Volleyball club- recap and thoughts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate to say it, but if more parents + girls understood what they were getting into, there would probably be far fewer at tryouts.
if you make a team: the amount of time spent at tournaments (all day!), the number of tournaments (most week ends!) the cost of hotels + travel. Costs go far beyond club fees.

THIS. It is easily $10,000+, for just all the costs of a mid-low level regional team. People have NO idea.

Wait, how in the world you you guys figure that? We are going to pay $3,000 for DD's club fees (including uniforms, coach travel, and general fees). There will be 2 overnight tournaments involving hotels (1 is "stay to play" rooms are under $200; other we do Airbnb for under $100), and sure food, gas, maybe another hotel for a 2 day tournament if we don't feel like driving an hour each way twice... but even assuming $4,000 for all of that, where in the world are you saying another $6,000 comes in? And this is for one U14 club team, and another DD in U16 (maybe $500 more expensive than U14 for us). And this is a high demand club. Where are you saying the other $6,000 is we'll have to pay?

It totally depends on the team that DD plays for. First off, some club dues go over $5k. A lot of teams for girls 13+ travel to multiple multi-day tournaments out of town, some of which require flying. Hotel+travel (gas/tolls or flights/taxis)+food for 2 can = $5k+. Basically, there is a wide range for how much club volleyball can cost.

As soon as you mention $5k club fees and flying to tournaments, you're talking Travel team. Most of us here talking "Club" mean regional, no flying, hardly any overnight stays, and almost always less than $5k in fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copied from a post in another site:

“Somebody once said "Whatever your club fees are, double them for your travel expenses." For us, $3,400 fees = $6,800 travel expenses = $10,200/yr

2-3 lessons/week * 46 weeks/year @ $50/lesson = $5,750

Personal Trainer 38 weeks/year @ $35/session x 2/week = $2,660

3-4 Camps/Summer (including travel) = $3,400

Equipment, Shoes, etc. $400/year

Total: $22,410/year for national/open level team, Power5/D1 aspirations

This must be for a high level. We are paying a little over 3k. There will be 4 hotel tournaments we can drive to, 2-3 hours away. No personal training or extra lessons happening. I don’t think we will come close to 10k. It’s the first year in club so I’m naive, what equipment is needed besides shoes? The uniform was included.

So you don't know then. Actually keep track of expenses and report back in a year. My DD played a mid level ECP team last year, and I kept track of expenses (and they required pay to play hotels, even though we didn't use them every time). One weekend in particular was $1,000 with 2 nights in a hotel, tolls, gas, food, parking, tickets (for spectator), etc. I literally kept a spreadsheet. This was going to Spooky Nook and getting the AM schedule so you had to go up the night before. Just because you are driving doesn't mean it isn't $$$$$$$. Your club fees DON'T include: gas, tolls, parking (this is a bigger expenses than you think), spectator tickets (you have to pay to watch your own kid play), food for you and your kid (because you are going to be there for 6-12 HOURS, a day, and a lot of places will not allow you to bring things in, but we got pretty good at it) and you still have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (and often the team goes out to eat together), volleyball shoes, swag at some of the tournaments (like overpriced hoodies), etc.

Just FYI there are 2 parents questioning the $10k figure. This one you're replying to, and me, and we do know because this is our 4th year with girls playing club VB in the DMV. So we know what our expenses have been.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what the obsession in Mojo is - they’re small potatoes in this region. Is the suggestion that they are not being straight with kids and parents? Welcome to the world of club volleyball…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what the obsession in Mojo is - they’re small potatoes in this region. Is the suggestion that they are not being straight with kids and parents? Welcome to the world of club volleyball…

True. Perhaps players/parents expect shenanigans from top clubs, find it more frustrating to deal with when you think you’ve picked a team that’s appropriate level for your player

[Anonymous]

For anybody whose DD attended Metro or Paramount tryouts this season (or any of the other more competitive clubs that are a step down from those two), how did the tryout process go there? Just trying to prepare myself for next season when I know my kid is inevitably going to want to tryout for those two clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what the obsession in Mojo is - they’re small potatoes in this region. Is the suggestion that they are not being straight with kids and parents? Welcome to the world of club volleyball…

True. Perhaps players/parents expect shenanigans from top clubs, find it more frustrating to deal with when you think you’ve picked a team that’s appropriate level for your player

u

I think you’ve hit on something PP.
They aren’t a very competitive club in DMV but at tryout time they act as if they think they are by how they treat the players who attend their tryouts. The really competitive players don’t choose them. Or if they do it’s just for a year or two and then they move on.
It’s not a bad club and the people and coaches are actually nice people. It’s the tryouts that are awful.
They just need a system that at least looks like they are evaluating the people who show up instead of taking the money and shoving them into a court that no one is looking at for the whole session.
All they need to do is pretend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anybody whose DD attended Metro or Paramount tryouts this season (or any of the other more competitive clubs that are a step down from those two), how did the tryout process go there? Just trying to prepare myself for next season when I know my kid is inevitably going to want to tryout for those two clubs.

It’s been a few years since my kid was there so I’ll let others address specifics of this year—-but most don’t try out there unless they’ve been to summer camps/training sessions with those clubs. The ones that do attend are asked to do all the same things as other attendees and they rotate them onto various courts.
From what I recall, there was lots of movement and lots of mixing it up. Yes you can tell when you’re on a “top” court but they don’t park you on a court and ignore you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copied from a post in another site:

“Somebody once said "Whatever your club fees are, double them for your travel expenses." For us, $3,400 fees = $6,800 travel expenses = $10,200/yr

2-3 lessons/week * 46 weeks/year @ $50/lesson = $5,750

Personal Trainer 38 weeks/year @ $35/session x 2/week = $2,660

3-4 Camps/Summer (including travel) = $3,400

Equipment, Shoes, etc. $400/year

Total: $22,410/year for national/open level team, Power5/D1 aspirations

This must be for a high level. We are paying a little over 3k. There will be 4 hotel tournaments we can drive to, 2-3 hours away. No personal training or extra lessons happening. I don’t think we will come close to 10k. It’s the first year in club so I’m naive, what equipment is needed besides shoes? The uniform was included.

So you don't know then. Actually keep track of expenses and report back in a year. My DD played a mid level ECP team last year, and I kept track of expenses (and they required pay to play hotels, even though we didn't use them every time). One weekend in particular was $1,000 with 2 nights in a hotel, tolls, gas, food, parking, tickets (for spectator), etc. I literally kept a spreadsheet. This was going to Spooky Nook and getting the AM schedule so you had to go up the night before. Just because you are driving doesn't mean it isn't $$$$$$$. Your club fees DON'T include: gas, tolls, parking (this is a bigger expenses than you think), spectator tickets (you have to pay to watch your own kid play), food for you and your kid (because you are going to be there for 6-12 HOURS, a day, and a lot of places will not allow you to bring things in, but we got pretty good at it) and you still have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (and often the team goes out to eat together), volleyball shoes, swag at some of the tournaments (like overpriced hoodies), etc.

Just FYI there are 2 parents questioning the $10k figure. This one you're replying to, and me, and we do know because this is our 4th year with girls playing club VB in the DMV. So we know what our expenses have been.

NP but the PP who itemized expenses above is right.
I find it very hard to believe that you were able to keep the expense under $10K.
Even with club fees closer to $4500, each overnight tournament is a minimum of $550 “all-in” with two nights stay, gas, meals, spectator tix, parking fees. And there’s at least six of these weekends, right? Plus any private training sessions at $100-$125/hour
Plus swag at tournaments, plus Coach gifts at end of season.
Plus most clubs U13 and up plan for the team to go to Orlando for the final tournament and that’s a flight!

If it’s not $10K, it’s very very close!!

[Anonymous]

My kid has done a few years of club, at both low level clubs and mid level clubs. Dues around $4-5,000 and that did include uniform. Low level club did tournaments at DC Convention Center, the Gaylord, some place in Jessup, a place in Rockville, a place in Chantilly and then the end of season one in Virginia Beach (only one that required a hotel). For these you have gas, sometimes parking (and parking can be ridiculously expensive), spectator tickets, swag and food (but the food costs can vary because often you can go back to your car and do a tailgate)

Things really escalated in midlevel club because these often “required” pay to play hotels or would be just far away enough that you needed a hotel. We went to Spooky Nook, Roanoke, York, PA, Baltimore (we were threatened if we didn’t stay in team hotel our kid would be benched), Philadelphia and Virginia Beach, plus Gaylord and Convention Center. So no flights required, all driving, but the hotels and multiple days out of town cost $$$$$. Teams frequently plan to eat meals together and you’re expected to pay for the coach.

Just go into this with your eyes wide open. Just because your DD’s team didn’t cost a lot one year doesn’t make that universal and vice verse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has done a few years of club, at both low level clubs and mid level clubs. Dues around $4-5,000 and that did include uniform. Low level club did tournaments at DC Convention Center, the Gaylord, some place in Jessup, a place in Rockville, a place in Chantilly and then the end of season one in Virginia Beach (only one that required a hotel). For these you have gas, sometimes parking (and parking can be ridiculously expensive), spectator tickets, swag and food (but the food costs can vary because often you can go back to your car and do a tailgate)

Things really escalated in midlevel club because these often “required” pay to play hotels or would be just far away enough that you needed a hotel. We went to Spooky Nook, Roanoke, York, PA, Baltimore (we were threatened if we didn’t stay in team hotel our kid would be benched), Philadelphia and Virginia Beach, plus Gaylord and Convention Center. So no flights required, all driving, but the hotels and multiple days out of town cost $$$$$. Teams frequently plan to eat meals together and you’re expected to pay for the coach.

Just go into this with your eyes wide open. Just because your DD’s team didn’t cost a lot one year doesn’t make that universal and vice verse.

PP here. And I am not mentioning trainers and coaching because we didn’t do those. Or summer camps and clinics (we did do those). I’m just talking about regular in season expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anybody whose DD attended Metro or Paramount tryouts this season (or any of the other more competitive clubs that are a step down from those two), how did the tryout process go there? Just trying to prepare myself for next season when I know my kid is inevitably going to want to tryout for those two clubs.

It’s been a few years since my kid was there so I’ll let others address specifics of this year—-but most don’t try out there unless they’ve been to summer camps/training sessions with those clubs. The ones that do attend are asked to do all the same things as other attendees and they rotate them onto various courts.
From what I recall, there was lots of movement and lots of mixing it up. Yes you can tell when you’re on a “top” court but they don’t park you on a court and ignore you.

Metro players are very tall including back row. Watch for their teams this season. At least some age groups you’ll find them by listening for their parents barking at the opposing team’s players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copied from a post in another site:

“Somebody once said "Whatever your club fees are, double them for your travel expenses." For us, $3,400 fees = $6,800 travel expenses = $10,200/yr

2-3 lessons/week * 46 weeks/year @ $50/lesson = $5,750

Personal Trainer 38 weeks/year @ $35/session x 2/week = $2,660

3-4 Camps/Summer (including travel) = $3,400

Equipment, Shoes, etc. $400/year

Total: $22,410/year for national/open level team, Power5/D1 aspirations

This must be for a high level. We are paying a little over 3k. There will be 4 hotel tournaments we can drive to, 2-3 hours away. No personal training or extra lessons happening. I don’t think we will come close to 10k. It’s the first year in club so I’m naive, what equipment is needed besides shoes? The uniform was included.

So you don't know then. Actually keep track of expenses and report back in a year. My DD played a mid level ECP team last year, and I kept track of expenses (and they required pay to play hotels, even though we didn't use them every time). One weekend in particular was $1,000 with 2 nights in a hotel, tolls, gas, food, parking, tickets (for spectator), etc. I literally kept a spreadsheet. This was going to Spooky Nook and getting the AM schedule so you had to go up the night before. Just because you are driving doesn't mean it isn't $$$$$$$. Your club fees DON'T include: gas, tolls, parking (this is a bigger expenses than you think), spectator tickets (you have to pay to watch your own kid play), food for you and your kid (because you are going to be there for 6-12 HOURS, a day, and a lot of places will not allow you to bring things in, but we got pretty good at it) and you still have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (and often the team goes out to eat together), volleyball shoes, swag at some of the tournaments (like overpriced hoodies), etc.

Just FYI there are 2 parents questioning the $10k figure. This one you're replying to, and me, and we do know because this is our 4th year with girls playing club VB in the DMV. So we know what our expenses have been.

NP but the PP who itemized expenses above is right.
I find it very hard to believe that you were able to keep the expense under $10K.
Even with club fees closer to $4500, each overnight tournament is a minimum of $550 “all-in” with two nights stay, gas, meals, spectator tix, parking fees. And there’s at least six of these weekends, right? Plus any private training sessions at $100-$125/hour
Plus swag at tournaments, plus Coach gifts at end of season.
Plus most clubs U13 and up plan for the team to go to Orlando for the final tournament and that’s a flight!

If it’s not $10K, it’s very very close!!

Unfortunately, there are plenty of families who can cover that type of expense without any concerns......just look at the demand of the clubs! Until parents stop allowing their kids to play such an expensive sport, the clubs will continue to charge as such. I must add that court space is scarce and VERY expensive around here. Maybe we will see sponsorship from Nike, Mizuno.......which may reduce the club costs?

[Anonymous]

Costs. The PP who said double the club fee is accurate.

My daughter played for a Metro regional team last year, and the costs were more than double the $3,000 club fees at the end of the season, even with just drivable travel.

- Uniforms $300.

- Hotels at least $3500 total for the three multi-day local tournaments that required hotels (we did Richmond, VA Beach, Baltimore). About $1k each after fees and taxes. Metro had “required stay” hotels and room blocks which were often more expensive than booking individually at the same hotel using Expedia. Probably way to save costs here if two families/girls share a room.

- $1500 for food/beverages/team-dinners and add on some tshirts/hoodies/swag from each tournament. We leaned the trick of waiting until the last tournament day to buy swag at significant discount. Food at the tournaments is ridiculously high. $20 burger. $8 bagel. $9 smoothie. And as we all know, these girls EAT and are always hungry! We would easily spend $100-$150/day on food even without the team dinners.

- $400 for incidentals like coaches gifts, team photos, team parties/outings, secret Santa gifts, surprise room door decorations, etc.

- $500 on gas five or take. Probably about $100 for each tournament. Both ways.

So that’s about $9200 for a local regional team that didn’t fly.

This year, DD is on an open-level travel team and the club fees alone are $6000 before any of the other incidentals. So we expect to pay about $12k because she will need to fly and we likely will need a parent to fly as well bc of her age we aren’t comfortable with her traveling without a chaperone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Copied from a post in another site:

“Somebody once said "Whatever your club fees are, double them for your travel expenses." For us, $3,400 fees = $6,800 travel expenses = $10,200/yr

2-3 lessons/week * 46 weeks/year @ $50/lesson = $5,750

Personal Trainer 38 weeks/year @ $35/session x 2/week = $2,660

3-4 Camps/Summer (including travel) = $3,400

Equipment, Shoes, etc. $400/year

Total: $22,410/year for national/open level team, Power5/D1 aspirations

That's why they say you are prepaying for a scholarship.

Put that money in a 529, play above average level sports that cost 1/4 that and enjoy the savings and time doing multiple sports. or spend that money, your kid will have a 2% chance of getting a scholarship worth 22k a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aftermath thoughts:

1. Its basically pay to play.
2. Its better to start young to develop skills early. Start at 12 years old if your child is interested
3. Tryouts are not truly open, girls are preselected. Its a joke to have 100 girls on a court at a time for evaluation.
4. There are not enough teams in the DMV area. Specifically DC. VB needs a Rec component here.
5. Height plays a huge factor and since the average height is 5'3 or 5'4. Libero will be the toughest position to compete for.
6. Height and athletic potential outweigh playing experience. I.E. they'll take someone that is 6'2 before someone that understands rules, rotations, and fundamentals.
7. CHRVA needs revamping or create a new organization for the DMV area.
8. It's very expensive to play club.

I think that about covers it from my perspective.

Agree with all you said EXCEPT the bolded. Maybe there is a club or 2 that have pre-selected their rosters. But we have 2 DDs, this is the 2nd year for each of them playing (now playing U15 & U16), and for the 2nd year in a row they each got offers at clubs they'd never played for before, and different clubs from each other (thank goodness both of us parents can transport to different practices/tournaments if necessary). Main point being, for 2nd year in a row they each got an offer from a club that had NEVER seen them before. 4 different teams over the 2 yrs between them, and all of them saw our DD's for the 1st time at tryouts.

So everyone saying the teams are preselected, if they're preselected why are so many players who tried out for their same teams again now "team-less" because they didn't get any offers, including from their team from last year? Why are my 2 DD's getting offers from clubs who never knew they existed before tryouts this year? Maybe a team or a few preselect, or preselect a few players, but NO, most of the teams really are seeing girls for the first time at tryouts. And they've done the best they can to really notice them, and move them from court to court as they see playing they like/are looking for.

Do some good and some really good players fall through the cracks of being noticed? Absolutely, we know a couple, and that absolutely sucks. But the teams who didn't take them still took other players we know for the 1st time.

Probably varies a bit, there’s a spectrum. But it is surprising to have made enough of an impression cold at tryouts in that age group

I think it all depends on the club. For lower and mid clubs like Vienna Elite second and third teams will not preselect. For first teams maybe a few.
Same with mojo pink teams, Loudoun elite, etc. The preselect comes in play with top teams like Metro Travel, Paramount, and VA Juniors.