Reply to Pros and Cons of Playing Up an Age Group?

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Reply to "Pros and Cons of Playing Up an Age Group?"

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[quote=FPYCparent]I think another huge factor ... for any players/families considering volleyball at the collegiate level ... is to ensure you are playing 16s during your player's HS sophomore year.  I think the official NCAA regulations permit coaches to start having formal contact with and making offers on/after June 15 of a prospect's 10th grade year.  Sure, only the highest of the highest players will get offers on June 15th or shortly thereafter.  But the benefit of playing a 16s club season as a sophomore is that the player can get on a school's RADAR for a full club season before the school make initial contact.

My player played her first club season (15s) as a freshman, while still relatively new to the sport.  Due to a September birthday, she was able to play 15s again as a sophomore.  For her second club season, she was offered two options at one of the region's top two clubs.  One option was to be on the 16s team potentially with little to no playing time or to play 15s with more playing time.  She chose the option with more playing time and was on an Open level team that ultimately earned an Open bid to USAV Nationals.  And, she managed to play (but no start) in nearly ever set that club season due to her position.  In the end, I think playing on that team helped her as a player overall.  It also helped her realize that she wanted to play a different position long term.

HOWEVER, she may have missed a big opportunity by not playing 16s during her sophomore year ... as she had offers from other clubs that would have given her some decent playing time at her "now-preferred" position.  In hindsight, playing 16s instead may have been better for her college playing goals ... even at a "new-for-her-at-the-time" position.  While she technically could have played 16s as a junior, my kid went from playing 15s (twice) to 17s so that she can get back on track with other players in her grade.  Currently, she is now sitting on two D3 "offers" (i.e., no athletic money), but we really don't know what college VB options could have become available had she played club at 16s for a full season before she became an official recruitable player.

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