FPYCparent wrote:I’ll admit that this isn’t a fully thought-out idea, but I didn’t want to take the other threads in yet another direction. Feel free to poke all kinds of holes in this one. I just needed the distraction going into this weekend.

What if …

… CHRVA books a facility like The St. James for Indigenous Peoples Day and Election Day weekends for tryouts. However, this event wouldn’t replace the current tryout "schedule." It’s just more of a consolidated opportunity for prospective players to check out as many clubs as possible. My initial thinking is that schools are already closed three or four days over those weekends, so this event shouldn't conflict with most school-related activities.

The facility is configured for a large volleyball tournament (The St. James has 9 courts in the Court House, and can possibly have another 20 or so in the Field House). Two or three courts will be used for warm-ups and free play, which would be monitored by club coaches. More on that below.

Only hold tryouts for one or two age groups per day. Something like:

Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) Saturday: 14s
IPD Sunday: 12s & 13s
IPD Monday: 10s & 11s

Election Day (ED) Friday: 18s
ED Saturday: 17s
ED Sunday 16s
ED Monday 15s

Clubs pay the average one-day local CHRVA tournament fee (~maybe $300, I’m guessing). Participating clubs will get one court to conduct their own dedicated tryout all day, which would also be outfitted with appropriate video recording … just like most tournaments. Clubs would also volunteer one or two coaches to monitor an hour on the warm-up/free-play courts. Coaches can encourage players to go check out their dedicated court based on what they see in free-play. To encourage participation by the clubs, make this event a requirement for entering a team into Bid Regionals. In other words, for the "16s day" (ED Sunday, from above), any club that participates will be one step closer to qualifying its 16s team(s) for Bid Regionals. Clubs can also have a table on the main/upper level to promote their offerings, fees, practice and tournament schedules, and accept tryout forms. CHRVA can also accept memberships at a table as well. NOTE: Parents won’t be allowed on the bottom floor where the courts are, but can view everything from the main level or the stands in the Field House.

Athletes will pay an average tryout fee, say in the $50 to $100 range. With that fee, they get all-day access to the facility and can try out for any club that’s present. At check-in, they’ll get a bib number with a QR code, have their photo taken with the bib (I recall this is something that The St. James already does with its own VB tryouts, so the capability is already there), and have their measurements taken (height, standing reach, block jump, approach jump, etc.). As the athletes move around the facility that day, they can scan their own QR code at a court, which would later provide their check-in information to the club. At the end of the day, the clubs will get all the necessary attendee data for the players that visited their court.

Assuming the clubs get the data they need as well as video footage from their court in a reasonable amount of time, offers can go out two days after the event (but not before!) So, if the 16s day is a Sunday, participating clubs can start making offers to athletes after 12 noon on the following Tuesday. All offers would be valid for three days. Offers would only go to athletes who “checked in” at a club’s court, so someone from the club should have seen the athlete that day at their court. After three days, clubs can reach out to any attending athlete to fill remaining roster slots.

Again, I’m just letting this fantasy play out in my head. I’m sure there are logistical and other challenges that would need to be addressed. I know that every area club wouldn't be able to participate on the same day. Parking? Have high school booster organizations arrange a fundraiser to busses from schools to the facility or parents arrange carpools. Food? Have some food trucks line the main outdoor entrance. And so on. A site like The St. James already has a ton of amenities (medical staff for injuries, as an example), so some needs are already addressed.

Anyway, I hope I’ve provided a momentary distraction for what could be a long weekend. : )

Anonymous wrote:Let’s run the wild scenario this is the set up. Much of the traditional tryout is watching the girls play together and see how they vibe. If the 16s, for example, split among their choosing of club courts, how do you ensure fairness in determining workability with teammates. If you show up at Club A with weaker players, you may hurt your chances while the stronger plays we all happened to start on Club B And Cs court. Seems like that could effect tryouts.

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t fix the problem that if a kid gets sick on a single weekend they are basically screwed for the year. That seems not ideal.