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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We were also considering tryouts for MOCO but I’m sorry, $75 for the opportunity to tryout is just highway robbery. [/quote]
High tryout fees and don't forget your kid needs to be coming to the pre-tryout clinics if they really want a shot at making a team.

Then once you make the team, it's $50+ to get into a convention center to watch your kid play, $80 tournament hoodies, overpriced acai bowls, and on and on.

Lots of complaining on these forums about club fees, but I think the death by a thousand cuts from everyone in the system charging $50+ at every turn is even worse.[/quote]

$50 to get in the convention center happens rarely, but it does. Most tournaments will cost $5-$10. I don't want to imply that it is cheap because it all adds up (keep reading). We simply say no to most tournament merchandise because it is ridiculously expensive. There's room for only that many hoodies in the closet. The biggest expense besides the club fee is travel: you will need hotel rooms for multi-day tournaments. [/quote]
Went to 4 qualifiers last season and the cheapest entry fee was $35+fees. Nationals was $50+ fees. Cap Hill was $54. The bigger JVA tournaments are $30. So $50 may have been a little hyperbolic, but way more than $5-$10.[/quote]

That is a lot of travel. Given the cost of flights, hotels, food, etc. entry fees are probably the least of your expenses.[/quote]
I probably didn't articulate it very well, but my point was there are a lot of "small" costs in club volleyball that add up to big numbers if you think too hard about it. Tryout fees are just another drop in that seemingly bottomless bucket.

Yes, it is a lot of travel (22 hotel nights last season) and probably toward the upper extreme for CHRVA clubs. [/quote]

The question is: should we feel sorry for you, or your daughter is a very good volleyball player, who really benefits from all this travel? Given the level my daughter is at, I would not agree with this much travel because the local competition is good enough for her. I am actively trying to avoid clubs that do travel for the sake of travel - I prefer clubs that are mindful of the level their players are at and don't waste time and money. [/quote]
No need for sympathy. I am very proud of my DD. She is a very talented player that started at a more mid-tier club many years ago and worked hard to move up to a top team. We knew what we were getting into in terms of travel and it helped her to reach her goal - she has committed to play in college. [/quote]
That's an amazing accomplishment, congratulations to your daughter! In your case, that was money well spent (I guess). It makes a huge difference if they are driven and they want to excel. My DD likes the game, but she is not that driven, so we will try to stick with regional teams. She would likely not make an elite team anyway, so it is not a difficult choice. [/quote]
Thank you!  Volleyball has become her passion and it's been very rewarding to watch her achieve her goal and we are looking forward to the next chapter. I totally agree that the drive needs to come from the player - we provided support and guidance, but left it up to her to set the tone.[/quote]

+1 well done. More importantly, its great you let the drive come from the player. Its still amazing to me how many parents are focused on "I have to get my players into the best club" and "I want my player to play in college", rather than "I want my player to decide if she wants to play for the best club or in college".

Its all about finding the club that fits your player the best, and then working hard and hopefully getting the opportunity to play for them.  Just because a club wins or travels a lot or puts players into college programs doesn't mean they are the best fit for your player.  In fact, a lot of parents force their DC to chase those programs with no understanding of what they are getting into and little to no chance of getting a spot on one of their teams. Its great to hear from families that started the other way: learn to love the game, develop the skills needed to compete and then chase a higher level club knowing that your DC really wants it.[/quote]

I am the PP whose DD is not very driven and we are looking for a regional team this season. Even with a more significant drive, it is unlikely that she would be recruited for college because she is not tall enough. In a way we are content because playing in college may affect her academics (I heard that it is difficult to keep up with both sports and coursework). Volleyball can take you only that far, good grades will take you further (if you really deserve them). I am not saying that you can't do both, it's just harder. [/quote]
As far as regionally focused teams, where are you generally located?  Might be best to narrow recommendations/experiences based on what clubs might be convenient for you.[/quote]

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