Anonymous
04/09/2026 05:33
Subject: CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:heh, based on the close tracking people here are doing of CHRVA teams securing bids, it seems like there’s a good number of people interested in having teams which are considered to be among the best.
Those are the parents of the few players who likely end up playing volleyball in college. Is that about 5-10% or less of the total number of players? At some point in their volleyball career, most players go through a phase where they hope that competitive volleyball may be part of their college life. There are very few of those dreamers by the time they turn 18. Reality hits much earlier, when they realize that either height or skill level may keep them away from college volleyball. A lot of them simply drop volleyball after they turn 16, especially if they don't make the HS varsity team (sometimes they see the big writing on the wall even before the tryouts). So why would the majority of these players need a longer season? The current season length is exhausting enough for most volleyball families. I would personally not support the idea of a longer season.
We moved here from another more competitive USAV location (Florida), so I can weigh in with authority. What you describe is true of all kids playing volleyball across all USAV regions. Some want the most competitiveness and to be at the highest levels. Some don’t. Both are achievable in places which start tryouts in May/June/July. Only the top clubs aspiring for national competitiveness like Metro Travel or Paramount start then. Everyone else makes teams, then there’s a big gap until October or November before they start practices.
Metro, Paramount, Blue Ridge, Virginia Juniors, and Maryland Juniors are clubs that have a larger number of skilled players than others. While there is hope for other clubs to improve, the current situation is likely to persist unless significant changes occur in those clubs. The specific changes needed are uncertain, but it is likely that efforts are being made to address this.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 23:47
Subject: CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:heh, based on the close tracking people here are doing of CHRVA teams securing bids, it seems like there’s a good number of people interested in having teams which are considered to be among the best.
Those are the parents of the few players who likely end up playing volleyball in college. Is that about 5-10% or less of the total number of players? At some point in their volleyball career, most players go through a phase where they hope that competitive volleyball may be part of their college life. There are very few of those dreamers by the time they turn 18. Reality hits much earlier, when they realize that either height or skill level may keep them away from college volleyball. A lot of them simply drop volleyball after they turn 16, especially if they don't make the HS varsity team (sometimes they see the big writing on the wall even before the tryouts). So why would the majority of these players need a longer season? The current season length is exhausting enough for most volleyball families. I would personally not support the idea of a longer season.
We moved here from another more competitive USAV location (Florida), so I can weigh in with authority. What you describe is true of all kids playing volleyball across all USAV regions. Some want the most competitiveness and to be at the highest levels. Some don’t. Both are achievable in places which start tryouts in May/June/July. Only the top clubs aspiring for national competitiveness like Metro Travel or Paramount start then. Everyone else makes teams, then there’s a big gap until October or November before they start practices.
That could work (for the most competitive teams/clubs). What are you going to do about the rest of the teams which fill their rosters in June, then they are stuck with those players no matter how skills evolve until November?
Anonymous
04/08/2026 21:22
Subject: Re:CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:I would like to see the DCUM parents' reaction to the idea that their kids wipe the floors at the beginning of practice.
Here I am! That’s absolutely insane! And I played club in Southern California where they’re pretty hardcore.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 20:48
Subject: CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:heh, based on the close tracking people here are doing of CHRVA teams securing bids, it seems like there’s a good number of people interested in having teams which are considered to be among the best.
Those are the parents of the few players who likely end up playing volleyball in college. Is that about 5-10% or less of the total number of players? At some point in their volleyball career, most players go through a phase where they hope that competitive volleyball may be part of their college life. There are very few of those dreamers by the time they turn 18. Reality hits much earlier, when they realize that either height or skill level may keep them away from college volleyball. A lot of them simply drop volleyball after they turn 16, especially if they don't make the HS varsity team (sometimes they see the big writing on the wall even before the tryouts). So why would the majority of these players need a longer season? The current season length is exhausting enough for most volleyball families. I would personally not support the idea of a longer season.
We moved here from another more competitive USAV location (Florida), so I can weigh in with authority. What you describe is true of all kids playing volleyball across all USAV regions. Some want the most competitiveness and to be at the highest levels. Some don’t. Both are achievable in places which start tryouts in May/June/July. Only the top clubs aspiring for national competitiveness like Metro Travel or Paramount start then. Everyone else makes teams, then there’s a big gap until October or November before they start practices.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:55
Subject: Re:CHRVA clubs too soft?
Our 12year old DD is in CHRVA. She just does it for fun, not competition. She'll never go pro but she enjoys it. I have no problem with the trajectory of the organization.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:30
Subject: CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:heh, based on the close tracking people here are doing of CHRVA teams securing bids, it seems like there’s a good number of people interested in having teams which are considered to be among the best.
Those are the parents of the few players who likely end up playing volleyball in college. Is that about 5-10% or less of the total number of players? At some point in their volleyball career, most players go through a phase where they hope that competitive volleyball may be part of their college life. There are very few of those dreamers by the time they turn 18. Reality hits much earlier, when they realize that either height or skill level may keep them away from college volleyball. A lot of them simply drop volleyball after they turn 16, especially if they don't make the HS varsity team (sometimes they see the big writing on the wall even before the tryouts). So why would the majority of these players need a longer season? The current season length is exhausting enough for most volleyball families. I would personally not support the idea of a longer season.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:18
Subject: Re:CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The region needs to know that parents have opinions regarding tryouts. Let the region know.
You are saying that as if the region is listening to whatever opinions the parents have. The only thing you can assume from this conversation is that one parent wants a longer season. Why would the region listen to that opinion? Why wouldn't the region listen to a parent who thinks that the season is long enough as it is now? And how would you let the region know something? Through your coach / club? You write letters? You fill out a form? Even with those options available, what makes you think the region will implement random changes suggested by parents?
DP. Why wouldn’t USAV create a standard schedule nationally? It doesn’t make sense that any region would set itself up to be less competitive by playing a much shorter season. But maybe PP has perspective I am not understanding for why a less competitive region is more ideal.
All regions play the same tournament season, December/January through June, but some come into that season with 5 more months of practice and team cohesion.
The July tryout system has its own set of issues. I’ve seen discussions about how it can limit mobility between clubs. There isn’t time to do the fall clinic circuit that CHRVA players looking to switch clubs can use to get exposure to other clubs than who they played for last season. Also 4 additional months of practice would increase costs. Coach and gym time isn’t free.
I don’t know whether CHRVA has considered drastic changes to their tryout model in recent years. Generally, CHRVA seems to be a little slower to change than other regions. For example, having players referee matches at regional tournaments is something most other regions don’t do anymore - most have a paid up ref for every match. Similarly, most other regions have moved to VolleyStation and away from paper scoresheets.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 15:35
Subject: CHRVA clubs too soft?
heh, based on the close tracking people here are doing of CHRVA teams securing bids, it seems like there’s a good number of people interested in having teams which are considered to be among the best.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 15:22
Subject: Re:CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The region needs to know that parents have opinions regarding tryouts. Let the region know.
You are saying that as if the region is listening to whatever opinions the parents have. The only thing you can assume from this conversation is that one parent wants a longer season. Why would the region listen to that opinion? Why wouldn't the region listen to a parent who thinks that the season is long enough as it is now? And how would you let the region know something? Through your coach / club? You write letters? You fill out a form? Even with those options available, what makes you think the region will implement random changes suggested by parents?
DP. Why wouldn’t USAV create a standard schedule nationally? It doesn’t make sense that any region would set itself up to be less competitive by playing a much shorter season. But maybe PP has perspective I am not understanding for why a less competitive region is more ideal.
All regions play the same tournament season, December/January through June, but some come into that season with 5 more months of practice and team cohesion.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 15:00
Subject: Re:CHRVA clubs too soft?
Anonymous wrote:The region needs to know that parents have opinions regarding tryouts. Let the region know.
You are saying that as if the region is listening to whatever opinions the parents have. The only thing you can assume from this conversation is that one parent wants a longer season. Why would the region listen to that opinion? Why wouldn't the region listen to a parent who thinks that the season is long enough as it is now? And how would you let the region know something? Through your coach / club? You write letters? You fill out a form? Even with those options available, what makes you think the region will implement random changes suggested by parents?