocre team, play with mediocre teammates, avoid practice outside club, improve at a relatively lower rate, then repeat.

Sounds like it’s best to follow the lead of the player. There is nothing wrong with a “mediocre” club. Too many parents on here (not necessarily you) trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just have fun playing a great sport!

There is plenty wrong with our mediocre club. We travel as if we are a higher level team and waste a lot of time and money in the process. The amount of effort that my DD puts into her "favorite" sport is too minimal to justify the amount we are paying for club volleyball.

I don't really understand your comment about keeping up with the Joneses. Aren't the Joneses the rich folks who throw money at everything (including volleyball)? If you don't want to keep up with the Joneses, you stop wasting money on volleyball. Following the lead of the player would be the equivalent of keeping up with the Joneses. The player doesn't understand the value of money that goes into volleyball (even though she knows the dollar amount). She wants to pretend that she plays competitive volleyball without having to put any effort into it. My concern is that every year she keeps being rewarded with a new season of club volleyball despite putting so little effort into it. I think she already learned that the rewards are coming her way no matter what. It's pretty sad for me to realize how much I sheltered her.

[Anonymous]

Just a brutal tryout weekend for 12U, a lot of movements and surprises. How about 13 and 14 ? Heard the competition was high for those age groups as well. It was our second year and first year was not that bumpy.