It is possible to play other sports (basketball, soccer, etc.) during the winter along with Club volleyball, but you should check the level of commitment required for the club/team you are interested in.
You certainly do not need to join my club - a Club is only as good as the coach you get, and the quality of the organization. And clubs are not always consistent from year to year. In fact this year, 2011, has experienced a great deal of change in club volleyball in the Kansas City area.
Speaking as a parent, I found it helpful to find a club that practices near my home, and a team with other parents that my child could carpool with.
CLUB VOLLEYBALL ORIENTATION
Club volleyball is run through a single organization, the USVBA. The Heart of America Chapter is the local governing body. http://www.hoavb.org . The age groups are listed under: Juniors. Clubs are also listed there.
Club volleyball has several stages: Open Gyms, Tryouts, and Tournaments.
OPEN GYMS:
OPEN GYMS occur BEFORE tryouts. This is your opportunity to try the Club experience, evaluate clubs and coaches, and get some court time. HOA-sanctioned open gyms are listed on http://www.hoavb.org. They are also listed on the websites for each of the clubs. Most if not all clubs charge a fee of about $5 to offset the cost of renting the gym.
TRYOUTS:
Club Season TRYOUTS occur the two weekends after the KS and MO State High School Championships which usually makes them the first two weekends in November. Tryout dates and times are regulated by the HOA, so several clubs may have tryouts for the same age groups at exactly the same times. The younger age groups are on the first weekend, and the older ages are on the second weekend.
Tryouts last 2 hours for each club age group. I recommend that kids try out in pairs or threes but don’t limit yourself to being with your friends at the tryout – branch out and get to know others. I would try out for 1-3 clubs. Athletes should be energetic, enthusiastic, and coachable (take instruction, criticism well, and follow directions). Be obvious – quiet, unassuming kids often get overlooked. Wear bright and/or unusual colors, or something with a number or your name on it. That makes it much easier for coaches to remember you. Demand the ball as a hitter and a passer. Support others in drills. Some Clubs have open tryouts with no spots taken. Other clubs will be looking for a certain number of players filling certain roles (setter, defensive specialist including libero, right side hitters, etc.). Young age groups are often just looking for players. Clubs may prefer that you pre-register for Try Outs (also on their websites). Once the tryout is completed, the Coaches might offer a position on their club before you leave the try-out site. Others will call that evening or the next day or so to offer a position. As clubs get acceptances or refusals from kids, they will go down their list of prospective players and fill their rosters.
TOURNAMENTS:
Club Season will go, depending on the competitive level and intent of your club or team until March, mid-April, or June (National tournament).
COSTS/COMMITMENT DIFFERENCES:
Clubs will vary on level of commitment: that is spelled out in terms of numbers of practices per week (1-4), number of tournaments during the season (1-3 per month), location of tournaments (local, regional, or national), and availability of the athlete. The more tournaments, coaching, gym time, and equipment a team uses or provides, the higher the cost will be. Club might cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $2000. And that may or may not include travel costs. Some clubs require you to ONLY PLAY Club during their season. Other teams know kids will also be playing basketball, softball, soccer, track, etc. and will be sharing their time. The designation Gold, Silver, and Bronze will also let you know how serious that club or team is. Tournaments are either on a Saturday or a Sunday. Some may be two-day.
RECRUITING:
Many clubs recruit players. HOA dictates when clubs can begin recruiting, and how clubs can recruit. (For example, players cannot be recruited at open gyms.) So, you may discover that some clubs have filled many positions on their teams prior to tryouts, and even before open gyms. I suggest that parents that want to advocate for their child contact the club director and coach(es) for the club(s)/team(s) you are interested in. Just like everything else in life, it helps to develop a relationship with those that make the decisions that will impact you (or your child). It can’t hurt for the director and coach to have heard your child’s name and know how interested you are in their club.
GOOD LUCK!!! Call or e-mail if you have question: Max Vorhies,
816-853-0791, mvorhi59@yahoo.com .
Thanks to Max Vorhies, Southwind Rising Club Coach, for his insights and willingness to help families new to club ball.
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