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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do players have to do this circus every year, even after they’ve made a club  one year and are happy?  In other words, do they have to fight hard to retain their spot from the prior year or are clubs loyal to returning players?  I realize she will always have to tryout but is her spot safe with the same club, assuming no issues?  This was our first year of tryouts, and DD got offers from 4 of her 5 teams from tryouts.  But it was stressful and we put so much time and money into clinics at each place.  I know she will have to tryout again but I’m hoping the stress is not like this every year. [/quote]

Yes. Unfortunately this is an annual nightmare. We know several “incumbent” girls at clubs who didn’t get offers this year, and they were scrambling by Sunday/Monday. We personally know return players who didn’t get offers from Mojo/ECP and Metro (Regional) despite being solid players. The girls we know personally were strong enough to get offers from other clubs (in some cases better offers) but it was certainly not ideal and parents are pissed. 
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So funny, I was about to post the same thing. We know girls from both ECP/Mojo and Metro who were not given offers despite playing for those clubs last year. And despite being given verbal assurances they had nothing to worry about and that there would be a spot for them. But I agree, with a couple of exceptions, we have seen zero loyalty in club volleyball and we know some girls who have played for a different club each year since they were U13. [/quote]

Speaking as the parent of a DD playing D1 volleyball and going through this every year while at club, some observations

1. There is no loyalty because these clubs have a reputation within the sport - Metro/Paramount in particular are completely ruthless. If your kid has been there for years and a better prospect walks in the door - you’re out. These clubs, and I include the next tier down of VA Juniors, VAE and MD Juniors as well, attract the best by being competitive and placing kids in colleges. The commitments have been quite impressive lately and none of these clubs are taking a kid that they don’t see with significant upside and a college commitment.
2. Talent flows downhill - as more kids play the sport, the more competitive it gets and consequently the kids that get cut by Metro go to VA Jnrs/VAE/Md Jnrs etc, the kids that get cut from VA Jnrs/VAE etc go to St James, Vienna etc etc and so on and so on. That’s why there are so many new clubs - catering for the kids that are new to sport/just want to play etc etc
3. The rosters at the top clubs are almost always set before tryouts, then once cuts start, the merry go round starts for a couple of days before rosters are set. I hate to say it but if your kid is getting an offer late in the process, they will have to understand that they’re not playing much (at least to start, if at all)
4. For the future, if your kid has not been invited to ‘invite only clinics’, or have a steer from the coaches that your DD is of interest, do not waste your money trying out
5. Think very carefully about taking a spot on one of the ‘elite’ teams unless you have an idea where you sit in the depth chart - I have seen too many very good athletes sit on the bench all season (and I do mean all season). It’s soul crushing for the kid and not much fun for the parent - don’t be seduced by your kid being on a roster at Metro/Paramount/VA or MD Juniors/VAE without understanding the lie of the land.
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Thanks for this post. I wish I had this knowledge prior.  Hopefully it will benefit families moving forward when they read this thread.  Pin this at the top. [/quote]

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