Anonymous wrote:My daughter has some playing experience in the McLean Middle School Select program (which I highly recommend for those not doing club volleyball) but will be trying out for club volleyball for the first time this fall. She will be in the 13U age group and we live in Arlington. She is 5'5" (so somewhat tall, but not super tall) and is naturally athletic. She is currently participating in Mojo's fall league at the top level. Any suggestions on other clubs where she might consider trying out or doing fall clinics? Hoping for practice locations that aren't a crazy drive from Arlington (30 minutes or less), good coaches who will help her to improve, and a good team culture.

My only personal experience with MOJO was the club director trying to convince me that it is feasible to cross the American Legion Bridge for practices twice a week. Which immediately raised some red flags. Other than that, we met them in tournaments and we were not impressed. I keep reading on this forum that the teams are cliquey and mean (apparently some of their coaches contribute to the proliferation of this culture).

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has some playing experience in the McLean Middle School Select program (which I highly recommend for those not doing club volleyball) but will be trying out for club volleyball for the first time this fall. She will be in the 13U age group and we live in Arlington. She is 5'5" (so somewhat tall, but not super tall) and is naturally athletic. She is currently participating in Mojo's fall league at the top level. Any suggestions on other clubs where she might consider trying out or doing fall clinics? Hoping for practice locations that aren't a crazy drive from Arlington (30 minutes or less), good coaches who will help her to improve, and a good team culture.

You are both lucky and unlucky to live in northern Virginia. You are lucky because you can find a list of clubs, nicely and professionally organized here:
https://www.novavolleyballalliance.org/clubguide

You are unlucky because club volleyball pricing is a wild west over there. The entry point at U13 is still feasible, especially for an athletic player. It will get more and more difficult with the age.

My daughter has some playing experience in the McLean Middle School Select program (which I highly recommend for those not doing club volleyball) but will be trying out for club volleyball for the first time this fall. She will be in the 13U age group and we live in Arlington. She is 5'5" (so somewhat tall, but not super tall) and is naturally athletic. She is currently participating in Mojo's fall league at the top level. Any suggestions on other clubs where she might consider trying out or doing fall clinics? Hoping for practice locations that aren't a crazy drive from Arlington (30 minutes or less), good coaches who will help her to improve, and a good team culture.

Anonymous wrote:We would also be interested in a strong rec program or a relaxed club volleyball team in Virginia. My U11 athletic daughter plays travel soccer, but would love to play volleyball this winter. She’s a beginner, but plays well hitting the ball with me and did a camp this summer.

At U11 level, she could join a club because she would have some advantage starting early. U11 teams have a relatively relaxed schedule, even though it is more intense than rec. If she wants to continue soccer though, there might be some overlap between practice and / or tournaments.

We would also be interested in a strong rec program or a relaxed club volleyball team in Virginia. My U11 athletic daughter plays travel soccer, but would love to play volleyball this winter. She’s a beginner, but plays well hitting the ball with me and did a camp this summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

We jumped from rec to club for exactly the same reason. And excessive travel (for no good reason) is the reason why we want to step back. In Maryland we don't seem to have options, but I saw some options posted for Virginia. Unfortunately I cannot remember what thread they were posted on. I feel like more and more parents are getting tired of travel for the sake of travelling while there is enough local competition. Not sure when or whether the clubs are going to listen and adapt.

You’re probably thinking of Volley Viet as the Virginia club that’s inexpensive and doesn’t travel too much.

Volley Viet is a club, even thought they tend to travel less. Plus, if you are not already in Volley Viet, it is hardly an option for most players (they have strong preference for returners). Someone described some options in Virginia that were not club and I felt like there were no tryouts / cuts. Sort of rec at a higher level.

I didn't know how Volley Viet is on the girls side but about half the kids on the boys teams are new.

It is very hard for a new player to make the girls teams unless it’s for their youngest year. They take back their returning players. Loyalty is huge there, both with players returning and them taking those players.

We were warned of all this but DD went to tryouts anyway last year. The cost was tempting. She won’t go back again this year. BUT we do know a couple new players that made the U14 team. It all depends on the position and who you are trying out against. That is true for any team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

We jumped from rec to club for exactly the same reason. And excessive travel (for no good reason) is the reason why we want to step back. In Maryland we don't seem to have options, but I saw some options posted for Virginia. Unfortunately I cannot remember what thread they were posted on. I feel like more and more parents are getting tired of travel for the sake of travelling while there is enough local competition. Not sure when or whether the clubs are going to listen and adapt.

You’re probably thinking of Volley Viet as the Virginia club that’s inexpensive and doesn’t travel too much.

Volley Viet is a club, even thought they tend to travel less. Plus, if you are not already in Volley Viet, it is hardly an option for most players (they have strong preference for returners). Someone described some options in Virginia that were not club and I felt like there were no tryouts / cuts. Sort of rec at a higher level.

I didn't know how Volley Viet is on the girls side but about half the kids on the boys teams are new.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

We jumped from rec to club for exactly the same reason. And excessive travel (for no good reason) is the reason why we want to step back. In Maryland we don't seem to have options, but I saw some options posted for Virginia. Unfortunately I cannot remember what thread they were posted on. I feel like more and more parents are getting tired of travel for the sake of travelling while there is enough local competition. Not sure when or whether the clubs are going to listen and adapt.

You’re probably thinking of Volley Viet as the Virginia club that’s inexpensive and doesn’t travel too much.

Volley Viet is a club, even thought they tend to travel less. Plus, if you are not already in Volley Viet, it is hardly an option for most players (they have strong preference for returners). Someone described some options in Virginia that were not club and I felt like there were no tryouts / cuts. Sort of rec at a higher level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

We jumped from rec to club for exactly the same reason. And excessive travel (for no good reason) is the reason why we want to step back. In Maryland we don't seem to have options, but I saw some options posted for Virginia. Unfortunately I cannot remember what thread they were posted on. I feel like more and more parents are getting tired of travel for the sake of travelling while there is enough local competition. Not sure when or whether the clubs are going to listen and adapt.

You’re probably thinking of Volley Viet as the Virginia club that’s inexpensive and doesn’t travel too much.

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

We jumped from rec to club for exactly the same reason. And excessive travel (for no good reason) is the reason why we want to step back. In Maryland we don't seem to have options, but I saw some options posted for Virginia. Unfortunately I cannot remember what thread they were posted on. I feel like more and more parents are getting tired of travel for the sake of travelling while there is enough local competition. Not sure when or whether the clubs are going to listen and adapt.

I have a U13 player with several seasons in Rec league under her belt. I am looking for a step up from rec but not quite Club/travel. Does this exist? In rec we keep getting teams with brand new players with no skills (ball ducking/watching, not moving to the ball, nondirectional hitting) and it's hampering her development. She wants to continue to develop and start playing real games. We are in east FFX county. Any suggestions?

Quick nuggets for newbies with an attempt to focus on the positive.

Do your best to get all around training! Focusing on only one position could mean loss of position as the teams age. Hitters that do not grow often take over as DS/L. Injuries require athletes to fill needs during the season. The more versatile your athlete is, the more court time they may earn. No guarantees.

Grit Volleyball is great for all around training. It is Beach Volleyball. There are some great coaches and they do teach actual technique that helps with indoor. Lots of touches with just 2 on a court. Leagues can be for fun or can be for stepping stones to make the Beach club team. Owner is great at helping athletes find partners. Blue Ridge of course is another great option, but much farther out. Other teams are forming beach leagues, but these 2 historically do quite well building strong all around players for beach and indoor volleyball.

The new director of training at American Volleyball in Manassas is worth a look if you don’t mind the drive. He has his own training business outside of the club called Rise Sports Performance, LLC. He originated outside of the CHRVA region. His approach is fresh and very competitive.

Arrington Elite can help advise a particularly tall and athletic girl since that has been mentioned in this thread. Others will benefit from the competitive play and training. This is not a competitive club. Training and development are their forte. There is a connection to Metro, but they train across all clubs if the anthletes are allowed to train outside of their current club. Do communicate the sports background and current level of play upfront. Clinics can and will move fast. True beginners might get lost and discouraged unless they pick things up fast. It is a wonderful spot to learn court IQ. Talk to the coaches! Communication is way to get feedback directly and a pipeline to learning what your athlete’s current and future needs for training could be.

Virginia Rise is another option. The owner does have a direct connection to Paramount, It is worth a shot for training or a league to play in. She is particularly strong for younger ages. The owner offers private lessons which are a great option to help get your athlete evaluated.

It is worth emailing the local clubs and/or coaches regarding your athlete. Some will make an effort to work with strong athletes who have played soccer and basketball and are of a competitive and driven mindset.

Stick with a good and encouraging environment. It’s easy to get lost if you are not the parent of an over 6 ft tall athlete. Be aware that some clubs will “require” lessons before and after the teams have formed.

St. James is a worth a tiny last mention. It may be an option to learn if your athlete likes volleyball. High turnover over coaches, so be careful using their past seasons for a gauge of success. Go and watch different levels and ages of their teams during practice. The upper level has viewing windows. Lower court-side views are also available through the windows. Watch the kids interact with each other and their coaches. It’s also a great place to view the differences that exist between the quality of coaching for the boys vs girls volleyball.

Tryout clinics are the best way to get seen prior to the actual tryouts. Coaches often have their teams “formed” prior to the weekend of tryouts. Talk to them afterward if time permits. They may let you know where you stand in generic terms. No position is guaranteed in until the actual emailed offer is made.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not seeing much on DC academy? We’re in DuPont Circle with a 14 year old beginner. Because she’s in 9th she’s aged out of MoCo. What fall training programs can she join? She’s not super athletic, but 5’10 and willing to work hard

Does she know which clubs she wants to try out for this fall? She should attend the fall clinics offered by those clubs so the coaches can see her before tryouts.

Metro Central for example has 2 Sunday clinics in Maryland:
https://www.metrovbc.com/academyclinics

Metro clinic says it’s open to experienced to advanced middle schoolers. She is in 9th and is a beginner.

We’ve found a clinic that works for us, DC Academy, but she isn’t experienced enough for their 14U team.

Would love to hear about a low level club she can try out for. Bonus points if they have a clinic we can participate in

All clubs have clinics, they would not miss a chance to make money now that the tryout craziness is coming. You are absolutely correct to avoid intermediate / advanced clinics (especially Metro): your DD does not belong there. You need beginner clinics in a club where she has a chance to make it (get the coaches to know her and show that she is really interested). While it is good to learn skills from different coaches / different clubs (and you may want to do this after one year of club), there is very little time for that before the tryouts. Before now and the tryouts you should laser-focus on clubs where your DD can make a team as a beginner. The list is not very long and it is good that you are aware of your situation.

I am not aware of DC Academy: are you talking about Coach Amy's Academy? That's likely to be among your few chances to make a top team in a club, but think about it as a dream club. Our strategy was to try out for clubs that have multiple teams per age group - that gave us a range of options (you pay for a tryout and you have three chances). You may want to look for a club with high turnover. You can look at turnover as players being unhappy with the club and not wanting to return. Alternatively, the club may develop the players to the point where they are good enough to make it into better clubs. Even though retention is good for a club, in your case it is an enemy - there's fewer spots available for new players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not seeing much on DC academy? We’re in DuPont Circle with a 14 year old beginner. Because she’s in 9th she’s aged out of MoCo. What fall training programs can she join? She’s not super athletic, but 5’10 and willing to work hard

Does she know which clubs she wants to try out for this fall? She should attend the fall clinics offered by those clubs so the coaches can see her before tryouts.

Metro Central for example has 2 Sunday clinics in Maryland:
https://www.metrovbc.com/academyclinics

Metro clinic says it’s open to experienced to advanced middle schoolers. She is in 9th and is a beginner.

We’ve found a clinic that works for us, DC Academy, but she isn’t experienced enough for their 14U team.

Would love to hear about a low level club she can try out for. Bonus points if they have a clinic we can participate in

Anonymous wrote:Not seeing much on DC academy? We’re in DuPont Circle with a 14 year old beginner. Because she’s in 9th she’s aged out of MoCo. What fall training programs can she join? She’s not super athletic, but 5’10 and willing to work hard

Does she know which clubs she wants to try out for this fall? She should attend the fall clinics offered by those clubs so the coaches can see her before tryouts.

Metro Central for example has 2 Sunday clinics in Maryland:
https://www.metrovbc.com/academyclinics