Anonymous wrote:Aftermath thoughts:

1. Its basically pay to play.
2. Its better to start young to develop skills early. Start at 12 years old if your child is interested
3. Tryouts are not truly open, girls are preselected. Its a joke to have 100 girls on a court at a time for evaluation.
4. There are not enough teams in the DMV area. Specifically DC. VB needs a Rec component here.
5. Height plays a huge factor and since the average height is 5'3 or 5'4. Libero will be the toughest position to compete for.
6. Height and athletic potential outweigh playing experience. I.E. they'll take someone that is 6'2 before someone that understands rules, rotations, and fundamentals.
7. CHRVA needs revamping or create a new organization for the DMV area.
8. It's very expensive to play club.

I think that about covers it from my perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Money grab. That place was an absolute zoo this weekend both days of tryouts. 3 courts FULL of girls. It’s probably for the hefty tryout fee.

Mojo is advertising the tryout as free.

Anonymous wrote:Copied from a post in another site:

“Somebody once said "Whatever your club fees are, double them for your travel expenses." For us, $3,400 fees = $6,800 travel expenses = $10,200/yr

2-3 lessons/week * 46 weeks/year @ $50/lesson = $5,750

Personal Trainer 38 weeks/year @ $35/session x 2/week = $2,660

3-4 Camps/Summer (including travel) = $3,400

Equipment, Shoes, etc. $400/year

Total: $22,410/year for national/open level team, Power5/D1 aspirations

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate to say it, but if more parents + girls understood what they were getting into, there would probably be far fewer at tryouts.
if you make a team: the amount of time spent at tournaments (all day!), the number of tournaments (most week ends!) the cost of hotels + travel. Costs go far beyond club fees.

THIS. It is easily $10,000+, for just all the costs of a mid-low level regional team. People have NO idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon] is

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is very unusual for someone to start playing volleyball at the club level u15. If you’re 6’+, sure. If you’re a truly extraordinary athlete, maybe.

It would be nice for girls who didn’t have their athletic dreams mapped out in time for u12 to be able to play volleyball as a positive experience.



Girl Dad 2X here. I agree with this. Not sure if I'm going to put them threw this next year. At least I'll be better informed, they'll be better prepared, and we can manage expectations.

Its not true that U15 is a rare age for players to start playing club volleyball -- its actually the opposite. The two most popular ages to start are U15 and U13. U15 because its often the first time players are introduced to the game in HS. U15 tryouts are returning club players + new HS players, and are always the largest tryout group at established clubs.

Yes, it helps to be a good athlete and/or physically gifted, but it is not a requirement. Lots of players without club experience make teams at U15 -- you just have to find the right club. You usually aren't going to make a 1s team at a good club where everyone has 3-4 years club experience and lots of physical/athletic ability, especially if you only have one season of JV volleyball. But you can make a 2s or 3s team at many different clubs in the area.

The key is to show that you can improve quickly during the pre-tryout clinics. If a coach is watching you and sees you get better when you are exposed to club-level volleyball, they'll usually make a note of it and sometimes come talk to you about it. Its very common for coaches to ask how long you've played, and if the answer is 3 months and you are already able to play close to a club level, coaches will notice. Players don't make club teams just on current ability -- they also make club teams on potential growth ability. Its where you'll be at the end of the season that matters the most.

On the other hand, if your DD played an entire season of JV volleyball and still can't consistently serve/pass/hit/set, then you will struggle to make a club team. If2+ months of 5 days a week practices didn't develop the ability to do any of the fundamentals, then its very doubtful you can make a club team.

Nope. Uncommon. This is how clubs rake in so much $$ at tryouts. The math doesn’t work. All those hundreds of girls at tryouts for very few spots. Most of them have played before. Those are not all novices showing up at u15. It’s possible. Not likely. To the extent they make it, they knock out another girl who has been playing for longer.

New players knock out existing players at every age group—that’s one reason why you hear so many parents (on this board especially) complaining about loyalty. It’s much more common at U15 than other groups because the pool is so large.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think for hitters to come into club at U15 for the first time. It’s more rare for DS and genuinely rare for setters. So if your player is tall, can jump or has a good arm swing, it’s probably not a money grab to go to tryouts.

If you are the backup JV DS on a high school team where the varsity hasn’t won a game all season? You might want to consider if tryouts are worth it.

I think what also contributes to the loyalty issues with club volleyball is that it seems to be part of the business model for a vb club to hedge its bets by insinuating that returning players will be given offers and it’s just a formality that they must try out. Comments being made and pulling them aside at try outs or pre-season clinics by adults towards teens set them up for disappointment and hurt feelings when that same adult doesn’t follow through and an offer is not made. Adults should be adults. You cannot expect a teen to have the same maturity and thought process as an adult. When an adult says “I want you on my team” but then doesn’t make an offer, that’s wrong.

Many clubs do this. I don’t understand why and it’s wrong. Year after year I’ve tried to explain to my daughter that until an offer is in writing, no matter what is said, it is not an offer. Promises mean nothing to clubs.

Butt why is that

Why is what? That adult men and women lead teenagers on? You tell me. The adults are the coaches. What they should say is: “I cannot promise any offer and an offer isn’t an offer until you receive an email. Good luck.” That’s it.

Anonymous wrote:Just received word that NVVA is offering two U15 “club level” teams (Red and a new team White), which they claim to be part of their “Club” but the teams never leave the facility and both teams only have “tournaments” at their NVVA facility. How is that any different than a Rec league like Galaxy?

But this might fit the description of what some parents are looking for? No travel and less financial commitment with a higher level of play?

Anonymous wrote:Just received word that NVVA is offering two U15 “club level” teams (Red and a new team White), which they claim to be part of their “Club” but the teams never leave the facility and both teams only have “tournaments” at their NVVA facility. How is that any different than a Rec league like Galaxy?

But this might fit the description of what some parents are looking for? No travel and less financial commitment with a higher level of play?

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon] is

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is very unusual for someone to start playing volleyball at the club level u15. If you’re 6’+, sure. If you’re a truly extraordinary athlete, maybe.

It would be nice for girls who didn’t have their athletic dreams mapped out in time for u12 to be able to play volleyball as a positive experience.



Girl Dad 2X here. I agree with this. Not sure if I'm going to put them threw this next year. At least I'll be better informed, they'll be better prepared, and we can manage expectations.

Its not true that U15 is a rare age for players to start playing club volleyball -- its actually the opposite. The two most popular ages to start are U15 and U13. U15 because its often the first time players are introduced to the game in HS. U15 tryouts are returning club players + new HS players, and are always the largest tryout group at established clubs.

Yes, it helps to be a good athlete and/or physically gifted, but it is not a requirement. Lots of players without club experience make teams at U15 -- you just have to find the right club. You usually aren't going to make a 1s team at a good club where everyone has 3-4 years club experience and lots of physical/athletic ability, especially if you only have one season of JV volleyball. But you can make a 2s or 3s team at many different clubs in the area.

The key is to show that you can improve quickly during the pre-tryout clinics. If a coach is watching you and sees you get better when you are exposed to club-level volleyball, they'll usually make a note of it and sometimes come talk to you about it. Its very common for coaches to ask how long you've played, and if the answer is 3 months and you are already able to play close to a club level, coaches will notice. Players don't make club teams just on current ability -- they also make club teams on potential growth ability. Its where you'll be at the end of the season that matters the most.

On the other hand, if your DD played an entire season of JV volleyball and still can't consistently serve/pass/hit/set, then you will struggle to make a club team. If2+ months of 5 days a week practices didn't develop the ability to do any of the fundamentals, then its very doubtful you can make a club team.

Nope. Uncommon. This is how clubs rake in so much $$ at tryouts. The math doesn’t work. All those hundreds of girls at tryouts for very few spots. Most of them have played before. Those are not all novices showing up at u15. It’s possible. Not likely. To the extent they make it, they knock out another girl who has been playing for longer.

New players knock out existing players at every age group—that’s one reason why you hear so many parents (on this board especially) complaining about loyalty. It’s much more common at U15 than other groups because the pool is so large.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think for hitters to come into club at U15 for the first time. It’s more rare for DS and genuinely rare for setters. So if your player is tall, can jump or has a good arm swing, it’s probably not a money grab to go to tryouts.

If you are the backup JV DS on a high school team where the varsity hasn’t won a game all season? You might want to consider if tryouts are worth it.

I think what also contributes to the loyalty issues with club volleyball is that it seems to be part of the business model for a vb club to hedge its bets by insinuating that returning players will be given offers and it’s just a formality that they must try out. Comments being made and pulling them aside at try outs or pre-season clinics by adults towards teens set them up for disappointment and hurt feelings when that same adult doesn’t follow through and an offer is not made. Adults should be adults. You cannot expect a teen to have the same maturity and thought process as an adult. When an adult says “I want you on my team” but then doesn’t make an offer, that’s wrong.

Many clubs do this. I don’t understand why and it’s wrong. Year after year I’ve tried to explain to my daughter that until an offer is in writing, no matter what is said, it is not an offer. Promises mean nothing to clubs.

Butt why is that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is very unusual for someone to start playing volleyball at the club level u15. If you’re 6’+, sure. If you’re a truly extraordinary athlete, maybe.

It would be nice for girls who didn’t have their athletic dreams mapped out in time for u12 to be able to play volleyball as a positive experience.



Girl Dad 2X here. I agree with this. Not sure if I'm going to put them threw this next year. At least I'll be better informed, they'll be better prepared, and we can manage expectations.

Its not true that U15 is a rare age for players to start playing club volleyball -- its actually the opposite. The two most popular ages to start are U15 and U13. U15 because its often the first time players are introduced to the game in HS. U15 tryouts are returning club players + new HS players, and are always the largest tryout group at established clubs.

Yes, it helps to be a good athlete and/or physically gifted, but it is not a requirement. Lots of players without club experience make teams at U15 -- you just have to find the right club. You usually aren't going to make a 1s team at a good club where everyone has 3-4 years club experience and lots of physical/athletic ability, especially if you only have one season of JV volleyball. But you can make a 2s or 3s team at many different clubs in the area.

The key is to show that you can improve quickly during the pre-tryout clinics. If a coach is watching you and sees you get better when you are exposed to club-level volleyball, they'll usually make a note of it and sometimes come talk to you about it. Its very common for coaches to ask how long you've played, and if the answer is 3 months and you are already able to play close to a club level, coaches will notice. Players don't make club teams just on current ability -- they also make club teams on potential growth ability. Its where you'll be at the end of the season that matters the most.

On the other hand, if your DD played an entire season of JV volleyball and still can't consistently serve/pass/hit/set, then you will struggle to make a club team. If2+ months of 5 days a week practices didn't develop the ability to do any of the fundamentals, then its very doubtful you can make a club team.

Nope. Uncommon. This is how clubs rake in so much $$ at tryouts. The math doesn’t work. All those hundreds of girls at tryouts for very few spots. Most of them have played before. Those are not all novices showing up at u15. It’s possible. Not likely. To the extent they make it, they knock out another girl who has been playing for longer.

New players knock out existing players at every age group—that’s one reason why you hear so many parents (on this board especially) complaining about loyalty. It’s much more common at U15 than other groups because the pool is so large.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think for hitters to come into club at U15 for the first time. It’s more rare for DS and genuinely rare for setters. So if your player is tall, can jump or has a good arm swing, it’s probably not a money grab to go to tryouts.

If you are the backup JV DS on a high school team where the varsity hasn’t won a game all season? You might want to consider if tryouts are worth it.

I think what also contributes to the loyalty issues with club volleyball is that it seems to be part of the business model for a vb club to hedge its bets by insinuating that returning players will be given offers and it’s just a formality that they must try out. Comments being made and pulling them aside at try outs or pre-season clinics by adults towards teens set them up for disappointment and hurt feelings when that same adult doesn’t follow through and an offer is not made. Adults should be adults. You cannot expect a teen to have the same maturity and thought process as an adult. When an adult says “I want you on my team” but then doesn’t make an offer, that’s wrong.

Many clubs do this. I don’t understand why and it’s wrong. Year after year I’ve tried to explain to my daughter that until an offer is in writing, no matter what is said, it is not an offer. Promises mean nothing to clubs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is very unusual for someone to start playing volleyball at the club level u15. If you’re 6’+, sure. If you’re a truly extraordinary athlete, maybe.

It would be nice for girls who didn’t have their athletic dreams mapped out in time for u12 to be able to play volleyball as a positive experience.



Girl Dad 2X here. I agree with this. Not sure if I'm going to put them threw this next year. At least I'll be better informed, they'll be better prepared, and we can manage expectations.

Its not true that U15 is a rare age for players to start playing club volleyball -- its actually the opposite. The two most popular ages to start are U15 and U13. U15 because its often the first time players are introduced to the game in HS. U15 tryouts are returning club players + new HS players, and are always the largest tryout group at established clubs.

Yes, it helps to be a good athlete and/or physically gifted, but it is not a requirement. Lots of players without club experience make teams at U15 -- you just have to find the right club. You usually aren't going to make a 1s team at a good club where everyone has 3-4 years club experience and lots of physical/athletic ability, especially if you only have one season of JV volleyball. But you can make a 2s or 3s team at many different clubs in the area.

The key is to show that you can improve quickly during the pre-tryout clinics. If a coach is watching you and sees you get better when you are exposed to club-level volleyball, they'll usually make a note of it and sometimes come talk to you about it. Its very common for coaches to ask how long you've played, and if the answer is 3 months and you are already able to play close to a club level, coaches will notice. Players don't make club teams just on current ability -- they also make club teams on potential growth ability. Its where you'll be at the end of the season that matters the most.

On the other hand, if your DD played an entire season of JV volleyball and still can't consistently serve/pass/hit/set, then you will struggle to make a club team. If2+ months of 5 days a week practices didn't develop the ability to do any of the fundamentals, then its very doubtful you can make a club team.

Nope. Uncommon. This is how clubs rake in so much $$ at tryouts. The math doesn’t work. All those hundreds of girls at tryouts for very few spots. Most of them have played before. Those are not all novices showing up at u15. It’s possible. Not likely. To the extent they make it, they knock out another girl who has been playing for longer.

New players knock out existing players at every age group—that’s one reason why you hear so many parents (on this board especially) complaining about loyalty. It’s much more common at U15 than other groups because the pool is so large.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think for hitters to come into club at U15 for the first time. It’s more rare for DS and genuinely rare for setters. So if your player is tall, can jump or has a good arm swing, it’s probably not a money grab to go to tryouts.

If you are the backup JV DS on a high school team where the varsity hasn’t won a game all season? You might want to consider if tryouts are worth it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is very unusual for someone to start playing volleyball at the club level u15. If you’re 6’+, sure. If you’re a truly extraordinary athlete, maybe.

It would be nice for girls who didn’t have their athletic dreams mapped out in time for u12 to be able to play volleyball as a positive experience.



Girl Dad 2X here. I agree with this. Not sure if I'm going to put them threw this next year. At least I'll be better informed, they'll be better prepared, and we can manage expectations.

Its not true that U15 is a rare age for players to start playing club volleyball -- its actually the opposite. The two most popular ages to start are U15 and U13. U15 because its often the first time players are introduced to the game in HS. U15 tryouts are returning club players + new HS players, and are always the largest tryout group at established clubs.

Yes, it helps to be a good athlete and/or physically gifted, but it is not a requirement. Lots of players without club experience make teams at U15 -- you just have to find the right club. You usually aren't going to make a 1s team at a good club where everyone has 3-4 years club experience and lots of physical/athletic ability, especially if you only have one season of JV volleyball. But you can make a 2s or 3s team at many different clubs in the area.

The key is to show that you can improve quickly during the pre-tryout clinics. If a coach is watching you and sees you get better when you are exposed to club-level volleyball, they'll usually make a note of it and sometimes come talk to you about it. Its very common for coaches to ask how long you've played, and if the answer is 3 months and you are already able to play close to a club level, coaches will notice. Players don't make club teams just on current ability -- they also make club teams on potential growth ability. Its where you'll be at the end of the season that matters the most.

On the other hand, if your DD played an entire season of JV volleyball and still can't consistently serve/pass/hit/set, then you will struggle to make a club team. If2+ months of 5 days a week practices didn't develop the ability to do any of the fundamentals, then its very doubtful you can make a club team.

Nope. Uncommon. This is how clubs rake in so much $$ at tryouts. The math doesn’t work. All those hundreds of girls at tryouts for very few spots. Most of them have played before. Those are not all novices showing up at u15. It’s possible. Not likely. To the extent they make it, they knock out another girl who has been playing for longer.