Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just commiserating with 20:14. Our DD got started volleyball in 8th grade right after Covid. I also wish she had had a chance to play while she was younger, but Covid. At 10, OP, try rec league whether through the county or one of the clubs and then decide if you want to spend the money for club volleyball. We had DD try rec for a year first until she got her bearings, then she played JV, and then club. Late start, basic club, but she’s still playing getting all her reps and improving her game.

I would suggest rec for a couple of months and only if there is no club option. Figure out quickly whether the kid likes volleyball and switch to club. Playing rec for too long will create habits that will be difficult to break. It is best to learn to play the right way if you feel like volleyball is the sport. My DD is still trying to relearn skills that were not taught properly during rec.

Starting with rec is good advice. Club volleyball is a much bigger commitment of time and money, but will also result in much quicker learning and improvement. Some clubs have separate teams for younger kids while others will group kids that are 10 or 11 with their 12s teams. You should be able to find some clubs that aren’t super serious or demanding for younger kids. One thing that’s important to know though is that club volleyball tryouts are only once a year so if you miss the tryouts, there really isn’t a way to switch from rec to club until next year. For clubs in the DMV the tryout dates this year are Girls 14 and under: October 24, 2024 - October 28, 2025. Just keep that in mind if you decide to pursue that route.

If you have been browsing these forums you may have seen discussions about fall clinics at various clubs - it’s a good way to get some training/practice and get to know a club before tryouts.

You could sign up for Montgomery County rec clinics. They start August 18th and run for a couple of months. Go here: https://mdmontgomeryctyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html and for search activity, input volleyball. Looks like the new session starts August 18. Sessions run a couple of months.

Anonymous wrote:Just commiserating with 20:14. Our DD got started volleyball in 8th grade right after Covid. I also wish she had had a chance to play while she was younger, but Covid. At 10, OP, try rec league whether through the county or one of the clubs and then decide if you want to spend the money for club volleyball. We had DD try rec for a year first until she got her bearings, then she played JV, and then club. Late start, basic club, but she’s still playing getting all her reps and improving her game.

I would suggest rec for a couple of months and only if there is no club option. Figure out quickly whether the kid likes volleyball and switch to club. Playing rec for too long will create habits that will be difficult to break. It is best to learn to play the right way if you feel like volleyball is the sport. My DD is still trying to relearn skills that were not taught properly during rec.

Just commiserating with 20:14. Our DD got started volleyball in 8th grade right after Covid. I also wish she had had a chance to play while she was younger, but Covid. At 10, OP, try rec league whether through the county or one of the clubs and then decide if you want to spend the money for club volleyball. We had DD try rec for a year first until she got her bearings, then she played JV, and then club. Late start, basic club, but she’s still playing getting all her reps and improving her game.

Anonymous wrote:MVSA Fall Rec League
https://www.mvsavbc.org/rec-program

Register by 8/13
Evaluations this weekend
Beginners are welcome.

I second this recommendation. If she is serious about it (she will figure out during this rec league), she can try out for a club in November. Starting at 10 gives you numerous options to continue.

I still regret that we discovered volleyball only after COVID and we lost the train. My DD really loves the game, but she cannot play for a good club because she started so late. Players of her age have been playing for several years before she started. It is really hard to catch up and play at the same level as these players. The gap seems to increase every year because these players play for good clubs, while my DD is stuck in a mediocre club.

MVSA Fall Rec League
https://www.mvsavbc.org/rec-program

Register by 8/13
Evaluations this weekend
Beginners are welcome.

Google volleyball teams near me and see when tryouts are. There are club sports too for beginners.. same search.

My 10 yr old DD wants to learn volleyball and has repeated the interest enough that I’d like to let her try it out. We live in Bethesda. She is fairly tall and pretty athletic. Where is the best place to start at this age and with no volleyball experience?