Volleyball club- recap and thoughts

[Anonymous]

Another new VB parent here chiming in. After reading this thread, I'm sure there's been miscommunication regarding club/team top/competitive/tier, offers/preselect means. Is it really a tryout or money grab? As well as how much things cost. Parents really do come here for information from more experienced parents. I can also concur with a previous post. I was at a Metro Regional tryout and heard a coach say we only have a few spots left. Whatever you call that, I'll leave it up to the veteran parents or coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:metro regional teams fund the travel teams. the regional teams are marginal at best. It's just a revenue stream Sylvia created a few years ago.

Categorically false. The Metro regional teams have been around since long before Silvia bought the club from the Goldbergs. They also have much cheaper fees (website says $2250 for most age groups, less for the younger ones) than most of the numbers that get posted on here. Metro North teams frequently play in Open level at tournaments and go to AAU Nationals if not USAV. The other regions are frequently competitive at the Club level in big tournaments.

Parents need to compare apples to apples. Metro has a club fee, but each away tournament Metro will collect extra $$ for coach stipend, hotel, travel. Player travel/flight/hotel are on the family. Also, Metro uniform is extra $$ not included in the club fee (although they change every other year). VA Elite club fee includes uniform, flights/hotel, coaches stipend/hotel/travel. Paramount club fee includes uniform, coaches stipend/hotel/travel but player/flights/hotels are on your own. So don't just look at the "club fee", know what is included so you can have a fair comparison.

Even on the high end of that, you’re probably all in for $3k or even a little less for a regional team (their regional teams travel a couple times, but I don’t think they ever fly anywhere), not counting hotels and such for players and families. Plenty of mid-tier teams in the area charge $4500 or more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:metro regional teams fund the travel teams. the regional teams are marginal at best. It's just a revenue stream Sylvia created a few years ago.

+1. That is the sole purpose of the regional teams. It’s not wrong; she is entitled to make as much money as she can with her business and she has earned that right. The only thing that irks me is when the club director tries to brand the regional teams like they are anything other than a moneymaker. Metro in general is deceptive with their marketing. Silvia likes to say that Metro was founded in 2015, which is factually incorrect. Rather, the truth is she BOUGHT the club today in 2015 from the legendary Barry Goldberg (God rest his soul). Metro was already the top club in the area when she purchased it from Barry in 2015, as Barry had started the club in 2000.

Yes, all this ⬆️

[Anonymous]

new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 Nemanja. Former pro Libero for Serbia! Our favorite coach. Worth the drive.

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens..... [/quote

Depends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

Depends on the club. But you are expected to participate at every practice and tournament (unless of course for illness, injury, family emergencies). We don't plan vacations until after we accept the club offer and look at tournament schedules. If families can't make the full commitment rec or league volleyball would be a better fit. Possible regional teams/clubs may also be more flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

We are also a new family and purposely didn’t plan a spring break trip until we found out which team she was on. I’m pretty sure most coaches expect them to be there when it’s a club team, unless it’s an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

Here's an example of club policy for missed practices and tournaments. We've been in club for 5 years and this seems typical.

12. Players are required to attend all practices. A player may be excused from practice only with prior consent of her Coach and only up to 3 times throughout the season. After 3, a player will be unable to play in matches for duration of time at the discretion of her coach. Players may make up a missed practice with another team with permission of their Coach.

13. Illness that causes you to miss school will be considered an excused absence. Sprains, headaches, pulled muscles and soreness are not considered acceptable reasons for missing practice. All injured players must attend practice.

14. Practices are at specific times. Players must be ready to play at the appointed time. Players must stay until the end of practice. Players who attend less than 1 hour of a practice will be considered absent. Players are not allowed to use their cellphones during practice. Cellphones are not to be visible.

15. Players are expected to attend all tournaments. Players who miss more than one tournament will be dropped from the team. To allow for emergencies, each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. PLEASE NOTE: a vacation is not an emergency.

16. Players who miss a practice prior to a tournament will not play the first match of the tournament but must arrive on site at the same time as the rest of the team.

We've seen players benched for a couple of sets during tournaments in some cases or not starting when they were starters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

Also, depends on the tourney. Some are more significant than others. It’s certainly expected that each player attends each tournament except for unforeseen circumstances. Ask the coach, ideally going in with a willingness to change your plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know of any volleyball winter camps between Christmas and New Years?

I think Loudoun Elite and NVVA have non club rec level clinics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:metro regional teams fund the travel teams. the regional teams are marginal at best. It's just a revenue stream Sylvia created a few years ago.

Categorically false. The Metro regional teams have been around since long before Silvia bought the club from the Goldbergs. They also have much cheaper fees (website says $2250 for most age groups, less for the younger ones) than most of the numbers that get posted on here. Metro North teams frequently play in Open level at tournaments and go to AAU Nationals if not USAV. The other regions are frequently competitive at the Club level in big tournaments.

Sylvia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another new VB parent here chiming in. After reading this thread, I'm sure there's been miscommunication regarding club/team top/competitive/tier, offers/preselect means. Is it really a tryout or money grab? As well as how much things cost. Parents really do come here for information from more experienced parents. I can also concur with a previous post. I was at a Metro Regional tryout and heard a coach say we only have a few spots left. Whatever you call that, I'll leave it up to the veteran parents or coaches.

It all varies wildly by club. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

We have a spring break trip planned. We informed the coach(es) of our plans when DD receives offers, reviewed the tournament schedules, and notified DD’s club of choice before accepting. One club didn’t seem as understanding as the others, but three were absolutely OK with it, and appreciated the advanced notice so they could plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:new to volleyball here. what happens if you already have travel planned during one of the tournaments? should we cancel or do the coaches understand that vacation happens.....

Also, depends on the tourney. Some are more significant than others. It’s certainly expected that each player attends each tournament except for unforeseen circumstances. Ask the coach, ideally going in with a willingness to change your plans.

As mentioned above. We have plans for spring break and DD has a school trip, both of which conflict with tournaments. We were very candid about the conflict during the offer/acceptance period and 3/4 teams were just fine with it. So YMMV. These were mid-level club teams.