The world of club volleyball is ever-expanding and choosing a club is no simple matter. The sheer number of clubs available in just the San Antonio area is mind-blowing, and for parents new to this world it can be tough to navigate.
Moreover, many players consider changing clubs for the following season. It is very common to feel that moving to another team would lead to more wins, more playing time, a better experience, etc. Half of the players I know try out at 2-3 clubs every summer aiming for the team they perceive to be the highest and best. (When sometimes *staying* would push your existing team to the higher level you crave)
I’m an ex-club player and mom to two current players. I’ve gathered advice and experience from club coaches, a varsity high school coach, and 2 additional ex-players and current parents. We are not here to bash any clubs or promote any specific clubs…only to help parents and athletes be prepared and discern what is best for their family. Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments!
In my opinion, the number one consideration is: what is your athlete’s primary goal?
Not your goal for them, not what your pride needs, not what a friend is doing or what a Facebook group says… but what YOUR kid wants. Is their top priority to be recruited for college? Win all the time and go to nationals? Improve enough to make a high school team? Play for the “IT” club? Get millions of touches from “guaranteed” playing time? For my daughters, their main priorities are to improve with quality coaching, make high school teams, and have fun. So what we look for in a club is wildly different than many of our friends. We have close friends and school teammates spread out at nine different San Antonio area clubs. I have ex-teammates and coaches involved in the club world across the country. There is something for everyone if you know what to look for.
Once you focus on your athlete’s primary goal, the choices are still astronomical… And comparing clubs often feels like comparing apples to oranges.
Below are some of the many things to consider when choosing a club, followed by advice and experience from coaches and parents well-versed in the club volleyball world.
Goal of athlete
As I mentioned, I find this critical. It’s why your family will spend hundreds of hours in a gym and invest thousands of dollars. Your athlete’s level of commitment is crucial when choosing your club and team level.
Quality of coaching
Most often, you won’t specifically know who will coach your team when you try-out. Only some clubs announce the coach before try-outs, and even then, you don’t yet know which team your player will make. It’s frustrating to not know your coach or their level of experience. But keep in mind that the top team at a club usually has the most experienced coaches and as you go to lower level teams, the less experienced the coach. Ask if your coach will change every year or if one coach will follow the team. Ask about experience in general.
I think it is also wise to ask current players and parents at a club about coach satisfaction over the years *and* about their demeanor. Having high expectations and even yelling at a team is one thing, but berating, belittling, cussing, and throwing things at players is something you want to know about.
Cost
Let’s face it, club volleyball is expensive and cost should be something you consider even if it isn’t your top concern. 2k-10k is a huge range. It is *really* hard to know how to compare costs because different clubs include different things in their fees. But your club fees are going to include various levels of the following:
-number of hours of practice per week. This can range wildly, generally from 2-9 hours
-how many weeks of practices? Some clubs start well before November. Some end in April and some go through June/July regardless of qualifying. Some give the team the option of extending into summer even if you don’t qualify for nationals or register for AAU.
-extras- explained further below, but mostly additional clinics outside of practice
-Uniforms- how many? Does it include court shoes? Does it include a bag? Does it include practice gear or outerwear?
-how many tournaments? What level of tournaments? Half day or 3 day?
-coaching expertise
-are additional weekly private lessons “expected” at your expense? They often are for top teams.
-if you qualify for nationals, what additional expenses will there be for extending the season? more practice, more uniforms, travel and hotels, entry fees, etc. Usually at least $1000 in club fees alone.
-What do you need to budget for outside of club fees? travel, hotels, team dinners, team gifts, bonding excursions, private lessons, gear not included like braces, shoes, arm sleeves, etc.
Some club websites list clearly what your fees include, others do not. Ask specifics!
Travel Distance/Out-of-State Qualifiers
Qualifying for USAV nationals is really tough in Texas. Many top teams travel to out-of-state qualifiers where it is easier to secure that bid to nationals. This travel is an additional expense and requires missed days of school. You should know if your team will be going out of state and how many times. You should also ask if your team will travel to compete at AAU nationals (or enter Patriot division at nationals) if they don’t qualify for USAV nationals. AAU and USAV nationals extend club season well into the summer.
Usually the following is accurate, but you should still ask!
Local- All play is in the San Antonio area
Regional- All play is local and around Texas, mostly within the Lone Star Region
National- play is local, regional, and out-of-state
Level of Play
You need a general idea of the level of play your team will be playing. Will they enter tournaments in the Open Division? Are they striving for a bid to nationals in Liberty? Are their tournaments larger with competitive play or smaller with less experienced teams? Or a mix of both? How did the team do last year? How many top players left?
The highest-level teams are usually from the largest clubs because they have hundreds of athletes to choose from at try-outs, and because they actively recruit players to their club from other teams. They typically practice more hours per week, train year-round, and even rent a practice court in the city they travel to for tournaments. They often have an expectation of weekly private lessons done year-round, at an additional cost.
Top Team Priority
Many larger clubs place the focus on their top teams, allocating them more resources, more court time, and the best coaching. I’ve heard of lower teams having practice canceled so the top team can practice extra for a big tournament. Just be aware of this and how which level of team you play on can affect your experience.
Every club has different names for their team levels- elite, national, mizuno, gold, navy, etc, etc… it is very confusing. Ask for the team hierarchy, or look up the team codes… 141 is the 14U top team and 142 is the 14U second team. The code usually starts with gender, then age, then club name abbreviated, then team level (1 is top), then region (LS- Lone Star)
Location & Practice Time
You may be willing to drive for the club you prefer. Just keep in mind that practices are 2-3 times a week for 22-36 weeks, and they often begin around rush hour and can end as late as 10pm. Some local clubs change practice days and location so often that you might not know until the Sunday before. Is your family schedule flexible enough for that? Are you okay with a practice held when you normally worship? Ask about likely practice days and locations. Not all teams practice where the try-out is held!
Playing Time & Positions
Playing time is NEVER guaranteed in club volleyball. Your athlete has to earn it and coaches decide on playing time and position. Higher-level teams are stricter about playing only their best players in order to win. They may sub a player immediately out of the game for a mistake or two. Lower levels might be a little more “even” in distributing playing time. A club I know says playing time should be “fair, but not equal.” Earn it… but don’t feel entitled to it. Some coaches sit players for missing practices or tournaments, or even being late to practice.
Keep in mind that position specialization is the norm in club. So your child may only play the front row or only play the back row. This is really common. They might not serve in a game the entire season. But this is club life.
If your athlete makes a top team but isn’t one of the top players, they might not play very much. If they choose a lower-level team, your player may play 6 rotations. It is a delicate balance… because touches are important, being pushed to improve is important, and playing at a level that isn’t too low for your athlete is important. But newsflash… almost every parent thinks their kid is the best on the team. 😉
Club Size & Vibe (yes, really)
Club size is fairly straightforward. Larger clubs have more resources and many teams per age group. Smaller clubs have fewer teams but a family feel and the club director often knows every player in the club. This may or may not matter to you.
Club vibe is truly a thing. (And a big one to me) Is it a “win at all costs” club? Do they care about your child beyond their ability to win medals? Are coaches respectful and communicative with players and parents? Are parents welcoming of new families? Are parents expected to be respectful at tournaments? Overly critical parents yelling at a game can be a major turn-off to their own player, parents around them, potential players at the club, AND… to recruiters!
Extras
Strength & Conditioning
Position specific clinics
General training clinics
Shoes, backpacks, extras beyond uniforms
Team bonding opportunities
Tryouts
Club volleyball tryouts have become a race to get commitments as soon as possible so other clubs don’t get “your” players and so that club fees start coming in. Tryouts are held as early as mid-June and can be stressful. Each age group typically has a couple of hours to impress a few coaches trying to watch all of them. Depending on the size of the club that may be dozens of girls or 100+ girls! Each coach may or may not get to see each player at their best. At the end, most clubs make an offer for a specific team and require you to place a deposit right away to guarantee your spot on that team. You can leave the gym to try out at other clubs or think about your offer, but your spot on the team may or may not be available when you make your decision.
Trying out at several clubs is more and more prevalent, so it is hard to know who else will be on your team before you commit. As stressful as it is for athletes, I can’t imagine how hard it is for coaches to build a team with so many moving parts like makeup tryout dates, and spots that have been offered hanging in the balance as they wait on tryouts at other clubs.
We know a player trying out at 5 clubs this year. Two of them she doesn’t truly want to consider. So, if she excels at tryouts- that is 5 teams offering her a treasured spot on a team that is carefully built with positions in mind, taking spots from others at the tryout, and then leaving 4 teams to reconfigure when she commits elsewhere. My advice is to narrow down your choices with clinics and information well before tryouts, not to try out if you aren’t really considering the club, and to be as honest as possible with coaches and directors.
Before tryouts! Ask your questions, visit a clinic or camp, register and pay the tryout fee, and find out how that club runs tryouts. For example, one local club has tryouts and gives you an offer between two potential teams. They want you to commit with that info, then come back at the end of summer to be told which team specifically. (And it is most often the lower team of the two offered). Also keep in mind that making one of the very high-level top teams with a raw tryout is really difficult, especially beyond age 14 or so. Those teams often have very little turnover and new players usually come from being “invited/recruited” to the team.
The Grass is Always Greener?
Club jumping is fairly common. Many people get it in their head that club A wins more, or club B has better training, or club C isn’t advanced enough for my athlete. Some of these things may be true, but no club is perfect and the grass isn’t always greener. Every club has different drawbacks and benefits and you should make the right choice for your family.
There is something to be said for club loyalty, too. Your team can develop deep bonds and grow together, you form a family with other parents and coaches, and the coaches already know your athlete before they even try out. Some of the best teams play together year-round, year after year, and it shows. If you like your club but have requests/wishes, make them politely known to your director.
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R has been a club coach for 15 years, a parent to a high-level club player, and played club before her college career. She and her player have been loyal to one club.
You’ve been with your club since you were a teen. What are the benefits to staying with one club? Why did you choose it?
Honestly, They are like family to me. I have long-standing relationships with their staff. I don’t think there is always a benefit to staying at one place longer, you have to figure out what’s most important to your child/ family. What’s right for one won’t be right for all. I believe family dynamics can change, additionally, what’s important to each family or their kid changes. Maybe the child decides they love the sport but their personal goals have changed. It’s a business at the end of the day. So far it’s worked out.
What advice can you give to athletes trying out at a club for the first time? As a returner?
Try a clinic or camp at multiple clubs. See what their vibe is, ask your kid what they like/ didn’t like. I think it’s better when the kid is active in the process.
As a returner… Are you happy? Always keep your options open.
As a coach, what benefits do you most covet at a club?
100% support from directors and all that entails.
As a player parent, are those any different?
I expect fairness.
What would you change about club volleyball if you could?
Less players on teams at younger ages, less diversification of player positions at young ages, less travel at younger ages, less expense at younger ages.
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P is a parent of a high-level club player and was one herself before playing in college. She moved clubs a few times as a teenager and her daughter has, as well. She describes her daughter as a “free agent,” willing to go to the team that can offer her the best experience. They are actively trying to get recruited for college, starting in middle school.
You moved clubs as a teen for various reasons. What were the benefits of moving around?
My mom shopped pricing, as a single parent that was most important to her. With my daughter, we have moved for more playing time, getting a set practice schedule to be able to juggle multiple kids in sports, and getting more quality practice facilities with full-size courts (our home gym does not have but 6′ to serve without hitting the concrete wall).
Your daughter has tried multiple clubs and might move again. What lessons have you learned along the way?
Don’t sign immediately! I have felt the bait and switch twice in a row now. It’s so flattering to be handed a top team offer and promised X players max on a team and promised a practice schedule. But it’s painful to learn the contrary once it’s too late. We will be attending as many camps/clinics as possible before tryouts to get a vibe for the club versus showing up cold turkey for a 2-hour crowded tryout out of the blue.
What would the “unicorn” club for your daughter be like? What are the top priorities? How has that changed since her first year playing?
LOVE of the game is priority! It is a game! After that we agree that individual improvement, organization, coaching quality and playing to win at qualifiers and big games versus playing everyone equally at this age and up is important. Entering 15’s, winning has become more of a priority, which can lead to team drama, unfortunately. Priorities are different for everyone. For some, absolute guaranteed playing time is a better fit.
When investigating a new club, how do you go about collecting information?
We sat down as a family and made a chart to prioritize characteristics we value and ranked them. We have a goal to speak with as many families and trusted coaches as possible in these specific clubs we are considering to get their experiences. But, there are 2 sides to every story so we are simply considering their experiences and discussing the different factors involved.
What is a red flag or a turn-off at a club?
That ALL depends on what your goal is. Overall, coaching/club director quality. Every club has drama. No way to avoid that no matter how hard you try. But the least amount is best. Growing up, I had my young male coach involved in an inappropriate relationship. I have heard of coaches who do not provide feedback or often cancel practices repeatedly. That is unacceptable. If you hear stories such as that at a club, RUN! No club director should ever permit this. I will be walking the big tournaments every second my daughter is off to observe coaches, their players and the parents of the clubs we are considering.
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Coach Wylie has been a varsity coach for 17 years, most recently in North Texas. She played club ball in her teens and coached club for four years.
Coach Wylie, what impact has club volleyball had on your high school players?
Club ball has raised the level of high school play consistently for years. My players come to me with more experience and high levels of play. Very few players make our high school teams without playing club volleyball at some point.
What do you think athletes should look for in a club?
I’d say good coaches that challenge them and help navigate all areas of the sport- including strength and conditioning, avoiding injuries, and recruiting. It doesn’t matter to me if they are going to nationals, as long as they are consistently improving and playing at a high level. I would prefer if more of my players played together during club season, but that seems to be more and more rare.
How has club volleyball changed since you played?
The level of play is astronomically higher. But unfortunately so are the number of injuries I see from overtraining. I’ve had several girls in the last five years or so quit the sport completely from burnout. Their parents spent thousands aiming for D1 play, but their daughters didn’t enjoy it anymore and that’s heartbreaking to me.
What tips do you have for players hoping to make a good impression at tryouts?
Be vocal, be positive, be aggressive but smart.