Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

I see, you were looking whether Academy will have a 16 team this incoming season. It looks like they want to build the club starting from the bottom up. The coach likely wants to continue coaching the last year's 16s (that's why they have a 17 team), but the emphasis seems to be on the younger ages at this time.

I think so -- my daughter really, really likes the coaches for this team. Feels they are more positive and more focused on player development (rather than just tearing girls down, which she's felt with some of the other teams in the area). The 13U team got off to a slow start last year because they were late forming and didn't really recruit, but they are planning on fielding a much more competitive team this season. If your daughter wants a positive experience with great coaching, I think it's definitely one to look at, and I wouldn't let PP's critique scare you away.

My daughter loves the coaches as well. She had offers from more competitive teams but having heard less than positive reviews about coaches from other teams, she is taking the grass isn't always greener approach and sticking with a team where the coaches are supportive and where she will get good instruction. Coach Amy is so great in her interactions with the girls. She doesn't yell and you can tell that she has some affection for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s really up to the player and their family which offer to take and how they want to rank the clubs they are trying out for. Just because one family regrets their decision doesn’t mean the club is not going to work out for other families. To each his own. Everyone should do their own research and make their own decisions, just like you would for any other endeavor that you’ll be sinking $10k into.

That's why I suggested to look for returning players / families at clinics. I only knew about this one player and I didn't want to leave the impression that the whole team had a bad experience. If there is any interest, my DD could ask her friend how many 13U players plan to return for the next season. She is likely in contact with most if not all her teammates.

If I was a parent who is seriously considering dumping thousands of dollars on a volleyball club, I would be really interested in this information. I find it extremely surprising that some posters describe how they consider Academy because of the fantastic experience their kids had in clinics, but they don't seem to be interested in how many players from last season would be returning. Puzzling.

I know at least 5 girls returning from last year. I also know that some girls from last year's 13U team were not offered spots (as of yet.) My guess is that they are trying to field a more competitive team.

Anonymous wrote:Is Academy having a 13U team or a 12/13 combined team?

I was tempted to say that clubs advertise teams they would like to form, then decide what to do based on how many players accept offers. For example, you can start advertising separate teams at 12 and 13 levels (like Academy used to do), but after the tryouts you realize you don't have enough players for both teams. Then you have a discussion with the parents and tell them that there will be only one 12/13 team. On the other hand, you can advertise only two teams (like Platform did last year for the 14s) and you end up with enough players for a third team. But I checked the website and Academy advertises only one team at 12/13 level. They are probably looking at their tryout registration and don't see the numbers they need. They might change their minds if they get enough players though.

Is Academy having a 13U team or a 12/13 combined team?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s really up to the player and their family which offer to take and how they want to rank the clubs they are trying out for. Just because one family regrets their decision doesn’t mean the club is not going to work out for other families. To each his own. Everyone should do their own research and make their own decisions, just like you would for any other endeavor that you’ll be sinking $10k into.

That's why I suggested to look for returning players / families at clinics. I only knew about this one player and I didn't want to leave the impression that the whole team had a bad experience. If there is any interest, my DD could ask her friend how many 13U players plan to return for the next season. She is likely in contact with most if not all her teammates.

If I was a parent who is seriously considering dumping thousands of dollars on a volleyball club, I would be really interested in this information. I find it extremely surprising that some posters describe how they consider Academy because of the fantastic experience their kids had in clinics, but they don't seem to be interested in how many players from last season would be returning. Puzzling.

Anonymous wrote:It’s really up to the player and their family which offer to take and how they want to rank the clubs they are trying out for. Just because one family regrets their decision doesn’t mean the club is not going to work out for other families. To each his own. Everyone should do their own research and make their own decisions, just like you would for any other endeavor that you’ll be sinking $10k into.

That's why I suggested to look for returning players / families at clinics. I only knew about this one player and I didn't want to leave the impression that the whole team had a bad experience. If there is any interest, my DD could ask her friend how many 13U players plan to return for the next season. She is likely in contact with most if not all her teammates.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

PP here. U15 and U16 are posted now.

It’s really up to the player and their family which offer to take and how they want to rank the clubs they are trying out for. Just because one family regrets their decision doesn’t mean the club is not going to work out for other families. To each his own. Everyone should do their own research and make their own decisions, just like you would for any other endeavor that you’ll be sinking $10k into.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

I see, you were looking whether Academy will have a 16 team this incoming season. It looks like they want to build the club starting from the bottom up. The coach likely wants to continue coaching the last year's 16s (that's why they have a 17 team), but the emphasis seems to be on the younger ages at this time.

I think so -- my daughter really, really likes the coaches for this team. Feels they are more positive and more focused on player development (rather than just tearing girls down, which she's felt with some of the other teams in the area). The 13U team got off to a slow start last year because they were late forming and didn't really recruit, but they are planning on fielding a much more competitive team this season. If your daughter wants a positive experience with great coaching, I think it's definitely one to look at, and I wouldn't let PP's critique scare you away.

This discussion evolved on a different thread: apparently, Academy will try to form teams from 12U all the way through 17U. My DD has a friend she keeps seeing during tryouts / clinics / leagues / tournaments (it's a small world). This friend turned down an offer she received from my DD's club to join Academy's 13U. She regretted her decision the entire season and will not go back. Academy 13U was one step above rec and didn't do very well in tournaments. I am not sure if other players had a better experience or what their plans are, so some might return. Talk to them or with their parents if you see them during the fall clinics. I am sure every club owner wants to have a stronger team going forward and - publicly - will express confidence that this will happen. The reality will hit after the tryouts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

I see, you were looking whether Academy will have a 16 team this incoming season. It looks like they want to build the club starting from the bottom up. The coach likely wants to continue coaching the last year's 16s (that's why they have a 17 team), but the emphasis seems to be on the younger ages at this time.

I think so -- my daughter really, really likes the coaches for this team. Feels they are more positive and more focused on player development (rather than just tearing girls down, which she's felt with some of the other teams in the area). The 13U team got off to a slow start last year because they were late forming and didn't really recruit, but they are planning on fielding a much more competitive team this season. If your daughter wants a positive experience with great coaching, I think it's definitely one to look at, and I wouldn't let PP's critique scare you away.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

I see, you were looking whether Academy will have a 16 team this incoming season. It looks like they want to build the club starting from the bottom up. The coach likely wants to continue coaching the last year's 16s (that's why they have a 17 team), but the emphasis seems to be on the younger ages at this time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t see a 16U for Academy. Anyone know why?

It is not clear what you mean by not seeing a 16U for Academy. Their 16U team was ranked 16 in the CHRVA region according to the SE power rankings: https://www.advancedeventsystems.com/rankings/Female/U16/aes

Is that statement about ranking true? Checking the AES link above they ranked 36 in the region based on regional ranks and in the mid 40s based on national ranks.

I also see 36 for regional rankings and slightly lower among CHRVA teams in the national rankings for the 23-24 season.

And overall nationally they were 2,342 out of 5,436 16s teams.

Actually, on Academy's tryout page, U15 and U16 aren't listed. Only 12U 13U 14U and then 17U. https://academy-volleyball.sportngin.com/tryouts

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t see a 16U for Academy. Anyone know why?

It is not clear what you mean by not seeing a 16U for Academy. Their 16U team was ranked 16 in the CHRVA region according to the SE power rankings: https://www.advancedeventsystems.com/rankings/Female/U16/aes

Is that statement about ranking true? Checking the AES link above they ranked 36 in the region based on regional ranks and in the mid 40s based on national ranks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t see a 16U for Academy. Anyone know why?

It is not clear what you mean by not seeing a 16U for Academy. Their 16U team was ranked 16 in the CHRVA region according to the SE power rankings: https://www.advancedeventsystems.com/rankings/Female/U16/aes

Thanks so much. Where int he world was I looking before?!?!